Nakshatra 13 of 27 · Virgo 10°00′ - 23°20′
Hasta nakshatra हस्त
Hasta is the thirteenth nakshatra, spanning 10 degrees to 23 degrees 20 minutes of Virgo and marked by the stars of Corvus. The Moon rules it and Savitar, the life-giving aspect of the Sun, presides. Its symbol is an open hand. Hasta stands for skill in the hand: craft, dexterity and sleight, and the ability to bring whatever is touched to a proper finish.
- Meaning
- the hand
- Sidereal span
- Virgo 10°00′ - 23°20′
- Ruling planet
- Moon
- Deity
- Savitar
- Symbol
- hand
- Gana
- Deva
- Yoni
- Buffalo (female)
- Nadi
- Adi
- Varna
- Vaishya
- Guna
- Tamas
- Tattva
- Fire
- Rashi
- Virgo
Symbol and deity
The symbol of Hasta is a hand, usually shown open with the palm forward. The hand is the instrument of making, healing, blessing, giving and grasping; it is also the instrument of the conjuror and the thief, which is why tradition attributes both craft and cunning to this nakshatra. The lines of the palm connect it to palmistry and to fate held in one's own grip. The presiding deity is Savitar, the Sun as the stimulator who sets everything in motion at dawn, associated with the Gayatri mantra and with golden hands. He gives the nakshatra its vitality, creativity and capacity to manifest. The Moon as ruler adds sensitivity and adaptability, and Virgo adds precision. Hasta signifies skilled work, healing touch, humour, versatility and the power to make ideas concrete.
Personality of Hasta natives
The Moon in Hasta is traditionally described as giving industry, wit and skill. Brihat Samhita says these natives are energetic, daring, shameless in a good-humoured way, given to drink and to theft, and Hora Sara notes their cleverness and eloquence. In practice Hasta natives are capable, practical and quick with their hands and minds. They are excellent at detail, enjoy solving problems and take pride in a job done properly. There is a lively sense of humour and a talent for mimicry and entertainment. The Moon makes them sensitive to mood and fond of home; Virgo makes them tidy and critical. The shadow side is the grasping hand: acquisitiveness, manipulation, and a cleverness that can slide into deception when pressed. They may also worry excessively and be hard on themselves and others over small errors. Hasta natives mature when the hand that can take is used mostly to make and to give.
Strengths
- Manual and mental dexterity
- Practical problem solving
- Humour and lively wit
- Reliability in finishing work
Challenges
- Acquisitiveness and grasping
- Cleverness sliding into cunning
- Excessive worry over detail
- Harsh criticism of self and others
Career
Tradition links Hasta with everything done skilfully by hand: crafts, surgery, massage and bodywork, dentistry, mechanics, tailoring, carpentry, pottery, painting and fine art. The Moon and Virgo point to healthcare, nursing, accounting, editing, secretarial and administrative work, and service industries. The hand also suggests palmistry, astrology, sleight-of-hand performance, comedy and sales. Hasta natives are found in trade, publishing and technology as well. They work with care and speed, prefer visible results, and excel where precision matters. They are adaptable employees and meticulous self-employed craftspeople.
Relationships and matching
Hasta is Deva gana with the female Buffalo yoni, whose natural partner is Swati, the male buffalo. The hostile yoni is the Horse of Ashwini and Shatabhisha. Deva gana pairs easily with Deva and Manushya nakshatras. In love, Hasta natives are warm, attentive and practical, showing affection through helpfulness and small acts of service. They value a tidy, harmonious home and can be critical when it is disturbed. Friendships are lively and useful, full of favours exchanged. Marriage suits them when the partner appreciates competence and does not mistake their fussing for lack of tenderness.
In Ashtakoot matching, Hasta counts as Deva gana, Buffalo yoni and Adi nadi. Those three drive gana, yoni and nadi koota, 18 of the 36 points.
Body and constitution
Classical texts associate Hasta with the hands themselves, and by extension the fingers and arms, and describe its constitution as vata, the light, mobile temperament. The traditional image is of a nimble, restless body with a sensitive digestion. This is a symbolic correspondence from the tradition, not medical advice.
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 | Virgo 10°00′ - Virgo 13°20′ | Aries | Pada 1, Aries navamsa, is the most energetic and enterprising quarter. Tradition gives it quick hands, competitive drive, and the courage to attempt difficult work others avoid. |
| Pada 2 | Virgo 13°20′ - Virgo 16°40′ | Taurus | Pada 2, Taurus navamsa, is the most practical and artistic quarter. Tradition links it with craftsmanship, patient skill, a love of beautiful objects, and steady material gain. |
| Pada 3 | Virgo 16°40′ - Virgo 20°00′ | Gemini | Pada 3, Gemini navamsa, is the most intellectual and communicative quarter. Tradition associates it with writing, trade, wit, and skill in languages, sometimes with cunning in negotiation. |
| Pada 4 | Virgo 20°00′ - Virgo 23°20′ | Cancer | Pada 4, Cancer navamsa, is the most emotional and nurturing quarter. Tradition colours it with healing touch, devotion to family, and care expressed through practical service. |
In the Vimshottari system
Hasta's lord is Moon, so a person born with the Moon here begins life in a Moon mahadasha. How far the Moon has travelled through Hasta sets how much of that first period remains at birth; the free kundli works the whole timeline out from the birth details.
Hasta nakshatra questions
Is Hasta nakshatra good or bad?
Hasta is a Deva nakshatra classified as light and swift (kshipra) in muhurta, making it auspicious for trade, travel, medicine and skilled work. As a birth placement it gives dexterity, humour and reliability, with acquisitiveness and worry as faults. It is broadly considered favourable, though the classical texts note a tendency to cunning. The full chart decides.
Which rashi is Hasta nakshatra?
Hasta lies entirely within Virgo (Kanya rashi), from 10 degrees to 23 degrees 20 minutes. A Moon in Hasta is therefore a Virgo Moon in the sidereal zodiac. The Moon rules the nakshatra while Mercury rules the sign, which is why the placement combines emotional sensitivity with analytical, practical skill.
Who should Hasta nakshatra natives marry?
Hasta has the female Buffalo yoni and Deva gana. Its ideal yoni match is Swati (male buffalo), and it pairs comfortably with other Deva nakshatras such as Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Anuradha and Revati. Ashwini and Shatabhisha carry the hostile Horse yoni. Hasta is Adi nadi, so same-nadi partners are traditionally avoided. A full match uses all eight kutas.
What is the lucky day or number for Hasta?
Popular tradition assigns Monday, the day of the Moon, and the number 2 to Hasta, with Wednesday sometimes added for the Virgo connection. These are conventions drawn from the ruling planet rather than classical rules about the nakshatra. Jyotisha itself weighs the Moon's dasha, transits and dignity in the individual chart far more heavily.