Hasta Nakshatra
Hasta is the thirteenth of the 27 nakshatras and spans 10°00′–23°20′ Kanya (Virgo) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is the Moon, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with the Moon, a period of 10 years in full. It is presided over by Savitr and symbolised by an open hand, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Pu, Sha, Na, Tha.
Reference data for Hasta Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- हस्त
- Position
- 13 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 10°00′–23°20′ Kanya (Virgo)
- Rashi
- Kanya (Virgo)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Moon — 10-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- Savitr
- Symbol
- An open hand
- Gana
- Deva
- Yoni
- Buffalo (female)
- Nadi
- Adi (Vata)
- Muhurta class
- Kshipra (swift)
- Name syllables
- Pu, Sha, Na, Tha
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10°00′–13°20′ Kanya (Virgo) | Mesha (Aries) | Pu (पू) |
| 2 | 13°20′–16°40′ Kanya (Virgo) | Vrishabha (Taurus) | Sha (ष) |
| 3 | 16°40′–20°00′ Kanya (Virgo) | Mithuna (Gemini) | Na (ण) |
| 4 | 20°00′–23°20′ Kanya (Virgo) | Karka (Crab) | Tha (ठ) |
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 Hasta
Hasta means ‘the hand’, and its deity is Savitr — the Sun as the power that stirs life into action. Its five stars, in the constellation Corvus, are pictured as an open hand. Tradition reads Hasta through skill, craftsmanship, dexterity, humour and practical intelligence: getting things done by one’s own effort. It lies wholly in Kanya, a sign that shares its eye for detail.
Hasta in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Hasta at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Hasta is ruled by the Moon and lies in Kanya (Virgo), so a reading weighs the Moon together with the sign lord (Mercury). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Hasta 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 Hasta is traditionally chosen for
In muhurta texts this is a kshipra (swift) nakshatra, suited to quick undertakings such as trade, learning, short journeys and starting a new skill. It is on the traditional wedding list and a favourite for trade and learning a craft. 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
Hasta belongs to the Deva gana, its yoni (animal) is the buffalo (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 Hasta 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 Hasta 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 Hasta nakshatra?+
Hasta is ruled by the Moon in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Hasta, your dasha sequence begins with the Moon, whose full period is 10 years; the balance remaining at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
What are the name letters for Hasta nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Pu, Sha, Na, Tha, 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 Hasta nakshatra in?+
Hasta spans 10°00′–23°20′ Kanya (Virgo). All four padas lie in the same sign, so a Moon anywhere in it gives the same Moon sign.
Is Hasta a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Hasta as a kshipra (swift) 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 Hasta in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.