Which planet rules Ardra Nakshatra?

Rahu is the Vimshottari lord of Ardra. A person born with the Moon in Ardra starts life in the Rahu Mahadasha, which lasts 18 years in full; the part of the nakshatra the Moon has already crossed at birth is deducted from that first period.

What is the gana and nature of Ardra Nakshatra?

Ardra belongs to the Deva (divine) gana; Deva gana natives are described as gentle, generous and refined. The gana is what Gana Koota compares in horoscope matching. Its nature is Tikshna (sharp), so in muhurta it is chosen for cutting, separating and forceful work.

What are the padas and name letters of Ardra Nakshatra?

Pada 1: "Ku" (navamsha Dhanu (Sagittarius)); Pada 2: "Gha" (navamsha Makara (Capricorn)); Pada 3: "Ing" (navamsha Kumbha (Aquarius)); Pada 4: "Chha" (navamsha Meena (Pisces)). A child born in Ardra is traditionally named starting with the syllable of their birth pada.

What is the symbol and yoni of Ardra Nakshatra?

The symbol of Ardra is the mani and its yoni (sacred animal) is the dog, which is what Yoni Koota compares in horoscope matching. Its Ayurvedic dosha is Vata and purushartha is Kama.

2026 Ardra Nakshatra

Quick Overview

Lord: Rahu
Deity: Rudra (Lord Shiva)
Symbol: Mani
Gana: Deva (divine)
Rashi span: Mithuna (Gemini), 6°40' to 20°00'
Next Moon transit (New Delhi): Fri, Oct 30, 2026, 9:04 AM to Sat, Oct 31, 7:12 AM

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Ardra is Nakshatra 6 of the 27, spanning 66°40' to 80°00' of the sidereal zodiac, entirely within Mithuna (Gemini). Its ruling deity is Rudra (Lord Shiva) and its Vimshottari lord is Rahu; the name is rendered as "Wet".

Ardra belongs to the Deva (divine) gana and its nature is Tikshna (sharp). Its symbol is the mani, its yoni animal the dog, its dosha Vata and its purushartha Kama. Names for a child born in its four padas begin with Ku, Gha, Ing and Chha.

Ardra Nakshatra in other languages

Nakshatra number 6

Astronomical name: Alpha Orionis
English: Arudra
Hindi / Sanskrit: Ardra
Tamil: Thiruvadirai
Telugu: Ardra
Sinhalese: Ada
Gujarati: Aadra
Malayalam: Thiruvadira
Marathi: Ardra
Kannada: Ardra

Ardra Nakshatra characteristics

Meaning: Wet
Tara: 1
Principal Star (Yogatara): Betelguese
Ruling Deity: Rudra (Lord Shiva)
Temperament: Penetrating
Mannerism: Head -raised
Vision: One-eyed
Kulakula: Blend of both
Class: Ungovernable
Sex: Female
Element: Water
Visha Portion (96 Minutes): From 08h 24 m
Amrita Portion (96 Minutes): From 14th hour
Inauspicious Part: III & IV quarters
Limb: Ears
Start: 6 Ge 40
End: 20 Ge 00
Degrees of Zodiac: 66° 40' to 80° 0'
Vimshottari Lord: RahuMore
Ruling Deity (Vedic): Rudra
Pada 1 Letter: कु (Ku)
Pada 2 Letter: घ (Gha)
Pada 3 Letter: ड (Ing)
Pada 4 Letter: छ (Chha)
Sacred Animal: Dog
Devata who connects with the Sacred Animal: Bhairava
Gender: Male
Friendly Animal: Nil
Opposing Animal: Tiger, Cat
Nakshatra Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha): Vata
Purusharta (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha): Kama
Pada1 Purushartha: Moksha
Pada2 Purushartha: Kama
Pada3 Purushartha: Artha
Pada4 Purushartha: Dharma
Gana List: Deva
Direction of Nakshatra: West
Primary: Rajas
Secondary: Tamas
Tertiary: Sattva
Sidereal Longitude of Yogataras: 64°39'11"
Magnitude: Variable
Latitude: 16°02'S
Declination: 7° 25'
Special Group: M
Combustion: June 21 - July 05
Deep Combustion Dates: June 19 - June 20
Trade Items: Spices, sugar, edible salt, edible oil, petroleum, perfume saffron, medicinal herbs, sandal
Months: 1 month
Gotra of the Nakshatra: Pulaha-Bridger of Space
Bird: Hawk-cuckoo, Partridge
Tree/Plant/Fruit: 1. Sissam (Indian rosewood) 2. Agar wood (Krishna guru) 3. Krishna kamal (Passion fruit) 4. Thippali (Long pepper)
Botanical Name for Tree: 1. Dalbergia sissoo 2. Aquilaria agallocha 3. Passiflora edulis 4. Piper longum
Birth in Suklapaksha: Owl
Birth in Krishnapaksha: Cock
Vedic Names of the Nakshatras: Ardra, Baahu
Vedanga Jyotisha short forms of Nak.: Dra
Srishti/Sthiti/Samhara: Samhara

Moon in Ardra Nakshatra in 2026

Dates for New Delhi (UTC+05:30) — showing your city's dates once your location loads.

January 2026

Jan 20262Fri

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 8:04 PM, January 2Ends: 5:28 PM, January 3

Jan 202630Fri

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 5:29 AM, January 30Ends: 3:27 AM, January 31

February 2026

Feb 202626Thu

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 12:11 PM, February 26Ends: 10:49 AM, February 27

March 2026

Mar 202625Wed

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 5:33 PM, March 25Ends: 4:19 PM, March 26

April 2026

Apr 202621Tue

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 11:58 PM, April 21Ends: 10:13 PM, April 22

May 2026

May 202619Tue

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 8:41 AM, May 19Ends: 6:12 AM, May 20

June 2026

Jun 202615Mon

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 7:08 PM, June 15Ends: 4:12 PM, June 16

July 2026

Jul 202613Mon

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 5:41 AM, July 13Ends: 2:51 AM, July 14

August 2026

Aug 20269Sun

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 2:43 PM, August 9Ends: 12:27 PM, August 10

September 2026

Sep 20265Sat

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 9:31 PM, September 5Ends: 7:52 PM, September 6

October 2026

Oct 20263Sat

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 2:55 AM, October 3Ends: 1:29 AM, October 4

Oct 202630Fri

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 9:04 AM, October 30Ends: 7:12 AM, October 31

November 2026

Nov 202626Thu

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 5:47 PM, November 26Ends: 3:08 PM, November 27

December 2026

Dec 202624Thu

Ardra NakshatraBegins: 4:53 AM, December 24Ends: 1:47 AM, December 25

Frequently Asked Questions about Ardra Nakshatra

The ruling deity of Ardra is Rudra (Lord Shiva). It is Nakshatra 6 of the 27 and is counted as a group of 1 star, with Betelguese as its principal star (yogatara).