Shatabhisha Nakshatra
Shatabhisha is the twenty-fourth of the 27 nakshatras and spans 6°40′–20°00′ Kumbha (Aquarius) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is Rahu, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with Rahu, a period of 18 years in full. It is presided over by Varuna and symbolised by an empty circle, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Go, Sa, Si, Su.
Reference data for Shatabhisha Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- शतभिषा
- Position
- 24 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 6°40′–20°00′ Kumbha (Aquarius)
- Rashi
- Kumbha (Aquarius)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Rahu — 18-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- Varuna
- Symbol
- An empty circle
- Gana
- Rakshasa
- Yoni
- Horse (female)
- Nadi
- Adi (Vata)
- Muhurta class
- Chara (movable)
- Name syllables
- Go, Sa, Si, Su
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6°40′–10°00′ Kumbha (Aquarius) | Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Go (गो) |
| 2 | 10°00′–13°20′ Kumbha (Aquarius) | Makara (Capricorn) | Sa (सा) |
| 3 | 13°20′–16°40′ Kumbha (Aquarius) | Kumbha (Aquarius) | Si (सी) |
| 4 | 16°40′–20°00′ Kumbha (Aquarius) | Meena (Pisces) | Su (सू) |
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 Shatabhisha
Shatabhisha, often translated ‘a hundred physicians’ or ‘a hundred stars’, is presided over by Varuna, the Vedic god of the cosmic waters and of truth and order. Its symbol is an empty circle — a boundary that encloses. Tradition reads it through independence, research, privacy, discipline and a reflective, scientific turn of mind. It lies wholly in Kumbha.
Shatabhisha in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Shatabhisha at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Shatabhisha is ruled by Rahu and lies in Kumbha (Aquarius), so a reading weighs Rahu together with the sign lord (Saturn). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Shatabhisha 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 Shatabhisha is traditionally chosen for
In muhurta texts this is a chara (movable) nakshatra, suited to travel, buying vehicles and anything meant to move or change. Because it falls within Panchak, some families avoid it for a few specific household tasks such as roofing or collecting timber. 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
Shatabhisha belongs to the Rakshasa gana, its yoni (animal) is the horse (female) 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 Shatabhisha 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 Shatabhisha 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 Shatabhisha nakshatra?+
Shatabhisha is ruled by Rahu in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Shatabhisha, your dasha sequence begins with Rahu, whose full period is 18 years; the balance remaining at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
What are the name letters for Shatabhisha nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Go, Sa, Si, Su, 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 Shatabhisha nakshatra in?+
Shatabhisha spans 6°40′–20°00′ Kumbha (Aquarius). All four padas lie in the same sign, so a Moon anywhere in it gives the same Moon sign.
Is Shatabhisha a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Shatabhisha as a chara (movable) 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 Shatabhisha in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.