Krittika is the third of the 27 nakshatras and the first to cross a sign boundary. It begins at 26° 40′ of Aries and ends at 10° 00′ of Taurus, so its first pada lies in Aries and the other three in Taurus. The name is linked to the root krit, to cut, and the star is pictured as a razor or flame. In the sky it is the Pleiades, the small cluster of stars that has a place in the stories of many cultures.
Krittika at a glance
| Number | 3 of 27 |
| Span | 26° 40′ Aries to 10° 00′ Taurus |
| Ruling planet (Vimshottari lord) | Sun |
| Deity | Agni |
| Symbol | A razor or a flame |
| Gana | Rakshasa |
| Yoni | Goat (Mesha) |
| Nadi | Antya (Kapha) |
| Varna (of the Moon sign) | Kshatriya (pada 1), Vaishya (padas 2 to 4) |
| Naming syllables | A (pada 1), I (pada 2), U (pada 3), E (pada 4) |
| Principal star | The Pleiades, with Alcyone (Eta Tauri) as the brightest |
The gana, yoni and nadi are the matching groupings explained below. Because the nakshatra crosses a sign boundary, its varna changes with the pada, since the site’s compatibility tool reads varna from the Moon’s sign.
The deity and the story
The deity of Krittika is Agni, the fire at the centre of every Vedic ritual and the carrier of offerings to the gods. In the Rigveda Agni is the priest of the gods and the messenger between people and the heavens, and his flame is a symbol of purification. The nakshatra’s lord is the Sun, which fits: fire on the earth and fire in the sky.
The best-known story is the birth of Kartikeya, also called Skanda or Murugan. The tradition says that Shiva’s seed was too powerful for Agni or the river Ganga to hold, and that it finally grew into a child in a thicket of reeds. Six sisters, the Krittikas, whom tradition identifies with the six visible stars of the Pleiades, nursed him, and he became Karttikeya, the one raised by the Krittikas, with six faces. The Mahabharata and the Skanda Purana both tell versions of the story. The festival of lamps held in the month of Kartika in South India, Karthigai Deepam, is linked to this star in the tradition.
Temperament in the classical texts
The classical lists describe a Krittika Moon as sharp, resolute and outspoken, with strong appetite, a gift for cutting through confusion and a readiness to defend what is right. The texts speak of a person who can be a good cook, a fine critic or an able administrator, and who is very self-reliant. The Sun’s lordship adds authority and pride.
The traditional cautions are about heat: a temper that rises quickly, words that cut more than intended, and a habit of judging. Teachers read these as the shadow side of a useful quality, the ability to discriminate and to purify. A little patience and some cooling habits, such as pausing before replying, are the common-sense remedies, and the whole chart always has the final say.
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsa sign | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26° 40′ to 30° 00′ Aries | Sagittarius (Dhanu) | A |
| 2 | 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ Taurus | Capricorn (Makara) | I |
| 3 | 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Taurus | Aquarius (Kumbha) | U |
| 4 | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Taurus | Pisces (Meena) | E |
Pada 1 (A) is the only one in Aries, at 26° 40′ to 30° 00′. It falls in Sagittarius navamsa, ruled by Jupiter. It is read as the most idealistic and outspoken pada, with a love of principle and of travel in the mind and on the road.
Pada 2 (I) begins the Taurus part of the star, in Capricorn navamsa. The reading is disciplined and ambitious, with a practical streak and patience under pressure.
Pada 3 (U) falls in Aquarius navamsa. Tradition describes an independent, original thinker with an interest in groups and ideas, sometimes detached in the way of Saturn and Rahu.
Pada 4 (E) falls in Pisces navamsa, ruled by Jupiter. It is read as the softest pada, where the sharpness of Krittika is tempered by compassion, imagination and a spiritual bent.
The navamsa sign of each pada is worked out the standard way: the 108 padas of the zodiac run in order from Aries, so each pada falls in the next sign in turn. You can see the same placement for any chart in the navamsa calculator.
Each planet in Krittika
When a planet sits in Krittika, its nature is shaped by the lord Sun and by the deity above. Each of these pages looks at one planet in this star.
- Sun in Krittika Nakshatra: the Sun, the soul and authority, set in this star.
- Moon in Krittika Nakshatra: the Moon, your mind and janma nakshatra, here.
- Mars in Krittika Nakshatra: Mars, drive and courage, as this star colours it.
- Mercury in Krittika Nakshatra: Mercury, speech and reasoning, in this lunar mansion.
- Jupiter in Krittika Nakshatra: Jupiter, wisdom and guidance, placed in this star.
- Venus in Krittika Nakshatra: Venus, affection and taste, as it sits here.
- Saturn in Krittika Nakshatra: Saturn, discipline and patience, in this nakshatra.
- Rahu in Krittika Nakshatra: Rahu, the north node of appetite and ambition, here.
- Ketu in Krittika Nakshatra: Ketu, the south node of detachment, in this star.
For the whole picture, see the Moon in all 27 nakshatras.
Compatibility and matching
Krittika has a Rakshasa gana. The word names a temperament group, strong-willed and independent, and it is not a moral judgement. In the site’s tables a Rakshasa Moon scores full marks on gana only with another Rakshasa and little with Deva or Manushya partners, which is why this star is so often discussed in matching. Its yoni is the goat, and the traditional sworn enemy is the monkey, the yoni of Purva Ashadha and Shravana. Krittika’s nadi is Antya (Kapha). Because the star crosses a sign, the matching tool also takes its Moon sign from the pada, Aries for pada 1 and Taurus for the rest, which affects the varna, vashya, graha maitri and bhakoot kutas. That is why the pada matters in matching as much as the star.
Try it with two real nakshatras in the nakshatra compatibility calculator, which shows every kuta and the total out of 36. A score is one lens on a relationship, not a verdict on it.
Names and the naming syllables
The naming syllables of Krittika are A, I, U and E, one per pada. Pada 1 (A) falls in Aries and the others in Taurus, so the syllable also tells you the Moon sign. The sounds come from the traditional avakahada table. They are a custom, and the choice of the final name remains with the family.
The page of Krittika baby names lists names for all four sounds. If you only know the date and place of birth, the baby names by date of birth tool finds the pada for you.
Find your nakshatra
If the Moon was between 26° 40′ of Aries and 10° 00′ of Taurus (sidereal) at birth, your nakshatra is Krittika. A birth near the start of the span can have its Moon in Aries and one later in the day in Taurus, so the exact time matters more here than for most stars. The nakshatra calculator shows the nakshatra, the pada and the Moon sign.
To check any other moment, the nakshatra at date and time calculator shows where the Moon stood and when it changes star.
Browse on: previous, Bharani; next, Rohini. All 27 are on the nakshatras hub.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What is Krittika nakshatra known for?
Krittika is associated with sharpness, purification and a strong will. Its deity is Agni, the fire god, and its symbol is a razor or flame. In the sky it is the Pleiades.
↳ Which planet rules Krittika nakshatra?
The Sun is the Vimshottari lord of Krittika, the first star in the Sun's group of Krittika, Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Ashadha. A person with the Moon in Krittika starts life in the Sun dasha, for a balance that depends on the Moon's position.
↳ Which sign is Krittika in?
Krittika spans two signs. Pada 1 lies in Aries (26° 40′ to 30° 00′), and padas 2, 3 and 4 lie in Taurus (0° 00′ to 10° 00′).
↳ What are the letters for Krittika nakshatra?
The naming syllables are A, I, U and E, one for each pada. They are a naming custom, not a requirement.
↳ Is the Rakshasa gana of Krittika a bad sign?
No. Rakshasa is the name of one of three temperament groups and describes a strong, independent nature. Matching tradition uses it to compare temperaments between two people, and it carries no moral meaning.