Krittika Nakshatra
Krittika is the third of the 27 nakshatras and spans 26°40′ Mesha (Aries) to 10°00′ Vrishabha (Taurus) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is the Sun, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with the Sun, a period of 6 years in full. It is presided over by Agni and symbolised by a razor or flame, and its four padas carry the naming syllables A, I, U, E.
Reference data for Krittika Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- कृत्तिका
- Position
- 3 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 26°40′ Mesha (Aries) to 10°00′ Vrishabha (Taurus)
- Rashi
- Mesha (Aries) and Vrishabha (Taurus)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Sun — 6-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- Agni
- Symbol
- A razor or flame
- Gana
- Rakshasa
- Yoni
- Sheep (female)
- Nadi
- Antya (Kapha)
- Muhurta class
- Mishra (mixed)
- Name syllables
- A, I, U, E
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26°40′–30°00′ Mesha (Aries) | Dhanu (Sagittarius) | A (अ) |
| 2 | 0°00′–3°20′ Vrishabha (Taurus) | Makara (Capricorn) | I (इ) |
| 3 | 3°20′–6°40′ Vrishabha (Taurus) | Kumbha (Aquarius) | U (उ) |
| 4 | 6°40′–10°00′ Vrishabha (Taurus) | Meena (Pisces) | E (ए) |
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 Krittika
Krittika is the Pleiades star cluster, and its deity is Agni, the sacred fire. In the Puranic story the six Krittikas nursed the infant Skanda, which is why he is also called Kartikeya. The razor and the flame share one idea — cutting away what is not needed — so Krittika is read through clarity, high standards, directness and the courage to purify or refine.
Krittika in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Krittika at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Krittika is ruled by the Sun and lies in Mesha (Aries) and Vrishabha (Taurus), so a reading weighs the Sun together with the sign lord (Mars and Venus). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Krittika 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 Krittika is traditionally chosen for
In muhurta texts this is a mishra (mixed) nakshatra, suited to routine work and fire-related activity, with mixed results for major new ventures. Its association with Agni makes it a natural choice for fire-related work such as a havan, cooking or metalwork. 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
Krittika belongs to the Rakshasa gana, its yoni (animal) is the sheep (female) 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 Krittika 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 Krittika 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 Krittika nakshatra?+
Krittika is ruled by the Sun in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Krittika, your dasha sequence begins with the Sun, whose full period is 6 years; the balance remaining at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
What are the name letters for Krittika nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables A, I, U, E, 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 Krittika nakshatra in?+
Krittika spans 26°40′ Mesha (Aries) to 10°00′ Vrishabha (Taurus). Because it crosses a sign boundary, two people born in Krittika can have different Moon signs; the pada tells you which.
Is Krittika a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Krittika as a mishra (mixed) 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 Krittika in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.