Nakshatra 3 of 27 · 26°40' Aries - 10°00' Taurus
Krittika Nakshatra
Kṛttikā
Krittika is the third nakshatra, straddling the cusp of Aries and Taurus from 26°40' Aries to 10°00' Taurus. Its presiding deity is Agni, the god of fire and the sacred sacrificial flame, and its ruling planet is the Sun. The asterism is associated with the Pleiades star cluster, the seven stars that the Krittika Maatrikas (the seven foster mothers of Skanda in the Mahabharata) embody. Krittika is named for the kṛttikā or razor, the cutting edge of fire.
- Ruling planet
- Sun
- Deity
- Agni (god of fire)
- Symbol
- A razor or sharp blade; the Pleiades star cluster
- Rashi
- Aries-Taurus (straddles the boundary)
- Gana / Yoni / Nadi
- Rakshasa · Sheep · Madhya
- Caste (varna)
- Brahmin
Symbolism
The razor symbolises discriminating power, the blade that separates pure from impure. Agni's presence makes Krittika a purifier rather than a destroyer. The Pleiades connection links the asterism to nurture and warriorhood at once: the seven mothers nursed Skanda, the war-god, and their fierceness was protective.
Personality of Krittika natives
Personality of Krittika natives: sharp, direct, ethically uncompromising, often nurturing in a tough-love mode, and sometimes stubborn. They have unusual ability to see through pretense. They are often called blunt; their friends know it as honesty. The Rakshasa gana sometimes shows up as raw temper under provocation, but the Brahmin varna and Sun rulership give a strong moral compass that prevents the temper from running wild.
The four padas
The four padas of Krittika fall in Aries-Sagittarius (1st pada, Jupiter navamsa, the most dharmic), Taurus-Capricorn (2nd, Saturn, the most disciplined), Taurus-Aquarius (3rd, Saturn on Saturn, the most reformist), and Taurus-Pisces (4th, Jupiter, the most spiritually inclined). The cusp itself sits between padas 1 and 2.
Career inclinations
Career inclinations: military and police, surgery, ironwork and metallurgy, cooking (especially professional kitchens, where fire is the medium), priesthood and religious teaching, journalism (the cutting-edge sense), critic and editor roles, public-health investigation, and any vocation where discrimination of truth from falsehood is the deliverable.
Marriage compatibility
Marriage compatibility: Krittika's gana is Rakshasa, yoni is sheep, nadi is Madhya, varna is Brahmin. Sheep-yoni mate is Pushya. Krittika natives often marry between 25 and 32, frequently to a partner who can withstand their bluntness and value their honesty. Rakshasa-Deva pairings score lower in standard ashtakoot.
Classically compatible
- Pushya (Sheep yoni)
- Rohini (Serpent yoni)
- Uttara Phalguni (Cow yoni)
Compatibility hints follow standard ashtakoot (yoni, gana, nadi, dina). For a full match score, use the kundali matching tool.
Health themes
Health themes: skin conditions (especially Agni-related, eczema, acidity-driven), digestive heat and ulcers, eye strain, fevers, and tendency to overwork to depletion. The body rules the throat and upper neck (in the Taurus portion). Krittika natives need to eat regularly; skipping meals exacerbates everything.
Spiritual orientation
Spiritually, Krittika is one of the most yagna-related nakshatras. Many Vedic priests, ritualists, and Sanskrit scholars are born under Krittika, drawn to fire-rituals and the disciplined recitation traditions.
Classical sources
BPHS assigns the Sun as Krittika's dasha lord. Phaladeepika emphasises the discriminating intellect Krittika natives carry. Brihat Samhita lists Krittika among the misra (mixed) nakshatras with both fierce and tender qualities.
The dasha lord Sun starts every Krittika native's Vimshottari sequence. Read the Sun Mahadasha effects page for what this Mahadasha brings.
Frequently asked questions about Krittika Nakshatra
What is the ruling planet of Krittika Nakshatra?+
The Sun rules Krittika in the Vimshottari system. The deity is Agni (fire). The combination produces a sharp, ethically uncompromising temperament.
What does Krittika Nakshatra mean?+
Krittika is named for the kṛttikā, a razor or cutting blade. The asterism is associated with the Pleiades star cluster, the seven foster mothers of Skanda in the Mahabharata.
Is Krittika Nakshatra good for marriage?+
Krittika natives marry well when paired with someone who values directness and honesty. Sheep-yoni mate is Pushya. Standard ashtakoot scoring matters; Rakshasa-Deva pairings score lower.
What career suits a Krittika native?+
Military and police, surgery, professional cooking, priesthood, journalism, criticism, public-health investigation, and any work where discrimination of truth from falsehood is the deliverable.
When is Krittika Mahadasha?+
Krittika natives begin life with the Sun Mahadasha (Krittika's ruling planet). The Sun Mahadasha lasts 6 years, the shortest in Vimshottari.
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