Nakshatra 1 of 27
Ashwini Nakshatra (अश्विनी)
Ashwini nakshatra: ruled by Ketu, deity Ashwini Kumaras, in sidereal Aries. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Ashwini means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Ashwini (अश्विनी) is the 1st of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 0°00′ Aries to 13°20′ Aries in sidereal Aries. Its ruling planet is Ketu, its presiding deity is Ashwini Kumaras, and its symbol is the horse's head. A person born with the Moon in Ashwini starts life in a Ketu mahadasha (7 years full length).
The four padas of Ashwini
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 Ashwini, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0°00′ Aries – 3°20′ Aries | Aries |
| 2 | 3°20′ Aries – 6°40′ Aries | Taurus |
| 3 | 6°40′ Aries – 10°00′ Aries | Gemini |
| 4 | 10°00′ Aries – 13°20′ Aries | Cancer |
Moon in Ashwini and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Ashwini begins life in a Ketu mahadasha, whose full length is 7years — 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 Ketu period brings depends on what Ketu 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. Ashwiniis classified as Deva (divine) gana (temperament group), Adi (Vata) nadi (constitution group), Vaishya varna, and the Horse (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 Ashwini nakshatra?
Ashwini is ruled by Ketu. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Ashwini begins the cycle with a Ketu mahadasha of up to 7 years (shortened by how far the Moon has already travelled through the nakshatra at birth).
Which rashi (Moon sign) is Ashwini in?
Ashwini lies entirely within sidereal Aries, so a Moon in Ashwini is always a Aries Moon.
What are the matching attributes of Ashwini?
For Ashtakoot matching, Ashwini is classified as Deva (divine) gana, Adi (Vata) nadi, Vaishya varna, with the Horse (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 Ashwini?
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.