Ashlesha Nakshatra
Ashlesha is the ninth of the 27 nakshatras and spans 16°40′–30°00′ Karka (Crab) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is Mercury, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with Mercury, a period of 17 years in full. It is presided over by the Sarpas (serpent deities) and symbolised by a coiled serpent, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Di, Du, De, Do.
Reference data for Ashlesha Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- आश्लेषा
- Position
- 9 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 16°40′–30°00′ Karka (Crab)
- Rashi
- Karka (Crab)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Mercury — 17-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- The Sarpas (serpent deities)
- Symbol
- A coiled serpent
- Gana
- Rakshasa
- Yoni
- Cat (male)
- Nadi
- Antya (Kapha)
- Muhurta class
- Tikshna (sharp)
- Name syllables
- Di, Du, De, Do
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16°40′–20°00′ Karka (Crab) | Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Di (डी) |
| 2 | 20°00′–23°20′ Karka (Crab) | Makara (Capricorn) | Du (डू) |
| 3 | 23°20′–26°40′ Karka (Crab) | Kumbha (Aquarius) | De (डे) |
| 4 | 26°40′–30°00′ Karka (Crab) | Meena (Pisces) | Do (डो) |
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 Ashlesha
Ashlesha, ‘the embrace’ or ‘the entwiner’, is presided over by the Sarpas, the serpent beings. In Indian thought the serpent guards hidden knowledge and kundalini energy as well as being a creature to approach with care, so Ashlesha is read through perception, strategy, persuasion and deep attachment. Its last pada ends at the Karka–Simha gandanta, a water-to-fire junction that tradition treats as a point of transition.
Ashlesha in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Ashlesha at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Ashlesha is ruled by Mercury and lies in Karka (Crab), so a reading weighs Mercury together with the sign lord (the Moon). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Ashlesha 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 Ashlesha 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. Some families perform a simple shanti when a child is born in its last pada — a matter of custom, not fear. 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
Ashlesha belongs to the Rakshasa gana, its yoni (animal) is the cat (male) and its nadi is Antya (Kapha). 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 Ashlesha 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 Ashlesha 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 Ashlesha nakshatra?+
Ashlesha is ruled by Mercury in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Ashlesha, your dasha sequence begins with Mercury, whose full period is 17 years; the balance remaining at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
What are the name letters for Ashlesha nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Di, Du, De, Do, 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 Ashlesha nakshatra in?+
Ashlesha spans 16°40′–30°00′ Karka (Crab). All four padas lie in the same sign, so a Moon anywhere in it gives the same Moon sign.
Is Ashlesha a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Ashlesha 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 Ashlesha in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.