Nakshatra 24 of 27
Shatabhisha Nakshatra (शतभिषा)
Shatabhisha nakshatra: ruled by Rahu, deity Varuna, in sidereal Aquarius. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Shatabhisha means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Shatabhisha (शतभिषा) is the 24th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 6°40′ Aquarius to 20°00′ Aquarius in sidereal Aquarius. Its ruling planet is Rahu, its presiding deity is Varuna, and its symbol is the empty circle / 100 stars. A person born with the Moon in Shatabhisha starts life in a Rahu mahadasha (18 years full length).
The four padas of Shatabhisha
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 Shatabhisha, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6°40′ Aquarius – 10°00′ Aquarius | Sagittarius |
| 2 | 10°00′ Aquarius – 13°20′ Aquarius | Capricorn |
| 3 | 13°20′ Aquarius – 16°40′ Aquarius | Aquarius |
| 4 | 16°40′ Aquarius – 20°00′ Aquarius | Pisces |
Moon in Shatabhisha and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Shatabhisha begins life in a Rahu mahadasha, whose full length is 18years — 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 Rahu period brings depends on what Rahu 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. Shatabhishais classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana (temperament group), Adi (Vata) nadi (constitution group), Brahmin varna, and the Horse (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 Shatabhisha nakshatra?
Shatabhisha is ruled by Rahu. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Shatabhisha begins the cycle with a Rahu mahadasha of up to 18 years (shortened by how far the Moon has already travelled through the nakshatra at birth).
Which rashi (Moon sign) is Shatabhisha in?
Shatabhisha lies entirely within sidereal Aquarius, so a Moon in Shatabhisha is always a Aquarius Moon.
What are the matching attributes of Shatabhisha?
For Ashtakoot matching, Shatabhisha is classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana, Adi (Vata) nadi, Brahmin varna, with the Horse (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 Shatabhisha?
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.