Nakshatra 16 of 27
Vishakha Nakshatra (विशाखा)
Vishakha nakshatra: ruled by Jupiter, deity Indra-Agni, in sidereal Libra and Scorpio. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Vishakha means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Vishakha (विशाखा) is the 16th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 20°00′ Libra to 3°20′ Scorpio in sidereal Libra and Scorpio. Its ruling planet is Jupiter, its presiding deity is Indra-Agni, and its symbol is the triumphal arch. A person born with the Moon in Vishakha starts life in a Jupiter mahadasha (16 years full length).
The four padas of Vishakha
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 Vishakha, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20°00′ Libra – 23°20′ Libra | Aries |
| 2 | 23°20′ Libra – 26°40′ Libra | Taurus |
| 3 | 26°40′ Libra – 0°00′ Scorpio | Gemini |
| 4 | 0°00′ Scorpio – 3°20′ Scorpio | Cancer |
Moon in Vishakha and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Vishakha begins life in a Jupiter mahadasha, whose full length is 16years — 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 Jupiter period brings depends on what Jupiter 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. Vishakhais classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana (temperament group), Antya (Kapha) nadi (constitution group), Shudra varna, and the Tiger (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 Vishakha nakshatra?
Vishakha is ruled by Jupiter. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Vishakha begins the cycle with a Jupiter mahadasha of up to 16 years (shortened by how far the Moon has already travelled through the nakshatra at birth).
Which rashi (Moon sign) is Vishakha in?
Vishakha straddles sidereal Libra and Scorpio. 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 Vishakha?
For Ashtakoot matching, Vishakha is classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana, Antya (Kapha) nadi, Shudra varna, with the Tiger (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 Vishakha?
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.