Chitra Nakshatra: Meaning, Deity, Padas and Traits

Chitra is the fourteenth of the 27 nakshatras. It runs from 23° 20′ in Virgo to 6° 40′ in Libra, so it joins two signs, the analytical earth of Virgo and the balanced air of Libra. The name means bright, brilliant or wonderful, and the tradition connects the star with design, beauty and things made with care.

Chitra at a glance

The deity and the story

The deity is Tvashtar, the divine craftsman of the Vedic hymns, who in later tradition is closely identified with Vishvakarma, the architect of the gods. In the Rigveda Tvashtar shapes living forms, forges tools and fashions the thunderbolt of Indra. The Puranas credit Vishvakarma with the palaces and cities of the gods and with great works such as Lanka and Dwarka, so the nakshatra is linked with every kind of maker.

One tale about Tvashtar concerns his son Vishvarupa, whom Indra killed, and the great serpent Vritra whom Tvashtar then created in grief. It is told as a story about the cost of power, and it connects the craftsman to Jyeshtha, the nakshatra of Indra, further along the zodiac. The symbol of Chitra, a bright jewel, is worked and polished like Tvashtar’s finest pieces, and it is often tied to the brilliant star Spica.

Mars, the planet of drive and skill with tools, rules Chitra in the Vimshottari system. This is why teachers describe the nakshatra as the place where energy meets design: a plan, a form, a finished object.

Temperament in the classical texts

Traditional descriptions of a person born in Chitra mention an attractive or striking presence, a strong feeling for form and colour and a love of dress, ornament and architecture. The person tends to be talented with the hands or the eye, enjoys planning, and often has a magnetic, individual style.

Teachers note the other side gently. A perfectionist streak can make it hard to finish or to accept an imperfect result, and a wish to stand apart can look like distance. The advice usually offered is to shape the energy into real projects, to share the credit, and to leave room for rest. These are tendencies of one placement, not fixed outcomes.

The four padas

Pada 1 (Virgo, Leo navamsa, lord the Sun). The Moon is in Virgo with a Leo navamsa, ruled by the Sun. This pada is described as the most visible and confident, an organiser with a flair for presenting work and leading a team.

Pada 2 (Virgo, Virgo navamsa, lord Mercury). The navamsa is Virgo as well, and this pada is read as the most exact and careful of the four, devoted to craft, analysis and fine detail. Rashi and navamsa are the same sign, so this pada is vargottama.

Pada 3 (Libra, Libra navamsa, lord Venus). Libra is both the rashi and the navamsa here. Teachers describe a strong feeling for harmony and design, and a talent for the arts and for diplomacy. Rashi and navamsa are the same sign, so this pada is vargottama.

Pada 4 (Libra, Scorpio navamsa, lord Mars). A Scorpio navamsa, ruled by Mars, gives this pada depth and determination. It is described as the most intense and private, with the stamina to master a difficult skill.

Each planet in Chitra

• Sun in Chitra
• Moon in Chitra
• Mars in Chitra
• Mercury in Chitra
• Jupiter in Chitra
• Venus in Chitra
• Saturn in Chitra
• Rahu in Chitra
• Ketu in Chitra

The Moon in all the nakshatras page sets Chitra beside its neighbours.

Compatibility and matching

Chitra is a Rakshasa gana nakshatra and its yoni is the tiger. In the gana table a Rakshasa bride scores six with a Rakshasa groom, one with a Deva groom and zero with a Manushya groom, and the word describes temperament, forthright and strong-willed, rather than anything dark. The tiger scores four with another tiger and zero with the cow, its natural enemy.

The nadi is Madhya (Pitta), and a shared Madhya nadi scores zero of eight in the traditional method, though teachers differ on how firmly to apply this. Because Chitra spans Virgo and Libra, the calculator reads Vaishya for the Virgo padas and Shudra for the Libra padas, and the vashya group changes with the sign. For a closer reading of a Chitra match the pada and the whole chart matter more than the nakshatra alone.

To see how Chitra fares with another star, open the nakshatra compatibility calculator and choose both nakshatras and padas. Treat the total as a starting point for conversation, since a long and happy marriage has never depended on the number alone.

Names and the naming syllables

The four naming syllables are Pe, Po, Ra and Ri. The first two belong to the Virgo end of the nakshatra and the last two to Libra. Families who follow the traditional method pick a name that opens with the sound of the Moon’s pada, and the baby names page lists names for each, for example under Ra and Ri for those born in Libra.

The page of Chitra nakshatra baby names lists names for each syllable with meanings, and the baby names by date of birth tool finds the syllable from a birth date, time and place.

Find your nakshatra

If you do not know whether the Moon was in Chitra when you were born, the nakshatra calculator shows your nakshatra and pada from the date, time and place of birth. For any other moment, such as a ceremony or a journey, the nakshatra at a date and time calculator gives the star and pada of the Moon.

Frequently asked questions