Ardra is the 6th of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astronomy. It spans 6°40′ Mithuna to 20°00′ Mithuna of the sidereal zodiac. Its name means "the moist one", its presiding deity is Rudra, the howling storm god, and its planetary lord in the Vimśottarī system is Rahu.

The span is calculated with the Lahiri ayanamsa. The name, deity, lord and junction star are traditional and cited below; they describe a cultural system, not a measured influence.

Nakshatra 6 of 27 · Mithuna (Gemini)

Ardra आर्द्रा

The moist one

Presided over by Rudra, the howling storm god, and ruled by Rahu.

At a glance

TRADITION
Position
6th of 27
Sidereal span
6°40′ Mithuna – 20°00′ Mithuna
Sign
Mithuna (Gemini)
Planetary lord
Rahu
Presiding deity
Rudra
Junction star
Betelgeuse (α Orionis)

When the Moon is next in Ardra

Times in UTC · Lahiri ayanamsa · to the nearest minute

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The four padas

Each pada is a quarter of 3°20′. The 108 padas of the zodiac cycle through the twelve signs in order, giving each pada its navamsa (D9) sign.

Pada 1

6°40′ Mithuna – 10°00′ Mithuna

Navamsa: Dhanus

Pada 2

10°00′ Mithuna – 13°20′ Mithuna

Navamsa: Makara

Pada 3

13°20′ Mithuna – 16°40′ Mithuna

Navamsa: Kumbha

Pada 4

16°40′ Mithuna – 20°00′ Mithuna

Navamsa: Meena

The other Rahu mansions

The nine lords repeat three times around the zodiac, so each lord rules three mansions, 120° apart.

Sources

  • Taittirīya Saṃhitā 4.4.10 — the Vedic list of nakshatras with their presiding deities. Keith, A. B. (Trans.). (1914). The Veda of the Black Yajus School entitled Taittiriya Sanhita (Part 2). Harvard University Press. Read the translation
  • Sūrya Siddhānta, chapter 8 — the asterisms and their junction stars. Burgess, E. (Trans.). (1858–1860). Translation of the Sûrya-Siddhânta, a text-book of Hindu astronomy. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 6. Read the translation
  • Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra, Vimśottarī daśā chapter — the nine planetary lords in nakshatra order. Santhanam, R. (Trans.). (1984). Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (Vol. 2). Ranjan Publications.

Junction-star identifications differ between texts and commentators. English meanings are approximate renderings of the Sanskrit name.