Vishakha Nakshatra
Vishakha is the sixteenth of the 27 nakshatras and spans 20°00′ Tula (Libra) to 3°20′ Vrishchika (Scorpio) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is Jupiter, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with Jupiter, a period of 16 years in full. It is presided over by Indra and Agni (Indragni) and symbolised by a triumphal arch, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Ti, Tu, Te, To.
Reference data for Vishakha Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- विशाखा
- Position
- 16 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 20°00′ Tula (Libra) to 3°20′ Vrishchika (Scorpio)
- Rashi
- Tula (Libra) and Vrishchika (Scorpio)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Jupiter — 16-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- Indra and Agni (Indragni)
- Symbol
- A triumphal arch
- Gana
- Rakshasa
- Yoni
- Tiger (male)
- Nadi
- Antya (Kapha)
- Muhurta class
- Mishra (mixed)
- Name syllables
- Ti, Tu, Te, To
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20°00′–23°20′ Tula (Libra) | Mesha (Aries) | Ti (ती) |
| 2 | 23°20′–26°40′ Tula (Libra) | Vrishabha (Taurus) | Tu (तू) |
| 3 | 26°40′–30°00′ Tula (Libra) | Mithuna (Gemini) | Te (ते) |
| 4 | 0°00′–3°20′ Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Karka (Crab) | To (तो) |
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 Vishakha
Vishakha, ‘the forked branch’, is presided over by the paired deities Indra and Agni — power and fire working together. Its symbol is a triumphal arch, and sometimes a potter’s wheel. Tradition reads it through ambition, focus on a goal, determination and the patience to keep turning the wheel until the work takes shape. It spans Tula and Vrishchika, moving from balance to intensity.
Vishakha in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Vishakha at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Vishakha is ruled by Jupiter and lies in Tula (Libra) and Vrishchika (Scorpio), so a reading weighs Jupiter together with the sign lord (Venus and Mars). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Vishakha 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 Vishakha 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. Like Krittika it suits fire-related work more than weddings or long-term foundations. 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
Vishakha belongs to the Rakshasa gana, its yoni (animal) is the tiger (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 Vishakha 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 Vishakha 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 Vishakha nakshatra?+
Vishakha is ruled by Jupiter in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Vishakha, your dasha sequence begins with Jupiter, whose full period is 16 years; the balance remaining at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
What are the name letters for Vishakha nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Ti, Tu, Te, To, 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 Vishakha nakshatra in?+
Vishakha spans 20°00′ Tula (Libra) to 3°20′ Vrishchika (Scorpio). Because it crosses a sign boundary, two people born in Vishakha can have different Moon signs; the pada tells you which.
Is Vishakha a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Vishakha 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 Vishakha in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.