The lunar mansion
Beginning · speed · healing
Ashwini is the first breath of the zodiac: quick, restoring and willing to start. It often carries a gift for rescue, initiative and giving other people momentum.
Where it sits in the zodiac
Ashwini spans 13°20′. It begins in Aries and ends in the same sign. Because nakshatras do not align with sign boundaries, a planet in a sign can be carrying the flavour of two different lunar mansions.
The four padas
Each nakshatra is divided into four padas of 3°20′. The pada adds a further layer of nuance and is used in divisional charts such as the navamsa.
Pada 10° 00′ Aries — 3° 20′ Aries
Pada 23° 20′ Aries — 6° 40′ Aries
Pada 36° 40′ Aries — 10° 00′ Aries
Pada 410° 00′ Aries — 13° 20′ Aries
The ruling planet
Ashwini is ruled by Ketu, the planet of moksha · release, instinct, the known. The dasha sequence begins from this planet when your Moon is in this nakshatra.