Nakshatra 14 · चित्रा नक्षत्र
Chitra nakshatra: traits, lord, deity and padas
Chitra spans 23°20′ Kanya to 6°40′ Tula of the sidereal zodiac. It is ruled by Mars, its deity is Tvashtar (Vishwakarma) and its symbol is a bright jewel.
Chitra at a glance
| Number | 14 of 27 |
|---|---|
| Span | 23°20′ Kanya to 6°40′ Tula |
| Rashi | Kanya (कन्या), Tula (तुला) |
| Lord | Mars (मंगल) |
| Deity | Tvashtar (Vishwakarma), the divine architect (त्वष्टा (विश्वकर्मा)) |
| Symbol | a bright jewel |
| Meaning of the name | The bright one, or the brilliant |
| Nature | Mridu (soft, friendly) (मृदु) |
| Gana | Rakshasa |
| Yoni | Tiger (Vyaghra) |
| Nadi | Madhya (Pitta) |
| Tree | Bel (bael) (बेल) |
Chitra nakshatra traits
People born under Chitra are often described as creative, stylish and drawn to beauty and design. Like the jewel in their symbol, they like things well made and often have a good eye for form, colour and detail.
They can care a lot about how things look, including how others see them. Valuing substance as much as surface keeps their talent grounded.
Fields commonly linked with Chitra: architecture, design and fashion, jewellery, photography and art, engineering.
The four padas of Chitra
| Pada | Span | Rashi | Navamsa | Baby name letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23°20′ to 26°40′ | Kanya | Simha | Pe पे |
| 2 | 26°40′ to 30°00′ | Kanya | Kanya | Po पो |
| 3 | 0°00′ to 3°20′ | Tula | Tula | Ra रा |
| 4 | 3°20′ to 6°40′ | Tula | Vrishchika | Ri री |
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 rashis: Kanya rashi and Tula rashi.
What a Chitra day suits
On a day when the Moon is in Chitra, muhurta texts traditionally favour:
- wearing new clothes or jewellery
- art, design and decoration
- meeting friends
- music and dance
Today’s nakshatra and its end time are on the panchang; whether a day suits you personally is the tarabalam.
← Hasta · All 27 nakshatras · Swati →
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 Chitra
Who is the lord of Chitra nakshatra?
Mars (मंगल). In the Vimshottari dasha, a person born with the Moon in Chitra starts life in Mars’s mahadasha.
What are the baby name letters for Chitra?
Pe, Po, Ra, Ri for the four padas (पे, पो, रा, री). The pada comes from the exact time of birth: the baby name calculator finds it.
Which rashi is Chitra in?
It spans two rashis: pada 1 in Kanya, pada 2 in Kanya, pada 3 in Tula, pada 4 in Tula.
Is Chitra a good nakshatra?
Every nakshatra has its strengths. Chitra is a Mridu nakshatra, traditionally suited to wearing new clothes or jewellery and art, design and decoration; 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.