Nakshatra 10 of 27
Magha Nakshatra (मघा)
Magha nakshatra: ruled by Ketu, deity Pitrs (ancestors), in sidereal Leo. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Magha means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Magha (मघा) is the 10th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 0°00′ Leo to 13°20′ Leo in sidereal Leo. Its ruling planet is Ketu, its presiding deity is Pitrs (ancestors), and its symbol is the royal throne. A person born with the Moon in Magha starts life in a Ketu mahadasha (7 years full length).
The four padas of Magha
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 Magha, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0°00′ Leo – 3°20′ Leo | Aries |
| 2 | 3°20′ Leo – 6°40′ Leo | Taurus |
| 3 | 6°40′ Leo – 10°00′ Leo | Gemini |
| 4 | 10°00′ Leo – 13°20′ Leo | Cancer |
Moon in Magha and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Magha 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. Maghais classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana (temperament group), Antya (Kapha) nadi (constitution group), Shudra varna, and the Rat (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 Magha nakshatra?
Magha is ruled by Ketu. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Magha 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 Magha in?
Magha lies entirely within sidereal Leo, so a Moon in Magha is always a Leo Moon.
What are the matching attributes of Magha?
For Ashtakoot matching, Magha is classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana, Antya (Kapha) nadi, Shudra varna, with the Rat (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 Magha?
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.