Nakshatra 20 of 27
Purva Ashadha Nakshatra (पूर्वाषाढ़ा)
Purva Ashadha nakshatra: ruled by Venus, deity Apas, in sidereal Sagittarius. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Purva Ashadha means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Purva Ashadha (पूर्वाषाढ़ा) is the 20th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 13°20′ Sagittarius to 26°40′ Sagittarius in sidereal Sagittarius. Its ruling planet is Venus, its presiding deity is Apas, and its symbol is the elephant tusk / fan. A person born with the Moon in Purva Ashadha starts life in a Venus mahadasha (20 years full length).
The four padas of Purva Ashadha
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 Purva Ashadha, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13°20′ Sagittarius – 16°40′ Sagittarius | Leo |
| 2 | 16°40′ Sagittarius – 20°00′ Sagittarius | Virgo |
| 3 | 20°00′ Sagittarius – 23°20′ Sagittarius | Libra |
| 4 | 23°20′ Sagittarius – 26°40′ Sagittarius | Scorpio |
Moon in Purva Ashadha and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Purva Ashadha 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. Purva Ashadhais classified as Manushya (human) gana (temperament group), Madhya (Pitta) nadi (constitution group), Brahmin varna, and the Monkey (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 Purva Ashadha nakshatra?
Purva Ashadha is ruled by Venus. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Purva Ashadha 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 Purva Ashadha in?
Purva Ashadha lies entirely within sidereal Sagittarius, so a Moon in Purva Ashadha is always a Sagittarius Moon.
What are the matching attributes of Purva Ashadha?
For Ashtakoot matching, Purva Ashadha is classified as Manushya (human) gana, Madhya (Pitta) nadi, Brahmin varna, with the Monkey (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 Purva Ashadha?
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.