Nakshatra 3 of 27
Krittika Nakshatra
Krittika is your birth star (Janma Nakshatra), the star the Moon occupied when you were born. It is presided over by Agni, the sacred fire, and its symbol is a flame or blade.
- Order
- 3
- Ruling planet
- Sun
- Deity
- Agni
- Span
- 26°40′ Aries – 10°00′ Taurus
- Gana
- Rakshasa (fierce)
- Yoni (animal)
- Sheep
- Naming syllables
- A, Ee, U, Ea
What Krittika means
Krittika is your birth star (Janma Nakshatra), the star the Moon occupied when you were born. It is presided over by Agni, the sacred fire, and its symbol is a flame or blade. Together they point to clarity, high standards and sharp discernment. It favours honest speech and clean work, and the courage to cut away what is no longer useful; warmth softens its sharpness. The star is ruled by the Sun, so your life's first Vimshottari period was the Sun period, and its themes of identity, purpose and the wish to be recognised stay close to how you feel and respond. Its temperament (Gana) is rakshasa, which tradition reads as independence, strong will and protective energy. Many families use the star's syllables for naming, and the tara cycle counted from it is used to choose supportive days.
Naming syllables for Krittika
The four Padas of Krittika carry the starting sounds A, Ee, U, Ea. Parents who follow Nakshatra naming choose a first syllable from the Pada of the child's birth star.
Krittika temperament
The symbol of Krittika is a razor or flame. Krittika natives are sharp, honest and protective, cutting through confusion with clear judgement. They can be blunt, but their loyalty and sense of purpose are strong.
Work that suits Krittika
Traditional texts and practising astrologers link Krittika with administration, the military, cooking and food businesses, metalwork, criticism and editing. The house the Moon occupies and the strength of the star lord refine this further.
The life period Krittika starts you in
Because Sun rules Krittika, life begins in the Sun Mahadasha, a 6-year period. The Sun period lasts six years and puts identity, purpose and responsibility at the centre. It often brings chances to lead, to be seen for your work and to clarify what you stand for. Relations with father figures, employers and people in authority come into focus, and it is a good time to set goals, take ownership and act with integrity. Pride and impatience are the things to watch; generosity and steady effort make the period bright. Its results also depend on the Sun's sign, house and strength in your chart, described in the planet pages.
How a birth star is worked out
Your Nakshatra is the lunar mansion the Moon occupied at the moment of birth. The zodiac is divided into 27 equal parts of 13°20′ each, and each part is split into four Padas of 3°20′. Because the Moon moves roughly one Nakshatra a day, an accurate birth time and place matter: a few hours either way can change the star, and a few minutes can change the Pada. A sidereal zodiac with the Lahiri Ayanamsa is used for these pages, which is the standard most Indian almanacs follow.
How Krittika is used in practice
Families use the birth star for naming, for matching horoscopes before marriage, for choosing auspicious days (Tara Bala) and for the first life period in the Vimshottari Dasha system. The star alone is only one layer of a chart, so treat these descriptions as tendencies to recognise rather than fixed outcomes. Cast a full birth chart to see how the Moon, its sign and its house combine with the rest of the horoscope.
| Partner Nakshatra | Tamil Porutham checks | Ashtakoota points (star-based) |
|---|---|---|
| Swati | 5/7 | 9/21 |
| Shatabhisha | 5/7 | 9/21 |
| Ashwini | 4/7 | 9/21 |
| Bharani | 4/7 | 9/21 |
| Ardra | 4/7 | 9/21 |
| Magha | 4/7 | 9/21 |
Common questions
Which planet rules Krittika Nakshatra?
Krittika is ruled by Sun. In the Vimshottari Dasha system this means anyone born with the Moon in Krittika begins life in the Sun period, which lasts 6 years in full; the balance left at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the star.
Who is the deity of Krittika?
The presiding deity of Krittika is Agni. Classical texts use the deity to describe the mood and purpose of the star, and many families include the deity in prayers on birthdays that fall on this Nakshatra.
Which zodiac sign does Krittika fall in?
Krittika spans 26°40′ Aries – 10°00′ Taurus, so it belongs to Aries, Taurus. If a Nakshatra crosses two signs, the Pada tells you which sign the Moon was in.
What are the naming syllables for Krittika?
The traditional starting sounds for the four Padas of Krittika are A, Ee, U, Ea. Parents often pick a first letter from the Pada of the birth star; regional lists spell the sounds slightly differently, so check the list your family follows.
What is the Gana of Krittika?
Krittika belongs to the Rakshasa (fierce) Gana. Gana is one of the factors checked in marriage matching, where it is compared with the partner's star to judge temperament.
Which stars match well with Krittika for marriage?
The table on this page ranks partner stars by how many of the seven star-based Tamil Porutham checks agree and by the star-based Ashtakoota points. A full match also looks at both Moon signs, Rajju, Vedha and the complete charts, so use the ranking as a starting point and open the pair page for the factor-by-factor result.
Is Krittika a good Nakshatra?
No birth star is good or bad on its own. Each has strengths and lessons, and the rest of the chart decides how they show up. Classical texts describe tendencies; the planets, houses and periods in your own horoscope decide the details.
How do I find out if my birth star is Krittika?
Enter your date, exact time and place of birth in the free birth chart. The chart shows the Moon's Nakshatra and Pada, the current Dasha and the full planetary positions.
Does the Nakshatra change with Lahiri or KP Ayanamsa?
The Lahiri and Krishnamurti (KP) values differ by only a few minutes of arc, so the star almost never changes. It can change only when the Moon sits right on the boundary of two Nakshatras.
What happens on days when the Moon transits Krittika?
When the Moon passes through your birth star (roughly once every 27 days) the day is called your Janma Nakshatra day. Many people avoid starting major ventures on it and keep it for prayer and quiet work instead; the Panchangam shows when it falls.
What is the symbol of Krittika Nakshatra?
The symbol of Krittika is a razor or flame, which reflects its core nature.