Nakshatra 14 of 27
Chitra Nakshatra (चित्रा)
Chitra nakshatra: ruled by Mars, deity Vishvakarman, in sidereal Virgo and Libra. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Chitra means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Chitra (चित्रा) is the 14th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 23°20′ Virgo to 6°40′ Libra in sidereal Virgo and Libra. Its ruling planet is Mars, its presiding deity is Vishvakarman, and its symbol is the bright jewel. A person born with the Moon in Chitra starts life in a Mars mahadasha (7 years full length).
The four padas of Chitra
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 Chitra, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23°20′ Virgo – 26°40′ Virgo | Leo |
| 2 | 26°40′ Virgo – 0°00′ Libra | Virgo |
| 3 | 0°00′ Libra – 3°20′ Libra | Libra |
| 4 | 3°20′ Libra – 6°40′ Libra | Scorpio |
Moon in Chitra and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Chitra begins life in a Mars 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 Mars period brings depends on what Mars 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. Chitrais classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana (temperament group), Madhya (Pitta) nadi (constitution group), Shudra varna, and the Tiger (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 Chitra nakshatra?
Chitra is ruled by Mars. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Chitra begins the cycle with a Mars 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 Chitra in?
Chitra straddles sidereal Virgo and Libra. Which rashi your Moon falls in depends on the exact degree — the pada table on this page shows the boundary.
What are the matching attributes of Chitra?
For Ashtakoot matching, Chitra is classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana, Madhya (Pitta) nadi, Shudra varna, with the Tiger (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 Chitra?
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.