Purva Ashadha is the 20th of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astronomy. It spans 13°20′ Dhanus to 26°40′ Dhanus of the sidereal zodiac. Its name means "the former invincible one", its presiding deity is Apas (the waters), the cosmic waters, and its planetary lord in the Vimśottarī system is Venus.

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 20 of 27 · Dhanus (Sagittarius)

Purva Ashadha पूर्वाषाढा

The former invincible one

Presided over by Apas (the waters), the cosmic waters, and ruled by Venus.

At a glance

TRADITION
Position
20th of 27
Sidereal span
13°20′ Dhanus – 26°40′ Dhanus
Sign
Dhanus (Sagittarius)
Planetary lord
Venus
Presiding deity
Apas (the waters)
Junction star
δ Sagittarii

When the Moon is next in Purva Ashadha

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

13°20′ Dhanus – 16°40′ Dhanus

Navamsa: Simha

Pada 2

16°40′ Dhanus – 20°00′ Dhanus

Navamsa: Kanya

Pada 3

20°00′ Dhanus – 23°20′ Dhanus

Navamsa: Tula

Pada 4

23°20′ Dhanus – 26°40′ Dhanus

Navamsa: Vrischika

The other Venus 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.