Mrigashira is fifth among 27 nakshatras. The first two quarters of this nakshatra fall in Taurus whereas the last two fall in Gemini. The literal translation for the name Mrigashira is ‘head of a deer’ and the main symbol assigned to this nakshatra is a deer. Sometimes, only the head of a deer is also depicted as a symbol of this nakshatra.
From the name and symbol of this nakshatra, it is easy to guess that Mrigashira may exhibit many characteristics possessed by deer. These characteristics include shyness, timidity, playfulness, romantic behavior, fickleness, wanderlust and gentleness. Deer have a strong urge to wander and to search for new things. Accordingly, Mrigashira also possesses this characteristic of search. This search can be for physical or materialistic pursuits or it can be search for one’s true self or soul and the search for liberation, depending on placements of various planets in this nakshatra, as well as depending on the overall horoscope of the native under consideration.
Taking an example; suppose Mercury is placed in the first house of a horoscope in Gemini, in Libra navamsha of Mrigashira. In this case, the search may be directed at materialistic pursuits. This is because Mercury is a more about materialism and it rules the first and fourth house; both of which don’t offer much help for spiritual pursuits. Gemini may help with material as well as spiritual pursuits; and Libra is more about materialism. Hence one such native may become a writer, journalist; some type of creative professional or another likewise professional.
Taking another example, suppose Mercury is placed in the twelfth house of a horoscope in Gemini, in Scorpio navamsha of Mrigashira. Cancer rises in the ascendant. Mercury rules the third and twelfth house. The twelfth house is the most supportive house for spiritual growth and Mercury being the lord of this house is placed in it, which enhances the chances. Scorpio is more about research and the urge to dig deeper. At the same time, it features psychic perception and intuition. Hence the influence of Mrigashira in this case may make the native more interested in spiritual pursuit.
The ruling deity of this nakshatra is Moon according to Vedic Astrology. It is interesting to see the difference between qualities possessed by Mrigashira and Rohini; as Moon is the planetary ruler for Rohini whereas it is the ruling deity in case of Mrigashira. Though Moon is a common factor between both these nakshatras, their behaviors are quite different from each other as Moon relays different sets of qualities through Rohini and Mrigashira.
Moon relays characteristics like charm, magnetism, benevolence and prosperity through Rohini whereas it relays characteristics like Moon’s well known changeability and inconsistency through Mrigashira. The tendency of Moon to get involved in romantic encounters every now and then is also relayed through Mrigashira. Some other characteristics of Moon like tenderness, gentleness and sensuality are also exhibited through this nakshatra.
Vedic Astrology assigns the planetary lordship of Mrigashira to Mars which is a fiery planet and which brings sufficient energy to Mrigashira in order for it to carry on with its search for one thing or another. The influence of Mars on Mrigashira also introduces characteristics like argumentative nature and disaccord to this nakshatra, as Mars is considered to initiate arguments and disaccords.
The first two quarters of Mrigashira fall in Taurus ruled by Venus whereas the last two quarters of this nakshatra fall in Gemini ruled by Mercury. Therefore, both Taurus as well as Gemini and both Venus as well as Mercury have their influences on Mrigashira. The first half of Mrigashira falling in Taurus exhibits characteristics like creativity and social skills due to influence of Venus. The second half of this nakshatra exhibits qualities like practical skills, calculative nature and humor due to influence of Mercury on this half of Mrigashira.
According to scriptures of Vedic astrology, natives under strong influence of Moon in Mrigashira are beautiful and they have good sense of humor. Such natives are usually good at social skills, they like to make new friends and extend their social circles. Mrigashira natives may have good communication skills and they may do well in conveying their points across to other people. Natives under strong influence of Mrigashira may also perform well in debates and discussions due to influence of Mercury on this nakshatra.
However, such natives may at times be argumentative if the effect of Mars is strong on this nakshatra in their horoscopes. The Taurus part of this nakshatra may be much less argumentative than the Gemini part of this nakshatra. This is because Venus believes in getting things done through charm, diplomacy and mutual understanding. Mercury on the other hand likes to get into arguments and win them.
Mrigashira natives are generally shy in nature and they may take some time to open up to new people or relationships. However, once they start opening up, they are usually very good at holding interesting and long conversations; and keeping their company interesting. Mrigashira natives may love life and beauty in all its forms and many of them may be fond of music, singing, poetry and other such things. Characteristics like shyness and love for music may be enhanced in Taurus part of this nakshatra whereas characteristics like engaging in writings and witty conversations may be enhanced in Gemini part of this nakshatra.
Mrigashira natives may have strong desires for wandering and searching. Hence they may be fond of travel and adventures. The wanderlust may be more prominent in Gemini part of this nakshatra. These natives may have tendency to search and explore many different things and fields throughout their lives.
Though Mrigashira exhibits a wide variety of characteristics; different natives may embrace different characteristics, depending on which planets are placed in this nakshatra as well as on their overall horoscopes. Moon gives mixed results in this nakshatra where it can be good for profession and bad for personal life and relationships; especially the ones like marriage and love. Strong influence of Moon in Mrigashira on a native can make him have doubtful nature and such native may doubt people or things around him for no solid reasons.
This characteristic of Mrigashira natives may particularly be bad for their love affairs and marriages. This is because the natives suffering from this negative aspect of Moon in Mrigashira may have tendencies to doubt their partners every now and then; and they may often do so without solid reasons. Such natives may keep asking for explanations from their partners like where they were, with whom they were what were they doing, and many other such questions. These questions may clearly indicate that they are suspicious about the activities and loyalties of their partners, even when there may be no obvious reasons for such doubts.
Due to such doubtful and suspicious nature, natives with Moon in Mrigashira may face difficulties in their marriages, as their partners may find their suspicious nature too much to tolerate at times. Some of these Mrigashira natives may have to face serious problems in their marriages and love affairs by virtue of their suspicious natures. They may witness more than one failed marriage; if there are no corrective planetary energies in their horoscopes.
It is however interesting to note that in many cases where natives under strong influence of Moon in Mrigashira develop suspicious natures and they keep checking the loyalties of their partners from time to time, they may themselves not be the ones to stay loyal. A number of such natives with Moon in Mrigashira in relevant houses of their horoscopes may get romantically involved with people other than their partners; unless there are corrective planetary energies in their horoscopes.
This aspect of natives with Moon in Mrigashira is primarily due to the influence of its ruling deity Moon on this nakshatra. Moon is known for his romantic alliances with different women from time to time in Vedic Mythology. A story says that Moon once got romantically involved with wife of Jupiter and Mercury was born out of that relationship.
Hence natives under strong influence of Moon in Mrigashira in relevant houses of their horoscopes may cheat on their partners and they may have romantic relationships with many people throughout their lives; unless this tendency is corrected by strong benefic planets in their horoscopes. Since such Mrigashira natives have tendencies to cheat on their partners, they may raise suspicions when it comes to the loyalty of their partners towards them. This is because they may think their partners may also be doing the same, though such partners may not be. Some natives under strong influence of Moon in Mrigashira may actually separate from their partners under suspicion that their partners may be disloyal to them, unless there are strong benefic planets in their horoscopes to correct this tendency.
Taking an example, placement of Moon in the sixth house of a horoscope in Gemini, in Scorpio navamsha of Mrigashira may pose problems for the marriage of the native. Such native may have doubts about loyalty of his wife, though such doubts may not be based on logic or evidence. However, such doubts may increase with time; and the native may start asking more and more questions from his wife.
Apart from that, he may start looking into her personal details like phone calls, social media accounts and other likewise things. This may create problems between the couple and the quality of marriage may deteriorate. If the rest of his horoscope is not supportive for marriage; one such native may witness a failed marriage due to this characteristic. One such native may himself not engage in extramarital affairs due to this placement of Moon.
Taking another example, suppose Moon is placed in the twelfth house of a horoscope in Gemini, in Libra navamsha of Mrigashira. In this case, the native may doubt his wife’s loyalty and at the same time; he may have significant tendencies to engage in extramarital affairs. If malefic Rahu is also placed in the twelfth house with Moon; such tendencies may increase a lot. Hence the native may engage in extramarital affairs and at the same time; he may doubt the loyalty of his wife.
Considering another probability; if exalted Moon is placed in the twelfth house of a horoscope in Taurus, in Leo navamsha of Mrigashira; the native may have tendencies to engage in extramarital affairs. However, he may not doubt his wife to have such affairs. If instead of being placed in Leo navamsha; Moon is placed in Virgo navamsha; the native may doubt the loyalty of his partner though he may himself be engaged in extramarital affairs.
Considering another planet, placement of benefic Saturn in Mrigashira may remove most of these problems and the natives under such influence may do well in their professions as well as in their marriages. Saturn exhibits characteristics like discipline, patience, analytical abilities and dutifulness which may add corrections to such romantic and wandering tendencies of Mrigashira; as and when required. Hence natives under strong influence of Saturn in Mrigashira in relevant houses of their horoscopes may not engage in extramarital affairs and at the same time, they may not doubt their husbands or wives without valid reasons.
Even if one such suspicion is raised; they are likely to devote due time and effort to verify facts; before jumping to any conclusions. Looking at an example, placement of Saturn in the first house in Gemini in Mrigashira may prove good for the marriage of the native. Likewise, placement of Saturn in the first house in Taurus in Mrigashira may correct many problems in marriage of the native and it may also bless the native with professional success.
Looking at another planet; Venus may give good results for profession when placed in Mrigashira though it may not always promise good marriage. Natives under strong influence of Venus in Taurus in Mrigashira in relevant houses of their horoscopes may engage in extramarital affairs but they may not doubt their partners for the same. It means their marriages may face problems when their partners find out about such extramarital affairs; and not because of their doubts for their partners’ engagement in extramarital affairs.
Taking an example, suppose Venus is placed in the seventh house of a horoscope in Taurus in Mrigashira. In such case, the native may engage in extramarital affairs but he may not doubt the loyalty of his wife; whether Venus is placed in Leo or Virgo navamsha. Such native may face problems when an extramarital affair of his may become known to his wife. If the rest of his horoscope is not supportive for continuity of marriage; the native may witness a broken marriage. If that happens; the native may get married to his lover, after divorce.
All other planets among navagraha may perform differently in Mrigashira, depending on the net outcome of their combination with this nakshatra, Taurus or Gemini as well as on the overall horoscope of the native under consideration. Placement of Mars in Mrigashira may cause problems related to marriage, especially when it forms Manglik Dosh in a horoscope in this nakshatra. Here again, the types of problems caused by Mars and the quantum of such problems depends on the house of placement and sign of placement of this combination. Apart from that, navamsha placement of Mars may also have significant impact on this equation.
For example, placement of malefic Mars in the first house of a horoscope in Taurus in Mrigashira may make the native engage in extramarital affairs. One such affair may become a serious issue and unless there are corrective energies in the horoscope; the native may face a broken marriage due to such affair. The natives with this type of Manglik Dosh generally don’t question the loyalties of their husbands or wives and it is their loyalties which may be in question.
On the other hand, Manglik Dosh formed by malefic Mars in the seventh house in Taurus in Mrigashira may make the native doubt the loyalty of his wife, without obvious reasons. If such Manglik Dosh is strong; it may break the marriage of such native as he may ask for divorce under suspicion that his wife is having an extramarital affair; while she may or may not have such affair.
Looking at another probability, if malefic Mars forms Manglik Dosh in the seventh house in Gemini in Mrigashira, native’s wife may actually have an extramarital affair. Such affair may come to the knowledge of the native and depending on the rest of his horoscope, either his wife may ask for divorce after such disclosure; or she may run away with her lover; unless there are corrective planets in his horoscope.
Moving on, Mrigashira natives generally love life and they know how to enjoy it. Hence they may be fond of physical fitness, they may take care of their dietary habits, and they may maintain exercising schedules in order to remain fit and healthy. Mrigashira natives may be some of the most health conscious type of natives among all 27 nakshatra type natives. For this reason; they may be seen living longer and healthier than many other nakshatra type natives; provided there are no strong opposing factors in their horoscopes.
Mrigashira natives generally engage in creative fields and even if their professional fields are not creative due to the rest of their horoscopes, they may introduce some creativity in such fields. For example, the office of an administrative officer under strong influence of Mrigashira may be well organized and various items of creative arts may be found in such office. Such officer may keep coming up with creative ideas and plans to handle various matters or issues in his line of work. He may also create awareness about health and fitness among his colleagues and subordinates.
Let’s look at performances of various planets in various navamshas of Mrigashira. Starting with Leo navamsha; Moon, Mercury and Venus may do well or very well here whereas Saturn and Rahu may do well but not very well here. Sun, Mars and Jupiter may perform above average in this navamsha. Sun and Mars may do well here if the overall horoscope is supportive. Ketu may do relatively well in this navamsha but it may still perform below average. Among navagraha; Moon may be the strongest in this navamsha.
Looking at Virgo navamsha; Moon, Mercury, Saturn and Rahu may do well or very well here whereas Venus may do well but not very well in this navamsha. This is because Venus is debilitated in Virgo. Hence it may lose some strength. On the other hand, Mercury and Rahu are exalted in Virgo. Hence they may gain extra strength in this navamsha. Sun may perform on average here whereas Mars may perform above average; since it rules Mrigashira. Jupiter may perform below average since it is not strong in Taurus as well as Virgo. Ketu may perform very poorly in this navamsha since it is debilitated in Taurus as well as Virgo. Among navagraha; Rahu may be the strongest in this navamsha whereas Ketu may be the weakest.
Moving on to Libra navamsha; Mercury may perform very well here, since it is strong in Gemini as well as Libra. Saturn may also perform very well here since it is strong in Gemini and it is exalted in Libra. Venus and Rahu may perform well here and if the overall horoscope is supportive; they may perform very well. Sun may perform below average here; since it is not strong in Gemini and it is debilitated in Libra.
Moon may perform above average or it may perform well here; depending on the overall horoscope. Mars may perform on average here and not more than that in most cases. Though it rules Mrigashira; it is not strong in Gemini as well as Libra. Jupiter may perform below average in this navamsha. Ketu may perform below average or it may perform poorly in this navamsha; depending on the overall horoscope. Among navagraha; Mercury may be the strongest in this navamsha whereas Ketu may be the weakest.
Considering Scorpio navamsha; Mercury, Venus and Saturn may perform well but not very well here since none of them is much comfortable in Scorpio. Moon may perform below average since it is debilitated in Scorpio. Rahu may perform above average but not well; since it is strong in Gemini but debilitated in Scorpio.
Sun may perform on average here whereas Mars may perform above average in this navamsha. Mars is not strong in Gemini but it rules Mrigashira as well as Scorpio. Jupiter may perform on average here. Ketu may also perform on average here; since it is weak in Gemini but exalted in Scorpio. Among navagraha; Mercury may be the strongest in this navamsha whereas Moon may be the weakest here. However, no planet among navagraha may perform very well here.
Himanshu Shangari