Mrigasira – The Deer Head

Mrigasira (23.20 Taurus-6.40 Gemini) is ruled by Soma, the Moon god who personifies the immortal nectar. Mrigasira is the initiator of Martian energy who is represented in the celestial firmament by a bright star and 3 relatively paler stars in the constellation Orion.

Mrigasira can be translated as the ‘deer head’ due to the shape that this constellation forms. The other names for this nakshatra are Saumya which means ‘benevolent’, Chandra or Udupa which mean moon, and Arghayani or ‘commencement of the year’.

Behavioral Characteristics

‘Quest’: this is the word that best describes the natives of Mrigasira which can be traced to its ruling deity Parvati. She is seen as looking for the ideal spouse, true knowledge or physical/mental experiences. As the most curious nakshatra, Mrigasira resembles the planet Rahu and its search brings fulfillment and enlightenment. In lesser pursuits, Mrigasira brings temporary contentment, disillusionment and sorrow.

The seeking quality makes Mrigasira good at creativity. It transits like the deer from one experience to the next. On a negative note, this is identical to a person following the mirage and it gives rise to duplicity, superficiality and fickleness. As the mind is the focus of Mrigasira, their mental dexterity gives them the power to grasp complex things easily. However, the tendency to overexert themselves leads to nervousness and mental exhaustion.

The physical build of Mrigasira natives is delicate with a jovial face and gentle manners. They are restless and convey nervousness in their appearance. They are also spontaneous, enthusiastic and love socializing. Their soul is creative which enjoys oral and written communication. Their sense of satire makes them good humorists, and despite their sociability, they are naturally shy. Mrigasira has this inherent love for life and their whimsicality prevents them from relating to others for no apparent reason.

Mrigasira natives have a highly suspicious, with the ability to sense danger. This can be troublesome especially in marriage and domestic bickering. Strong influences of this nakshatra generate marital disharmony which can be cured if the partners give each other ample space. The arrival of Mercurial energy sows seeds of discrimination. Despite its lightness, Mrigasira is fixed in terms of its attitudes and opinions.

Mrigasira makes one conscious of their life path by undergoing a variety of experiences in pursuit of a singular purpose. However, for less developed souls, Mrigasira goes through an endless maze without a final destination to arrive at. This constellation refers to ‘pirana shakti’ which refers to the power of fulfillment. The symbolism refers to weaving through the labyrinth of life to consummate creativity out of confusion.

Quarters or Padas

Leo Navamsa (23.20-26.40 Taurus): This quarter is ruled by the Sun. It is characterized by fixedness and self-expression through creativity.

Virgo Navamsa (26.40-30.00 Taurus): This quarter is ruled by Mercury. It is characterized by calculation, discrimination, humor, satire

Libra Navamsa (00.00-3.20 Gemini): This quarter is ruled by Venus. It is characterized by mental exploration in relationships, sociability

Scorpio Navamsa (3.20-6.40 Gemini): This quarter is ruled by Mars. It is characterized by intellect, argument, suspicion, spiritual evolution

Gana: Mrigasira is a ‘deva’/divine nakshatra that identifies with the astral rather than human plane, which makes Mrigasira a refined constellation.

Favorable Activities

Lighthearted actions, travel, exploration, sexual activity, arts, healing and rejuvenation, education, socializing, shifting home, communication, religion and spirituality, sales and advertisement, taking new name

Unfavorable Activities

Marriage, harsh activities, confrontations

Measures for Remedy

Mrigasira natives should worship Parvati and the Moon. They should also chant the root mantra “Om Em” 108 times during the lunar transition of this nakshatra to alleviate afflictions. Wearing bright colors is also recommended. All important actions should correspond to the course of this constellation for best results.

Miscellaneous

In the words of Varahamihira, the lunar influence gives Mrigasira a fickle, shrewd, joyful and wealthy aspect. Parvati herself has her moon in Taurus Mrigasira, and hence she can assume various incarnations of entirely differing attributes.