Magha Nakshatra
Magha is the tenth of the 27 nakshatras and spans 0°00′–13°20′ Simha (Leo) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is Ketu, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with Ketu, a period of 7 years in full. It is presided over by the Pitris (ancestors) and symbolised by a royal throne, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Ma, Mi, Mu, Me.
Reference data for Magha Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- मघा
- Position
- 10 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 0°00′–13°20′ Simha (Leo)
- Rashi
- Simha (Leo)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Ketu — 7-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- The Pitris (ancestors)
- Symbol
- A royal throne
- Gana
- Rakshasa
- Yoni
- Rat (male)
- Nadi
- Antya (Kapha)
- Muhurta class
- Ugra (fierce)
- Name syllables
- Ma, Mi, Mu, Me
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0°00′–3°20′ Simha (Leo) | Mesha (Aries) | Ma (मा) |
| 2 | 3°20′–6°40′ Simha (Leo) | Vrishabha (Taurus) | Mi (मी) |
| 3 | 6°40′–10°00′ Simha (Leo) | Mithuna (Gemini) | Mu (मू) |
| 4 | 10°00′–13°20′ Simha (Leo) | Karka (Crab) | Me (मे) |
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 Magha
Magha, ‘the mighty’ or ‘the generous’, is the royal star Regulus, and its presiding deities are the Pitris, the ancestors. Its symbol is a throne. Tradition reads Magha through lineage, dignity, leadership and respect for what earlier generations built — authority received as a responsibility, not only a privilege. It opens Simha, on the fire side of the Karka–Simha gandanta.
Magha in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Magha at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Magha is ruled by Ketu and lies in Simha (Leo), so a reading weighs Ketu together with the sign lord (the Sun). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Magha 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 Magha 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. Even so, Magha is one of the eleven nakshatras traditionally allowed for a wedding, and it is well placed for ancestral rites such as shraddha. 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
Magha belongs to the Rakshasa gana, its yoni (animal) is the rat (male) 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 Magha 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 Magha 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 Magha nakshatra?+
Magha is ruled by Ketu in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Magha, your dasha sequence begins with Ketu, 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 Magha nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Ma, Mi, Mu, Me, 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 Magha nakshatra in?+
Magha spans 0°00′–13°20′ Simha (Leo). All four padas lie in the same sign, so a Moon anywhere in it gives the same Moon sign.
Is Magha a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Magha 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 Magha in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.