Jyeshtha Nakshatra
Jyeshtha is the eighteenth of the 27 nakshatras and spans 16°40′–30°00′ Vrishchika (Scorpio) 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 Indra and symbolised by a round amulet or earring, and its four padas carry the naming syllables No, Ya, Yi, Yu.
Reference data for Jyeshtha Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- ज्येष्ठा
- Position
- 18 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 16°40′–30°00′ Vrishchika (Scorpio)
- Rashi
- Vrishchika (Scorpio)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Mercury — 17-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- Indra
- Symbol
- A round amulet or earring
- Gana
- Rakshasa
- Yoni
- Deer (male)
- Nadi
- Adi (Vata)
- Muhurta class
- Tikshna (sharp)
- Name syllables
- No, Ya, Yi, Yu
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16°40′–20°00′ Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Dhanu (Sagittarius) | No (नो) |
| 2 | 20°00′–23°20′ Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Makara (Capricorn) | Ya (या) |
| 3 | 23°20′–26°40′ Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Kumbha (Aquarius) | Yi (यी) |
| 4 | 26°40′–30°00′ Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Meena (Pisces) | Yu (यू) |
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 Jyeshtha
Jyeshtha means ‘the eldest’, and its deity is Indra, king of the gods. It is the red star Antares, and its symbol is a round amulet or earring. Tradition reads Jyeshtha through seniority, protectiveness, responsibility for others and the burdens that come with authority. Its last pada ends at the Vrishchika–Dhanu gandanta, another water-to-fire junction treated as a point of transition.
Jyeshtha in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Jyeshtha at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Jyeshtha is ruled by Mercury and lies in Vrishchika (Scorpio), so a reading weighs Mercury together with the sign lord (Mars). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Jyeshtha 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 Jyeshtha 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 observe a customary shanti for births in its final pada. 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
Jyeshtha belongs to the Rakshasa gana, its yoni (animal) is the deer (male) 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 Jyeshtha 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 Jyeshtha 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 Jyeshtha nakshatra?+
Jyeshtha is ruled by Mercury in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Jyeshtha, 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 Jyeshtha nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables No, Ya, Yi, Yu, 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 Jyeshtha nakshatra in?+
Jyeshtha spans 16°40′–30°00′ Vrishchika (Scorpio). All four padas lie in the same sign, so a Moon anywhere in it gives the same Moon sign.
Is Jyeshtha a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Jyeshtha 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 Jyeshtha in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.