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NAKSHATRA 9 OF 27 · Āśleṣā

Ashlesha

By Nakshatra · Updated

Listen beneath the surface

Ashlesha’s serpent symbolism invites attention to subtlety, attachment, and boundaries. Consider what becomes clearer when you separate an observation from an assumption.

SYMBOLSerpent
RULING PLANETMercury
DEITYNaga

A moment to reflect

Ask a clarifying question before drawing a conclusion.

Is Ashlesha your birth star?

A birth star is determined from the Moon’s sidereal longitude, not just your birth month. Our calculator uses your birth date, local time, and location. If your birth time is unknown, it checks the whole day and shows any possible birth stars.

Discover my birth star ✧

Where Ashlesha sits in the sky

Ashlesha is number 9 in the 27-part nakshatra sequence. In the equal-division sidereal zodiac used by our calculator, it spans 16° 40′ Cancer to 0° 00′ Leo. The next nakshatra begins at the end of that range.

Your birth star depends on the Moon’s position in this division at your birth. It is different from a Sun sign. Understand the difference between signs, birth stars and padas →

Meet the symbolism in everyday life

Closeness can comfort, and it can also make boundaries difficult to see. Notice one situation where your needs and another person’s needs have become tangled. Try expressing a preference simply, without accusation. Clear language can create space for a connection to become more freely chosen.

This is our original reflection on the symbol, not a translated teaching or a fixed description of people born under Ashlesha.

The four padas of Ashlesha

Each nakshatra has four equal quarters, called padas. Your Moon’s calculated position determines your quarter. The ranges below explain the division; they do not assign a personality to each quarter.

Sidereal ranges, with the ending boundary excluded
PadaBeginsEnds
116° 40′ Cancer20° 00′ Cancer
220° 00′ Cancer23° 20′ Cancer
323° 20′ Cancer26° 40′ Cancer
426° 40′ Cancer0° 00′ Leo

Other stars in the Mercury sequence

The ruler shown here belongs to the Vimshottari nakshatra sequence; it is not automatically your rising-sign ruler or current dasha ruler. Learn how dashas and their rulers are used.

Sources behind this guide

The Drik Panchang nakshatra reference introduces the framework and names. The degree ranges here are calculated from the 27 equal divisions of the zodiac. Symbol and deity associations can differ in presentation across traditions.

Our method and sources explain the calculation conventions, including our approximate Lahiri ayanamsa. The reflection exercises are our own, prepared with AI assistance. This guide has not been independently reviewed by a Jyotish practitioner.

Reading the tradition thoughtfully

This is an editorial reflection on traditional symbolism, rather than a personal prediction. Associations and interpretations vary between lineages. A full chart includes much more than a single nakshatra.

Read about our method and sources →