Mrigashira is the 5th of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astronomy. It spans 23°20′ Vrishabha to 6°40′ Mithuna of the sidereal zodiac. Its name means "deer's head", its presiding deity is Soma, the sacred drink of the hymns, later identified with the Moon, and its planetary lord in the Vimśottarī system is Mars.

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 5 of 27 · Vrishabha (Taurus) / Mithuna (Gemini)

Mrigashira मृगशिरा

Deer's head

Presided over by Soma, the sacred drink of the hymns, later identified with the Moon, and ruled by Mars.

At a glance

TRADITION
Position
5th of 27
Sidereal span
23°20′ Vrishabha – 6°40′ Mithuna
Sign
Vrishabha (Taurus) → Mithuna (Gemini)
Planetary lord
Mars
Presiding deity
Soma
Junction star
λ Orionis

When the Moon is next in Mrigashira

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

23°20′ Vrishabha – 26°40′ Vrishabha

Navamsa: Simha

Pada 2

26°40′ Vrishabha – 30°00′ Vrishabha

Navamsa: Kanya

Pada 3

0°00′ Mithuna – 3°20′ Mithuna

Navamsa: Tula

Pada 4

3°20′ Mithuna – 6°40′ Mithuna

Navamsa: Vrischika

The other Mars 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.