Chitra Nakshatra
Chitra is the fourteenth of the 27 nakshatras and spans 23°20′ Kanya (Virgo) to 6°40′ Tula (Libra) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is Mars, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with Mars, a period of 7 years in full. It is presided over by Tvashtar (Vishwakarma) and symbolised by a bright jewel, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Pe, Po, Ra, Ri.
Reference data for Chitra Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- चित्रा
- Position
- 14 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 23°20′ Kanya (Virgo) to 6°40′ Tula (Libra)
- Rashi
- Kanya (Virgo) and Tula (Libra)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Mars — 7-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- Tvashtar (Vishwakarma)
- Symbol
- A bright jewel
- Gana
- Rakshasa
- Yoni
- Tiger (female)
- Nadi
- Madhya (Pitta)
- Muhurta class
- Mridu (soft)
- Name syllables
- Pe, Po, Ra, Ri
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23°20′–26°40′ Kanya (Virgo) | Simha (Leo) | Pe (पे) |
| 2 | 26°40′–30°00′ Kanya (Virgo) | Kanya (Virgo) | Po (पो) |
| 3 | 0°00′–3°20′ Tula (Libra) | Tula (Libra) | Ra (रा) |
| 4 | 3°20′–6°40′ Tula (Libra) | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Ri (री) |
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 Chitra
Chitra, ‘the brilliant’, is the bright star Spica, and its deity is Tvashtar — Vishwakarma, architect of the gods. Its symbol is a shining jewel. Tradition reads Chitra through design, beauty, craftsmanship and the urge to make something well formed. Spica is also the reference star of the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa used by most Indian Panchangs, which places it at the start of sidereal Tula.
Chitra in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Chitra at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Chitra is ruled by Mars and lies in Kanya (Virgo) and Tula (Libra), so a reading weighs Mars together with the sign lord (Mercury and Venus). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Chitra 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 Chitra is traditionally chosen for
In muhurta texts this is a mridu (soft) nakshatra, suited to arts, music, friendship, new clothes and ornaments, and gentle beginnings. It is especially suited to jewellery, decoration and design work. 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
Chitra belongs to the Rakshasa gana, its yoni (animal) is the tiger (female) 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 Chitra 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 Chitra 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 Chitra nakshatra?+
Chitra is ruled by Mars in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Chitra, your dasha sequence begins with Mars, whose full period is 7 years; the balance remaining at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
What are the name letters for Chitra nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Pe, Po, Ra, Ri, 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 Chitra nakshatra in?+
Chitra spans 23°20′ Kanya (Virgo) to 6°40′ Tula (Libra). Because it crosses a sign boundary, two people born in Chitra can have different Moon signs; the pada tells you which.
Is Chitra a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Chitra as a mridu (soft) 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 Chitra in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.