Nakshatra 18 of 27
Jyeshtha Nakshatra (ज्येष्ठा)
Jyeshtha nakshatra: ruled by Mercury, deity Indra, in sidereal Scorpio. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Jyeshtha means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठा) is the 18th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 16°40′ Scorpio to 30°00′ Scorpio in sidereal Scorpio. Its ruling planet is Mercury, its presiding deity is Indra, and its symbol is the earring / umbrella. A person born with the Moon in Jyeshtha starts life in a Mercury mahadasha (17 years full length).
The four padas of Jyeshtha
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 Jyeshtha, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16°40′ Scorpio – 20°00′ Scorpio | Sagittarius |
| 2 | 20°00′ Scorpio – 23°20′ Scorpio | Capricorn |
| 3 | 23°20′ Scorpio – 26°40′ Scorpio | Aquarius |
| 4 | 26°40′ Scorpio – 0°00′ Sagittarius | Pisces |
Moon in Jyeshtha and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Jyeshtha 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. Jyeshthais classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana (temperament group), Adi (Vata) nadi (constitution group), Shudra varna, and the Deer (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 Jyeshtha nakshatra?
Jyeshtha is ruled by Mercury. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Jyeshtha 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 Jyeshtha in?
Jyeshtha lies entirely within sidereal Scorpio, so a Moon in Jyeshtha is always a Scorpio Moon.
What are the matching attributes of Jyeshtha?
For Ashtakoot matching, Jyeshtha is classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana, Adi (Vata) nadi, Shudra varna, with the Deer (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 Jyeshtha?
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.