Ardra Nakshatra
Ardra is the sixth of the 27 nakshatras and spans 6°40′–20°00′ Mithuna (Gemini) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is Rahu, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with Rahu, a period of 18 years in full. It is presided over by Rudra and symbolised by a teardrop, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Ku, Gha, Nga, Chha.
Reference data for Ardra Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- आर्द्रा
- Position
- 6 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 6°40′–20°00′ Mithuna (Gemini)
- Rashi
- Mithuna (Gemini)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Rahu — 18-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- Rudra
- Symbol
- A teardrop
- Gana
- Manushya
- Yoni
- Dog (female)
- Nadi
- Adi (Vata)
- Muhurta class
- Tikshna (sharp)
- Name syllables
- Ku, Gha, Nga, Chha
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6°40′–10°00′ Mithuna (Gemini) | Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Ku (कु) |
| 2 | 10°00′–13°20′ Mithuna (Gemini) | Makara (Capricorn) | Gha (घ) |
| 3 | 13°20′–16°40′ Mithuna (Gemini) | Kumbha (Aquarius) | Nga (ङ) |
| 4 | 16°40′–20°00′ Mithuna (Gemini) | Meena (Pisces) | Chha (छ) |
Spans follow the standard 27-fold sidereal division (13°20′ per nakshatra, 3°20′ per pada). Lords follow the Vimshottari sequence; gana, yoni, nadi and name syllables follow the common Avakahada table. Regional Panchangs sometimes differ on symbols and syllable spellings.
Deity, symbol and meaning of Ardra
Ardra, ‘the moist one’, is the red star Betelgeuse, and its deity is Rudra, the storm form of Shiva. Its symbol is a teardrop. Storm and tears stand here for release — the downpour that clears heavy air. Tradition reads Ardra through intensity, sharp intellect, honest emotion and the ability to rebuild after upheaval: a nakshatra about transformation rather than comfort.
Ardra in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Ardra at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Ardra is ruled by Rahu and lies in Mithuna (Gemini), so a reading weighs Rahu together with the sign lord (Mercury). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Ardra it takes on the same symbolism, but the result depends on that planet’s own strength, house and aspects: a nakshatra refines a placement, it does not override it.
Muhurta: what Ardra is traditionally chosen for
In muhurta texts this is a tikshna (sharp) nakshatra, traditionally used for ending, separating or confronting something rather than for auspicious beginnings. It is kept for ending, cutting away or confronting something, not for weddings or other auspicious starts. A full muhurta still checks tithi, weekday, local sunrise and the individual chart, so the nakshatra alone never decides a date.
Gana, yoni and nadi in Kundli matching
Ardra belongs to the Manushya gana, its yoni (animal) is the dog (female) and its nadi is Adi (Vata). In Ashtakoot Guna Milan these feed Gana Koota (6 points), Yoni Koota (4 points) and Nadi Koota (8 points) — together 18 of the 36 points. They compare the two partners’ birth stars, so none of them describes a person on its own, and a low score in one koota is weighed against the whole chart rather than read as a verdict.
What this means in your chart
A general description of Ardra cannot tell you which planet sits there in your chart, which house it rules or which dasha is running. Generate your free Kundli to see where Ardra falls for you, then ask the AI astrologer about that specific placement rather than treating this page as a personal prediction.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the lord of Ardra nakshatra?+
Ardra is ruled by Rahu in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Ardra, your dasha sequence begins with Rahu, whose full period is 18 years; the balance remaining at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
What are the name letters for Ardra nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Ku, Gha, Nga, Chha, one per pada in that order. The pada is fixed by the Moon’s exact degree at birth, so the birth time decides which syllable applies; many families treat all four as available.
Which rashi is Ardra nakshatra in?+
Ardra spans 6°40′–20°00′ Mithuna (Gemini). All four padas lie in the same sign, so a Moon anywhere in it gives the same Moon sign.
Is Ardra a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Ardra as a tikshna (sharp) nakshatra, which describes the kind of activity it traditionally suits, not the worth of a person born under it. How it plays out depends on the planet placed there, its house and the running dasha.
Related pages
General reference only; the AI astrologer reads your calculated chart before answering.
Ask about Ardra in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.