Mrigashirsha Nakshatra

Ruled by Mars. (23° 20’ Taurus – 6° 40’ Gemini.) Pi2, 3, 4 Orionis & Bellatrix.

The “Searching Star.” The power to give fulfilment. 

Meaning: “Benevolent”

Primary Symbols: Head of a deer, Pot of Soma, Group of Lotuses, Arched Bow

Main Deity: Soma

Secondary deity: Parvati has her moon on the Taurus side of this Mrigashirsha

Sexual/Creative Animal: Female serpent

Body Parts: Eyes and eyebrows. 

Tree – Incense: Kutch Tree – Acacia Catechu – Kattha

Trimurti: Vishnu/Maintenance Gotra/Clan: Sage Palasthya Gana/Race: Deva/Godly Varna/Caste: Shudra Motivation/Goal: Moksha Nature: Mridu – Soft/Gentle Activity: Passive Place:

Guna: Tamasic Element: Earth Tridosha: Pitta Sex/Gender: Neutral Facing Forward/Level  Direction: South (or east) Colour: Silver Grey Animal: Female Serpent

Classical References

Rulership: Rules over fragrant articles, garments, aquatic products, flowers, fruits, gems, foresters (or forest dwellers), birds, beasts, those who partake in Soma juice (in sacrifices), musicians, lovers and carriers of letters.

Hora Sara: The person born in Mrigasira Nakshatra will be fickle minded, will have a broad body, will be sickly, prone to several accidents in boyhood, enthusiastic, and will have many enemies and miseries.

Jataka Parijata: If at a person’s birth, the Moon is in Mrigashirsha, he will be soft-hearted, wandering, squint-eyed, love-sick and ailing.

Sage Narada: One born in Mrigasira will be enthusiastic, unstable and timid in disposition, wealthy, a peace-lover, pure in conduct, will have knowledge of Tantra (inculcating the methods of worship of Lord Siva and Mother Sakthi), be lordly, learned and skilful.

Brihat Samhita: One born under the star Mrigasirsa becomes fickle, clever, timid, eloquent, industrious, wealthy and endowed with sensual pleasures.

Varahamihira: One is fickle, clever, timid, shrewd, energetic, wealthy, and delighting in enjoyment. 

Brihat Samhita: When Saturn transits Mrigasira misfortune befalls the people of the Vatsa country, those conducting or undertaking some kind of sacrifice, officiating priests, nobles and those living in the middle country.

Auspicious Activities:

Mrigashira is a good nakshatra for auspicious activity. The soft & gentle nature makes it an ideal time for nice relaxing easy fun. Activities which are focused on maintenance, but nothing too strenuous. Short trips, community events (picnics, dates, movies, mild to medium yoga classes or workshops. Tonification, strengthening and nourishing remedies will have the best effect. Anything that gets you out running with the herd; nothing too unorthodox though. Sage Palasthya might suggest studying or teaching astrology or mythology on days when the moon transits Mrigashirsha. The forward gaze suggests one could spend the day planning for the future. It’s considered one of the more auspicious nakshatra for a wedding. Heading south on these days can also be auspicious. It can be a good day for starting remedies relating to Mars or Mercury; especially if it happens to be a Tuesday or Wednesday respectively. Although there is also the perspective that Moon passing through Mrigshira on a Saturday can be especially auspicious, bringing certain success to any endeavor begun on such a day. 

Special Considerations

• Moon Moolatrikona; last 27ºs of Cancer.
• Moon transiting Mrigasira on a Saturday is especially auspicious. 

Month of Margashirsha: 

• Margashirsha begins on the new moon preceding the full moon in (or around) Mrigashirsha. Occurs somewhere around mid-December to mid-January. 
• 9th month of the hindu calendar. In Bhagavad Gita Krishna says that of the months, he is Margashirsha, marking it as the preeminent month of the year. The main event of the month is to try to please all the dead ancestors, not only from your family, but from humanity. Appreciation is given for the good times and the bad; even for the misfortunes we’ve suffered; everything that makes us who we are today and allows us to do what we do. Basically a month to recognize that whether we like it or not, we stand on the backs of everyone who was here before us; even animals, nature, gods; everything that exists on any level.  
• Margashirsha Purnima is an important date for celebration and revelry because of the Soma relationship. Bathing in a sacred river or some kind of water ritual performed while chanting Om namo narayanaya can be performed by laypeople. 
• Kaal Bhairava Ashtami: Devotion to Kal Bhairava and gifts to Brahmins, priests, and advisors. 
• Dattatreya Jayanti is a day of sacrifice, charity & penance. Surya is also worshipped on this day. 
• Gita Jayanti celebrates the birth of the Bhagavad Gita. Readings and reenactments can be done. 
• Vivah Panchami celebrates the wedding anniversary of Sita and Rama, Marriage is not recommended on this day, but you’re encouraged to attend readings or reenactments for Ramayana. 
• Other festivals happen for Amavashya (fasting), Mokshada Ekadashi, Maha Laxmi Vrat, Annaporna Jyanti & Utpana Ekadashi. 
• The whole month should be filled with story and song, bhajan, kirtan, prayer, and devotion to the gods and ancestors. Enjoy this most auspicious month of the year. 
• Tuesdays of Margashirsha are considered very auspicious. 

Qualities of Mrigashirsa

Vishnu – Sustaining, Maintaining, Organising principle: Focus is to maintain order in the universe, in society and life. Their focus is to maintain what is here and keep things going. It primarily does this through organization of the available resources. Sage Palasthya: Author of the Vishnu purana which details fundamental concepts of jyotish and mythology. Originator of the Puranas: Brahma told him the stories and he passed them down to Sage Parashara. He also transmitted the knowledge of Jyotish to Parashara. Vishrava, Agastya, Kinnaras and all the Rakshasa were his children. Kubera and Ravana his grandchildren.

Deva: The planets relating with the Devas will promote more refined and righteous behaviour; but may struggle with pride and entitlement. They are more capable of understanding the subtitles of life. This is also used in chart matching. They say it’s best if both parties belong to the same tribe (8 points). However, they say that a deva and a rakshasa will get one point for the attraction of opposites). This is a very important classification suggesting that they way these three tribes (devas, humans & rakshasa) live is so different as to have a major effect on marriage compatibility and living together. 

Shudra Caste: They are natural servants and hard workers. Their friendly attitude and nice looks allows them to easily win over the public and they do well in customer service. Shurda’s are also hard workers and community-minded people.

Moksha: Motivated by moksha. They are freedom seekers and fighters. They are also peaceful and care free and are very unlikely to instigate confrontation. They want others to be just as free as themselves. Mrigashirsha, like all the gentler undomesticated animals of the forest, are freedom lovers.

Mridu – Soft / Mild: Gentle like a deer in the forest; they like to relax and enjoy themselves. The moon’s transit here makes it a good time for peaceful, easy activities. Mrigashirsha can be flirty and enjoy dating, romance, ceremonial events like weddings and other things that bring them in touch with the group consciousness. And of course it can be great for a day at the pub, going shopping, taking a walk in the park, or just chilling out somewhere. It can be good for a little TLC, some gentle healing, shanti yoga, an art class, or just watching a movie. Nothing too stressful or dynamic, just a nice peaceful day. Chitra, Anuradha, Revati are the other Nakshatras that share this temperament. Friday’s are also meant to be a little relaxed. 

Passive: Planets here will be more passive about achieving their goals: allowing things to happen rather than “forcing” things. The moon is said to persuade through temptation so she does well here. Venus draws us in by her promises of beauty so she also does well. Saturn is the master of patience so he also does well. The active planets can cause a bit of trouble in trying to force things that we should just allow to happen naturally. 

Tamasic: Activities take part on the gross physical plane: dark, depressed, dull, inert activities that obscure reality and keep us in the dark. Some kind of gross suffering is usually felt here and there’s a lazy sort of laissez-faire sort of laziness of lethargy. The energy here typically pulls a person down as it represents neither change or purity. There is typically some suffering and darkness of mind experienced here. Tamasic has no nutrients and the prana is not moving; it’s stale or dead. Rajas – Tamas – Tamas, Despite the strong spiritual tendencies of Mrigashira, they typically maintain many materialistic habits and often accumulate wealth and comfort.

Earth element: Stability, grounding, solid, heavy. The earth element is ruled by Mercury and is connected to our sense of smell and our excretion. The earthiness perhaps provides a boundary for the water to pool (for Soma to become deeper). Soma also connects this nakshatra to plants and agriculture which depends on the earth. Transits here are a good time to get close to the earth. 

Pitta: Pitta nature reminds us that this is still a Mars Nakshatra. so despite the gentle godlike nature they can also be affected by the qualities of heat, oiliness, lightness, sharpness, and roughness. They can get a little rough sometimes, even in play and of course their tempers will flare if you don’t give them any way out. 

Neuter: Neither male or female characteristics. Adrogynos, asexual. Natives might have their sexuality questioned as they are unlikely to follow traditional gender roles. My personal files have a few transgender natives with placements here. And JK Rowling who has her 6th lord Jupiter places here finds here self in an ideological war with he transgender activists. 

Triyanga Mukha – Facing Straight Ahead (Level): This is a level-headed and forward looking position. It’s good for mundane, everyday tasks that allows us to prepare for the future. This nakshatra promotes an honest, realistic assessment. It marks a good time to level with others or yourself, to ensure that the playfield and the ground are all level. It can be a good time to start surveying, building, laying pipe, or sticking a level on anything. Mercury and Venus share this perspective. Ashwini, Mrigasira, Punarvasu, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Anuradha, Jyeshta and Revati are all forward looking.  

South: Planets here are likely to give their results in the south (some say east). When this asterism is placed in the southern quadrant of the chart it gains extra strength to give results. Travelling south from their home or place of birth is typically more auspicious. 

Female Cobra: (Pairs well with the Male Cobra Ashlesha): 

Snakes represent the underground, entwining, poisonous, mysterious, crafty, cunning, sneaky aspects of humanity. Their sexual habits are shrouded in mystery. 

Cobras like to live in uninhabited places near water, like abandoned gardens or garbage heaps. Males are larger than females (which is rare for snakes). Males get up to 18 feet long and weigh 44 Lbs, while females have only been seen to get as large as 12 feet long. Females will build a nest for their eggs and lay about 20 – 30 eggs and then spend the next 2 months defending the nest, until the eggs hatch, and then she leaves. Only one or two survive until adulthood. The males will rub up against the female and if she is agreeable they will entwine themselves for up to several hours. Although the male does not stick around afterwards, it’s believed that he comes back to the same female every year. If there is any competition with other males it typically remains non-violent.

Male snakes have two penises but only use one at a time. The second penis is only used if they meet another partner shortly after the first one since the sperm from the first one would be used up. The male will occasionally kill a female after having sex, even if they have spent weeks together in a kind of courtship. After killing her he will swallow her and throw her up. (It’s not uncommon for king cobras to eat other snakes). When king cobras feel threatened they will usually raise their bodies and spit venom (up to 6 feet) before attacking. 

If the female has been fertilised by many males, she can store the sperm for up to a year and possibly even choose the sperm she wants.

Gods & Symbols of Mrigashirsha

Soma: 

The god and the drink

Soma the God also goes by the name Chandra (God of the Moon); Vacaspati (ruler of speech who makes an ordinary man wise). He was the son of Sage Atri and his virtuous wife Anusuya. Born from a powerful boon granted to Anusuya when the trinity came to her home demanding that she satisfy their hunger by wearing no clothes. She transformed them all into babies and fed them from her breast one after the other. Soma’s Godfather was Vishnu himself.

Soma is known as the husband of all 27 nakshatras who are daughters of Daksha. His is the lord of the stars, of flowing waters and of all plants and vegetation. He is the ruler of our hormones allowing us to experience inspiration in ecstasy as well as sacrifice and penance. He has great power over our subconscious and emotional minds and has the ability to regulate our life force through these channels. 

Soma has the powers to extract, distill and sprinkle. He has knowledge of plant medicines, growing herbs, and mixing prescriptions. 

Soma was held captive by an archer named Krshaanu. A falcon stole Soma and him to Manu (the first sacrificer/the first man). “He covers the naked and heals the sick. The blind man sees and the lame steps forth. Let those who seek find what they seek; let them receive the treasure. Let him find what was lost before, let him push forward the man of truth.” (Rigveda)

Soma the drink was an intoxicating and possibly hallucinogenic drink made from a now unknown mixture of mountain herbs. It’s said to be the nectar of immortality that takes away all pain. It’s stored in the moon so as the gods drink the soma, the moon wanes. Indra was exceptionally fond of Soma and drank large amounts of it before fighting the serpent demon Vritra. 

The Jewelled Deer

In order to kidnap the “doe eyed” Sita, Ravan disguises himself as a jewelled deer in order to lead Rama away from here. After Rama tracks him down and shoots the deer with his bow, Ravana mimics Rama’s voice to draw the rest of her guards away ,He then circles back disguised as a monk and kidnaps the beautiful Sita. Mimicry, disgust, deceit, and abduction may all relate with the life of a Mrigashirsha native. But they also have to be careful about following their materialist side because it will often come back to cause trouble.

Brahma and His Daughter

Brahman becomes infatuated with his daughter out of a desire to populate the world with humans. As she grows more and more uncomfortable under his watch, he continues to sprout heads in each direction so that he might always gaze upon her. When at last she changes herself into a deer to run away to the heavens and Brahma grows his 5th head to look upwards, Rudra grows impatient with his impudence and chops of his head.

The Divine Feminine

All the stories of Mrigashirsha highlight the feminine principle and some kind of imbalance in the relationship. Sita the doe eyed one, Saraswati who lives on the time of the tongue, Parvati, the daughter of Daksha who patiently does tapas by herself until she marries Shiva. And of course Brahma’s own daughter who takes on so many forms.

Orion: 

Born from Hyrieus as a boon from the gods whom he unselfishly fed with his only ox. He was told to bury the hide of the animal and to urinate on it for nine months. Orion, the great hunter, was born from this. He was such a great hunter that he was hired by the local king to kill the ferocious beasts that terrorized the locals. He became so proud that he claimed he would kill all the beasts of the earth. This angered the great mother Gaia and she sent a giant scorpion to kill him. Orion was taught to respect wild animals. He was said to have moved to a remote island for a simple life of peace: sleeping by day and hunting at night. Orion was madly in love with Merope, daughter of king Oenopion, but he could not have her. One night he indulged in too much wine and tried to steal her but was caught by the king and blinded for his transgression. He regained his sight when he looked up at the sun. Artemis, huntress goddess of the moon and daughter of Zeus, was said to be in love with him and may have even come down from Mount Olympus to live with him, but this may have been his down fall as he may have died by her virgin hands while trying to rape her, or Apollo may have killed his out of jealousy. In the sky, he chases after the Pleiades while being chased by a scorpion. 

Deer / Antelope head: 

Deer are curious, fickle, wandering. They like to follow familiar paths, moving around predominantly at dawn or dusk. They can be hyper vigilant and twitchy but still stare frozen in the headlights of their fate. They are polygamous and compete against other males for the right to mount a female. 

The demon Vritra took the form of a deer before being killed by Indra. Rohini became a deer in order to escape from her father. Sita was led away by a jewelled deer so that Ravana could capture her.

Health:

Mrigashirsha rules over the eyes & eyebrows. They are often recognised by big doe eyes and especially beautiful or shapely eyebrows or eyelashes. They can be light sensitive in various ways. Of course this also means that malefic placements like Rahu can bring unusual problems to the eyes or at minimum will some kind of “birthmark” on the eyebrows. 

Being on the cusp of Taurus & Gemini relates it with that area so malefic can also affect the nose, throat and ear. Of course there are medical specialists who combine these specialties. They may have some problems with breathing or something unique about their voice.

Soma brings issues related to blood plasma, gastric juice, urination & hormones. Afflictions can bring blood toxicity, digestive problems, kidney stones, bladder infections or other issues relating to reproduction and elimination.

Circadian rhythms (or biological clocks) are our natural way of anticipating what comes next. It allows us to wake up two minutes before our alarm goes off, it sends us for food at the same time every day, it tells us when to use the toilet and even when it might be a good time to change our schedule for the season. This plays a huge role in stress reduction when we follow a set schedule; it’s even better if our internal clock matches the external clock. This is one area of medicine that everyone can agree on: modern medicine, Ayurveda and Chinese medicine

The main hormones involved in this process are melatonin & serotonin, but their effects on the thyroid, pineal and hypothalamus connect this nakshatra with the whole endocrine system. Anyone with a serious interest in healing, administering medicine, offering treatments for health, or even yoga will be wise to do their best to match their activities with natural timings. Astrology also has a complex system for understanding the periods of each day, month and year and epoch.

They might be especially sensitive or adaptive to seasonal allergies, seasonal affective disorder, and jet lag. Anything that breaks their routine can affect their whole body. And since this is a pitta Mars nakshatra they may get grouchy when meals are late or sleep is missed. Afflictions to this nakshatra will of course break up their schedule so they are unable to anticipate what will come next; which causes cortisol related stress.

Perhaps the most common problems faced by Mrigashishra natives comes from their addiction to intoxicants: ganja, alcohol, pain medications, hallucinogens,

Stars of Mrigashirsha

Three, four or five stars near the left shoulder and head of Orion also form the shape of a deer head. 

• Bellatrix (Gamma orionis): Stars Pi2, Pi3, Pi4 Orionis
• the constellation of words, is the brightest of these stars and is located on the left shoulder of Orion (Betelgeuse is on the right shoulder). 
• Means “female warrior” or “the conqueror.” Women born under this constellation will have wicked tongues. Men will be destined for great civil or military honours. 

Tree of Mrigashirsha

Cutch Tree / Khadira / Acacia Catechu:

A medium sized tree that grows to about 9 – 12m, it has pale yellow flowers that become flat brown pods with 3 -10 seeds per pod. The leaves look like feathers with 50 pairs of leaflets each. It likes a variable climate. Bark, heart wood and resin are used and harvested Nov – Jan.

Ayurvedic Classifies its taste as bitter & astringent, quality is light and dry with a cooling effect, the post-digestive effect is pungent. It’s used for skin problems like itching and blood related disorders. Great blood purifier and skin rejuvenating herb. Good for leprosy. Good for teeth problems, obesity, worms, diabetes, fever, ulcers, and leucoderma. It’s used to pacify kapha disorders. Its fresh stems are used to massage the teeth and gums.It’s the main ingredient in Khadirarishta, which is used to detoxify the body of accumulations. 

Key Themes:

Mrigashirsha natives are always seeking and searching for something more from life. They can be very passionate about life or at least for their chosen direction in life and they are quick to take action. The Mars rulership makes it a very active nakshatra as they seek our sensual pleasures, information and connection with others . On the Taurus side the search may be for more value (monetary or metaphysical) or for sensual beauty (in a crass or a refined way). On the Gemini side they will seek out ways to communicate their message, share information, and occasionally run with the pack.

They all love treasure maps, tracking and seeking, following clues. Mrigashirsha seems to get many of the qualities we might associate with the Martian qualities of being 8th from the 8th house. Soma has a mysterious quality, a kind of drunken Sufi mysticism but with an orientation towards research; not so much to find something new, but to put what already existed together in a new way. The 4th pada of Mrigashirsha is in Scorpio navamsha so it can be especially strong for occultism, research, underground publications, or secret societies. Placements in Mrigashirsha are generally good for prediction or anticipation of the future. Many visionaries and astrologers have planets here.

The Soma qualities of this nakshatra blur the edges between things allowing them to make connections between things where connection is not obvious. They can be very intuitive and tend to run on inspiration. They may be divinely inspired or merely inspired by drink. They are often found with some kind of addiction to drugs or alcohol. Words like distill or even still relate to this nakshatra in many ways. In addition to the connection with a still for making alcohol, we might also notice how deep they will stand still when they feel they can’t get away. Think of a deer in the headlights.  They act from inspiration and thus they often inspire others.

The nose and the eyes get special attention in this nakshatra. They are especially sensitive to smell and vision and they can often be recognised by their big doe eyes. It reminds me of the infamous eye’s of Guadalajara: the women from that part of Mexico have the most beautiful eyes: big, wide open, almost childlike and naive as they soak in the sights and smells of the world. But all forms of light come into play here: television, lasers, cameras and other light machines. A fondness for fragrances like perfume and incense can also be found here. They often have sensitive eyes and nose.

Their zest for love, life and experience means they will often try anything once and they can be branded a bit “crazy” by their friends. Early life is often more difficult than later life. In their early years they often don’t really know what they want so they run around with different groups of people and try different things in search for their path. This will typically carry them through a gauntlet of sensual pleasures without any real commitment. Mrigashirsha are more curious wanderers rather than serious researchers; they can seem to lack direction. But as they get older all those early skills and experiences of life start to come together for them and they find that they themselves are the common link and are able to forge a unique path as a jack of all trades. They are multitaskers who bring together a variety of experiences.

They are usually capable of filling every role in the workplace; they can do the whole thing by themselves if they must; and some might even prefer it this way rather than give up any control. They can be impatient and mistrustful of others.

The connection between Mars – Venus & Mars – Mercury are always fraught with some conflict. Although Mrigashirsha is well known as a very gentle nakshatra, when the passion takes hold they can be very aggressive and nothing will stand in their way.  Mars – Gemini combinations make good strategists for war or any action. Mercury measures and Mars cuts so together they benefit careers like engineering, carpentry, manufacturing, gem cutting, or even editors. They purify things by cutting away the impurities as what happens through pasteurisation and distillation. 

The Gemini side of this nakshatra can give them a very sharp mind as it brings information-intensive Mercury together with critical Mars. Of course these people always over think things. They’re out of their mind and they often live in their own little world cutting everything down and measuring everything against each other.

Mrigashirsha: Taurus - Gemini

Taurus - Mrigrashirsha	Gemini - Mrigashirsha
Treasure hunter	Information gatherer
Image, art, sensual beauty	Information, communication,

Differences between the two sides of Mrigashisha

They are wizards with information: gathering it, sorting through it, disseminating it. The more information they collect, the better they feel about themselves. Their style of communication is good for short term neighbourly interactions, quick, small scale commercial interactions, sales, real-estate, marketing, politics. They give clear, quick descriptions and explanations. They like to have a bit of sporting competition, flirty, sexual, competitive conversation and will do well working with the public

There’s something a bit animalistic about Mrigashirsha. It’s not a wild vicious animal like the beasts signified in the next nakshatra, Ardra. Nor is it a domesticated cow like the previous nakshatra. Mrigashirsha is a herbivore: a gentle, curious, aimlessly wandering doe in the forest. They are skittish and shy; they can be quick to signal danger: a fickle bunch of people. They can also be captivating and aggressively sensual. This nakshatra does have the sexual energy of a female snake. They can be charming and mesmerise the audience to lure them in.

They tend to have troubles in relationships for a few reasons but it essentially comes down to the thrill of the chase or the complexity of the lure is what is important to them. Once they get what they want they can easily discard it since it was never about getting the person or thing, it was about knowing that they can get it. If that’s not hard enough on a relationship their continual quest for something more will continually disturb the marriage bond.

They are nostalgic folks who love to go back and walk familiar paths, noting the landmarks on the way. They make good guides and herdsmen. They typically have a good sense of direction, they like to keep moving and appreciate short trips. They can be quite routine and may even follow seasonal routes like a nomad. The Mars – Moon influence on this nakshatra suggests that they may have a strong connection to the circadian rhythms giving them extra sensitivity to daylight both daily and seasonally.

They may be involved in all kinds of seasonal jobs or activities. One of the main advantages to the biological clock is that it allows us anticipate what is coming up which is another strong trait in Mrigashirsha natives. This also makes them good at astrology since they are able to anticipate the future. Of course it’s also why they have a reputation for being fickle or paranoid. After all, the deer wants to start running before the lion attacks; they have to be prepared to act at all times.

Farming, working with animal herds or migratory species, veterinary medicine, and animal trainers can all be found with planets in Mrigashirsha. Sitcom actors often have this, along with seasonal construction workers, sports players, tax accountants, tourist guides, or any other job that is performed in a particular season. You may even find Santa Clause at the shopping mall with placements here.

This is a Mars nakshatra known for being gentle and doing all they can to avoid confrontation. Their curiosity can get them into trouble and if they get backed into a corner they can be vicious. Deer are gentle creatures but they have incredibly sharp hooves and horns which can be deadly. But typically they are usually able to anticipate trouble and get away before it starts.

Soma also connects Mrigashirsha with elixirs of all kinds. They might be bartenders, brew masters, or wine makers; or they might sit on the other side of the counter enjoying such beverages. But Soma also gives a strong connection with plants, herbal medicine, ganja and other naturally grown intoxicants. Many of the modern tonics like Kombucha would also fall under the domain of Mrigashirsha. 

Soma’s main task is to provide divine inspiration. This connects Mrigashirsha with many of the great thinkers and inspiring leaders throughout time: writers, musicians, teachers, mystics, adventurers, explorers, philosophers…. They can be very productive, passionate, spontaneous, inspiring leaders and some level of fame is not uncommon (almost certain to be known in their field) or the leader of their group. 

Since this is a Mars-ruled nakshatra, Mrigashirsha natives are usually adept at handling fire, steel and weapons, and they can be very competitive. This can make them handy with kitchen implements, pins & needles, golf clubs, weapons, tools, campfire, welding, scissors, clippers, hairdryers and heating implements. 

Mrigashirsha natives are usually very social and will go out of their way to help others. They are not afraid to take action, They are likely to be involved in (or leaders of) community groups, local council, church or school activities; or perhaps they merely have a loyal tribal following or a close group of friends. They lead the pack in some way. For women this is often seen in their pioneering fashion sense and quickness to get the latest gadgets for the home. Men will often lead the work crew and will likely be the first to get the latest tool or gizmo. 

Men are particularly prone to seek leadership and may do so aggressively. They make good coaches and managers and will likely have some close brotherhoods, guild association, world crew, or band that they spend time with. There is no shortage of world leaders with planets here. Their limited tribal perspective can cause them to miss the bigger picture making them seem narrow minded, quaint, provincial, like village people. Knowledge of hunting or shooting is not uncommon (especially when Mars or Sun is placed here).

“When someone seeks,” said Siddhartha, “then it easily happens that his eyes see only the thing that he seeks, and he is able to find nothing, to take in nothing because he always thinks only about the thing he is seeking, because he has one goal, because he is obsessed with his goal. Seeking means: having a goal. But finding means: being free, being open, having no goal.”― Herman Hesse, Siddhartha

Planetary Rulers of Mrigashirsha 

Mars: Competitive, warrior, inventive, penetrating, provocative, dynamic, active, cutting, drilling, hot, brotherhoods, athletes, innovative. 

Taurus + Mars: Sleek, sexy athletic image, competitive image based behaviours, driven to enjoy, takes action to please others, can be a good negotiator. Values activity. actively seeks pleasure. The mix of mars’ hot passion and Venus’ sensual pleasure is best suited for short term relationships or relationships where the negotiated agreement can be continually renegotiated. Can be good for commercial success, but they might be better off working in the privacy of the studio or behind closed doors. They may do well hosting retreats or tours, working in secluded research environments or private clubs. 

Gemini + Mars: They often experience a mix of success and failure in commercial enterprise and group initiatives. They often have many different projects going at once. Communication can be sharp and commanding, making them appear grouchy, but they may excel in communications business: teaching, instructing, describing. Gemini’s group initiatives and Mrigashira’s herd instincts come together with Mars’ quick instincts which allows them to be at once the leader of the pack while also jumping to conclusions that can lead them astray. Can be beneficial for those working in therapeutic settings; otherwise they may find themselves in the middle of large scale problem sets or be scandalized by secrets. May resort to crime, theft, or breaking contracts in order to gain advantage. 

Pada 1 (Taurus + Mars + Leo): 

Usually very intelligent, critical minded. They have good taste and likes to receive a lot of attention. Entertainment value. Central figures in fashion, beauty, arts, movies, music industries. One may be famous but still make less money. May be an aggressive collector or banker. Actively seeks to make things shine. Actively seeks the most unique and original side of oneself. Seeks self empowerment and authority. 

Pada 2 (Taurus + Mars + Virgo): 

Top notch servers. Problems during childhood. Bring disease to the mouth or throat. Healthcare with focus on face, eyes, mouth, teeth, throat, or nose. Can be a medical writer or run a commercial business offering a writing service for hire. Traveling speakers, conferences, meetings, announcements. They will have good knowledge of human nature. Actively seeks to fix things, may appreciate the value of broken things, sick people, litigation, argument, imbalance, The Mars-Virgo side of this can be very critical, always looking for mistakes of others; though they can also be hard on themselves as well. They can get lost in their work and there are usually a lot of small details that need their attention. In some instances this may delay the release of their work (possibly indefinitely as they move onto the next project). This 

Pada 3 (Gemini + Mars + Libra): 

Sociability and the mental side of relationships. Can make a person a little flaky. Excellent explorer but too much suspicion or the motives of others. Providing balanced or harmonious communications. Can be very attractive and diplomatic public speakers. They often become teachers or caretakers of the herd. Often working under contract or agreement. These are peace-loving people who do well with children or in other protective caretaking environments.

Pada 4 (Gemini + Mars + Scorpio): hate others, sexy, endowed with many children, with injured head, always sick, fools and daring

The moon is debilitated in this pada and Saturn and Rahu also give difficult results. This is the most manipulative, dark, and sexual pada filled with secrets. It can be channelled into research, psychology, surgery, or trauma counselling, but for most people difficult placements here can bring deadly or traumatic results.  They might feel the need to look into the abyss and comment on it. 

Planets in Mrigashirsha

Ascendant

Arthur Conan Doyle (2),  Andy Hug (2), Joel Cran (2), Patrice Alegre, Dante Alighieri, Christina Applegate, Shive Biswas, Meredith Black, Anders Breivik, Garth Brooks, Robert Bruell, Kim Campbell, Castro, Arthur Conan Doyle, Thomas Edison, Teah Field, Larry Flynt, Chris Griscom, Kamala Harris, Werner Heisenberg, Andrew Jackson, Michael Kirdy, Patsy Cline, Niki Lauda, James LeBron, Rush Limbaugh, Lizette, Malin Lowery, Jean Piaget, Gordon Ramsay, Christine Victoria, Tiger Woods

Sun in Mrigashirsha:

Highly unique and creative-intelligence. They can be very independent people who follow their own path. They are often ahead of their time in some way. They might become icons of a movement and they don’t shy away from controversy  and can get into trouble due to their self indulgent nature. They shine a light on the chase, or the quest. They are the pioneers who show the rest of us the path.

Sun gets extra power in the first pada of Leo but is likely to be weak in his debilitated 4th pada. First pada can be very unique, creative and artistic since Taurus brings beauty and Leo brings originality. We find a broad array of top billed artists and creative types involved with different genres: writing, painting, radio, film, and music. They can be instant on having creative control and are unlikely to sell out on their values. The 2nd pada is more likely to shine a light on and express themselves through war, illness and imbalance seeking remedy. The 3rd pada gives a friendly neighbourly way of expressing oneself which may be because of an inferiority complex which results in much compromise for the native in order to please others. They might even find themselves fully under the control of their partner. This position can also lead to a weakened immune system Sun in the 4th pada highlights the dark side of sex and death. They might deal in mythology or fantasy and will likely be involved in scandal of some kind. They will likely have secret communications and guilty pleasures.

Dante Alighieri (1), Gauguin (1), Jian Ghomeshi (1), Wilber Cohen (1), Johnny Depp (1), Natalie Portman (1), Prince (1), George Bush Sr (2), Anne Frank (2), Paul Hugh Laurie (House MD/Actor) (2), Trump (2), Jordan Peterson (2), Woo (2), Alice Bailey (3), Kuntidevi (3), William of Cambridge (4), Salman Rushdie (4), Boy George (2), Patrice Alegre, Andre-Anne, Friedrich Bayer, Mick Foley, Paul gauguin, Elizabeth Hurley, Jonathan Luckhurst (4), Rebecca, Edward Snowden, Woo, William Butler Yeats, Zameen

Moon in Mrigashirsha: 

Fickle and timid, good speakers, sensitive to seasonal changes. They are always watching for a sign that it’s time to move and then they move on instinct. They are not comfortable unless they know what’s coming next. This has certainly influenced myself and BV Raman to study astrology. We are soothed by knowing the future. They are also likely to seek positions of command since this allows them to control the situation. I’m put in mind of the lawyers dictum to never ask a question in court unless you already know the answer. Or from the Art of War: don’t go into battle unless you have already won the war.  

The moon does well in all but the 3rd pada, where it finds itself in a debilitated navamsha. These are crisis-junkies who become addicted to shocking unexpected events. They might try to control the narrative but when the unexpected arises it could be deadly. They may try to keep their communications a secret, or they may bring a message to transformation  

Louis Pasteur (1), Ip Man (1), Jim Carry (1), BV Raman (1), Franco (1), Donovan Bailey (2), Che Guevara (2), Steve Austin (2), George Carlin (2), Mike Holliday (3), Kathy Witt (3), Mark Duplass (3), Genghis Khan (3), Tom Thompson (3), Jeanne d’Arc (4), Franklin D Roosevelt (4), Salman Rushdie (4), Anoushka Silvia Gibbs (4), Jean Cabot, Kirk Douglas, Martina Klein, Vitali Klitschko, Sonny Liston, Terry MacKinnell, Sara Nares (4), Elisa Jean Odum, New Orleans, Marie Pascal Orphee, Ranabir, Morihei Ueshiba, Sarah Yogi 9/11,

Mars in Mrigashirsha:

This is Mars’ own nakshatra so despite being an enemy of Mercury & and neutral to Venus (while they are both neutral to Mars) Mars gives good results here. Strength or quickness of arms, courage to do what everyone else is thinking but no one wants to admit. They can be divisive figures which is more likely to give them a cult-like following than mass appeal but they may be widely known in either case, Very active in seeking something more from life: more power, more control, their assault may be multi-pronged. They can be control freaks. Since Mars is also the karaka for the circadian rhythms, they usually have an impeccable biological clock allowing them to act in anticipation of a competitor’s next move. They seem to not only know what is going to happen next, they act upon this intuition (anticipation). They tend to boil things down to their essence, thin things out, or cull the herd. They are the essence of the movement they represent. It’s likely that they will have some kind of weapons training or knowledge: guns, knives, golf clubs, fire and steel generally.

Arthur Conan Doyle (1), Night of the Long Knives (1) (Event: Germany), George Soros (1), Tiger Woods (1), Arnold Schwarzenegger (2), Susan Strasberg (2), Martin Luther King (2), Mike Tyson (2), Naomi Campbell (2), Robertson Davies (2), Tom Robbins (2), Martin Brodeur (3), The Rock (3), Tagore (3), Alejandro Jodorowsky (3), USA (3), Phineas P Gage (3), Allan Pinkerton (3), Sharvangi Varanasi (3),  Beethoven (3), Kris Kristofferson (4), Candace Owens (4), Franklin D Roosevelt (4), Virginia Woolf (4), Sandra Bullock (4), Descartes (4), Enzo Ferrari (4), Pope Benedict, Patrice Alegre, Elie Anuttara, Baghdad, Martin Brodeur, Charlemagne, Daria Sivcode, Sean Connery, Keya Datta,Tenzin Paljor Dirkhipa, Jeremy Jai Ditchwitch,  Doc Holliday, Alyssa Koch, Ivan Pavlov, Jacques Plante, Edward Snowden, George Soros,   USA, Lev Simkhovich Vygodsky, Sienna West, Kate Winslet, Count Zeppelin

Mercury in Mrigashirsha:

Their inspired or inspiring media can really tap into the collective consciousness. They are excellent communicators, logical and quick minded. They are good at thinking outside of the box. They seek to capture the essence through their writing and they can be good poets, writers and media professionals. They like to talk about, analyse the hunt, the search. The diary of Anne Frank is a personal account of this. Herman Hesse’s characters were infamous seekers of self knowledge. Bob Dylan has numerous songs about being on the road, folk tales sung about fighters, and his “Self Portrait” albums which have numerous songs that sum up Mrigashirsha quite well. The song Copper Kettle is especially interesting in this regard for the story of the prohibition battle against excessive taxation by the mountain moon-shine makers. Take note of Dylan’s Mercury in the 2nd pada of Virgo which gave him great sympathy for the working man. Hugh Laurie played the role of House M.D. who was a fictional diagnostician and surgeon with an addiction to pain meds. Laurie’s Mercury is in the 4th pada of Scorpio, highlighting the psychological, surgical, qualities of this nakshatra.

In the 3rd Pada Libra we find Mercury analysing and discussing relationships, yoga, and unions. Astrologers, mystics and tantrics are well represented here. They are very good at putting people at ease. It can be an especially flirty position, they are great talkers, chatty and friendly, but the Mars influence can bring a competitive or provocative edge to their communication. Relationships tend to be casual and remain on the light side. They might use the products of Soma (drugs or alcohol) in order to foster an agreeable atmosphere.

In Nikola Tesla, the “Father of Free Energy,” with Mercury in the 4th pada of Scorpio, we find a vast array of inventions and discoveries as well as numerous visions of the future that were far ahead of their time.  He called alcohol an elixir of life but did not use tobacco or caffeine. He believed “everything is light” and  by the end of his life lived on a diet of milk and honey.  A very high intelligence and an incredible memory which seems to be common with people who have Mercury in Mrigashirsha generally; as is the ability to predict (or anticipate the future.

Anne Frank (1), Fraser Roudbowl (1), Jeremy Corbyn (1), Wild Bill Hickok (2), Angelina Jolie (2), Herman Hesse (2), Pence (2), Bob Dylan (2), ZoeFleischer (Western Astrologer/Mystic (3)), Candy Barr (3), Ghat Astrologer Varanasi (3),  Gaddafi (3), Chris Griscom (3), Emma Bruere (3), Hugh Laurie  (4) (House MD; actor), Jean-Paul Sartre (4), Nikola Tesla (4), Argentina (4), Patrice Alegre, Bhairava Anuttara, Argentina, Pierre Paul Broca, Russel Brand,   Elizabeth Hurley, Manhattan Oxford, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Camillo Wieth

Jupiter in Mrigashirsha:

Their ideology may be a bit cloudy but perhaps all the more inspiring for it. They find themselves on a spiritual or ideological quest though they may retain many materialistic attachments. They seek the essence (god) in everything.  If they are more ideological than spiritual their quest might involve some rights movements especially those involving guns, animals, alcohol, hunting, This can be an executive placement (jet-setters) filling their life with short travels and meetings with various groups. They often have excellent business sense: Cindy Crawford and Oprah stand out as stars (Leo pada) who have been able to use their stage to promote extensive business empires dealing in high quality housewares. Jupiter will give his best results in the first pada.

 Arther Schopenhauer (1), Liv Tyler (1), Oprah Winfrey (1), Teresa de Avila (1), Hacksaw Jim Duggan (1), Jane Austen (1), Gerald Amirault (1),  Hermann Oberth (1), David Carpenter (“The Trail Side Killer (1)), Erdogan (1), Cindy Crawford (2), Jean-Paul Palomeros (NATO commander (2)), J.K. Rowling (2),  Stephen Jay Gould (2), Berni Sanders (2), Clint Eastwood (3), Michael Moore (3), Wesley Switzer (3), Samantha Fox (3), Gaddafi (4), Chris Griscom (4), Billy Idol (4), Trump Jr (4), Shania Twain (4), King Henry VIII (4), Arthur Conan Doyle (4), Phineas P Gage (4), Bashar Hafez Al-Assad (4), Kim Basinger, Confucius, Abdul Rashid Dostum, Hulk Hogan, David Ivad, Salman Khan, Proclus, John Henry, Swartz, Komilla Suton, Oprah Winfrey

Venus in Mrigashirsha:

Anytime Venus is activated by Mars there are sexual overtones. These people love the chase and may play catch-and-release so that they can continue hunting. Due to this they tend to have a lot of relationships; and they tend to seek out the real stunners: young and sexy. This means they have to keep themselves groomed in a competitive manner. They love to drink, or at least the females in ones life will like it. They may prefer the fancy, colourful cocktails, dance clubs, and the finer things in life. The search for love, appreciation, balanced agreements can be a little aggressive and stocking can occur here; or the women in one’s life might experience this. Venus will give them an appreciation for Soma influenced atmosphere: bars, nightclubs, waterside resorts and spas. They might like fantasy and role playing.

It’s interesting that we find a couple championship goaltenders from hockey with this placement (and it’s obviously not an exhaustive list). Venus in Mrigashirsha seems to highlight the passive nature of tracking the enemy. Of course Venus is expected to do especially well in the first two padas, though Venus does end up in her debilitation sign in the 2nd pada suggesting that Venus might be most comfortable in the 3rd pada. But regardless of where Venus sits there is likely to be some relationships with younger, possibly much younger partners. In the 2nd pada this relationship might be inappropriate due to an imbalance in power, and in the 4th pada it’s likely to be taboo and secretive and transformative. It’s been reported that Krishnamurti had a couple much younger girlfriends he met in his tours. Of course women with Venus in the 4th pada are likely to exude and alluring sexuality.

John F Kennedy (1), Elon Musk (1), Curtis Joseph (1), Alice Bailey (1), Courtney Love (2), Robert Boustany (1), Canada (1), Al Pachino (2), Anastasya Varanasai (2), David Beckham (2), Shakiyamaan (2), Tom Hanks (2), Sandra Bullock (3), The Rock (3), Joel Cran (3), Julian Assange (3),  Argentina (3), Swami Yukteshwara Giri (3), Freida Kahlo (3), Krishnamurti (4), Kris Kristofferson (4), Tom Robbins (4), Martin Brodeur (4), Naomi Campbell (4), Fraser Roudbowl (4), Zoe Fleischer (Western Astrologer/Mystic(4)) , Patrice Alegre, Argentina,  Pierre Paul Broca,Tenzin Paljor Dirkhipa, Jeremy Jai Ditchwitch, Teah Field, Leon Festinger, Harrison Ford, Michael Green,  Woody Harrelson, Calamity Jane,  Kate Poland

Saturn in Mrigashirsha:

The friction between Mars and Saturn can lead to a long drawn out battle and some kind of controversy is common with this placement.

This position seems to highlight the slow trench warfare of WWI, de Nero’s “most realistic gun fight in movie history” in the movie “Heat,” and Thunberg’s stubborn battle against global warming. In any case, Saturn is exalted in the 3rd pada, suggesting they really stick by their convictions. They need to deal with the world in a very straight forward legally correct manner. There is likely to be a big age difference with their partners.

The fourth pada highlights topics of repressed sexuality, abuse, and trauma. James Blunt’s Song “You’re Beautiful” epitomises the deadlier qualities of Mrigashirsha. In his own words: “‘You’re Beautiful’ is not this soft romantic fucking song. It’s about a guy who’s high as a fucking kite on drugs in the subway stalking someone else’s girlfriend when that guy is there in front of him, and he should be locked up or put in prison for being some kind of perv.” This from a guy with Ketu & Saturn conjunct in Mrigashirsha: the harshness of drugs, crime and stalking are all there through the planets, but in a very soft Mrigashirsha way. And of course Ketu is always going to be misunderstood just as this song has been.

Swami Yukteshwara Giri (1), Joe Louis (1), Albert Camus (1), Robertson Davies (1), Kieth Richards (2), Alexander The Great (2), WW I (3), Copernicus (3), Robert De Nero (3), Greta Thunberg (3), Alan Watts (4), Kate Moss (4), Thomas Beatie (4), Kathy Witt (4), James Blunt (4), Sigmund Freud (4), Cheryl Crane, Bonnie Franklin, Britney Halford, Gwyneth Paltrow, Proclus, Swami Sachinanda Sarawati, Roger Waters,  Iraq War, 

Rahu in Mrigashirsha:

This is a Captain Ahab placement that causes people to become obsessed with the hunt, with research, with seeking something more from life. But unfortunately they often use intoxicants for this search. They may have an addictive personality. Steroids, pain killers, ganja or other illicit or exotic elixirs are common. Several prominent ganja  The Taurus side of this is especially prone to illicit pleasure seeking and sex. Since this nakshatra relates with fulfillment, Rahu’s insatiable quest becomes all the more urgent due to the anticipatory qualities of Mrigashirsha, but no satisfaction can be found. The Gemini side is more likely to make someone obsessed with their research. This can be wasted a google scholar or keyboard warrior, or it can be more effectively used for journalism, police detective work, psychology, or science. They tend to get into peoples heads somehow. Possibly in the way that they say Trump lives in liberal minds rent free. His media witch-hunt is also a good example of Rahu in Mrigashirsha. They are likely to represent the outcaste of society (but in a way they are misfits who are accepted by society). Think of the character played by Stallone in Rambo First Blood, or the kind of media attention given to criminal minds like Aldrete, Bernardo and Dr Dre. They are often liars who like to play mind games and manipulate people. To some extent all Mrigashira natives play some kind of mind game, but those with Rahu here are especially manipulative. 3rd pada will make all kinds of promises they can’t keep just to please people and keep the peace; but of course this often backfires and they can use the peaceful nature of others against them.

Rahu in the 4th pada can be especially deadly, but they all make good public relations people capable of manipulating the masses. They tend towards excessive selfishness, indulgence, vulgarity or narcissism.  Clintons war on drugs, Bush’s war on terrorism and his hunt for Osama and Saddam. Now Harris found power in her quest against racism. These are all useful pretexts for never ending war due to the foggy nature of their quest.

Dwight Eisenhower (1), John Leslie (1), Lucy London (1), Bill Clinton (1), Steve Austin (2), Sylvester Stallone (2), Trump (2), Eddie Vedder (2), Isil (2), George Bush Jr. (2), Emily Carr (2), Dr Dre (2), Brandon Lee (2), Cheech Martin (2),  Dr Dre (2), Chris Rock (2), Simone de Beauvoir (3), Sara Nares (3), David Gilmore (3), Van Goth (3), Kamala Harris (3), Ernest Rutherford (4), Brittney Halford (4), Sara Aldrete (smuggler/killer(4)), Andy Hug (4), Paul Bernardo (4), Valerie Cizek, Heather Dunward, Diweight Eisenhower, Michael Green,  Syed Modasser,  Marie Pascal Orphee, NItali Dilip Patel, Rossano, Edward Snowden, 

Ketu in Mrigashira

These people jump to conclusions, take leaps of faith and get on the bandwagon. Their intuition lacks a filter and they may smell a rat where there is none. They don’t want to be left behind and they may want to move others forward as well. There may be something shadowy about their search

Claude Rivière (1) (thief), Swami Vivekananda (1), Bill Gates (1), John Calvin (1), Bill Nye (1), Maurice de Rothschild (1), Warren Beatty (1), Ghat Astrologer Varanasi (3), James Blunt (3), Napoleon Bonaparte (3), Sylvia Brown (3), Betty Ford (3), Arthur Schopenhauer (3), Leo Strauss (3), AOC (4), Kathy Witt (4), Kate Moss (4), Thomas Beatie (pregnant man) (4), Sharvangi Varanasi (4), Jitendra Hassija (4), Patrica Varanasi (4), Bhairava Anuttara, Friedrich Beyer, David Carradine, Chris Chalifoux, Robbery Curry, Betty Ford, Pope Francis, Brittney Halford, Deni Montana Harrelson, Howie Mandel

Our individuality is all that we have. There are those who barter it for security, those who repress it for what they believe is the betterment of the whole society, but blessed in the twinkle of the morning star is the one who nurtures it and rides it in, in grace and love and wit, from peculiar station to peculiar station along life’s bittersweet route.”― Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume