Mula Nakshatra
Mula is the nineteenth of the 27 nakshatras and spans 0°00′–13°20′ Dhanu (Sagittarius) 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 Nirriti and symbolised by a bundle of roots, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi.
Reference data for Mula Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- मूल
- Position
- 19 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 0°00′–13°20′ Dhanu (Sagittarius)
- Rashi
- Dhanu (Sagittarius)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Ketu — 7-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- Nirriti
- Symbol
- A bundle of roots
- Gana
- Rakshasa
- Yoni
- Dog (male)
- Nadi
- Adi (Vata)
- Muhurta class
- Tikshna (sharp)
- Name syllables
- Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0°00′–3°20′ Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Mesha (Aries) | Ye (ये) |
| 2 | 3°20′–6°40′ Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Vrishabha (Taurus) | Yo (यो) |
| 3 | 6°40′–10°00′ Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Mithuna (Gemini) | Bha (भा) |
| 4 | 10°00′–13°20′ Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Karka (Crab) | Bhi (भी) |
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 Mula
Mula means ‘the root’, and its deity is Nirriti, the goddess associated with dissolution and the undoing of what has decayed. Its symbol is a bundle of roots tied together, and it lies in the direction of the centre of our galaxy. Tradition reads Mula through getting to the root of things — research, inquiry, uprooting old structures and rebuilding from the foundations.
Mula in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Mula at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Mula is ruled by Ketu and lies in Dhanu (Sagittarius), so a reading weighs Ketu together with the sign lord (Jupiter). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Mula 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 Mula 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. Even so, Mula is one of the eleven nakshatras traditionally allowed for a wedding. A customary Mula shanti after birth is common in some regions; it is a family tradition, not a sign that anything is wrong. 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
Mula belongs to the Rakshasa gana, its yoni (animal) is the dog (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 Mula 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 Mula 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 Mula nakshatra?+
Mula is ruled by Ketu in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Mula, 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 Mula nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi, 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 Mula nakshatra in?+
Mula spans 0°00′–13°20′ Dhanu (Sagittarius). All four padas lie in the same sign, so a Moon anywhere in it gives the same Moon sign.
Is Mula a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Mula 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 Mula in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.