Mrigashira

Mrigashira is the fifth nakshatra (lunar mansion) in the system of Hindu astrology. The name translates to "deer head," reflecting its symbolic associations with gentleness, curiosity, and a search for knowledge. Like other nakshatras, it is used to interpret personality traits, life patterns, and potential timing in a birth chart. The nakshatra spans roughly 26°40' Taurus to 10°00' Gemini, placing it across the Taurus–Gemini cusp.

Symbolically, Mrigashira is linked with the deer, an emblem of grace, pursuit, and the quest for nourishment, beauty, and understanding. The traits commonly ascribed to this nakshatra emphasize curiosity, adaptability, eloquence, and a love of learning and varied experiences. Natives are often seen as versatile and communicative but may also exhibit restlessness, indecision, or a tendency to scatter their focus. The precise expression of these qualities depends on the pada (quarter) within the nakshatra and the astrologer's chosen system of rulerships.

In practice, Mrigashira is consulted for matters related to education, travel, writing, speaking, and research, as well as for timing changes or new undertakings. Transits and dasha periods associated with this nakshatra are thought to enhance inquiry, exploration, and refinement, while challenging influences can bring distraction or inconsistency.

Notes: Interpretations vary among schools of astrology. Some traditions emphasize deity associations or specific planetary rulerships, but Mrigashira remains a core component of the 27-nakshatra framework used in Vedic astrology.