Nakshatra 9 of 27 · आश्लेषा
Ashlesha nakshatra
Ashlesha (आश्लेषा) is the 9th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 16°40′–30°00′ Karka. Ruled by Mercury with the nagas (serpent deities) as presiding deity, it is a Sharp (Tikshna) mansion — classically suited to sharp works.
Ashlesha at a glance
| Sanskrit name | Ashlesha (आश्लेषा) |
|---|---|
| Presiding deity | The Nagas (serpent deities) |
| Symbol | A coiled serpent |
| Vimshottari lord | Mercury (Budha) |
| Gana | Rakshasa gana |
| Saptadha class | Sharp (Tikshna) |
| Moon-sign rashi | Karka (Cancer) 16°40′–30°00′ Karka |
| Naming syllables | Dee, Du, De, Do — one per pada, for the namakarana (naming) rite |
The character of Ashlesha
The coiled serpent — Ashlesha holds the kundalini's grip: hypnotic, clinging, deep. A Tikshna (sharp) mansion, it suits only works of cunning, exorcism and sharp intellect; the classics avoid it for marriages, partnerships and happy beginnings.
The four padas of Ashlesha
Each nakshatra divides into four padas (quarters) of 3°20′. The pada fixes the navamsa rashi — the finer layer a birth chart reads — and the traditional naming syllable for a child born under it.
| Pada | Navamsa rashi | Naming syllable |
|---|---|---|
| Pada 1 | Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Dee |
| Pada 2 | Makara (Capricorn) | Du |
| Pada 3 | Kumbha (Aquarius) | De |
| Pada 4 | Meena (Pisces) | Do |
What Ashlesha is classically suited for
In the seven-fold (Saptadha) classification, Ashlesha is a Sharp (Tikshna) mansion. The muhurta classics assign it:
sharp works — surgery, exorcism, destroying pests, esoteric practice; avoided for happy beginnings.
This class is the first screen Bela applies to every muhurat date: the day's nakshatra must suit the activity before the finer rules (tithi, yoga, choghadiya, Rahu Kaal) are even checked. See it working on the muhurat date lists, where every date shows its nakshatra-suitability rule.
Ashlesha days — August–September 2026
Days in the current Delhi panchang window whose sunrise nakshatra is Ashlesha:
- 13 August 2026
- 9 September 2026
Sunrise nakshatra is the classical day convention; exact end times are on the Delhi panchang. Tara Bala — whether Ashlesha supports your birth star — is computed per profile in the Bela app.