Vishakha is the sixteenth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It covers 20° 00′ Libra to 3° 20′ Scorpio in the sidereal zodiac, is ruled by Jupiter and is presided over by Indra and Agni. Vishakha counts four padas of 3° 20′, and their syllables are Ti, Tu, Te and To.
The Avakahada chakra links the first sound of the name to the pada of the Moon at birth. Enter the birth date, time and place in the free nakshatra calculator to see which pada, and so which syllable, is your child’s. You can browse every star on the baby names by nakshatra page, or step to Swati and Anuradha.
The four syllables of Vishakha
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ti | ती | Tula (Libra) | 20° 00′ to 23° 20′ Libra |
| 2 | Tu | तू | Tula (Libra) | 23° 20′ to 26° 40′ Libra |
| 3 | Te | ते | Tula (Libra) | 26° 40′ to 30° 00′ Libra |
| 4 | To | तो | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ Scorpio |
Ti, Tu, Te and To here are the dental त, unlike the retroflex ट of Purva Phalguni.
Boy names
Names starting with Ti (ती)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tirth | sacred crossing place; a pilgrimage site |
| Tilak | an auspicious mark on the forehead |
Names starting with Tu (तू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tushar | frost, snow |
| Tuhin | frost, snow |
| Tukaram | the poet-saint of Maharashtra |
| Tulsidas | the poet-saint who wrote the Ramcharitmanas |
Names starting with Te (ते)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tej | brilliance, radiance |
| Tejas | brilliance, fire |
| Tejaswi | radiant |
| Tejendra | lord of brilliance |
Names starting with To (तो)
Genuine names starting with To (तो) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Girl names
Names starting with Ti (ती)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tithi | a lunar day |
| Tilottama | a celestial nymph of exceptional beauty |
Names starting with Tu (तू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tulsi | holy basil |
| Tulika | paintbrush |
| Tushti | contentment |
| Tuhina | frost, snow |
Names starting with Te (ते)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tejaswini | radiant woman |
| Tejal | radiant |
| Tejashree | radiance, glory |
Names starting with To (तो)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Toya | water |
Choosing the name
Vishakha’s syllables are the dental Ti, Tu, Te and To (ती, तू, ते, तो). In practice that means the Te sound is the richest, with Tej and Tejas names for boys and Tejal for girls, and the To sound is thin. This page lists only genuine names and says so where there are few, rather than padding the tables.
Vishakha crosses from Tula (Libra) into Vrishchika (Scorpio), so the first three padas follow the Libra rashi letters, which include Ta, Ti, Tu and Te, and pada 4 follows the Scorpio letters (To, Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No, Ya, Yi, Yu). A family following the rashi chart may therefore choose differently for the fourth pada.
Your family’s custom is the first guide, and many families use no letter rule at all. Abroad, Tushar, Tej and Tulsi are easy to say, while Tejaswini and Tilottama are lovely but long, so consider a nickname. Meaning matters more than the letter. Vishakha is a star of determination, so a name that speaks of light or purpose suits it.
About Vishakha
Vishakha means forked or branching. Its symbol is a triumphal archway, sometimes a forked branch or a potter’s wheel, and it is shared between two gods, Indra and Agni, with Jupiter as its ruler. Traditionally the star is linked with determination, focus on a goal, and the drive to finish what one starts. These are themes to reflect on, not outcomes.
Read our article on Moon in Vishakha nakshatra for the padas, mythology and navamsa signs.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Vishakha nakshatra?
The four syllables are Ti, Tu, Te and To, one for each pada. All four use the dental त.
↳ Which letter for Vishakha nakshatra pada 4?
Pada 4 gives the syllable To (तो), covering 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ of Scorpio. Genuine names that begin with To are rare, so many families choose a Te or Tu name instead.
↳ Which rashi is Vishakha?
Vishakha spans two signs: padas 1 to 3 lie in Tula (Libra) and pada 4 in Vrishchika (Scorpio). A Moon in Vishakha is therefore a Libra Moon for most of the star and a Scorpio Moon in the last pada.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. The syllable is a tradition and not a rule. Many families use the rashi chart, a family custom or a name chosen for its meaning.