Magha is the 10th of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astronomy. It spans 0°00′ Simha to 13°20′ Simha of the sidereal zodiac. Its name means "the bountiful", its presiding deity is The Pitris (ancestors), the honoured ancestors, 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 10 of 27 · Simha (Leo)

Magha मघा

The bountiful

Presided over by The Pitris (ancestors), the honoured ancestors, and ruled by Ketu.

At a glance

TRADITION
Position
10th of 27
Sidereal span
0°00′ Simha – 13°20′ Simha
Sign
Simha (Leo)
Planetary lord
Ketu
Presiding deity
The Pitris (ancestors)
Junction star
Regulus (α Leonis)

When the Moon is next in Magha

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

0°00′ Simha – 3°20′ Simha

Navamsa: Mesha

Pada 2

3°20′ Simha – 6°40′ Simha

Navamsa: Vrishabha

Pada 3

6°40′ Simha – 10°00′ Simha

Navamsa: Mithuna

Pada 4

10°00′ Simha – 13°20′ Simha

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.