Krittika Nakshatra
కృత్తిక (कृत्तिका)Nakshatra #3 of 27 · 26°40' Mesha – 10°00' Vrishabha (Aries-Taurus) · Ruled by Surya (Sun)
Baby Name Letters (Akshara)
If a child is born under Krittika nakshatra, the traditional starting syllable for the name depends on the pada (quarter) the moon was in at birth:
Find more Vedic names organized by nakshatra: Browse baby names.
About Krittika Nakshatra
Sharp, critical, purifying, ambitious. Cuts through illusion with fiery honesty; natural leaders and reformers. Protective of dependents but can be cutting in speech. Excels under fire.
Best Activities for Krittika
Krittika is considered mixed (sharp, purifying) for the following activities:
- Military and police work
- Surgery
- Fire rituals
- Cooking and metallurgy
Mythology & Significance
In the Vedic narrative, the 27 nakshatras are wives of Chandra (Moon) — daughters of Daksha Prajapati. Krittika's presiding deity is Agni, the cosmic principle whose qualities natives of this nakshatra most strongly express. The symbol "Razor, flame, axe" encapsulates the energy: meditate on it to access this nakshatra's blessing.
Marriage Compatibility (Ashtakoota)
In Vedic marriage matching, Krittika's qualifying characteristics are:
- Gana: Rakshasa (compatibility checked against partner's gana)
- Yoni: Sheep / Goat (female) (compatibility checked against partner's yoni)
- Nadi: Determined by the nakshatra's position in the cycle (Adi/Madhya/Antya)
- Rashi: 26°40' Mesha – 10°00' Vrishabha (compatibility checked against partner's moon sign)
Use our free Ashtakoota Guna Milan calculator for full 36-point compatibility analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Krittika nakshatra?
Krittika (కృత్తిక) is the 3rd of the 27 nakshatras. Symbol: Razor, flame, axe. Ruling deity: Agni (god of fire). Span: 26°40' Mesha – 10°00' Vrishabha (Aries-Taurus). Quality: Mixed (sharp, purifying).
What is the ruling planet of Krittika nakshatra?
Surya (Sun) rules Krittika nakshatra per the Vimshottari dasha system. Natives born under Krittika experience Surya (Sun)'s mahadasha effects most prominently.
What are baby name letters (akshara) for Krittika nakshatra?
For naming a child born under Krittika nakshatra, the four traditional starting letters (one per pada) are: A, Ee, U, E. The specific letter depends on which pada (quarter) of the nakshatra the moon was in at birth.
What is the gana of Krittika nakshatra?
Krittika is classified as Rakshasa gana. In marriage matching (Ashtakoota), gana compatibility carries 6 of 36 points — Rakshasa gana is best matched with same Rakshasa or compatible classification.
What is the yoni of Krittika nakshatra?
The yoni (animal symbol) of Krittika is Sheep / Goat (female). In yoni koota marriage matching, animal pairs are evaluated for natural friendship vs natural enmity (4 of 36 points).
Browse All 27 Nakshatras
అశ్విని2. Bharani
భరణి3. Krittika
కృత్తిక4. Rohini
రోహిణి5. Mrigashira
మృగశిర6. Ardra
ఆర్ద్ర7. Punarvasu
పునర్వసు8. Pushya
పుష్యమి9. Ashlesha
ఆశ్లేష10. Magha
మఖ11. Purva Phalguni
పూర్వ ఫల్గుని12. Uttara Phalguni
ఉత్తర ఫల్గుని13. Hasta
హస్త14. Chitra
చిత్త15. Swati
స్వాతి16. Vishakha
విశాఖ17. Anuradha
అనురాధ18. Jyeshtha
జ్యేష్ఠ19. Mula
మూల20. Purva Ashadha
పూర్వాషాఢ21. Uttara Ashadha
ఉత్తరాషాఢ22. Shravana
శ్రవణం23. Dhanishta
ధనిష్ఠ24. Shatabhisha
శతభిషం25. Purva Bhadrapada
పూర్వ భాద్రపద26. Uttara Bhadrapada
ఉత్తర భాద్రపద27. Revati
రేవతి
All nakshatra data sourced from Brihat Parashara Hora Sastra (BPHS), Phaladeepika, and Saravali. Editorial methodology reviewed by Pandit Ramachandra Sharma (Jyotisha Visharada, M.A. Sanskrit). For personalized analysis based on your janma nakshatra, please consult a qualified astrologer.
All 27 Nakshatras — Quick Reference
The 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions) form the foundation of Vedic astrology. Each spans 13°20' of the zodiac, ruled by a specific planet (in Vimshottari dasha sequence: Ketu → Venus → Sun → Moon → Mars → Rahu → Jupiter → Saturn → Mercury, repeated 3 times) and presided over by a Vedic deity who shapes the nakshatra's qualities. The nakshatra in which your Moon was placed at birth (janma nakshatra) determines your Vimshottari Dasha sequence for life and is the most personalized astrological signature in Vedic tradition.
| # | Nakshatra | Lord | Deity | Gana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Ketu | Ashwini Kumaras | Deva |
| 2 | Bharani | Venus | Yama | Manushya |
| 3 | Krittika | Sun | Agni | Rakshasa |
| 4 | Rohini | Moon | Brahma | Manushya |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Mars | Soma | Deva |
| 6 | Ardra | Rahu | Rudra | Manushya |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Jupiter | Aditi | Deva |
| 8 | Pushya | Saturn | Brihaspati | Deva |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Mercury | Nagas | Rakshasa |
| 10 | Magha | Ketu | Pitrus | Rakshasa |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Venus | Bhaga | Manushya |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Sun | Aryaman | Manushya |
| 13 | Hasta | Moon | Savitar | Deva |
| 14 | Chitra | Mars | Vishvakarma | Rakshasa |
| 15 | Swati | Rahu | Vayu | Deva |
| 16 | Vishakha | Jupiter | Indragni | Rakshasa |
| 17 | Anuradha | Saturn | Mitra | Deva |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | Mercury | Indra | Rakshasa |
| 19 | Mula | Ketu | Nirriti | Rakshasa |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Venus | Apah | Manushya |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Sun | Vishvedevas | Manushya |
| 22 | Shravana | Moon | Vishnu | Deva |
| 23 | Dhanishta | Mars | Vasus | Rakshasa |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Rahu | Varuna | Rakshasa |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Jupiter | Aja Ekapada | Manushya |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Saturn | Ahir Budhnya | Manushya |
| 27 | Revati | Mercury | Pushan | Deva |