Nakshatra 15 of 27
Swati Nakshatra (स्वाति)
Swati nakshatra: ruled by Rahu, deity Vayu, in sidereal Libra. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Swati means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Swati (स्वाति) is the 15th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 6°40′ Libra to 20°00′ Libra in sidereal Libra. Its ruling planet is Rahu, its presiding deity is Vayu, and its symbol is the young shoot in the wind. A person born with the Moon in Swati starts life in a Rahu mahadasha (18 years full length).
The four padas of Swati
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 Swati, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6°40′ Libra – 10°00′ Libra | Sagittarius |
| 2 | 10°00′ Libra – 13°20′ Libra | Capricorn |
| 3 | 13°20′ Libra – 16°40′ Libra | Aquarius |
| 4 | 16°40′ Libra – 20°00′ Libra | Pisces |
Moon in Swati and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Swati 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. Swatiis classified as Deva (divine) gana (temperament group), Antya (Kapha) nadi (constitution group), Shudra varna, and the Buffalo (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 Swati nakshatra?
Swati is ruled by Rahu. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Swati 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 Swati in?
Swati lies entirely within sidereal Libra, so a Moon in Swati is always a Libra Moon.
What are the matching attributes of Swati?
For Ashtakoot matching, Swati is classified as Deva (divine) gana, Antya (Kapha) nadi, Shudra varna, with the Buffalo (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 Swati?
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.