Zodiac Divisions

DIVISIONS OF THE ZODIAC
Revised (View with Tamal Fonts)
© Gauranga Das

Download this article in PDF

Nakshatra-Chakra: The most basic division of the Zodiac in Jyotish is the Nakçatra-Cakra consisting of 27 Nakçatra (Lunar mansions, excluding Abhijét). They are called so because the Moon spends approximately one day in each Nakçatra. Each Nakçatra is of 13°20’ in extent, and consists of four Padas or quarters of 3°20’ each. Thus a Räçi (sign of the Zodiac) will contain 9 Nakçatra Padas or Navamças. Each Nakçatra has a certain number of bright stars called Taras, and they form certain constellations described in different classics. The 27 nakçatras are divided into three groups of nine, called the Paryäyas. All the nine Grahas lord over one Nakshatra in each paryäya. The meeting points of the Paryäyas are called Gandantas and are considered to be inauspicious if the Moon or Lagna falls within their proximity in the birth chart. The junction of Revati and Açwini Nakçatra coincides with the junction of Ména (Pisces) and Meña (Aries) Räçis. Asleçä and Magha meet at the same place as Karkata (Cancer) and Siàha (Leo). And finally the intersection of Jyeñöha and Müla Nakçatra is identical with the intersection of (Våñcika) Scorpio and Dhanus (Sagittarius). Thus the fixed stars forming the Nakshatras are the basis for the division of the Zodiac in Jyotish. The names of certain Nakshatras are mentioned in the oldest Vedic scriptures like the Åg Veda. The following table lists the names and lords of the different Nakçatras, their extent counted from the beginning of Aries, and their disposition in the Räçis (signs of Zodiac). Please note that some Nakçatra Padas of the same Nakshatra will fall into neighbouring Raçis.

No. and Name of Nakçatra	Yoga Taras	Lord	Deity	Trees	Pada	Extent UpTo
1. Açwiné	3 (Apräpya-Yoga)¹	Ketu	Açvin-Kumara (Dasrau)	Våña-våkña	4	13°20’
2. Bharaëé	3 (Apräpya-Yoga)	Venus	Yama	Yamakara	4	26®40’
3. Kåittikä	6 (Apräpya-Yoga)	Sun	Vahni (Agni)	Udunbara	1	30®00’
Kåttika					3	40°00’
4. Rohiëé	5 (Apräpya-Yoga)	Moon	Brahmä (Sambaçiva; Prajäpati; Vairiïci; Dhätå)	Jambuka	4	53®20’
5. Mågaçiras	3 (Apräpya-Yoga)	Mars	Candra (Indu)	Khadira	2	60®00’
Mågaçira		Mars			4	66®40’
6. Ärdrä	1 (Madhya-Yoga)²	Rahu	Éça (Rudra; Maheça)	Kåñëaplakña	4	80®00
7. Punarvasu	4 (Madhya-Yoga)	Jupiter	Aditi	Vaàça (bamboo)	3	90®00’
Punarvasu					1	93®00’
8. Puñya	3	Saturn	Jéva (Båhaspati; Arya; Ijya; Tiñya)	Pipala	4	106®40’
9. Äçleñä	5	Mercury	Ahi (Sarpa; Bhaujaìga)	Näga	4	120®00’
10. Maghä	5	Ketu	Pitå	Vaöa (Banyan)	4	133®20’
11. Pürvaphalguné	2	Venus	Bhaga	Paläça	4	146®40’
12.Üttara Phalgüné	2	Sun	Aryamä	Akña	1	150®00’
Üttara Phalgüné					3	160®00’
13. Hasta	5	Moon	Arka (Sürya; Ravi)	Ariñöä	4	173®20’
14. Citra	1	Mars	Tvañöå	Çrévåkña	2	180®00’
Citra					2	186®40’
15. Swäti	1	Rahu	Marut (Väyu)	Arjuna	4	200®00’
16. Viçakha	2	Jupiter	Çakrägné (Indrägné, Dvideva)	Vikaìkaöa	3	210®00’
Viçakha		Jupiter	(Dvidaivatya)		3	213®20’
17. Anurädhä	4 (Madhya-Yoga)	Saturn	Mitra	Bakula	4	226®40’
18. Jyeñöhä	3 (Väsava-Yoga)³	Mercury	Väsava (Indra)	Viñöi	4	240®00
19. Müla	11	Ketu	Niråti	Sarja	4	253®20’
20. Pürväñäòha	4	Venus	Udaka (Äpaù)	Vaïjula	4	266®40’
21. Üttaräñäòhä	2	Sun	Viçvedeväù	Panasa (Jackfruit)	1	270®00’
Üttaräñäòhä					3	280®00’
22. Çravana	4	Moon	Govinda; Hari (Viñëu)	Arka	4	293®20’
23. Dhaniñöhä	3	Mars	Çraviñöhä (Vasu)	Çamé	2	300®00’
Dhaniñöhä					2	306®40’
24. Çatabhiñak	100	Rahu	Toyapa (Varuëa; Ambu)	Kadamba	4	320®00’
25.Pürvabhädrapada	2	Jupiter	Aja Ekapäd	Cüta (Mango)	3	330®00’
26.ÜttaraBhädrapada	2 (Väsava-Yoga)	Saturn	Ahirbudhnya	Picumandaka	4	346®40’
27. Revaté	32 (Apräpya-Yoga)	Mercury	Püñä (Bhäntya/Antya; Pauñëya)	Madhu	4	360®00’

*One born in a particular nakçatra should endeavour to worship the relevant tree when Saturn is in the particular nakçatra (ref. Närada Puräëa Part II 56.211a)

Rasi Chakra: The next well known division of the Zodiac is the Räçi Cakra. The Zodiac is divided into 12 signs of 30° each. The following table gives some details about the different Räçis:

Sansk. Name	Meña	Våçabha	Mithuna	Karkata	Siàha	Kanyä
Latin Name	Aries	Taurus	Gemini	Cancer	Leo	Virgo
Lord	Mars	Venus	Mercury	Moon	Sun	Mercury
Exaltation	Sun	Moon	Rahu	Jupiter	———	Mercury
Debilitation	Saturn	———	Ketu	Mars	———	Venus
Sex/Oddity	Male/Odd	Female/Even	Male/Odd	Female/Even	Male/Odd	Female/Even
Benefic/Mal.	Malefic	Benefic	Malefic	Benefic	Malefic	Benefic
Tattwa	Fire	Earth	Air	Water	Fire	Earth
Dhatu	Pitta	Väta	Tridhatu	Kapha	Pitta	Väta
Varna(Caste)	Kçatriya	Vaiçya	Çudra	Brähmaëa	Kçatriya	Vaiçya
Direction	East	South	West	North	East	South
Quality	Chara	Sthira	Ubhaya	Chara	Sthira	Ubhaya
Division	Dhatu	Müla	Jéva	Dhatu	Müla	Jéva
Guëa	Rajas	Rajas	Tamas	Sattwa	Sattwa	Tamas
Rising with	Back	Back	Both	Back	Head	Head
Feet	Four	Four	Two	Many	Four	Two
Day/Night	Night	Night	Night	Night	Day	Day
Residence	Hills	Village	Village	Forest	Forest	Hills
Body Parts	Head	Face	Arms	Heart	Stomach	Hips
Colour	Red	White	Green	Pink	Pale	Variegated
Ascension	Short	Crooked	Long	Long	Medium	Medium

Sansk. Name	Tulä	Våçcika	Dhanus	Makara	Kumbha	Ména
Latin Name	Libra	Scorpio	Sagittarius	Capricorn	Aquarius	Pisces
Lord	Venus	Mars/Ketu	Jupiter	Saturn	Saturn	Jupiter
Exaltation	Saturn	———	Ketu	Mars	———	Venus
Debilitation	Sun	Moon	Rahu	Jupiter	———	Mercury
Sex/Oddity	Male/Odd	Female/Even	Male/Odd	Female/Even	Male/Odd	Female/Even
Benefic/Mal.	Malefic	Benefic	Malefic	Benefic	Malefic	Benefic
Tattwa	Air	Water	Fire	Earth	Air	Water
Dhatus	Tridhatu	Kapha	Pitta	Väta	Tridhatu	Kapha
Varna(Caste)	Shudra	Brahmin	Kçatriya	Vaishya	Çudra	Brähmaëa
Direction	West	North	East	South	West	North
Quality	Cara	Sthira	Ubhaya	Cara	Sthira	Ubhaya
Division	Dhatu	Moola	Jéva	Dhatu	Müla	Jéva
Guna	Rajas	Rajas	Sattwa	Tamas	Tamas	Sattwa
Rising with	Head	Head	Back	Back	Head	Both
Feet	Two	Many	Two/Four	Four/Watery	Two	Watery
Day/Night	Day	Day	Night	Night	Day	Day
Residence	Earth	Holes	Earth	Forest	Water	Water
Body Parts	Abdomen	Groins	Thighs	Knees	Ankles	Feet
Colour	Black	Red-Brown	Golden	Variegated	Brown	Marine
Ascension	Medium	Medium	Long	Long	Crooked	Short

[1] Apräpya-Yoga – The Moon’s course through Revaté to Mågaçiras (6 nakçatras) are called Apräpya Yoga (Conjunction-to-be). This is good for the purpose of predictions in Natural Astrology.
[2] Madhya-Yoga – The Moon’s course from Ärdrä means “In-conjunction”.
[3] Väsava-Yoga are the 9 nakçatras from Jyeñöha to Üttarabhadrapada which indicate the “Past conjunction.”