Nakshatra 2 of 27
Bharani Nakshatra (भरणी)
Bharani nakshatra: ruled by Venus, deity Yama, in sidereal Aries. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Bharani means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Bharani (भरणी) is the 2nd of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 13°20′ Aries to 26°40′ Aries in sidereal Aries. Its ruling planet is Venus, its presiding deity is Yama, and its symbol is the yoni. A person born with the Moon in Bharani starts life in a Venus mahadasha (20 years full length).
The four padas of Bharani
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 Bharani, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13°20′ Aries – 16°40′ Aries | Leo |
| 2 | 16°40′ Aries – 20°00′ Aries | Virgo |
| 3 | 20°00′ Aries – 23°20′ Aries | Libra |
| 4 | 23°20′ Aries – 26°40′ Aries | Scorpio |
Moon in Bharani and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Bharani begins life in a Venus mahadasha, whose full length is 20years — 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 Venus period brings depends on what Venus 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. Bharaniis classified as Manushya (human) gana (temperament group), Madhya (Pitta) nadi (constitution group), Shudra varna, and the Elephant (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 Bharani nakshatra?
Bharani is ruled by Venus. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Bharani begins the cycle with a Venus mahadasha of up to 20 years (shortened by how far the Moon has already travelled through the nakshatra at birth).
Which rashi (Moon sign) is Bharani in?
Bharani lies entirely within sidereal Aries, so a Moon in Bharani is always a Aries Moon.
What are the matching attributes of Bharani?
For Ashtakoot matching, Bharani is classified as Manushya (human) gana, Madhya (Pitta) nadi, Shudra varna, with the Elephant (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 Bharani?
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.