Nakshatra 17 of 27 · Scorpio 3°20′ - 16°40′
Anuradha nakshatra अनुराधा
Anuradha is the seventeenth nakshatra, occupying Scorpio 3 degrees 20 minutes to 16 degrees 40 minutes. Saturn rules it and Mitra, the Vedic god of friendship and contracts, is its deity. Its symbol is a lotus rising through mud. The star describes devotion, loyalty and the ability to build lasting bonds and organisations through disciplined, patient effort.
- Meaning
- Following Radha; subsequent success
- Sidereal span
- Scorpio 3°20′ - 16°40′
- Ruling planet
- Saturn
- Deity
- Mitra
- Symbol
- lotus
- Gana
- Deva
- Yoni
- Deer (female)
- Nadi
- Madhya
- Varna
- Brahmin
- Guna
- Tamas
- Tattva
- Fire
- Rashi
- Scorpio
Symbol and deity
The lotus grows from silt and dark water yet opens clean above the surface, and tradition reads this as the capacity to flourish in difficult circumstances without being stained by them. Alternative symbols include a triumphal archway, shared with Vishakha, and a staff, the sign of a pilgrim or an office holder. Mitra, the deity, is one of the Adityas and the guardian of friendship, alliances and sworn agreements; his name is the Sanskrit word for friend. This makes Anuradha a star of cooperation, honour between parties and devotion sustained over time. Saturn's rulership grounds these themes in duty, patience and long horizons. The result is a nakshatra that combines Scorpio's emotional depth with a talent for organising people around a common purpose.
Personality of Anuradha natives
The Moon in Anuradha is traditionally associated with warmth, devotion and a strong need for belonging. Natives make loyal friends and are often the ones who hold a group together, remembering birthdays, mediating disputes and quietly doing the unglamorous work. They are good with numbers and systems, and Saturn gives them the persistence to finish long projects. Tradition credits them with success away from their birthplace, so relocation and travel are common themes. Beneath the friendliness runs Scorpio's intensity: Anuradha natives feel slights deeply, can be secretive about their own struggles and may carry resentment for years while appearing cordial. Classical texts also note a tendency toward melancholy and a sensitivity to how they are treated by superiors. They dislike being rushed and resist authority they consider undeserved. When mature, they combine emotional depth with organisational skill and become dependable leaders. When immature, the same loyalty can turn into jealousy or an inability to leave situations that no longer serve them.
Strengths
- Deep loyalty to friends and causes
- Skilled at organising groups
- Persistent through long difficulties
- Thrives away from birthplace
Challenges
- Holds resentment beneath a friendly surface
- Prone to melancholy and brooding
- Secretive about personal struggles
- Difficulty leaving stale situations
Career
Anuradha is traditionally linked with work that depends on cooperation and trust: diplomacy, organisational management, accountancy, banking, and any role that mediates between parties. Classical lists include devotees, those who honour friendship, and people employed in large institutions. Modern readings add counselling, psychology, statistics and data work, travel-related professions, and careers that require long-term residence abroad. Anuradha natives do well in structured environments where loyalty is rewarded and progress is steady. They are less suited to solo ventures with no team, and often reach their best work in the second half of life.
Relationships and matching
Anuradha is deva gana with the female deer yoni. Deer pairs most easily with deer (Jyeshtha) and is traditionally hostile to the dog yoni (Mula, Ardra). Deva gana matches well with deva and manushya nakshatras and is considered a difficult pairing with rakshasa gana. In love, Anuradha natives are devoted and affectionate but can be possessive, and they need partners who reciprocate loyalty visibly. Marriage is often described in tradition as steady rather than passionate, with the bond deepening over years. Friendships tend to be lifelong, and natives suffer real grief when one ends.
In Ashtakoot matching, Anuradha counts as Deva gana, Deer yoni and Madhya nadi. Those three drive gana, yoni and nadi koota, 18 of the 36 points.
Body and constitution
Tradition connects Anuradha with the stomach, bowels and womb, and with the heart in some texts. Saturn's rulership is read as a slow, constitution-building influence. These are correspondences from classical Jyotisha and describe traditional symbolism only; they are not medical observations and should not be treated as such.
The four padas
Every nakshatra divides into four quarters of 3°20′. The pada tells which navamsa sign the Moon occupies and colours how the star expresses itself.
| Pada | Span | Navamsa | Traditional reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pada 1 | Scorpio 3°20′ - Scorpio 6°40′ | Leo | Pada 1 falls in the Leo navamsa, ruled by the Sun. Tradition reads this quarter as the most ambitious and outwardly confident of Anuradha, with leadership in group settings, pride in loyalty and a need for recognition. |
| Pada 2 | Scorpio 6°40′ - Scorpio 10°00′ | Virgo | Pada 2 falls in the Virgo navamsa, ruled by Mercury, and is a pushkara navamsa. This quarter is the most analytical and service-oriented, skilled with numbers, systems and detail, and often the most reliable of the four. |
| Pada 3 | Scorpio 10°00′ - Scorpio 13°20′ | Libra | Pada 3 falls in the Libra navamsa, ruled by Venus. It is the most sociable quarter, drawn to partnership, art and diplomacy, and tradition sees it as the one most concerned with fairness in friendships and alliances. |
| Pada 4 | Scorpio 13°20′ - Scorpio 16°40′ | Scorpio | Pada 4 falls in the Scorpio navamsa, ruled by Mars, and is vargottama, so Anuradha's traits intensify. The most emotional and secretive quarter, with strong intuition, deep loyalty and a capacity for research or occult study. |
In the Vimshottari system
Anuradha's lord is Saturn, so a person born with the Moon here begins life in a Saturn mahadasha. How far the Moon has travelled through Anuradha sets how much of that first period remains at birth; the free kundli works the whole timeline out from the birth details.
Anuradha nakshatra questions
Is Anuradha nakshatra good or bad?
Anuradha is regarded as a favourable nakshatra: it is deva gana, mridu (soft) in nature, and tradition considers it good for friendship, travel and steady undertakings. Its difficulties are emotional, chiefly brooding and resentment, not harshness. As with every star, the Moon's placement here describes temperament; the rest of the chart decides how those tendencies play out.
Which rashi is Anuradha nakshatra?
Anuradha lies entirely within Scorpio (Vrishchika rashi), from 3 degrees 20 minutes to 16 degrees 40 minutes, so an Anuradha Moon is always a Scorpio Moon, ruled by Mars. Its four padas fall in the navamsa signs Leo, Virgo, Libra and Scorpio, and the fourth pada is vargottama.
Who should Anuradha nakshatra natives marry?
By gana, Anuradha (deva) matches best with other deva nakshatras such as Swati, Shravana or Revati, and comfortably with manushya stars. By yoni, deer pairs well with deer (Jyeshtha) and poorly with dog (Mula, Ardra). Traditional matching also weighs nadi, bhakoot and the other kootas, so gana alone should not decide compatibility.
What is the lucky day and number for Anuradha nakshatra?
Anuradha is ruled by Saturn, so tradition assigns Saturday as its day and 8 as its number. Associated colours are dark blue and black. These correspondences are drawn from classical planetary tables and are used for choosing timings and observances, not as promises about results.