Moola Nakshatra
Lunar mansion 19 of 27 — ruled by Ketu
Moola is the 19th of the 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions) in Vedic astrology, spanning 240° to 253.333° sidereal. It is ruled by Ketu, presided over by the deity Nirriti, and its power symbol is the tied bunch of roots.
Moola nakshatra characteristics
People born with the Moon in Moola tend to reflect the nature of its ruling planet, Ketu — detachment, intuition and a spiritual, inward pull. Its Rakshasa gana gives a intense, self-willed and powerful ("demonic" only in the sense of forceful) disposition, while its Tamasic guna colours how that energy expresses in daily life. The core life aim (purushartha) of Moola is Kama — desire, pleasure and relationship.
| Ruling planet | Ketu |
|---|---|
| Deity | Nirriti |
| Symbol | Tied Bunch of Roots |
| Gana (temperament) | Rakshasa |
| Guna (nature) | Tamasic |
| Animal (yoni) | Male Dog |
| Life aim (purushartha) | Kama |
| Direction | North |
| Degrees (sidereal) | 240° to 253.333° sidereal |
The four padas of Moola
Each nakshatra is divided into four quarters (padas) of 3°20′ each, mapping onto the Navamsa (D9) chart. In Moola, the padas carry these emphases:
- Pada 1 — Dharma emphasis, a Ketu-ruled quarter of Moola.
- Pada 2 — Artha emphasis, a Ketu-ruled quarter of Moola.
- Pada 3 — Kama emphasis, a Ketu-ruled quarter of Moola.
- Pada 4 — Moksha emphasis, a Ketu-ruled quarter of Moola.
Moola in your chart
Your birth (Janam) nakshatra is set by the Moon's exact sidereal position at birth, so knowing your Moola placement means knowing your Moon's degree. Navagraha computes this precisely with the Swiss Ephemeris and explains what Moola means for your temperament, relationships, career timing and Vimshottari dasha — because the nakshatra lord (Ketu) also opens your dasha sequence.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the ruling planet of Moola nakshatra?
Moola nakshatra is ruled by Ketu. This planet also begins the Vimshottari dasha sequence for anyone born under Moola.
Which deity rules Moola nakshatra?
The presiding deity of Moola is Nirriti, and its power symbol is the tied bunch of roots.
What are the degrees of Moola nakshatra?
Moola spans 240° to 253.333° sidereal, the 19th of the 27 nakshatras.
Is Moola a good nakshatra?
Every nakshatra has strengths and challenges — Moola carries a Rakshasa gana and a life aim of Kama. What matters most is how its lord Ketu is placed in your full birth chart, which Navagraha reads for you.
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