Mula is the 19th of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astronomy. It spans 0°00′ Dhanus to 13°20′ Dhanus of the sidereal zodiac. Its name means "the root", its presiding deity is Nirriti, the goddess of dissolution, 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 19 of 27 · Dhanus (Sagittarius)

Mula मूल

The root

Presided over by Nirriti, the goddess of dissolution, and ruled by Ketu.

At a glance

TRADITION
Position
19th of 27
Sidereal span
0°00′ Dhanus – 13°20′ Dhanus
Sign
Dhanus (Sagittarius)
Planetary lord
Ketu
Presiding deity
Nirriti
Junction star
λ Scorpii

When the Moon is next in Mula

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′ Dhanus – 3°20′ Dhanus

Navamsa: Mesha

Pada 2

3°20′ Dhanus – 6°40′ Dhanus

Navamsa: Vrishabha

Pada 3

6°40′ Dhanus – 10°00′ Dhanus

Navamsa: Mithuna

Pada 4

10°00′ Dhanus – 13°20′ Dhanus

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.