Understand Your Janma Nakshatra, Navtara Chakra, & Special Nakshatras. The Moon’s connection with you:

The Janma Nakshatra in Vedic astrology refers to the constellation the Moon occupies at the time of birth. To calculate your Janma Nakshatra, locate the placement of the Moon in your birth chart and identify the corresponding Nakshatra. It is also called the Birth Star.

When Bhagwan Shri Ram was born, the Moon was in the Cancer and Punarvasu nakshatra. Therefore, his Janma Nakshatra was Punarvasu.

The 27 Nakshatras, each having 13 degrees and 30 minutes, divide the Zodiac or Bha Chakra into equal parts. In Vedic mythology, these Nakshatras are the 27 daughters of Daksha Prajapati, all of whom are married to the Moon-god.

These 27 Nakshatras form 12 signs of 30 degrees each, covering 360 degrees. Two and one-fourth Nakshatras make one sign.

The names of the 27 Nakshatras are:  Ashwini, Bharani, Kritika, Rohini, Mrigasira, Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishaka, Anuradha, Jyestha, Moola, Purvashada, Uttarashada, Shravan, Dhanishta, Shatabisha, Purvabhadra, Uttarabhadra, and Revati.

A “Natchathiram list” is a Tamil term meaning the list of these 27 nakshatras. Nakshatras are used in various aspects of Vedic astrology, including horoscope matching, determining auspicious times for events, or muhurta, understanding personality traits, and timing events using dasa and transits.

The Moon, in Hindu astrology, represents the mind, which tends to dwell on society and the material world. It shapes our mental identity, instincts, likes and dislikes, and qualities. Therefore, our Janma Nakshatra in Vedic Astrology is a strong print of the entire personality of a Nakshatra and its highest impact on our mind or Moon.

Our Janma Nakshatra is the primary driving force behind our viewpoints, instincts, prejudices, and mental reactions to the material world. The Birth Star governs our thoughts, emotions, and experiences, shaping our perception of reality at any given moment.

Each Nakshatra or star has a distinct personality with unique likes, dislikes, instincts, and areas of expertise. Although each Nakshatra has its own viewpoint, qualities, and faults, none is perfect. However, each one has its own perspective and that is important.

To understand each Nakshatra, we must consider three key elements: the symbol, the deity, and the ruling planet from the Sun to Ketu. These three players trap the consciousness and mind of an individual.

Example: Kritika as Janma Nakshatra: Deity, Symbol & Ruling Planet 

Let’s explore the symbol, deity, and ruling planet of Kritika Nakshatra and gain insight into those born under it.

1. The Symbol for Kritika Nakshatra is a knife, blade, or sharp object.

This represents the person’s sharp and acute mind, which allows them to cut through the jargon and get straight to the point.

2. The Devata of Krittika Nakshatra is Agni Dev.

This makes them hot-minded and transformative. Consequently, they may also have strong Jathar Agni, which is responsible for digestion, making them heavy eaters. Also, they may have strong Bhuta Agni (which is needed for spiritual progress), making them spiritual.

3. The Ruling Planet of Kritika Nakshatra is the Sun.

Those born under this nakshatra possess Sun-like qualities such as leadership, spirituality, pride, goal orientation, and a tendency towards harshness.

Worshiping the Devata of one’s Janma Nakshatra can provide clarity to the mind during difficult times. As the Moon is the karaka for the concept of Nakshatras, the Birth Star plays a crucial role in the overall well-being and health of a person. Therefore, we recommend performing daily worship of your Janma Nakshatra Devata to bring positivity and blessings to your life.

 Navatara Chakra : Calculator and Description

Counting from one’s Janma Nakshatra, the 9 consecutive stars are categorized into 9 different categories. Their names and significance are listed below. From the 10th and 19th stars onwards, we do similar categorization, thereby including all 27 Nakshatras. This arrangement, or chakra, is called Navatara Chakra in Vedic astrology.

Navatara Chakra Description:

-1st Janma Tara (birth)

-2nd Sampat Tara (wealth & resources)

-3rd Vipat Tara (trouble)

-4th Kshema Tara (health & happiness)

-5th Pratyak Tara (challenge)

-6th Sadhan Tara (success & achievements)

-7th Naidhana Tara (death & suffering).

-8th Mitra Tara (friend & followers)

-9th Parama Mitra Tara (great friend & well wisher)

For Muhurtha and Transit purposes, the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 9th stars from the birth star are considered good.

Tabulated representation of 27 Nakshatras, their Gods or Deities, Ruling Planets, and Navatara Chakra

Tabulated representation of 27 Janma Nakshatras, their Gods, Ruling Planets, and Navatara Chakra. Connection of Moon or mind.

When a planet occupies a particular star from one’s birth star, good & bad results are given based on the Navatara Chakra (Moon’s constellation at birth).

Inauspicious or trouble giving Transit is through following Tara: -ve Themes
-1st Janma Tara (birth): not always bad
-3rd Vipat Tara (trouble)
-5th Pratyak Tara (challenge)
-7th Naidhana Tara (death & suffering).

Auspicious & fortunate Transit results are given in the following Tara: +ve Themes
-2nd Sampat Tara (wealth & resources)
-4th Kshema Tara (health & happiness)
-6th Sadhan Tara (success & achievements)
-8th Mitra Tara (friend & followers)
-9th Parama Mitra Tara (great friend & well wisher)

Practical Utility of Navatara Chakra:

Navatara Chakra is a lucid & beautiful method to analyze our lives and benefit from the knowledge of Jyotish.
For example, the 4th, 13th, and 22nd Nakshatras from our Birth Star/Janma Nakshatra are called Kshema Tara.

Kshema Tara represents our well-being, happiness, and health.

So if we are lucky to have people around us who have their Janma Nakshatra as our Kshem Tara then it is marvelous.

They are the guardians of our health, happiness, and well-being. We should make sure that we treat them with respect, honor, and love so they can continue to benefit from something they want to do naturally.

For example, if a native has Kritikia as Janma Nakshatra, then 4th (Ardra), 13 (Swati), and 22 (Shatatbhisaj) become Kshem Tara for this native.So people who have any of these three constellations as their own birth stars shall be helpful for the overall wellbeing & happiness of the native. They are our jewels, which we should nurture and protect.

The importance of the Nakshatra of Arudha Lagna (AL) for achieving fame and a good social status:

Arudha Lagna represents our status & worldly image in society. It shows the opinions and perceptions of people about us. Moon represents society and people. Therefore, Moon rules this concept as well.

To attain fame and good material status in society, you can pray to the Devata of the Nakshatra of your Arudha Lagna.

The Arudha Lagna is located at the exact same degree in a different sign from the degree of Lagna rising in your birth chart.
You can find the Arudha Lagna by counting from Lagna to Lagna lord and then counting the same number of houses from Lagna lord.

For example, if you have Leo Lagna at 3 degrees and the Lagna Lord is in the 11th house, then your Arudha Lagna will be in Aries at 3 degrees in the 9th house. Ashwani Kumars are the Devata of Ashwini Nakshatra in Aries at 3 degrees in the sign. By worshipping the Ashwani Kumars with Nakshatra Suktam or other powerful Mantras, you can achieve good fame and material status in society.

Special Nakshatras in the 28 Nakshatra Scheme: list of important Nakshatras from Janma Nakshatra:

Apart from our Janma Nakshatra, many other Nakshatras are important for us. The names and the meaning of each of them is presented below. Positive influences on these Special Nakshatras bring about auspiciousness in our lives and negative impact on them bring about troubles and discomforts.

The list is of important Nakshatra,, or Stars in the 28 Nakshatra scheme. Abhijit Nakshatra, the abode of Hari (Lord Vishnu), is used in techniques like Sarvatobhadra Chakra.

We recommend you use your natal Moon’s Nakshatra for counting other special Nakshatras. Treat your Janma Nakshatra as placement 1 and then evaluate further.

1. Janma Nakshatra: This is where the Moon is placed. It is important for general health and mental and physical well-being. 

2. Sampat Tara: This is the second Nakshatra from Janma Nakshatra and shows wealth and prosperity. 

3. Karma Nakshatra: This is the 10th from the Birth Star. It shows success and achievement in Karmas.

4. Sanghatik Nakshatra: This is the 16th from Janma Nakshatra. It highlights debts, finances, big troubles in life, etc. 

5. Adhana Nakshatra: This is the 19th  from the Janma Nakshatra. It is useful for work and to see where natives settle down in life. 

6. Manas Nakshatra: This is the 25th from Janma Nakshatra. It represents the state of mind and how forces make one a strong or weak-minded person. 

7. Desha Nakshatra: This is the 27th from Janma Nakshatra and it shows support from a home country or otherwise in various efforts one makes. 

8. Abhishek Nakshatra: This is the 28th Nakshatra from the Janma Nakshatra. It shows the crown, honors, or freedom one gets. 

9. Samudaika Nakshatra: This is the 18th from Janma Nakshatra and it shows the overall well-being and results. 

10. Jati Nakshatra: This is the 26th from the Birth Star, which shows the overall support one gets from the community and the contribution one makes to it. 

11. Vinash Nakshatra: This is the 23rd Nakshatra from Janma Nakshatra. It shows who brings about destruction and who helps during those odd times. 

Pushya Nakshatra and Marriage:

For anything auspicious, productive, and constructive, we can always choose Pushya Nakshatra. However, for marriage, it is not suitable. Classic Muhurta books and even Dr. B.V. Raman hold the same view.

Pushya is a Kshipr or Laghu Nakshatra. It means it is short, so anything we want to achieve quickly is most welcome here. The list includes buying or selling goods or services, making love relationships, bringing the architect to the project, taking the medicinal cure, and learning fine arts.

The things allowed in Char or moveable Nakshatra like travel, mantra siddhi, cutting gemstones, organizing public fairs, etc are also welcome.

Pushya is also Udharvamukh Nakshatra and all things related to physically and symbolically going up the value chain are most suitable in this Nakshatra. Like the coronation of a king, taking oath for a post, joining work in a new post, creating temples, constructing higher floors in a building, climbing a hill, etc.

Most of these things we want for a long duration and with stability. A king wants to retain his throne for long time with certitude. We want the temple we built to remain intact for a very long time.

One historical fact I would like to quote: Maharishi Vashisth decided to coronate Shri Ram in Pushya Nakshatra (His Sampat Tara). Unfortunately, Shri Ram had to go to Vanvas then. DevGuru Brihaspati is the Devata of Pushya Nakshatra. The most capable, knowledgeable, auspicious, and the karaka of success.

The word Devata is from Divu (dhantu), which means the giver of light or knowledge. The one who diminishes the ignorance of Jeevatma and provides splendor, divinity, and growth to an individual soul.

The deity of the Nakshatra is the guiding force behind it. His characteristics and inclinations are deeply embedded in it and influence everything related to it.

Almost everything related to DevGuru Brihaspati is glorious, except for his own marriage. While he was deeply engaged in learning, teaching, and righteousness, his spouse Tara Devi eloped with Chandra Dev (Moon). Eventually, he had to accept Mercury as his child born from this unjust relationship.

Another explanation for this is that whatever we begin doing in Pushya nakshatra, we do it more than once. Therefore, to avoid the possibility of a second marriage in life, we do not recommend Pushya Nakshatra for marriage.

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