Bharani Nakshatra
Bharani is the second of the 27 nakshatras and spans 13°20′–26°40′ Mesha (Aries) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is Venus, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with Venus, a period of 20 years in full. It is presided over by Yama and symbolised by the yoni, a symbol of bearing, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Li, Lu, Le, Lo.
Reference data for Bharani Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- भरणी
- Position
- 2 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 13°20′–26°40′ Mesha (Aries)
- Rashi
- Mesha (Aries)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Venus — 20-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- Yama
- Symbol
- The yoni, a symbol of bearing
- Gana
- Manushya
- Yoni
- Elephant (male)
- Nadi
- Madhya (Pitta)
- Muhurta class
- Ugra (fierce)
- Name syllables
- Li, Lu, Le, Lo
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13°20′–16°40′ Mesha (Aries) | Simha (Leo) | Li (ली) |
| 2 | 16°40′–20°00′ Mesha (Aries) | Kanya (Virgo) | Lu (लू) |
| 3 | 20°00′–23°20′ Mesha (Aries) | Tula (Libra) | Le (ले) |
| 4 | 23°20′–26°40′ Mesha (Aries) | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Lo (लो) |
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 Bharani
Bharani means ‘the bearer’. Its deity Yama is, in the older texts, the first mortal and the keeper of dharma, restraint and consequence — not a figure to be feared. The yoni symbol is an image of carrying something until it is ready to be born. Tradition therefore reads Bharani through endurance, responsibility and the capacity to hold intense experience, including the discipline to finish what has been started.
Bharani in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Bharani at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Bharani is ruled by Venus and lies in Mesha (Aries), so a reading weighs Venus together with the sign lord (Mars). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Bharani 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 Bharani is traditionally chosen for
In muhurta texts this is an ugra (fierce) nakshatra, traditionally reserved for tasks that call for force or confrontation rather than for auspicious beginnings. It is usually passed over for auspicious starts such as a wedding or griha pravesh and kept for tasks that need firmness. 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
Bharani belongs to the Manushya gana, its yoni (animal) is the elephant (male) and its nadi is Madhya (Pitta). 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 Bharani 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 Bharani 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 Bharani nakshatra?+
Bharani is ruled by Venus in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Bharani, your dasha sequence begins with Venus, whose full period is 20 years; the balance remaining at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
What are the name letters for Bharani nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Li, Lu, Le, Lo, 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 Bharani nakshatra in?+
Bharani spans 13°20′–26°40′ Mesha (Aries). All four padas lie in the same sign, so a Moon anywhere in it gives the same Moon sign.
Is Bharani a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Bharani as a ugra (fierce) 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 Bharani in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.