Nakshatras and their Nature:
The 360 degrees of the Zodiac are divided into 27 parts called Nakshatras (Constellation of the stars). Each extends at 13 degrees and 20 arc minutes. The nakshatras are also ruled by planets. Rahu and Ketu are also given ownership. The names of the Nakshatras (stars), their appearance, nature and lords are given in the following table.
| Si No | Star | Appearance | Nature | Ruler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aswini | 3 stars resembling a horse’s face | Auspicious | Ketu |
| 2 | Bharani | 3 stars resembling a female sexual organ. | Inauspicious | Venus |
| 3 | Krittika | Constellation of 6 stars | Inauspicious | Sun |
| 4 | Rohini | 5 stars resembling an ear. | Auspicious | Moon |
| 5 | Mrigasira | 3 stars like ahead. | Auspicious | Mars |
| 6 | Ardra | Starlike a coral head. | Auspicious | Rahu |
| 7 | Punarvasu | 5 stars like a potter’s wheel. | Semi auspicious | Jupiter |
| 8 | Pushya | 3 stars resembling a bloodsucker. | Auspicious | Saturn |
| 9 | Ashlesha | 6 stars like a serpent. | Inauspicious | Mercury |
| 10 | Makha | 5 stars like a palanquin. | Destructive | Ketu |
| 11 | Purvaphalguni | 2 stars resembling human eyes. | Fatal | Venus |
| 12 | Uttaraphalguni | 2 stars like eyes. | Intelligent | Sun |
| 13 | Hasta | 5 stars like human fingers. | Fortunate | Moon |
| 14 | Chitra | 1 star like a pearl. | Auspicious | Mars |
| 15 | Swati | 1 star like a sapphire. | Auspicious | Rahu |
| 16 | Vishakha | 5 stars like a potter’s wheel. | Inauspicious | Jupiter |
| 17 | Anuradha | 3 stars resembling an umbrella. | Success giving | Saturn |
| 18 | Jyeshta | 5 stars like a crouching lion. | Destructive | Mercury |
| 19 | Moola | 5 stars like a crouching lion. | Destructive | Ketu |
| 20 | Poorvashada | 2 stars each forming a square. | Destructive | Venus |
| 21 | Uttarashada | 2 stars each forming a square. | Intelligent | Sun |
| 22 | Shravana | 3 stars like an arrow. | Happy | Moon |
| 23 | Dhanishta | 3 stars like a Sun’s head. | Auspicious | Mars |
| 24 | Satabhisha | 100 stars resembling a flower. | Happy | Rahu |
| 25 | Poorvabhadra | 2 stars each forming the legs of a cot. | Fatal | Jupiter |
| 26 | Uttarabhadra | 2 stars each forming the legs of a cot. | Fortunate | Saturn |
| 27 | Revati | 3 stars like a fish. | Happy | Mercury |
Each of these constellations is divided into four quarter padas and we have 27 * 4 = 108 padas that make up the whole zodiac. Each pada gets 3 degrees 20 ‘(three degrees and twenty minutes).
9 Planets and their Names:
| Planet | Different Names |
|---|---|
| Sun | Ravi, Surya, Aditya, Arka and Bhanu |
| Moon | Chandra, Soma and Sitamsu |
| Mars | Kuja, Angaraka and Bhoma or Bhumija |
| Mercury | Budha, Soumya, Gna, Somaja |
| Jupiter | Guru, Jiva, Brihaspathi, Suri |
| Venus | Shukra, Sita, Bhrigu and Kavya |
| Saturn | Sani, Ravija, Asita and Manda |
| Rahu | Dragons’ Head, Thama and Sarpa |
| Ketu | Dragon’s Tail, Sikhi |
Planetary Directions:
| Direction | Planet |
|---|---|
| East | Sun |
| West | Saturn |
| North | Mercury |
| South | Mars |
| North-East | Jupiter |
| South-East | Venus |
| North-West | Moon |
| South-West | Rahu |
Planetary States:
It is said that the planets have certain states called “avastas”. The Avastas or planetary states are grouped into several heads. The ten states which describe the physical and mental conditions of the planets are:
Deeptha or Exaltation: bring long life, successful work, good family, promising children, wealth, fame, respect and transfers.
Swastika or residence in your own home: permanence, happiness, good education, good position.
Muditha or Residence in a Friendly Sign: good dress, good taste, sweet smells, flowers, women, position and happiness.
Santha or planets in Auspicious Subdivisions: opportune strength and courage, useful relationships, comfortable life, health and happiness.
Saktha or Retrograde Movement: courage, prosperity, successful position, reputation, wealth, good relations. In retrograde motion, good planets produce happiness and bad planets produce ill effects and misery.
Peedya or planets of the last quarter or Navamsa of the sign: hatred, quarrelsome relationships, family dissensions, criminal proceedings, habits of theft, expulsion from the country.
Deena or Planets in Hostile Houses: disease, pettiness, mental preoccupation, mental disorder, social degradation or ex-communication, fanatic persecution.
Vikala or Planets on Fire: mental disorders, orphanage, many risk expulsion from the country, the public shame of children, wife and friends.
Khala or Weakened Planets: constant losses, vulgar birth, problems with unexpected sources, quarrels with parents, imprisonment, disease, misery and total disregard for what is noble and sacred.
Bheetha or Acceleration: loss due to fire, enemies, kings and thieves. Persecution, torture, shameful life, vulgar habits, danger abroad. When predicting the outcome, it should be noted that the evil conjunctions and aspects add to the misery and that the right conjunctions and aspects are beneficial.
