Rohini nakshatra: lord, deity and symbol
Rohini is the fourth nakshatra, ruled by the Moon, traditionally described as the favourite of the Moon in the classical texts.
What it is
Its symbol is a chariot or cart, and its deity is Brahma. Its lord the Moon has a dasha of 10 years. Rohini starts at 40 degrees of Vrishabha.
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. Rohini covers 40 to 53 degrees 20 minutes, all in Vrishabha.
Where it appears on this site
Rohini appears in the panchang for the Moon's nakshatra.
Span and position
Rohini is the fourth nakshatra and lies entirely within Vrishabha, from 40 degrees to 53 degrees 20 minutes. It is one of the longest-noticed nakshatras in the classical literature, and it sits near the centre of the Vrishabha sign, so a planet in Rohini is well inside its sign and is less exposed to the risk of a boundary shift than one near the edges of other nakshatras.
Its lord and dasha
The Moon is the lord of Rohini, and the Moon dasha lasts ten years. A birth with the Moon in Rohini begins the sequence with the Moon, and the balance is the part of its ten years still to run. Because the Moon rules Rohini, the nakshatra is closely tied to the mind, the emotions and the mother, and a reader can use this link when reading the Moon's dasha alongside the nakshatra.
Symbol and deity
Rohini is shown as a chariot or a cart, and its presiding deity is Brahma, the creator in the classical lists. The chariot is read as a vehicle of growth and fertility, and the link to creation connects the nakshatra with the idea of making and growing. The classical texts describe Rohini as the favourite of the Moon, and the nakshatra is often mentioned in discussions of the Moon's special relationship with it.
Using Rohini in a reading
A reader who meets Rohini as the Moon's nakshatra should note the lord the Moon, the deity Brahma and the chariot symbol. The Moon in Rohini is read in the classical view as a sign of steadiness and comfort, but the reading depends on the Moon's sign, house and aspects as well. Rohini shows the nakshatra's own traits, and the chart shows how those traits are placed.
Rohini and growth
Rohini's chariot and its link to Brahma give it a strong association with growth, cultivation and the making of things. Many traditional readers consider it a favourable nakshatra for sowing, for beginning construction, and for projects that need steady development. The classical praise of Rohini as the Moon's favourite gives it a place of honour in lists of auspicious nakshatras, and it is often cited alongside Pushya and Hasta for the start of productive work.
A reader using Rohini in a practical plan should remember that the nakshatra is only one factor. The weekday, the tithi and the Rahu Kaal window still apply, and the sign of the Moon matters for the emotional tone of the day. When a plan is set for Rohini, the reader can note the nakshatra's end time and make sure the activity falls within its span, while keeping the other factors in view.