Nakshatra 9 of 27
Ashlesha Nakshatra (आश्लेषा)
Ashlesha nakshatra: ruled by Mercury, deity Nagas, in sidereal Cancer. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Ashlesha means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Ashlesha (आश्लेषा) is the 9th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 16°40′ Cancer to 29°60′ Cancer in sidereal Cancer. Its ruling planet is Mercury, its presiding deity is Nagas, and its symbol is the coiled serpent. A person born with the Moon in Ashlesha starts life in a Mercury mahadasha (17 years full length).
The four padas of Ashlesha
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 Ashlesha, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16°40′ Cancer – 20°00′ Cancer | Sagittarius |
| 2 | 20°00′ Cancer – 23°20′ Cancer | Capricorn |
| 3 | 23°20′ Cancer – 26°40′ Cancer | Aquarius |
| 4 | 26°40′ Cancer – 0°00′ Leo | Pisces |
Moon in Ashlesha and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Ashlesha begins life in a Mercury mahadasha, whose full length is 17years — 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 Mercury period brings depends on what Mercury 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. Ashleshais classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana (temperament group), Antya (Kapha) nadi (constitution group), Kshatriya varna, and the Cat (male) 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 Ashlesha nakshatra?
Ashlesha is ruled by Mercury. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Ashlesha begins the cycle with a Mercury mahadasha of up to 17 years (shortened by how far the Moon has already travelled through the nakshatra at birth).
Which rashi (Moon sign) is Ashlesha in?
Ashlesha lies entirely within sidereal Cancer, so a Moon in Ashlesha is always a Cancer Moon.
What are the matching attributes of Ashlesha?
For Ashtakoot matching, Ashlesha is classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana, Antya (Kapha) nadi, Kshatriya varna, with the Cat (male) 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 Ashlesha?
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.