Ashvini is the 1st of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astronomy. It spans 0°00′ Mesha to 13°20′ Mesha of the sidereal zodiac. Its name means "horse-born", its presiding deity is The Ashvins, the twin horsemen and physicians of the gods, and its planetary lord in the Vimśottarī system is Ketu.

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 1 of 27 · Mesha (Aries)

Ashvini अश्विनी

Horse-born

Presided over by The Ashvins, the twin horsemen and physicians of the gods, and ruled by Ketu.

At a glance

TRADITION
Position
1st of 27
Sidereal span
0°00′ Mesha – 13°20′ Mesha
Sign
Mesha (Aries)
Planetary lord
Ketu
Presiding deity
The Ashvins
Junction star
β Arietis

When the Moon is next in Ashvini

Times in UTC · Lahiri ayanamsa · to the nearest minute

  1. →
  2. →
  3. →
  4. →

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

0°00′ Mesha – 3°20′ Mesha

Navamsa: Mesha

Pada 2

3°20′ Mesha – 6°40′ Mesha

Navamsa: Vrishabha

Pada 3

6°40′ Mesha – 10°00′ Mesha

Navamsa: Mithuna

Pada 4

10°00′ Mesha – 13°20′ Mesha

Navamsa: Karka

The other Ketu 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.