Nakshatra
Chitra nakshatra: Tvaṣṭṛ, Mars and the bright jewel
Chitra (Citrā) is the fourteenth nakshatra, from 23°20' sidereal Virgo to 6°40' Libra. Padas 1 and 2 are in Virgo and padas 3 and 4 in Libra. Its deity is Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine craftsman, and its Vimshottari lord is Mars. The symbol is commonly given as a bright jewel or pearl, and its muhurta class is mṛdu, or soft.
Draft · specialist source review requested
Citrā means "bright" or "many-colored," and its star, Spica, is bright enough that astronomers used it as a reference point for centuries. The Lahiri ayanamsa, the one this site uses, is defined so that Spica sits at the very start of sidereal Libra, in the middle of Chitra.
| Fact | Chitra |
|---|---|
| Number | 14 of 27 |
| IAST spelling | Citrā |
| Deity | Tvaṣṭṛ |
| Vimshottari lord | Mars |
| Symbol (commonly given) | Bright jewel or pearl |
| Sidereal span | 23°20' Virgo-6°40' Libra |
| Rashi | Kanya (padas 1-2), Tula (padas 3-4) |
| Muhurta class | Mṛdu (soft) |
Tvaṣṭṛ, the maker of forms
The Bṛhat Saṃhitā gives Tvaṣṭṛ as Citrā's deity.[32] In Vedic myth he is the craftsman of the gods. He forges Indra's thunderbolt and shapes living forms in the womb. A jewel is a fitting symbol for him: raw stone that someone cut until it caught the light.
Questions on making things
Design, beauty and a perfectionist streak are the usual Chitra associations. Use them as prompts:
- What have you shaped, made or redesigned that still pleases you?
- When does polishing improve a thing, and when does it delay finishing it?
- Whose work do you admire enough to learn from directly?
How often does moon sign change?
The Moon changes sign about every two and a half days and nakshatra about every day. Because Chitra straddles Virgo and Libra, a Moon in Chitra can change rashi halfway through the nakshatra, which is why two people with a Chitra Moon can have different Moon signs. All of this is sidereal. Tropical-only readers should compute their sidereal Moon with the nakshatra calculator and see sidereal for the offset.
| Pada | Sidereal span | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23°20'-26°40' Virgo | Leo |
| 2 | 26°40'-30°00' Virgo | Virgo |
| 3 | 0°00'-3°20' Libra | Libra |
| 4 | 3°20'-6°40' Libra | Scorpio |
Padas 2 and 3 are vargottama, the same sign in the birth chart and the navamsa.
Muhurta uses
Bṛhat Saṃhitā lists Anurādhā, Citrā, Revatī and Mṛgaśīrṣa as mṛdu (soft), suited to friendship, lovemaking, clothing, ornaments, auspicious ceremonies and song.[32] For Chitra the clothing and ornaments entries are the natural fit: ordering a tailored piece, buying jewellery, decorating for a ceremony. The practical deadline still comes first.
The chanting text is on the Chitra mantra page. On either side are Hasta and Swati.
Source review
Tvaṣṭṛ as deity (verses 4-5) and the mṛdu list (verse 10) are from Bṛhat Saṃhitā chapter 97 in the Sanskrit edition, numbered 98 in the English translation.[32] The Spica and ayanamsa notes, English glosses, symbol and prompts are editorial.
Common questions
Which rashi is Chitra nakshatra?
It depends on the pada. Padas 1 and 2 are in Kanya (sidereal Virgo); padas 3 and 4 are in Tula (sidereal Libra).
Who is the lord of Chitra nakshatra?
Mars, under the Vimshottari dasha scheme. Mrigashira and Dhanishtha share that lord.
Is Chitra the star Spica?
Yes. Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, is the star traditionally identified with Chitra, and some ayanamsa systems are defined by its position.
Keep going
Updated 2026-10-12. Traditional interpretations are not predictions.
Sources: [32] https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/brihat-samhita-sanskrit/d/doc1218130.html
Vedic lens
What does the Vedic lens add?
Chitra is lunar mansion 14 in the standard 27-part sidereal sequence. Its span is 13 degrees and 20 arcminutes, divided into four padas of 3 degrees and 20 arcminutes. A Moon placement should be calculated in a named ayanamsa before applying a natal interpretation.
In Vimshottari, its starting lord is Mars. The fraction of the mansion still ahead of the Moon determines the remaining balance of that first major period. This does not mean everyone with a Chitra Moon begins life with a complete Mars period.
Natal meaning and electional timing answer different questions. A birth placement is not a recommendation to schedule every important activity under the same mansion. Check the current tithi, local time, and the practical deadline separately. Our editorial prompt is to compare one familiar response with a concrete alternative before making a decision; that is a reflection exercise, not a translated classical prediction.
Explore the yoga patterns, major and subperiods, and house-lord connections behind this reading.
How we calculate
Is astrology a guarantee of what will happen?
No. These calculations locate celestial bodies; astrology is a reflection and timing tradition, not evidence of guaranteed health, financial or relationship outcomes.
How are these results calculated?
Positions come from Astronomy Engine, an open-source astronomy library, and are checked against Swiss Ephemeris in our methodology tests. Western readings use the tropical zodiac; Vedic readings subtract the Lahiri ayanamsa. Terms are defined in the glossary.
Next: compare your birth chart, see today's sky, or make a private vision board.