Pushya is the 8th of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astronomy. It spans 3°20′ Karka to 16°40′ Karka of the sidereal zodiac. Its name means "the nourisher", its presiding deity is Brihaspati, the priest and teacher of the gods, and its planetary lord in the Vimśottarī system is Saturn.

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 8 of 27 · Karka (Cancer)

Pushya पुष्य

The nourisher

Presided over by Brihaspati, the priest and teacher of the gods, and ruled by Saturn.

At a glance

TRADITION
Position
8th of 27
Sidereal span
3°20′ Karka – 16°40′ Karka
Sign
Karka (Cancer)
Planetary lord
Saturn
Presiding deity
Brihaspati
Junction star
δ Cancri

When the Moon is next in Pushya

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

3°20′ Karka – 6°40′ Karka

Navamsa: Simha

Pada 2

6°40′ Karka – 10°00′ Karka

Navamsa: Kanya

Pada 3

10°00′ Karka – 13°20′ Karka

Navamsa: Tula

Pada 4

13°20′ Karka – 16°40′ Karka

Navamsa: Vrischika

The other Saturn 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.