Pushya nakshatra: lord, deity and symbol
Pushya is the eighth nakshatra, ruled by Saturn, traditionally regarded as one of the most auspicious nakshatras for beginnings.
What it is
Its symbol is a flower, a cow's udder or an arrow, and its deity is Brihaspati, the teacher of the gods. Its lord Saturn has a dasha of 19 years. Pushya starts at 93 degrees 20 minutes, in Karka.
How it is worked out or read
Each nakshatra spans 13 degrees 20 minutes of the sidereal zodiac and has four padas of 3 degrees 20 minutes each. Pushya covers 93 degrees 20 minutes to 106 degrees 40 minutes, all in Karka.
Where it appears on this site
The Pushya nakshatra is used by the muhurat finder for the nakshatra filter.
Span and position
Pushya is the eighth nakshatra and lies entirely within Karka, from 93 degrees 20 minutes to 106 degrees 40 minutes. Its four padas each cover 3 degrees 20 minutes. Its position in the middle of the Karka sign makes its sign easy to fix, and its position in the sequence of nakshatras makes it one of the most cited for beginnings.
Its lord and dasha
Saturn is the lord of Pushya, and the Saturn dasha lasts nineteen years. A birth with the Moon in Pushya begins the sequence with Saturn, and the balance is the part still to run. The long Saturn period at the start of the timeline is read in the classical view as a time of structure and endurance, which is one reason Pushya is linked with steady work.
Symbol and deity
Pushya is shown as a flower, a cow's udder or an arrow, and its presiding deity is Brihaspati, the teacher of the gods. The symbols are read as nourishment, growth and direction, and the link to Brihaspati connects the nakshatra with teaching and with auspicious beginnings. The nakshatra is regarded in the classical lists as especially favourable for starting things.
Using Pushya in a reading
A reader who meets Pushya as the Moon's nakshatra should note Saturn as the lord, Brihaspati as the deity and the flower or arrow symbol. The muhurat finder on this site uses Pushya as one of the nakshatra filters, and states the rule it applies. A reader who uses Pushya for a beginning should check the weekday and the other factors the tradition requires, rather than the nakshatra alone.
Pushya and the choice of beginnings
Pushya is among the nakshatras most often cited for beginnings, and in many almanacs its presence is noted when a new venture, a purchase or an apprenticeship is planned. The classical praise links it to nourishment and to the teacher, and the nakshatra is read as favourable for work that needs to be built steadily over time. Its long Saturn period, which opens the timeline, is read as the support of structure rather than as a hindrance.
Because so much weight is given to Pushya in practical planning, a reader should be careful to check the other factors the chosen tradition requires. The weekday, the tithi and Rahu Kaal all apply, and the Moon's end time in Pushya must fall within the window the reader intends. The site's muhurat finder can show the days when Pushya falls at sunrise, and the reader can then choose among them with the other factors in view.