Nakshatras 10–18 explained: Magha, Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati to Jyeshtha

The middle nine of the 27 lunar mansions, Magha to Jyeshtha (sidereal Leo to Scorpio): the deity, ruling planet, symbol, stars and energy of each, the same nine Vimshottari lords, and how to find your own Moon’s nakshatra.

Chapters

1. 0:00 The middle nine
2. 0:39 The same nine lords
3. 1:08 Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni
4. 2:24 Hasta, Chitra, Swati
5. 3:42 Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshtha
6. 5:08 Find your nakshatra
7. 5:35 Recap

Transcript

The middle nine

Twenty-seven nakshatras divide the sky into equal lunar mansions of thirteen degrees and twenty minutes. In our last video we met the first nine, from Ashwini to Ashlesha. Today we meet the middle nine, from Magha to Jyeshtha. Together they fill the next four signs of the sidereal zodiac: Leo, Virgo, Libra and Scorpio. Among them are some of the brightest stars on the Moon's path: Regulus, Spica and Antares.

The same nine lords

First, the pattern. The lords of these nine nakshatras follow the same Vimshottari order as the first nine: Ketu, Venus, the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury. So Magha, the tenth, is ruled by Ketu, just like Ashwini, the first. And Jyeshtha, the eighteenth, is ruled by Mercury, just like Ashlesha.

Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni

Magha is the tenth nakshatra, the first thirteen degrees and twenty minutes of Leo. Its deities are the Pitris, the ancestors, and its lord is Ketu. Its name means the mighty, and its symbol is a throne. Its chief star is Regulus, the little king, at the heart of the Lion. Magha is the energy of lineage: dignity, inheritance and tradition.

Purva Phalguni, the eleventh, also lies in Leo. Its deity is Bhaga, the god of fortune and enjoyment, and its lord is Venus. Its symbol is the front legs of a bed, a place to rest. Purva Phalguni is the energy of pleasure well earned: love, creativity and celebration. Uttara Phalguni, the twelfth, begins at the end of Leo and runs to ten degrees of Virgo.

Its deity is Aryaman, the god of contracts, friendship and marriage, and its lord is the Sun. Its symbol is the back legs of the bed, the part that bears the weight. Uttara Phalguni is the energy of commitment: keeping one's word, and building partnerships that last.

Hasta, Chitra, Swati

Hasta, the thirteenth, lies in Virgo. Its deity is Savitr, the inspiring Sun, and its lord is the Moon. Its name means the hand, and its symbol is an open hand. Its stars are the five main stars of Corvus, the Crow. Hasta is the energy of skill: craft, humour, and the practical intelligence that turns an idea into a thing.

Chitra, the fourteenth, spans the end of Virgo and the start of Libra. Its deity is Tvashtr, the divine craftsman, and its lord is Mars. Its name means the bright one, and its symbol is a shining jewel. Its star is Spica. Chitra is the energy of making beautiful things: design, art and precision.

Swati, the fifteenth, lies in Libra. Its deity is Vayu, the wind, and its lord is Rahu. Its name is usually read as the independent one, and its symbol is a young shoot swaying in the wind. Tradition gives it the bright orange star Arcturus. Swati is the energy of freedom: independence, adaptability, and the ability to bend without breaking.

Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshtha

Vishakha, the sixteenth, spans the end of Libra and the start of Scorpio. Its deities are Indra and Agni together, and its lord is Jupiter. Its name means forked, or two-branched, and its symbol is a triumphal arch. Vishakha is the energy of purpose: ambition, focus on a goal, and the fire to keep going until it is reached. Anuradha, the seventeenth, lies in Scorpio.

Its deity is Mitra, the god of friendship and agreements, and its lord is Saturn. Its name means following Radha, because it follows Vishakha, which was once called Radha. Its symbol is a lotus, the flower that rises clean out of muddy water. Anuradha is the energy of loyal friendship, and devotion that holds through difficulty. Jyeshtha, the eighteenth, completes Scorpio.

Its deity is Indra, king of the gods, and its lord is Mercury. Its name means the eldest, and its symbol is a round amulet or an umbrella, the protection a senior person extends over others. Tradition gives it Antares, the red heart of the Scorpion. Jyeshtha is the energy of responsibility and power, and the burdens of being the one in charge.

Find your nakshatra

To find your own nakshatra, you need the Moon's exact position at your birth, in the sidereal zodiac. A free kundli on sunyra.ai shows it, with its pada, and the dasha it starts. And if you would like your whole chart read in depth, Sunyra's Full Kundli Report on sunyra.ai does that, from your own birth details.

Recap

To recap. The middle nine nakshatras fill Leo to Scorpio, and their lords repeat the same Vimshottari order. Magha the throne, Purva Phalguni the pleasure, Uttara Phalguni the promise, Hasta the hand, Chitra the jewel, Swati the wind, Vishakha the purpose, Anuradha the friend, and Jyeshtha the eldest. Next, the last nine, from Mula to Revati. Thank you for watching.

May your Moon find its mansion.

Astrology is a tradition of interpretation; read this as guidance, not a forecast. Disclaimer.