Nakshatra 6 of 27
Ardra Nakshatra (आर्द्रा)
Ardra nakshatra: ruled by Rahu, deity Rudra, in sidereal Gemini. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Ardra means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Ardra (आर्द्रा) is the 6th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 6°40′ Gemini to 19°60′ Gemini in sidereal Gemini. Its ruling planet is Rahu, its presiding deity is Rudra, and its symbol is the teardrop. A person born with the Moon in Ardra starts life in a Rahu mahadasha (18 years full length).
The four padas of Ardra
Each nakshatra divides into four padas of 3°20′. The pada decides the navamsa (D9) sign — the chart traditionally read for marriage and inner life. If your Moon or lagna degree falls in Ardra, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6°40′ Gemini – 10°00′ Gemini | Sagittarius |
| 2 | 10°00′ Gemini – 13°20′ Gemini | Capricorn |
| 3 | 13°20′ Gemini – 16°40′ Gemini | Aquarius |
| 4 | 16°40′ Gemini – 20°00′ Gemini | Pisces |
Moon in Ardra and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Ardra begins life in a Rahu mahadasha, whose full length is 18years — shortened at birth by however far the Moon has already travelled through the nakshatra's 13°20′ span. The rest of the 120-year cycle follows in fixed order.
What a Rahu period brings depends on what Rahu controls in your specific chart — house ownership, placement, and strength — not on the nakshatra alone. That is why this site checks dasha timing against your real past before making forward claims.
Matching attributes (Ashtakoot)
In Guna Milan, nakshatras are compared through classical categories. Ardrais classified as Manushya (human) gana (temperament group), Adi (Vata) nadi (constitution group), Shudra varna, and the Dog (female) yoni. Two charts with the same nadi traditionally raise Nadi dosha — the heaviest single factor in the 36-guna score — which is why matching reports here flag it for expert review rather than auto-failing the match.
Frequently asked questions
Which planet rules Ardra nakshatra?
Ardra is ruled by Rahu. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Ardra begins the cycle with a Rahu mahadasha of up to 18 years (shortened by how far the Moon has already travelled through the nakshatra at birth).
Which rashi (Moon sign) is Ardra in?
Ardra lies entirely within sidereal Gemini, so a Moon in Ardra is always a Gemini Moon.
What are the matching attributes of Ardra?
For Ashtakoot matching, Ardra is classified as Manushya (human) gana, Adi (Vata) nadi, Shudra varna, with the Dog (female) yoni. Nadi and gana carry the most weight in the 36-guna score; same-nadi matches are traditionally flagged for closer review.
How do I know if my Moon is in Ardra?
You need your birth date, time, and place — the Moon moves through one nakshatra in roughly a day, so the time matters. The free chart and dasha calculators on this site compute it with the Lahiri ayanamsa.