Nakshatra
Rohini nakshatra: Prajāpati, the Moon and dhruva days
Rohini (Rohiṇī) is the fourth nakshatra and sits entirely in sidereal Taurus, from 10°00' to 23°20'. Its deity is Prajāpati, the creator often identified with Brahmā, and its Vimshottari lord is the Moon. The symbol is commonly given as an ox cart, and muhurta texts class it as dhruva, or fixed.
Draft · specialist source review requested
Rohini means "the red one," after Aldebaran, the reddish star in the eye of the bull. It has a reputation in Indian astrology as the most fertile, comfortable nakshatra in the sky, and the reputation is old enough that it is worth asking where it comes from.
| Fact | Rohini |
|---|---|
| Number | 4 of 27 |
| IAST spelling | Rohiṇī |
| Deity | Prajāpati (Brahmā) |
| Vimshottari lord | Moon |
| Symbol (commonly given) | Ox cart or chariot |
| Sidereal span | 10°00'-23°20' Taurus |
| Rashi | Vrishabha (Taurus), all four padas |
| Muhurta class | Dhruva (fixed) |
The creator and the cart
The Bṛhat Saṃhitā gives Prajāpati, "lord of creatures," as Rohiṇī's deity.[32] Prajāpati is the creator figure of the Brāhmaṇas, later absorbed into Brahmā. Put a creator god in an earth sign ruled by Venus and lorded over by the Moon, and you get the usual Rohini themes: growth, abundance, things that take root. The ox cart in modern symbol lists is a working image, the vehicle that brings the harvest home.
Prompts, not a portrait
Rohini Moons get described as charming, settled and fond of comfort. That is a tradition talking. Some people fit it; plenty don't.
- What are you growing slowly that would be ruined by rushing?
- Which comfort restores you, and which one just postpones things?
- Who do you attract without trying, and what do they want from you?
Which nakshatra is best?
None is best across the board. Each class in muhurta is "best" for some kinds of work and poor for others, and a birth nakshatra is a description, not a grade. Rohini comes closest to a general favorite because its class covers lasting beginnings, but a fierce nakshatra suits an ending better than Rohini does.
Nakshatras are sidereal. If you only know your tropical chart, compute your sidereal Moon with the nakshatra calculator, and read the sidereal entry for why the zodiacs differ.
| Pada | Sidereal span | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10°00'-13°20' Taurus | Aries |
| 2 | 13°20'-16°40' Taurus | Taurus |
| 3 | 16°40'-20°00' Taurus | Gemini |
| 4 | 20°00'-23°20' Taurus | Cancer |
Muhurta uses
Bṛhat Saṃhitā groups Rohiṇī with the three Uttaras as dhruva (fixed) nakshatras and lists consecration, pacifying rites, planting trees, founding a town, religious duty, sowing seed and beginnings meant to last.[32] Modern users stretch that to house-warmings, foundation stones and planting a garden. Practical deadlines still come first.
The chant itself is on the Rohini mantra page. Before Rohini comes Krittika; after it, Mrigashira.
Source review
Prajāpati as deity (verses 4-5) and the dhruva list (verse 6) come from Bṛhat Saṃhitā chapter 97, Sanskrit edition, numbered 98 in the English translation.[32] The Puranic story, the symbol, the English glosses and the prompts are editorial.
Common questions
What is the rashi of Rohini nakshatra?
Vrishabha, which is sidereal Taurus. All four padas of Rohini fall in that sign.
Who is the lord of Rohini nakshatra?
In the Vimshottari dasha system the Moon is Rohini's lord. Hasta and Shravana share the Moon as lord.
Why is Rohini called the Moon's favorite?
In a well-known Puranic story the Moon is married to all 27 nakshatras but spends most of his time with Rohini, which angers her sisters and their father. It is a myth, not a ranking.
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?
Rohini is lunar mansion 4 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 Moon. 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 Rohini Moon begins life with a complete Moon 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.