Nakshatras

Vishakha nakshatra

Vishakha is the 16th nakshatra: from 20° Libra to 3°20′ Scorpio. It is ruled by Jupiter and its deities are Indra and Agni. “The forked one”: a nakshatra of a goal and the stubborn path towards it.

Updated 2026-10-17

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Number	16 / 27
Span (sidereal)	Libra 20°00′ – Scorpio 3°20′
Ruler	Jupiter (Guru)
Deity	Indra and Agni
Symbol	a triumphal arch
Gana (temperament)	Rakshasa (fierce)
Yoni (animal)	Tiger
Nadi	Antya (Kapha)

The nature of Vishakha

Vishakha's symbol is a triumphal arch decorated for a victory. Its two deities — Indra, king of the gods, and Agni, fire — give strength and resolve. It is the nakshatra of single-mindedness: it picks a task and pursues it through every fork in the road. Jupiter gives that drive meaning and ethics.

The Moon in Vishakha

People with the Moon in Vishakha are ambitious, energetic and persistent. They inspire others and get things done, but can be impatient until the goal is reached. Their lives often divide into “before” and “after” an important achievement. The task is not to confuse the goal with the meaning of life — and to notice the people alongside.

The dasha sequence begins with Jupiter (16 years).

Emotionally, Vishakha needs a goal; without one it becomes restless or jealous of others' success. It feels deeply when it commits. What helps: clear ambitions, celebrating progress, and patience with delays. These are traditional tendencies, not a verdict; the full chart matters.

The four padas

Each pada is 3°20′ and falls in its own navamsha (D9) sign. The syllable is the traditional first sound of a name for a child born with the Moon in that pada.
Pada	Span (sidereal)	Navamsha sign	Name syllable
1	Libra 20°00′ – 23°20′	Aries (Mesha)	Ti
2	Libra 23°20′ – 26°40′	Taurus (Vrishabha)	Tu
3	Libra 26°40′ – 30°00′	Gemini (Mithuna)	Te
4	Scorpio 0°00′ – 3°20′	Cancer (Karka)	To

Pada 1 (Aries navamsha, syllable Ti) in Libra: energetic, competitive, quick to act. Pada 2 (Taurus, Tu) in Libra: steady, wealth-minded, fond of beauty. Pada 3 (Gemini, Te) in Libra: clever, communicative, a strategist. Pada 4 (Cancer, To) lies in Scorpio, the Moon's sign of debilitation: deep feelings, determination, research.

Jupiter rules the nakshatra; Venus and Mars, the sign lords, give the first three padas charm and the last one intensity.

Vishakha in the classical texts

The Taittiriya Brahmana gives Vishakha (also Radha in the older lists) to the pair Indra and Agni. Later authors read its gift (shakti) as the power to achieve many fruits. Brihat Samhita (chapter 98) counts Vishakha with Krittika among the mixed (mishra) nakshatras: work with fire and metal and ordinary affairs. In Vimshottari it belongs to Jupiter, so a Vishakha Moon begins life in a sixteen-year Jupiter period.

The Buddha's birth and enlightenment are remembered on the full Moon of Vaishakha, the month named after this nakshatra: the full Moon of that month falls near Vishakha.

Vishakha in relationships

In relationships Vishakha is passionate and goal-oriented; it gives a lot and expects a lot. It can be jealous or single-minded. Partners who share its aims and give it loyalty get a devoted, energetic companion.

For matching, Vishakha is rakshasa gana, tiger yoni and Antya nadi. Its yoni twin is Chitra; the cow (Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Bhadrapada) is the tiger's classical enemy. Two Antya nadi charts lose the nadi points. The compatibility calculator gives any pair.

Work and strengths

Strengths: focus, ambition, persistence and the ability to win. Good fields: politics and leadership, research, law, sales and business development, sport, religious and teaching work, any field with clear targets.

Jupiter gives purpose; Venus and Mars give charm and drive. Vishakha does best with a goal that is worth the effort; it should celebrate small wins and avoid treating everyone as a rival.

What Vishakha is good for

Vishakha is a “mixed” (mishra) nakshatra: for routine affairs, work with fire and metal and decisive steps. Its use for weddings is limited.

The ascendant and planets in Vishakha

An ascendant in Vishakha gives determination and a purposeful face. Jupiter in its Libra padas favours law and diplomacy, in the Scorpio pada research and strategy. Venus in the Libra padas, its own sign, combines ambition and charm. The Moon in Vishakha's last pada is in Scorpio, its sign of debilitation (deepest at 3°, inside Vishakha), and needs calm outlets for strong feelings. Saturn in the Libra padas is exalted in sign.

During Jupiter's dasha Vishakha themes of goals, competition and achievement come forward.

Remedies and practice

Vishakha's practice is aiming high without burning others. Tradition suggests honouring Indra and Agni with a lamp and a name mantra such as “Om Indragnibhyam namah”, and dedicating one success to a shared cause. For the ruling graha, Jupiter, the classical mantra is on our mantras page; Thursdays are traditional for it. Patience with rivals and gratitude to teachers are Vishakha's own remedies. The days of the Moon's passage through Vishakha suit decisive steps and routine business. A gemstone is a classical upaya too: the tradition chooses it from the whole chart (functional benefics, the running dasha), with mantra and charity as the foundation; practices are optional and do not guarantee outcomes. For context, see remedies (upayas).

Vishakha: compatibility with every nakshatra

Ashtakuta (36 gunas) for the Moon nakshatras of the couple, out of 36. A range means the score depends on the pada; 18 and above is the classical minimum for marriage. A real match also weighs Mangal dosha and both full charts.
Name	If you are the woman	If you are the man
Ashwini	17.5–23	18.5–21
Bharani	16.5–22	18.5–21
Krittika	14.5–20	14–21.5
Rohini	10–14.5	9–16.5
Mrigashira	13–23.5	13–24.5
Ardra	12.5–20	13.5–20
Punarvasu	13.5–21.5	13.5–20
Pushya	19–21.5	19–19.5
Ashlesha	14.5–17	15.5–16
Magha	17.5–21.5	16.5–22.5
Purva Phalguni	19.5–23.5	18.5–24.5
Uttara Phalguni	17–21.5	16.5–22.5
Hasta	19–19.5	17.5–19
Chitra	22.5–34.5	23.5–34.5
Swati	8–20	8–19
Vishakha	16–28	16–28
Anuradha	17–28	15–27
Jyeshtha	20.5–31.5	19.5–31.5
Mula	21.5–27	22.5–26
Purva Ashadha	16.5–19.5	18.5
Uttara Ashadha	9.5–17	11.5–16
Shravana	12–17	13–15
Dhanishta	24–29.5	24.5–28.5
Shatabhisha	25.5–26	26–26.5
Purva Bhadrapada	13.5–20	12.5–20.5
Uttara Bhadrapada	12.5–18	11.5–19
Revati	5–10.5	3–10.5

Questions

Which sign is Vishakha in?

Padas 1–3 are in Libra (20°–30°), pada 4 in Scorpio (0°–3°20′).

What is Vishakha's gana?

Rakshasa. Yoni the tiger (male), nadi Antya.

Why does Vishakha have two deities?

Indra and Agni together stand for power and the fire of aspiration. The Vedas often invoke them as a pair for victory.

Is the Moon debilitated in Vishakha?

In its fourth pada, yes: that pada is in Scorpio, and the Moon's deepest debilitation, 3° Scorpio, lies there.

Which month is named after Vishakha?

Vaishakha, whose full Moon falls near this nakshatra.

Is your Moon in Vishakha? Check it in your chart

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