Nakshatra Grouping — Seven Groups (Gana) of the 27 Nakshatras
Fixed, Movable, Cruel, Ordinary, Short, Gentle and Ferocious — the seven groups of stars used to choose a Muhurat.
Star grouping in Vedic Astrology
As per Vedic Astrology, if we divide the zodiac into twenty-seven (27) equal parts then each part would be of 13° 20′ and each part is called a Nakshatra. If we begin from Aries (i.e. the beginning position as per Nirayana) then all the Nakshatras can be named as per the list below.
These 27 Nakshatras are divided into seven groups. The group of the Nakshatra in which the Moon is placed decides which works a Muhurat can be used for.
Group of each of the 27 Nakshatras
| No | Nakshatra | Group |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashviniअश्विनी | Short Nakshatra |
| 2 | Bharaniभरणी | Cruel Nakshatra |
| 3 | Krittikaकृत्तिका | Ordinary Nakshatra |
| 4 | Rohiniरोहिणी | Fixed Nakshatra |
| 5 | Mrigashiraमृगशिरा | Gentle Nakshatra |
| 6 | Ardraआर्द्रा | Ferocious Nakshatra |
| 7 | Punarvasuपुनर्वसु | Movable Nakshatra |
| 8 | Pushyaपुष्य | Short Nakshatra |
| 9 | Ashleshaआश्ळेषा | Ferocious Nakshatra |
| 10 | Maghaमघा | Cruel Nakshatra |
| 11 | Purva Phalguniपूर्व फाल्गुनी | Cruel Nakshatra |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguniउत्तर फाल्गुनी | Fixed Nakshatra |
| 13 | Hastaहस्त | Short Nakshatra |
| 14 | Chitraचित्रा | Gentle Nakshatra |
| 15 | Swatiस्वाति | Movable Nakshatra |
| 16 | Vishakhaविशाखा | Ordinary Nakshatra |
| 17 | Anuradhaअनुराधा | Gentle Nakshatra |
| 18 | Jyeshthaज्येष्ठा | Ferocious Nakshatra |
| 19 | Mulaमूल | Ferocious Nakshatra |
| 20 | Purva Ashadhaपूर्वाषाढा | Cruel Nakshatra |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadhaउत्तराषाढा | Fixed Nakshatra |
| 22 | Shravanaश्रवण | Movable Nakshatra |
| 23 | Dhanishthaश्रविष्ठा | Movable Nakshatra |
| 24 | Shatabhishaशतभिषक् | Movable Nakshatra |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapadaपूर्वभाद्रपदा | Cruel Nakshatra |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapadaउत्तरभाद्रपदा | Fixed Nakshatra |
| 27 | Revatiरेवती | Gentle Nakshatra |
- 1Ashviniअश्विनी
Short Nakshatra
- 2Bharaniभरणी
Cruel Nakshatra
- 3Krittikaकृत्तिका
Ordinary Nakshatra
- 4Rohiniरोहिणी
Fixed Nakshatra
- 5Mrigashiraमृगशिरा
Gentle Nakshatra
- 6Ardraआर्द्रा
Ferocious Nakshatra
- 7Punarvasuपुनर्वसु
Movable Nakshatra
- 8Pushyaपुष्य
Short Nakshatra
- 9Ashleshaआश्ळेषा
Ferocious Nakshatra
- 10Maghaमघा
Cruel Nakshatra
- 11Purva Phalguniपूर्व फाल्गुनी
Cruel Nakshatra
- 12Uttara Phalguniउत्तर फाल्गुनी
Fixed Nakshatra
- 13Hastaहस्त
Short Nakshatra
- 14Chitraचित्रा
Gentle Nakshatra
- 15Swatiस्वाति
Movable Nakshatra
- 16Vishakhaविशाखा
Ordinary Nakshatra
- 17Anuradhaअनुराधा
Gentle Nakshatra
- 18Jyeshthaज्येष्ठा
Ferocious Nakshatra
- 19Mulaमूल
Ferocious Nakshatra
- 20Purva Ashadhaपूर्वाषाढा
Cruel Nakshatra
- 21Uttara Ashadhaउत्तराषाढा
Fixed Nakshatra
- 22Shravanaश्रवण
Movable Nakshatra
- 23Dhanishthaश्रविष्ठा
Movable Nakshatra
- 24Shatabhishaशतभिषक्
Movable Nakshatra
- 25Purva Bhadrapadaपूर्वभाद्रपदा
Cruel Nakshatra
- 26Uttara Bhadrapadaउत्तरभाद्रपदा
Fixed Nakshatra
- 27Revatiरेवती
Gentle Nakshatra
The seven Nakshatra groups
Fixed Nakshatra(Dhruva / Sthira / Constant)
Rohini (4) · Uttara Phalguni (12) · Uttara Ashadha (21) · Uttara Bhadrapada (26)
All works which are fixed in nature are done in these Nakshatras — laying the foundation, digging a well, house building, Upanayana, agriculture, starting a service and other lasting undertakings.
Movable Nakshatra(Chara / Chala)
Punarvasu (7) · Swati (15) · Shravana (22) · Dhanishtha (23) · Shatabhisha (24)
All movable activities like riding on vehicles, horses and elephants, and journeys of any kind can be done in these Nakshatras. Apart from these, any other work needing motion can be done in them.
Cruel Nakshatra(Ugra / Krura)
Bharani (2) · Magha (10) · Purva Phalguni (11) · Purva Ashadha (20) · Purva Bhadrapada (25)
These Nakshatras are aggressive in nature and are suitable for killing, cheating, works involving the use of fire, theft, poisoning, research on poisonous medicines, purchase or sale and use of arms, surgical operations and obtaining a licence for a gun.
Ordinary Nakshatra(Mishra / Sadharana / Mixed)
Krittika (3) · Vishakha (16)
Mixed in nature, these Nakshatras are good for fire-related works, welding, melting, gas works, fabrication, preparing medicines, Agnihotra and similar combined works.
Short Nakshatra(Kshipra / Laghu / Dynamic)
Ashvini (1) · Pushya (8) · Hasta (13)
These Nakshatras are suitable for construction, starting a shop, selling, sex, starting education, making and wearing ornaments, fine arts, learning and the display of arts. All acts done under a movable Nakshatra can also be done during a short Nakshatra. Pushya Nakshatra is not considered good for the marriage ceremony.
Gentle Nakshatra(Mridu / Maitra / Friendly)
Mrigashira (5) · Chitra (14) · Anuradha (17) · Revati (27)
Activities such as singing, learning music, making and wearing clothes, playing, learning game skills, making friends and making and wearing ornaments can be done in these Nakshatras. All activities which can be done during a fixed Nakshatra can also be done during a gentle Nakshatra.
Ferocious Nakshatra(Teekshna / Daruna / Bitter)
Ardra (6) · Ashlesha (9) · Jyeshtha (18) · Mula (19)
These Nakshatras are good for starting Tantrik acts, killing, black magic, aggressive and deadly deeds, dividing others, training and taming animals, and for Sadhana or Hatha Yoga. All activities which can be done during a cruel Nakshatra can also be done during a ferocious Nakshatra.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the seven Nakshatra groups and how they are used.
Q:What are the seven groups of Nakshatras?
The 27 Nakshatras are divided into seven groups: Fixed (Dhruva), Movable (Chara), Cruel (Ugra), Ordinary (Mishra), Short (Kshipra), Gentle (Mridu) and Ferocious (Teekshna). Each group carries the nature of its members, which is why a Muhurat is chosen from the group of the Nakshatra prevailing at that time.
Q:Which Nakshatra is good for laying the foundation of a house?
The four fixed Nakshatras — Rohini (4), Uttara Phalguni (12), Uttara Ashadha (21) and Uttara Bhadrapada (26). Anything that should last, such as laying a foundation, digging a well, house building, Upanayana, agriculture or starting a service, is done in a fixed Nakshatra.
Q:Which Nakshatras are good for travel and buying a vehicle?
The movable Nakshatras — Punarvasu (7), Swati (15), Shravana (22), Dhanishtha (23) and Shatabhisha (24). All acts done in a movable Nakshatra can also be done in a short Nakshatra, so Ashvini (1), Pushya (8) and Hasta (13) are equally suitable for journeys.
Q:Which Nakshatras are good for a marriage or a religious ceremony?
The fixed (Dhruva) and gentle (Mridu) groups are the usual choice — Rohini, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada, Mrigashira, Chitra, Anuradha and Revati. The short (Kshipra) Nakshatras are also accepted, but Pushya is avoided for the marriage ceremony.
Q:Do these groups apply to the birth Nakshatra as well?
The seven groups are mainly a Muhurat (electional) tool — they tell you which activities suit the Nakshatra of the day. The birth Nakshatra (Janma Nakshatra) is used for naming, the Vimshottari Dasha and the reading of the Moon's position in the Janma Kundali.
Explore More
The daily Varjyam (Visha Ghati) window — ghatis, rashi and degrees for all 27 Nakshatras.
The naming syllable (Naam Rashi) of every Nakshatra and its four padas.
Auspicious timings for starting work, opening a shop, housewarming and more.
Every Kundali, Rashi and Panchang tool on Nepal Jyotish, in one dashboard.