Vishakha is the sixteenth nakshatra, spanning 20°00′ Libra to 3°20′ Scorpio in the sidereal zodiac, ruled by Jupiter and presided over by Indra and Agni together (Indragni). Its name means "the forked" or "the one with branches", and its symbol is a decorated archway, or in some lists a potter's wheel.
Vishakha is one of the nakshatras that straddle two signs: three padas sit in Libra and the last in Scorpio. That split is worth remembering, because a Vishakha Moon in Libra and one in Scorpio behave rather differently. The lunar month Vaishakha takes its name from this nakshatra, since its full Moon falls near here. Older texts sometimes call the nakshatra Radha, which is why the next one is Anu-radha, "the one after Radha".
A goal with two gods behind it
Indra is the king of the gods, the one who wins; Agni is fire, the one who transforms and carries offerings upward. A nakshatra with both as its deity is about purpose pursued with heat. Vishakha is often called the star of determination: once a Vishakha person has chosen a goal, they tend to keep walking toward it, and the archway in the symbol is the gate they mean to pass through.
The "forked" name adds a second note. Vishakha frequently faces choices between two paths, two loyalties or two desires, and part of its growth is learning to choose well rather than to hold both.
Its lord is Jupiter, which brings a love of learning, ideals, ritual and teaching. In Libra, Jupiter's wisdom mixes with Venus's sense of balance and partnership; in Scorpio, it mixes with Mars's intensity and depth.
Temperament and growth areas
Typical Vishakha strengths are ambition, focus, patience with long projects, courage to speak up, and a strong sense of what is right. Many are drawn to teaching, research, advocacy, leadership, or any field where a clear aim has to be held for years.
The growth areas come from the same fire. Drive can tip into impatience with people who move more slowly, a single goal can crowd out rest and relationships, and a competitive streak may show up where cooperation would serve better. Tradition frames Vishakha's mature form as someone who reaches the goal and then shares what they gained.
Remember that the nakshatra is one layer. The whole kundli, lagna, planets, houses and dasha, is read together, and no single factor settles a life.
Gana, yoni and nadi
- Gana: Rakshasa. The word sounds harsh but in matching it simply marks an intense, independent temperament. Rakshasa with Rakshasa is comfortable; Rakshasa with Deva or Manushya scores low, with small differences between tables.
- Yoni: Tiger (male). The female tiger is Chitra. The traditional hostile yoni is the cow (Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Bhadrapada).
- Nadi: Antya (kapha), shared with Krittika, Rohini, Swati, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Revati and others in the cycle.
The gana, yoni and nadi scores are three of the eight gun milan kootas. The kundli matching page shows them alongside the rest.
Muhurta nature
Muhurta Chintamani groups Vishakha with Krittika as mixed (mishra, also called sadharana) nakshatras. They are considered suitable for ordinary, day-to-day undertakings and for work involving fire, metal and heat, rather than for the most auspicious ceremonies. As always, a real muhurat weighs the whole panchang, not the nakshatra alone.
The four padas of Vishakha
Pada 1: Libra 20°00′ to 23°20′ (Aries navamsa)
Mars's navamsa gives the most assertive Vishakha: bold, quick to start, eager to lead. Energy is high and the lesson is to finish as well as begin. Naming syllable: Ti.
Pada 2: Libra 23°20′ to 26°40′ (Taurus navamsa)
Venus's navamsa steadies the fire. This pada is patient, practical and fond of comfort and beauty, and it often builds security slowly and well. Naming syllable: Tu.
Pada 3: Libra 26°40′ to 30°00′ (Gemini navamsa)
Mercury's navamsa makes Vishakha curious, talkative and versatile. Learning, writing, trade and debate suit it, and it may juggle several aims at once. Naming syllable: Te.
Pada 4: Scorpio 0°00′ to 3°20′ (Cancer navamsa)
The only pada in Scorpio, with the Moon's own sign as its navamsa. It is emotionally deep, protective and loyal, and it often channels Vishakha's drive toward family or a cause it cares about. Naming syllable: To.
The navamsa signs are fixed by calculation; the pada portraits are traditional summaries, and different authors word them differently.
Planets in Vishakha
The Moon's deepest debilitation, 3° Scorpio, falls in Vishakha's fourth pada. Tradition reads a Moon here as feelings that run deep and are not always easy to show; interestingly, that same pada is the Moon's own navamsa (Cancer), and the full chart, including any neecha-bhanga, often softens the picture considerably. In the Libra padas, Saturn is in its sign of exaltation, and the Sun is in its sign of debilitation, though past the deepest point at 10°.
Jupiter itself in Vishakha is often considered comfortable, as it is in its own nakshatra. A lagna in Vishakha tends to give a purposeful, somewhat intense presence.
Birth nakshatra and dasha
A Moon in Vishakha begins the Vimshottari sequence in Jupiter mahadasha, then Saturn, Mercury and onward. Vishakha sits between Swati and Anuradha. To see which pada your own Moon occupies, make a free kundli; the other 26 are listed in the nakshatra guide.