Mrigashira is the fifth of the 27 nakshatras. It begins at 23° 20′ of Taurus and ends at 6° 40′ of Gemini, so its first two padas lie in Taurus and its last two in Gemini. The name means the deer’s head, and the star is pictured as the soft, alert head of a deer. It is the nakshatra most linked with seeking, with the questing mind that follows a scent.
Mrigashira at a glance
| Number | 5 of 27 |
| Span | 23° 20′ Taurus to 6° 40′ Gemini |
| Ruling planet (Vimshottari lord) | Mars |
| Deity | Soma |
| Symbol | A deer’s head |
| Gana | Deva |
| Yoni | Snake (Sarpa) |
| Nadi | Madhya (Pitta) |
| Varna (of the Moon sign) | Vaishya (padas 1 to 2), Shudra (padas 3 to 4) |
| Naming syllables | Ve (pada 1), Vo (pada 2), Ka (pada 3), Ki (pada 4) |
The gana, yoni and nadi are the matching groups explained further down. Because the star crosses a sign boundary, the varna changes by pada, since the site’s compatibility tool reads varna from the Moon’s sign.
The deity and the story
Mrigashira’s deity is Soma, the god of the moon and of the sacred plant whose juice was pressed at Vedic sacrifice. In the Rigveda the ninth book is given to Soma, praised as the pure, flowing, shining drink that gives clarity and inspiration. The nakshatra’s association with Soma gives it a mood of gentle wonder, and its ruler, Mars, adds the energy to go and find what it seeks.
The deer is an old figure in the sky-stories. One tale in the Brahmana literature has Prajapati, the creator, pursuing a deer, and a hunter, whom the tradition identifies with Rudra, taking aim at him. Sky-watchers link the deer with the stars of Orion and the hunter with Sirius, which is why Mrigashira and Ardra sit together in the sky and in the tradition. Mrigashira is also tied to the mythic image of the golden deer in the Ramayana, which draws Rama away from the hermitage. These are stories told within the tradition, and they differ between texts.
Temperament in the classical texts
The classical lists describe a Mrigashira Moon as curious, restless in a gentle way, quick-witted and pleasant to talk to. The texts mention a love of travel and nature, a good memory, and a mind that is always looking for the next question. The Moon’s interest in comfort mixes with Mars’s drive, so the person is often eager yet kind.
The cautions in the traditional accounts are about restlessness and doubt: a mind that finds it hard to rest on one answer, a habit of looking for something better, and sometimes hesitation in decisions. Teachers present these as the cost of a seeker’s nature. A regular routine, a hobby that deepens, and a chance to follow questions all the way down are the usual suggestions, and the rest of the chart always modifies them.
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsa sign | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23° 20′ to 26° 40′ Taurus | Leo (Simha) | Ve |
| 2 | 26° 40′ to 30° 00′ Taurus | Virgo (Kanya) | Vo |
| 3 | 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ Gemini | Libra (Tula) | Ka |
| 4 | 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Gemini | Scorpio (Vrishchika) | Ki |
Pada 1 (Ve) falls in Leo navamsa and in the Taurus part of the star. It is read as the proud and warm pada, with a creative, expressive streak.
Pada 2 (Vo) falls in Virgo navamsa, also in Taurus. Tradition describes a precise, practical and observant pada, with a talent for craft and analysis.
Pada 3 (Ka) begins the Gemini part of the star, in Libra navamsa. The reading is sociable and fair-minded, with an eye for beauty and an easy way with people.
Pada 4 (Ki) falls in Scorpio navamsa. It is described as the deepest pada, where the seeking turns inward to research, secrets and the study of what lies beneath.
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 Mrigashira
When a planet sits in Mrigashira, its nature is shaped by the lord Mars and by the deity above. Each of these pages looks at one planet in this star.
- Sun in Mrigashira Nakshatra: the Sun, the soul and authority, set in this star.
- Moon in Mrigashira Nakshatra: the Moon, your mind and janma nakshatra, here.
- Mars in Mrigashira Nakshatra: Mars, drive and courage, as this star colours it.
- Mercury in Mrigashira Nakshatra: Mercury, speech and reasoning, in this lunar mansion.
- Jupiter in Mrigashira Nakshatra: Jupiter, wisdom and guidance, placed in this star.
- Venus in Mrigashira Nakshatra: Venus, affection and taste, as it sits here.
- Saturn in Mrigashira Nakshatra: Saturn, discipline and patience, in this nakshatra.
- Rahu in Mrigashira Nakshatra: Rahu, the north node of appetite and ambition, here.
- Ketu in Mrigashira Nakshatra: Ketu, the south node of detachment, in this star.
For the whole picture, see the Moon in all 27 nakshatras.
Compatibility and matching
Mrigashira has a Deva gana, the group tradition describes as gentle and generous. In the site’s tables a Deva Moon scores 5 or 6 out of 6 with a Deva or Manushya partner and does much less well with a Rakshasa partner. Its yoni is the serpent, shared with Rohini, so the traditional sworn enemy is again the mongoose, the yoni of Uttara Ashadha. Mrigashira’s nadi is Madhya (Pitta), the same as Bharani, Pushya, Purva Phalguni, Chitra, Anuradha, Purva Ashadha, Dhanishta and Uttara Bhadrapada. Because the nakshatra crosses a sign, the matching tool reads the Moon sign from the pada, Taurus for padas 1 and 2 and Gemini for padas 3 and 4, and this changes the varna, vashya, graha maitri and bhakoot kutas.
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 four naming syllables of Mrigashira are Ve, Vo, Ka and Ki. The first two belong to the Taurus padas and the second two to the Gemini padas, so the syllable also shows the Moon sign. The sounds come from the traditional avakahada table and are a custom for the start of a name, not a requirement.
The page of Mrigashira 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 stood between 23° 20′ of sidereal Taurus and 6° 40′ of Gemini at the moment of your birth, your nakshatra is Mrigashira. The star crosses a sign, so it is possible for a birth within a single day to have the Moon change sign. The nakshatra calculator gives the nakshatra, the pada and the 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, Rohini; next, Ardra. All 27 are on the nakshatras hub.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What is Mrigashira nakshatra known for?
Mrigashira is associated with curiosity, seeking and gentleness. Its deity is Soma and its symbol is a deer's head. Tradition links it with travel, learning and a questioning mind.
↳ Which planet rules Mrigashira nakshatra?
Mars is the Vimshottari lord of Mrigashira, the first star in Mars's group of Mrigashira, Chitra and Dhanishta. A Mrigashira Moon starts life in the Mars dasha, for a balance that depends on the Moon's position.
↳ Which sign is Mrigashira in?
Mrigashira spans two signs. Padas 1 and 2 lie in Taurus (23° 20′ to 30° 00′), and padas 3 and 4 lie in Gemini (0° 00′ to 6° 40′).
↳ What are the letters for Mrigashira nakshatra?
The naming syllables are Ve, Vo, Ka and Ki, one for each pada. They are a naming custom and not a rule.
↳ Is Mrigashira a good nakshatra?
Tradition counts Mrigashira among the soft nakshatras and calls it favourable for travel, learning and friendship. Like every nakshatra, its effect depends on the whole chart and not on the star alone.