Purva Ashadha Nakshatra
Purva Ashadha is the twentieth of the 27 nakshatras and spans 13°20′–26°40′ Dhanu (Sagittarius) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is Venus, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with Venus, a period of 20 years in full. It is presided over by Apas (the waters) and symbolised by a winnowing fan, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Bhu, Dha, Pha, Dha.
Reference data for Purva Ashadha Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- पूर्वाषाढ़ा
- Position
- 20 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 13°20′–26°40′ Dhanu (Sagittarius)
- Rashi
- Dhanu (Sagittarius)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Venus — 20-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- Apas (the waters)
- Symbol
- A winnowing fan
- Gana
- Manushya
- Yoni
- Monkey (male)
- Nadi
- Madhya (Pitta)
- Muhurta class
- Ugra (fierce)
- Name syllables
- Bhu, Dha, Pha, Dha
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13°20′–16°40′ Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Simha (Leo) | Bhu (भू) |
| 2 | 16°40′–20°00′ Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Kanya (Virgo) | Dha (धा) |
| 3 | 20°00′–23°20′ Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Tula (Libra) | Pha (फा) |
| 4 | 23°20′–26°40′ Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Dha (ढा) |
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 Purva Ashadha
Purva Ashadha, ‘the former invincible one’, is presided over by Apas, the cosmic waters. Its symbol is a winnowing fan, and sometimes an elephant’s tusk — separating grain from husk, and strength that cannot be pushed back. Tradition reads it through conviction, persuasion, purification and early victories, while Venus as its lord adds charm to that confidence.
Purva Ashadha in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Purva Ashadha at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Purva Ashadha is ruled by Venus and lies in Dhanu (Sagittarius), so a reading weighs Venus together with the sign lord (Jupiter). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Purva Ashadha 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 Purva Ashadha 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. It is kept for bold or competitive undertakings rather than weddings. 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
Purva Ashadha belongs to the Manushya gana, its yoni (animal) is the monkey (male) and its nadi is Madhya (Pitta). 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 Purva Ashadha 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 Purva Ashadha 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 Purva Ashadha nakshatra?+
Purva Ashadha is ruled by Venus in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Purva Ashadha, your dasha sequence begins with Venus, whose full period is 20 years; the balance remaining at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
What are the name letters for Purva Ashadha nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Bhu, Dha, Pha, Dha, 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 Purva Ashadha nakshatra in?+
Purva Ashadha spans 13°20′–26°40′ Dhanu (Sagittarius). All four padas lie in the same sign, so a Moon anywhere in it gives the same Moon sign.
Is Purva Ashadha a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Purva Ashadha 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 Purva Ashadha in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.