Gana classes of nakshatras
The nakshatras are grouped into three ganas in the classical lists: deva (divine), manushya (human) and rakshasa (demonic). The grouping describes temperament in the traditional view.
What it is
The deva ganas are Ashwini, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Shravana, Revati; the manushya ganas are Bharani, Rohini, Ardra, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada; the rakshasa ganas are the rest.
How it is worked out or read
The gana grouping is used in the gana kuta of matching, which is not computed on this site. The classes are shown for reference.
Where it appears on this site
See gana kuta and the temperament article.
Gana by position in the sequence
The three ganas are not laid out in a simple repeating pattern, so they have to be learnt or looked up. Counting the nakshatras from Ashwini as one, the deva gana nakshatras are numbers 1, 5, 7, 8, 13, 15, 17, 22 and 27. The manushya gana nakshatras are numbers 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 20, 21, 25 and 26. The rakshasa gana nakshatras are numbers 3, 9, 10, 14, 16, 18, 19, 23 and 24. A learner can check any nakshatra quickly by its number in this way.
Notice that the pairs Purva and Uttara Phalguni, Purva and Uttara Ashadha, and Purva and Uttara Bhadrapada all fall in manushya gana, while Magha, which comes just before the Phalgunis, is rakshasa.
Where gana comes from
The gana classes come from the older nakshatra lore and are recorded in the muhurta and matching texts. They are a classification of the Moon's nakshatra, which is why the gana of a person is fixed at birth and does not change with transits or dashas. The same classification is sometimes used in muhurta, where certain activities are preferred under deva gana nakshatras, though this use is less common than its use in matching.
Gana in the matching score
In Ashtakoota matching, gana kuta can give up to six of the thirty-six points. When both people share the same gana, the full six is given. Combinations of deva and manushya usually score well. Combinations of rakshasa with deva or with manushya usually score low or zero, and some tables score them differently depending on which partner has which gana. The tables are not identical across traditions, so a reader comparing two matching reports should check which table each uses.
Many traditions also allow the gana dosha to be set aside when the Moon signs are in a favourable relationship or when the bhakoot and graha maitri scores are good.
What the classes describe
The classes describe broad styles of temperament: deva as gentle and refined, manushya as practical and worldly, rakshasa as strong-willed and independent. These are traditional labels, and they are best used as one small part of a description. A rakshasa gana nakshatra such as Chitra is also the nakshatra of the divine craftsman, and Vishakha of purposeful achievement, which reminds the reader that the gana does not override the nakshatra's other themes.
Using the classes on this site
The nakshatra pages on this site give each nakshatra's lord, padas and traditional keywords, and the lists above add its gana. The planet table on the birth chart page shows the Moon's nakshatra, so a reader can find their own gana in a moment.