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Vedic (Jyotisha) · Nakshatra 8

Pushya

Cow's udder, flower

Pushya, nakshatra 8 of 27 (3°20′ Karka – 16°40′ Karka), ruled by Saturn, presided over by Brihaspati; symbol: cow's udder, flower.

Pushya is the 8th of the twenty-seven nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astrology, spanning 3°20′ Karka – 16°40′ Karka of the sidereal zodiac. Its presiding deity is Brihaspati, and its traditional symbol is the cow's udder, flower. In the Vimshottari system its ruling planet is Saturn, so a person whose moon falls in Pushya begins life in the Saturn period (dasha).

Each nakshatra is classified by gana, or temperament — divine (deva), human (manushya) or demonic (rakshasa) — and Pushya is counted deva. Astrologers use the nakshatra of the moon at birth for naming (each pada has its own syllable), for matching horoscopes before marriage and for choosing auspicious times (muhurta). The descriptions of each nakshatra in Sanskrit texts such as the Brihat Samhita and in modern handbooks vary, and are best read as traditional associations of its deity and symbol.

Personality

nourishing · devout · dutiful · protective · wise · conservative

In Vedic astrology a person whose moon falls in Pushya is described as nourishing, devout and dutiful, and the nakshatra itself is regarded as one of the most auspicious of all. Its name means 'nourishment', its symbols are a cow's udder and a flower, and its deity is Brihaspati, the teacher and priest of the gods.

Traditional descriptions credit Pushya natives with calm, kindness, religious devotion, learning and a strong instinct to care for others and to uphold tradition; they are said to be respected, responsible and generous. Their weaknesses are said to be rigidity, conservatism, self-righteousness, worry and a tendency to over-protect or to give until exhausted.

In relationships Pushya is portrayed as loyal, steady and protective, devoted to family. In work it is linked with teaching, religion and priestly work, counselling, administration, food and agriculture, and charitable service. Counted among the divine (deva) temperaments, its Vimshottari lord is Saturn, whose Navaratna stone is blue sapphire. The Pushya day is traditionally favoured for beginning important undertakings, though its effect on any individual depends on the whole chart.

Stone: Sapphire

Sources and further reading