Vishakha is the 16th of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astronomy. It spans 20°00′ Tula to 3°20′ Vrischika of the sidereal zodiac. Its name means "the forked branch", its presiding deity is Indra and Agni, the paired gods of thunder and fire, and its planetary lord in the Vimśottarī system is Jupiter.

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 16 of 27 · Tula (Libra) / Vrischika (Scorpio)

Vishakha विशाखा

The forked branch

Presided over by Indra and Agni, the paired gods of thunder and fire, and ruled by Jupiter.

At a glance

TRADITION
Position
16th of 27
Sidereal span
20°00′ Tula – 3°20′ Vrischika
Sign
Tula (Libra) → Vrischika (Scorpio)
Planetary lord
Jupiter
Presiding deity
Indra and Agni
Junction star
α Librae

When the Moon is next in Vishakha

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

20°00′ Tula – 23°20′ Tula

Navamsa: Mesha

Pada 2

23°20′ Tula – 26°40′ Tula

Navamsa: Vrishabha

Pada 3

26°40′ Tula – 30°00′ Tula

Navamsa: Mithuna

Pada 4

0°00′ Vrischika – 3°20′ Vrischika

Navamsa: Karka

The other Jupiter 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.