Nakshatra 5 of 27
Mrigashira Nakshatra (मृगशिरा)
Mrigashira nakshatra: ruled by Mars, deity Soma, in sidereal Taurus and Gemini. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Mrigashira means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Mrigashira (मृगशिरा) is the 5th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 23°20′ Taurus to 6°40′ Gemini in sidereal Taurus and Gemini. Its ruling planet is Mars, its presiding deity is Soma, and its symbol is the deer's head. A person born with the Moon in Mrigashira starts life in a Mars mahadasha (7 years full length).
The four padas of Mrigashira
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 Mrigashira, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23°20′ Taurus – 26°40′ Taurus | Leo |
| 2 | 26°40′ Taurus – 0°00′ Gemini | Virgo |
| 3 | 0°00′ Gemini – 3°20′ Gemini | Libra |
| 4 | 3°20′ Gemini – 6°40′ Gemini | Scorpio |
Moon in Mrigashira and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Mrigashira 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. Mrigashirais classified as Deva (divine) gana (temperament group), Madhya (Pitta) nadi (constitution group), Shudra varna, and the Serpent (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 Mrigashira nakshatra?
Mrigashira is ruled by Mars. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Mrigashira 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 Mrigashira in?
Mrigashira straddles sidereal Taurus and Gemini. 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 Mrigashira?
For Ashtakoot matching, Mrigashira is classified as Deva (divine) gana, Madhya (Pitta) nadi, Shudra varna, with the Serpent (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 Mrigashira?
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.