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कृत्तिका
NAKSHATRA #3 OF 27kṛttikā · Mesha 26°40' – Vrishabha 10°00'
Sharp, fiery, purifying. Cuts away illusion. Star-cluster (Pleiades) in the sky. Mother-stars of Skanda/Kartikeya.
Ruling Planet
Sun (Surya)
Deity
Agni
Symbol
Razor / flame
Gaṇa
Rakshasa
Yoni
Mesha (sheep) — female
Nāḍī
Antya (Kapha)
Varṇa
Brahmana
Tattva
Earth
Body Part
Eyebrows, hips
Tree
Udumbara / Ficus racemosa
Bird
Mayura
Naming Syllables
A, I, U, E
ॐ अग्नये नमः
Navāṃśa: Dhanu
Philosophical, fiery enthusiasm.
Navāṃśa: Makara
Disciplined, materially-focused.
Navāṃśa: Kumbha
Innovative, humanitarian.
Navāṃśa: Meena
Spiritual, sensitive.
In Vedic astrology the Moon’s nakshatra at birth (the janma-nakṣatra) is the foundation of personal interpretation. Krittika as a janma-nakshatra suggests the temperament and life-themes summarised above; the four padas refine this further by indicating which rāśi-section (the navāṃśa) the Moon occupied at birth.
The nakshatra is also the basis for the Vimśottarī Mahādaśā — the 120-year planetary period system unique to Vedic astrology. The dasha you are born into is determined by which planet rules your janma-nakshatra. Krittika’s ruling planet is Sun (Surya) — meaning births in this nakshatra typically begin their lives in the Sun mahādaśā.
The naming syllables (A, I, U, E) are the traditional Sanskrit-Hindi syllables used to choose a name for a child born in this nakshatra, especially during the Nāmakaraṇa (naming-ceremony) sanskara. Many Hindu families still consult their kuldevta-pandit and the janma-nakshatra before settling on a name.
Krittika is a Rākṣasa-gaṇa nakshatra — the fierce class. Rākṣasa-gaṇa natives often carry intense, transformative energy. The classical guidance prefers Rākṣasa-with-Rākṣasa marriages; mixing across gaṇas requires careful chart analysis and often a śānti puja.
Sources: Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra · Bṛhat Saṃhitā · Atharva Veda 19.7. Awaiting scholar verification.