The lunar mansion
Storm · insight · renewal
Ardra arrives with weather. It breaks up stale patterns and can bring sharp insight, emotional intensity and the relief that comes after a difficult truth.
Where it sits in the zodiac
Ardra spans 13°20′. It begins in Gemini and ends in the same sign. Because nakshatras do not align with sign boundaries, a planet in a sign can be carrying the flavour of two different lunar mansions.
The four padas
Each nakshatra is divided into four padas of 3°20′. The pada adds a further layer of nuance and is used in divisional charts such as the navamsa.
Pada 16° 40′ Gemini — 10° 00′ Gemini
Pada 210° 00′ Gemini — 13° 20′ Gemini
Pada 313° 20′ Gemini — 16° 40′ Gemini
Pada 416° 40′ Gemini — 20° 00′ Gemini
The ruling planet
Ardra is ruled by Rahu, the planet of kama · hunger, ambition, the unfamiliar. The dasha sequence begins from this planet when your Moon is in this nakshatra.