Rohini is the fourth nakshatra, spanning 10° to 23°20′ of sidereal Taurus, and its lord is the Moon. Its deity is Brahma (Prajapati), the creator, and its symbol is an ox cart or chariot, so Rohini stands for growth, fertility, beauty and the steady abundance of well-tended land.
The name means "the red one" or "the one who rises and grows". In the sky it is marked by Aldebaran, the reddish star in the face of the bull. Of all 27 nakshatras, Rohini is the one tradition most often links with charm and plenty.
The Moon at home
Rohini sits wholly inside Taurus, a fixed earth sign ruled by Venus. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, and its moolatrikona portion runs from 3° to 30° Taurus, so all of Rohini falls in it. Few placements are as comfortable for the Moon: it rules the nakshatra, is exalted in the sign, and the sign's lord Venus is fond of pleasure and comfort.
That combination explains Rohini's reputation. Moon and Venus together suggest emotional warmth, sensuality, love of beauty and a talent for making people feel at ease. Taurus's fixed earth gives it patience and a strong wish for security.
The Moon also rules Hasta and Shravana. Rohini is the most sensual of the three; Hasta is the most skilful with the hands, and Shravana the most attentive listener.
The myth: the Moon's favourite wife
In the Puranas, Daksha gives his 27 daughters, the nakshatras, in marriage to the Moon. The Moon loves Rohini above the rest and spends his time with her. The other sisters complain to their father, and Daksha curses the Moon to waste away. The curse is softened, not lifted, and so the Moon wanes and waxes every month, visiting each wife in turn.
Astrologers read two things into this. First, Rohini's magnetism: it draws people and attention naturally. Second, a caution about attachment and possessiveness, because the whole story is driven by favouritism and jealousy. There is a devotional link as well: tradition holds that Krishna was born with the Moon in Rohini, and many families recall this at Janmashtami.
Brahma as deity adds the theme of creation. Rohini is fertile in every sense: it produces children, crops, art, wealth and ideas.
Symbol: the ox cart
A cart pulled by oxen moves slowly but carries a great deal, like a harvest to market or a family on the road. It stands for commerce, agriculture, steady progress and comfort on a journey. It fits Taurus well: nothing hurried, everything productive.
Gana, yoni and nadi
Rohini is Manushya gana, human and worldly in temperament. Its yoni is the serpent (male), whose partner is the next nakshatra, Mrigashira (female serpent). Its nadi is Antya (kapha), shared with Krittika, which sits next to it.
In gun milan, yoni measures instinctive and physical compatibility (4 points), gana measures temperament (6) and nadi is the heaviest koota (8). Two Antya-nadi charts score zero on nadi unless an exception applies. A common one is the same nakshatra but different signs, or the same sign but different nakshatras. Still, one factor never decides a chart, and a good match is read from the whole kundli of both people.
Muhurta nature: fixed (dhruva)
Rohini is one of four dhruva, or fixed, nakshatras, with Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha and Uttara Bhadrapada. The Muhurta Chintamani favours them for anything that should stay put and last. That includes laying foundations, house construction, entering a new home, planting trees and sowing seed, installing an image in a temple, and long-term agreements. A muhurat chosen for griha pravesh often falls on one of these.
Temperament
With the Moon in Rohini, the mind tends to be warm, steady, appreciative and creative. Common strengths are charm, artistic taste, loyalty, patience, a gift for growing things (gardens, businesses, families) and real skill with food, music, design or hospitality.
The growth areas are the shadow side of comfort. Possessiveness, jealousy, resistance to change, over-indulgence and a need for reassurance can all appear. Rohini does best when its love of security leaves room for others' freedom.
The four padas of Rohini
Rohini's four padas repeat the Aries to Cancer navamsa sequence, as Ashwini's did.
Pada 1: 10° to 13°20′ Taurus (Aries navamsa)
Mars's navamsa gives Rohini drive and initiative. This pada is more assertive and competitive than the rest, and puts its charm to work towards goals.
Pada 2: 13°20′ to 16°40′ Taurus (Taurus navamsa)
Sign and navamsa are both Taurus, so this pada is vargottama, the classic core of Rohini. It is sensual, patient, materially capable and deeply attached to comfort and beauty.
Pada 3: 16°40′ to 20° Taurus (Gemini navamsa)
Mercury's navamsa adds wit, conversation and versatility. This pada suits trade, writing, media and the arts that use words. It is lighter and more social.
Pada 4: 20° to 23°20′ Taurus (Cancer navamsa)
The Moon's own navamsa makes this the most emotional and nurturing pada. It is family-centred, intuitive and caring, with a strong memory for feelings.
Naming syllables
The naam akshar for Rohini are O, Va, Vi and Vu.
Rohini as Moon, lagna or planet placement
- Moon in Rohini: life opens in Moon mahadasha, a 10-year period, with the balance depending on the Moon's degree. The mind is generally settled and receptive.
- Lagna in Rohini: an attractive, pleasant presence, often with a good voice or eyes that people remember.
- Planets in Rohini: planets here pick up Rohini's fertility and taste. They tend to produce tangible, lasting results in their dashas.
Check your janma nakshatra with a free kundli. Neighbouring pages: Krittika before and Mrigashira after, or the nakshatras overview.