Nakshatras · 6 of 27
Ardra nakshatra
The 6th lunar mansion, 6°40′ Gemini to 20°00′ Gemini, ruled by Rahu.
- Span
- 6°40′ Gemini to 20°00′ Gemini
- Ruling planet
- Rahu (Vimshottari dasha of 18 years)
- Deity
- Rudra
- Symbol
- A teardrop or gem
- Nature
- Tikshna (sharp)
- Gana
- Manushya (human)
- Yoni (animal)
- Dog
- Nadi
- Adi (Vata)
The meaning of Ardra
Ardra (आर्द्रा) is the 6th of the 27 nakshatras. Its presiding deity is Rudra, the storm form of Shiva, whose tears and fury clear the way for renewal, and its symbol is a teardrop or gem. In Jyotish the deity of a nakshatra is the key to its nature: what the deity does, the nakshatra does.
It is ruled by Rahu, so a person whose Moon is in Ardra begins life in the Rahu dasha. The other two nakshatras ruled by Rahu are Swati and Shatabhisha; together they share something of Rahu’s character.
Good for: Tikshna work
In the muhurta texts Ardra is a tikshna (sharp) nakshatra, favoured for severing ties, decisive action and difficult rites. When the Moon passes through Ardra (about once every 27⅓ days) it is a good day for those kinds of beginnings.
The four padas
Each nakshatra divides into four padas of 3°20′. Each pada falls in a navamsa sign, and each has the traditional first syllable used for naming a child born in it.
| Pada | Sign | Navamsa | Naming syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gemini | Sagittarius | Ku |
| 2 | Gemini | Capricorn | Gha |
| 3 | Gemini | Aquarius | Na |
| 4 | Gemini | Pisces | Chha |
In marriage matching
In guna milan, Ardra is of Manushya gana, dog yoni and Adi nadi. Two partners with the same nadi lose all eight points of nadi koota. Match two charts.
Find your birth nakshatra · Gemini (Mithuna) · Chapter 5: the 27 nakshatras
Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra and Phaladeepika for the signs, planets and houses; Muhurta Chintamani for the nakshatra classes and the guna milan attributes. Wording is our own.