Hasta is the thirteenth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It covers 10° 00′ to 23° 20′ Virgo in the sidereal zodiac, is ruled by the Moon and is presided over by Savitar, the Vedic god of the rising sun and creative energy. Hasta is divided into four padas of 3° 20′, and each one gives a single syllable: Pu, Sha, Na or Tha.
The Avakahada chakra assigns the first sound of a name by the pada the Moon had reached when the baby was born. For the pada and syllable that belong to your child, put the birth date, time and place into the free nakshatra calculator. You can browse every star on the baby names by nakshatra page, or step to Uttara Phalguni and Chitra.
The four syllables of Hasta
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pu | पू | Kanya (Virgo) | 10° 00′ to 13° 20′ Virgo |
| 2 | Sha | ष | Kanya (Virgo) | 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ Virgo |
| 3 | Na | ण | Kanya (Virgo) | 16° 40′ to 20° 00′ Virgo |
| 4 | Tha | ठ | Kanya (Virgo) | 20° 00′ to 23° 20′ Virgo |
Sha is ष, Na is the retroflex ण (which rarely begins a word) and Tha is ठ. Families often use न or थ for the rarer sounds.
Boy names
Names starting with Pu (पू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Punit | pure |
| Pulkit | thrilled, joyful |
| Pushkar | lotus; also a sacred lake |
| Puru | an ancient king of the Puru dynasty |
| Pushpak | the mythical flying chariot |
| Pushpendra | lord of flowers |
| Purav | east |
| Purushottam | best of men; a name of Vishnu and Rama |
| Purnendu | full moon |
Names starting with Sha (ष)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Shanmukh | six-faced; a name of Kartikeya |
| Shanmugam | six-faced; a name of Kartikeya |
| Shadanan | six-faced; a name of Kartikeya |
Names starting with Na (ण)
Genuine names starting with Na (ण) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Tha (ठ)
Genuine names starting with Tha (ठ) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Girl names
Names starting with Pu (पू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pooja | worship, prayer |
| Poonam | the night of the full moon |
| Purnima | the night of the full moon |
| Pushpa | flower |
| Punita | pure |
| Purvi | eastern; also the name of a raga |
| Pujita | worshipped, honoured |
| Pushti | nourishment, well-being |
| Pushpita | flowering, in bloom |
| Pushpanjali | an offering of flowers |
Names starting with Sha (ष)
Genuine names starting with Sha (ष) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Na (ण)
Genuine names starting with Na (ण) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Tha (ठ)
Genuine names starting with Tha (ठ) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Choosing the name
Hasta has one generous syllable and three that are hard. Pada 1 gives Pu, with many beautiful names such as Pooja, Purnima and Punit. Padas 2, 3 and 4 give ष, ण and ठ, which hardly any names begin with, and this page says so plainly rather than inventing entries.
Only the Kartikeya names (Shanmukh, Shanmugam, Shadanan) start with the retroflex ष. Most families whose child falls in pada 2 use श, as in Shivani or Shashank. For pada 3 they often use the dental Na of Anuradha, and for pada 4 the dental Tha. Strictly these are different letters, so ask your family priest which substitution your tradition accepts. Hasta lies wholly in Kanya (Virgo), so the rashi chart (Pu, Sha, Na, Tha, Pe, Po and others) gives similar letters.
Family custom comes first, and many families skip the letter rule entirely. Abroad, a short name such as Puru or Purvi is simple to spell and say. Meaning matters more than the letter.
About Hasta
Hasta means the hand, and its symbol is an open palm. The Moon rules the star and Savitar presides over it, the Vedic god of the sun’s life-giving impulse. Traditionally Hasta is linked with skill, craftsmanship, healing touch, dexterity and patient making, a star of people who do things well with their hands and minds. These are themes for reflection, not fixed outcomes.
Our article on Moon in Hasta nakshatra goes through the padas, mythology and navamsa signs.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Hasta nakshatra?
The four syllables are Pu, Sha, Na and Tha, one for each pada. Sha is ष, Na is the retroflex ण and Tha is ठ.
↳ Which letter for Hasta nakshatra pada 2?
Pada 2 gives the syllable Sha (ष), covering 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ of Virgo. Few names begin with this exact letter, so many families use श instead.
↳ Why are there so few names for Na and Tha?
The retroflex ण almost never begins a word, and ठ is rare at the start of names. Families usually use the nearest dental sounds, Na or Tha, and it is best to confirm the custom with your family priest.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. The syllable is a tradition and not a rule. Hasta lies entirely in Virgo, so some families use the rashi chart, a family custom or a meaningful name instead.