Nakshatra 6 of 27 · आर्द्रा
Ardra nakshatra
Ardra (आर्द्रा) is the 6th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 6°40′–20°00′ Mithuna. Ruled by Rahu with rudra (the storm-god form of shiva) as presiding deity, it is a Sharp (Tikshna) mansion — classically suited to sharp works.
Ardra at a glance
| Sanskrit name | Ardra (आर्द्रा) |
|---|---|
| Presiding deity | Rudra (the storm-god form of Shiva) |
| Symbol | A teardrop / diamond |
| Vimshottari lord | Rahu |
| Gana | Manushya gana |
| Saptadha class | Sharp (Tikshna) |
| Moon-sign rashi | Mithuna (Gemini) 6°40′–20°00′ Mithuna |
| Naming syllables | Ku, Gha, Na, Chha — one per pada, for the namakarana (naming) rite |
The character of Ardra
Ardra is the moist one — Rudra's storm, the tear that clears and the diamond that pressure makes. A Tikshna (sharp) mansion, it is reserved for hard works: surgery, demolition of the old, fierce penance. Auspicious beginnings are classically steered to gentler stars.
The four padas of Ardra
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) | Ku |
| Pada 2 | Makara (Capricorn) | Gha |
| Pada 3 | Kumbha (Aquarius) | Na |
| Pada 4 | Meena (Pisces) | Chha |
What Ardra is classically suited for
In the seven-fold (Saptadha) classification, Ardra 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.
Ardra days — August–September 2026
Days in the current Delhi panchang window whose sunrise nakshatra is Ardra:
- 10 August 2026
- 6 September 2026
Sunrise nakshatra is the classical day convention; exact end times are on the Delhi panchang. Tara Bala — whether Ardra supports your birth star — is computed per profile in the Bela app.