Nakshatra/Star:  Ashlesha(  16°40’ – 30°00’ Karaka )

Ashlesha “The Clinging Star’’ is the 9^th Nakshatra/Star of Zodiac. It is ruled by the Serpent God. The force of Aslesha can be understood by its name Naga. Naga and Ahi are same.In Naga, ‘ga’ stands for gati or gamana or go in English. ‘a-ga’ means that which has no go. ‘Na-a-ga’ or  Naga means to say that it can go where one cannot go. Indeed, snakes possess such power.The creature can remain coiled in such small holes or cracks where it seems impossible for the creature to go. Mind (Chandra is the symbolical expression of mind and the ruling Graha of Karaka) has similar capabilities. It has power to secretly travel or penetrate into a place where ordinarily it is impossible to go. It is the birth star of Ketu. Ashlesha is first step on path of spiritual awakening.

This Nakshatra can be helpful if one has enemies ; but it can serve to give a person an inimical temperament as well. It all depends upon how the energy of this Nakshatra is used. The shakti revealed here is – “Visasleshana Shakti’’ power to inflict poisonous venom, to paralyze enemies with its hypnotic gaze.

Symbol: Coiled serpent

Star Lord: Mercury ( Budh )

Ruling Deity: Naga, the Serpent King

Ashlesha means “the entwiner” and it denotes the challenges of our addictions to sensory attachments. It is a very mental asterism ruled by Mercury. Ashleshans have a rakshasa temperament with a primary motivation of dharma.

Attributes: such as creepy, wily, cold-blooded, secretive, deceptive, insincere, hypnotic and poisonous sums up Ashlesha’s nature and functioning.Mystery, is being one of basic attributes of Ashlesha.

Lord Vishnu always incarnates on earth with his serpent guard Shesha. When Vishnu incarnated as Rama, Shesha incarnated as Lakshmana. Lakshmana was born with Ashlesha rising on his Lagna. His character reflects many of qualities of Ashlesha.

A person born in ‘Ashlesha Nakshatra’ is a born wanderer i.e. travels unnecessarily, wicked, causes anguish to others, spends his wealth for evil purposes, and is a sensualist. Their disease resistant capacity is limited. They tend to put on weight in the middle age. They are actively associated with organisation or persons or services where some underhand dealings are undertaken. They also make successful politicians.These people can make some of the best statesmen, given a favorable combination of planets like Jupiter, Sun and Mars. They have excellent communication skills and many of them are good orators.

The problem with Ashlesha is that it get tangled up in things that are impure. The deity is the serpent, the Sarpa, which entwines and wraps around things. That serpent energy or power is related to the Kundalini, the depth of life itself. When planets in Aslesha get tangled up in the truth, it is deeply mystical, powerful and profound. But one also has to watch it ; because that snake might bite them. If it does not bite, then that poison becomes a great elixir ( amrit ).

Planets in Aslesha must connect with a pure, selfless intention to get its true meaning.

Ashlesha natives tend to remain hidden in regards to their true thoughts and feelings. They do not form intimate bonds with others and will mistrust their most closest confidantes and families.They are, however, highly protective towards their kith and kin and will ward off suspicious intruders in most ruthless manner. These natives can be most mean and stingy in regards to financial affairs. Their miserliness never pays in end, as they always end up having losses one way or other. Presence of Ashlesha in a nativity works both ways – one deceives others and gets deceived by others. Many Ashlesha natives are victims, rather than users, especially natives who have  Grahas like Surya and Guru placed in Ashlesha. On positive side; this nakshatra endows them with great primordial powers of insight, intuition, perception, wisdom, cunning, concentration and sexuality. Suspicious nature of ashlesha native makes them good observers too.

Ashlesha is a glutton and shows great interest in food, especially when it is not Satvic and prepared by others. These natives find themselves at home in hotels, bars, restaurants and like. They usually cannot bear any kind of hunger. They are hoarders of zodiac and dislike throwing anything away. They can go to real extremes in this regard and need to learn to put material world into its proper perspective. They have a natural affinity for poisons. They do not mind drugs, pharmaceuticals, allopathy, doctors, antibiotics etc. They enjoy business activities which border on crookery. They never employ straight methods in business and want some type of cheating or deception to be involved. They find humor in tricking others. They like mental games and strategy. They delight in hoodwinking others.

Book Consultation

Ascendant in Ashlesha: Sensual, seductive nature, cruel, ungrateful, need to develop tact, needstime alone, service-oriented, many enemies, issues of deception and intrigue.

Moon in Ashlesha: Leadership, political success, mystical nature, entertainer, astrologicalgifts, intuitive, writing and speaking gifts, poetic nature, learned, research and organizational skills, need to watch diet, insincere, ungrateful, sinful. The moon in Ashlesha indicates a person is penetrating, intense, hypnotic, wise, profound and secretive. They are ambitious and full of conviction and are unable to take criticism or humiliation. They can also be crafty, devious, controlling, revengeful, moody, short tempered,have harsh speech, is wealthy, religious and slow in their deeds.

Sun in Ashlesha: Business oriented, greedy, stubborn nature, opinionated, mystic, intuitive,good communication skills, erratic career, unpredictable, deceptive, evasive.

Career interests: Politicians, lawyers, writers, teachers, astrologers, mystics, snake charmers,zoo keepers, prostitutes, pimps.

Health issues: Food poisoning, obesity, poor diet, veneral disease, arthritis, nervous disorders.

Shadowy side: Mental instability, worry, fear and melancholic mind. Issues with temper andanger, responsible for separation, filing divorce and ending a business partnership, cannot tolerate personal humiliation.  A sensitive nervous system, psychic vulnerability and self-deception. Crafty, elusive and lie when it serves their need. Pain is inevitable and  have difficulty in controlling diet. Have difficulty in facing life realistically.

Pada and Letter:

First Pada of this Nakshatra falls in Sagittarius Navamsa, ruled by Jupiter. This Pada has ability to put in most hard work. It has a lot to do with dealing with enmity, diseases and other 6th bhava affairs. 1st Pada of This Nakshatra represents letter “Dee”.

Second Pada of this Nakshatra falls in Capricorn Navamsa, ruled by Saturn. This Pada is mostly involved in dealing with people.  It is a highly ambitious Pada, which is usually liable to use all of Ashlesha’s negative traits, like trickery and deceit, to get what it wants. An inability to let go of possessions is another unique aspect of this Pada. Being a Ganda Mula Pada, this Pada is considered bad for finances Second Pada of This Nakshatra represents letter “Doo”.

Third Pada of this Nakshatra falls in Aquarius Navamsa, ruled by Saturn. Secrecy is keyword to this Pada.  It, however, is most closely related to occult side of Ashlesha, discussed in esoteric section.  This Pada usually goes to unusual lengths and takes highly inventive approaches to scheming and plotting. Planets placed here adversely effects mother’s wellbeing. Third Pada of This Nakshatra represents letter “Day”.

Fourth Pada of this Nakshatra falls in Pisces Navamsa, ruled by Jupiter. This is Pada, Relating to all kinds of illusions.  Moral struggle is at its peak here. This is  place where ”serpent  of Ashlesha “finally  gets slain,  and  people under  strong  influence of  this  Pada are  more  likely to  get  tricked by  others, rather than deceive  others. Such natives are always putting up fronts and hardly ever show their true nature. Grahas placed here adversely affect father’s wellbeing. Fourth Pada of This Nakshatra represents letter “Doh”.

Guna  (essence), Gana (type), Tatva  (element),Caste, Yoni, Direction, Body Parts and Gender:

Ashlesha Nakshatra people belong to Satvik Guna, Rakshasa Gana, and Watery element, Female in gender and Maleccha caste.  Ashlesha Nakshatra rules North-West to North direction. Bone joints like elbows, knuckles, knee caps, nails and ears are body parts related to this Nakshatra. Yoni for this Nakshatra is Cat.

According to Varahamihira, those born with Moon in Ashlesha are”false, wicked, ungrateful, crafty and gluttonous, eating everything in sight”.

Remedies: Paying reverence or obeisance to serpents or doing serpent rituals like Sarpa Homa is useful for gaining favor of energies of this Nakshatra. In India, a special day, known as ”Narga Panchami”, is reserved for feeding milk to snakes and worshipping serpent deities. Practicing Kundalini Yoga (also known as Raja Yoga) is best way of rising above negative qualities of this Nakshatra.

Astrologer Mrityunjai Ojha 

For Consultation  click here

How Astrology can help you?