Nakshatra 16 of 27
Vishakha Nakshatra
Vishakha is your birth star (Janma Nakshatra), the star the Moon occupied when you were born. It is presided over by Indra and Agni together, and its symbol is a decorated archway.
- Order
- 16
- Ruling planet
- Jupiter
- Deity
- Indra-Agni
- Span
- 20°00′ Libra – 3°20′ Scorpio
- Gana
- Rakshasa (fierce)
- Yoni (animal)
- Tiger
- Naming syllables
- Ti, Tu, Te, To
What Vishakha means
Vishakha is your birth star (Janma Nakshatra), the star the Moon occupied when you were born. It is presided over by Indra and Agni together, and its symbol is a decorated archway. Together they point to purpose, determination and goal-setting. It is single-minded about goals and keeps going until they are reached; making room for rest keeps that drive healthy. The star is ruled by Jupiter, so your life's first Vimshottari period was the Jupiter period, and its themes of wisdom, growth, teaching and faith stay close to how you feel and respond. Its temperament (Gana) is rakshasa, which tradition reads as independence, strong will and protective energy. Many families use the star's syllables for naming, and the tara cycle counted from it is used to choose supportive days.
Naming syllables for Vishakha
The four Padas of Vishakha carry the starting sounds Ti, Tu, Te, To. Parents who follow Nakshatra naming choose a first syllable from the Pada of the child's birth star.
Vishakha temperament
The symbol of Vishakha is a decorated archway. Vishakha natives are determined, goal-oriented and ambitious, pursuing their aims single-mindedly. Patience brings them great achievement.
Work that suits Vishakha
Traditional texts and practising astrologers link Vishakha with research, politics, leadership, sport, advocacy and religious or spiritual roles. The house the Moon occupies and the strength of the star lord refine this further.
The life period Vishakha starts you in
Because Jupiter rules Vishakha, life begins in the Jupiter Mahadasha, a 16-year period. The Jupiter period lasts sixteen years and is traditionally welcomed as a time of growth, guidance and wisdom. Learning, teaching, children, faith and good counsel often come forward, and opportunities to expand, through family, study or work, tend to appear. It rewards ethical choices and generosity. Over-optimism is the thing to balance with practical checks. Jupiter's sign, house and strength in your chart describe how broad and how easy this growth feels.
How a birth star is worked out
Your Nakshatra is the lunar mansion the Moon occupied at the moment of birth. The zodiac is divided into 27 equal parts of 13°20′ each, and each part is split into four Padas of 3°20′. Because the Moon moves roughly one Nakshatra a day, an accurate birth time and place matter: a few hours either way can change the star, and a few minutes can change the Pada. A sidereal zodiac with the Lahiri Ayanamsa is used for these pages, which is the standard most Indian almanacs follow.
How Vishakha is used in practice
Families use the birth star for naming, for matching horoscopes before marriage, for choosing auspicious days (Tara Bala) and for the first life period in the Vimshottari Dasha system. The star alone is only one layer of a chart, so treat these descriptions as tendencies to recognise rather than fixed outcomes. Cast a full birth chart to see how the Moon, its sign and its house combine with the rest of the horoscope.
| Partner Nakshatra | Tamil Porutham checks | Ashtakoota points (star-based) |
|---|---|---|
| Ashwini | 5/7 | 9/21 |
| Magha | 5/7 | 9/21 |
| Krittika | 4/7 | 9/21 |
| Mrigashira | 4/7 | 9/21 |
| Ardra | 4/7 | 9/21 |
| Pushya | 4/7 | 9/21 |
Common questions
Which planet rules Vishakha Nakshatra?
Vishakha is ruled by Jupiter. In the Vimshottari Dasha system this means anyone born with the Moon in Vishakha begins life in the Jupiter period, which lasts 16 years in full; the balance left at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the star.
Who is the deity of Vishakha?
The presiding deity of Vishakha is Indra-Agni. Classical texts use the deity to describe the mood and purpose of the star, and many families include the deity in prayers on birthdays that fall on this Nakshatra.
Which zodiac sign does Vishakha fall in?
Vishakha spans 20°00′ Libra – 3°20′ Scorpio, so it belongs to Libra, Scorpio. If a Nakshatra crosses two signs, the Pada tells you which sign the Moon was in.
What are the naming syllables for Vishakha?
The traditional starting sounds for the four Padas of Vishakha are Ti, Tu, Te, To. Parents often pick a first letter from the Pada of the birth star; regional lists spell the sounds slightly differently, so check the list your family follows.
What is the Gana of Vishakha?
Vishakha belongs to the Rakshasa (fierce) Gana. Gana is one of the factors checked in marriage matching, where it is compared with the partner's star to judge temperament.
Which stars match well with Vishakha for marriage?
The table on this page ranks partner stars by how many of the seven star-based Tamil Porutham checks agree and by the star-based Ashtakoota points. A full match also looks at both Moon signs, Rajju, Vedha and the complete charts, so use the ranking as a starting point and open the pair page for the factor-by-factor result.
Is Vishakha a good Nakshatra?
No birth star is good or bad on its own. Each has strengths and lessons, and the rest of the chart decides how they show up. Classical texts describe tendencies; the planets, houses and periods in your own horoscope decide the details.
How do I find out if my birth star is Vishakha?
Enter your date, exact time and place of birth in the free birth chart. The chart shows the Moon's Nakshatra and Pada, the current Dasha and the full planetary positions.
Does the Nakshatra change with Lahiri or KP Ayanamsa?
The Lahiri and Krishnamurti (KP) values differ by only a few minutes of arc, so the star almost never changes. It can change only when the Moon sits right on the boundary of two Nakshatras.
What happens on days when the Moon transits Vishakha?
When the Moon passes through your birth star (roughly once every 27 days) the day is called your Janma Nakshatra day. Many people avoid starting major ventures on it and keep it for prayer and quiet work instead; the Panchangam shows when it falls.
What is the symbol of Vishakha Nakshatra?
The symbol of Vishakha is a decorated archway, which reflects its core nature.