Nakshatra 6 · आर्द्रा नक्षत्र
Ardra nakshatra: traits, lord, deity and padas
Ardra spans 6°40′ to 20°00′ Mithuna of the sidereal zodiac. It is ruled by Rahu, its deity is Rudra and its symbol is a teardrop.
Ardra at a glance
| Number | 6 of 27 |
|---|---|
| Span | 6°40′ to 20°00′ Mithuna |
| Rashi | Mithuna (मिथुन) |
| Lord | Rahu (राहु) |
| Deity | Rudra, the storm form of Shiva (रुद्र) |
| Symbol | a teardrop |
| Meaning of the name | The moist one |
| Nature | Tikshna (sharp) (तीक्ष्ण) |
| Gana | Manushya |
| Yoni | Dog (Shwan) |
| Nadi | Adi (Vata) |
| Tree | Agar (agarwood) (अगर) |
Ardra nakshatra traits
Ardra natives are often described as intense, thoughtful and very honest with themselves. Like rain after a storm, they tend to come through difficult times with fresh clarity, and they are often good at research and solving hard problems.
Strong feelings can come out as sharp words or sudden moods. Giving their energy a steady outlet, such as work they care about, helps them use it well.
Fields commonly linked with Ardra: research and analysis, technology and software, engineering, journalism, psychology and counselling.
The four padas of Ardra
| Pada | Span | Rashi | Navamsa | Baby name letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6°40′ to 10°00′ | Mithuna | Dhanu | Ku कू |
| 2 | 10°00′ to 13°20′ | Mithuna | Makara | Gha घ |
| 3 | 13°20′ to 16°40′ | Mithuna | Kumbha | Na (ङ) ङ |
| 4 | 16°40′ to 20°00′ | Mithuna | Meena | Chha छ |
Names starting with these letters are traditionally chosen for a baby born in each pada. See the baby naming tables and the name meanings. About the rashi: Mithun rashi.
What a Ardra day suits
On a day when the Moon is in Ardra, muhurta texts traditionally favour:
- ending what has run its course
- breaking an old habit
- deep research or investigation
- training animals
Today’s nakshatra and its end time are on the panchang; whether a day suits you personally is the tarabalam.
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Lord, padas and letters follow the standard tables; meaning, symbol, tree and traits are as commonly given and differ a little between texts.
Questions about Ardra
Who is the lord of Ardra nakshatra?
Rahu (राहु). In the Vimshottari dasha, a person born with the Moon in Ardra starts life in Rahu’s mahadasha.
What are the baby name letters for Ardra?
Ku, Gha, Na (ङ), Chha for the four padas (कू, घ, ङ, छ). The pada comes from the exact time of birth: the baby name calculator finds it.
Which rashi is Ardra in?
All four padas are in Mithuna (मिथुन).
Is Ardra a good nakshatra?
Every nakshatra has its strengths. Ardra is a Tikshna nakshatra, traditionally suited to ending what has run its course and breaking an old habit; for a person, the whole chart matters more than the nakshatra alone.
How do I find my nakshatra?
From the Moon’s position at birth: the nakshatra calculator works it out from your date, time and place of birth.