Karthigai Nakshatra Palangal: Traits, Padas, Career and Remedies

What is Karthigai nakshatra?

Karthigai (கார்த்திகை) is the Tamil name of Krittika, the 3rd of the 27 nakshatras. It spans 26°40′ Mesha to 10°00′ Vrishabha and is ruled by the Sun (Surya). Palangal means results: the traits and tendencies traditionally read for people whose Moon was in this nakshatra at birth.

Not sure of your birth star? Find it with the free nakshatra calculator. The English profile of the same star is Krittika nakshatra, and all 27 are in the guide to the nakshatras.

What are the traits of Karthigai natives?

Tradition describes Karthigai natives as sharp, principled, protective and courageous, with clear judgement. The lord, the Sun (Surya), and the presiding deity, Agni, the sacred fire, colour the star.

• Strengths: sharp, principled, protective and courageous, with clear judgement.
• Watch-points: a cutting tongue and impatience with others’ weaknesses.

These are tendencies of the Moon’s star, not the whole person. The Lagna, the Moon’s strength and the running dasha decide how much of this shows in a given chart.

How do the four padas differ?

Each pada is 3°20′ and falls in a different navamsa, which colours the star:

• Pada 1 (Dhanu navamsa, syllable A): idealistic and expansive.
• Pada 2 (Makara navamsa, syllable Ee): disciplined and ambitious.
• Pada 3 (Kumbha navamsa, syllable U): independent and humanitarian.
• Pada 4 (Meena navamsa, syllable Ea): compassionate and spiritual.

What does Karthigai show for career and marriage?

For career, Karthigai suits administration, defence, cooking, metallurgy, editing and leadership roles. The 10th house and its lord in the full chart decide the field; the nakshatra shows the style.

For marriage, the star gives Rakshasa gana and Antya nadi, two of the factors used in kundli matching, so compatibility is read from both charts together; see marriage and kundli matching.

Which dasha does a Karthigai native start life in?

The Vimshottari dasha begins with the lord of the birth nakshatra, so a Karthigai Moon starts life in the Sun (Surya) mahadasha (6 years in full; the balance at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the star). The Moon (Chandra) (10 years) follows, then Mars (Mangal) (7 years).

See your own sequence and dates with the free mahadasha calculator.

What remedies suit Karthigai?

Because the Sun (Surya) rules the star, the traditional observances are simple and belong to that planet:

• The mantra “Om Suryaya Namah” on Sundays.
• Offering water to the rising Sun.
• Charity on Sundays — wheat or jaggery.

Gemstones are not a default remedy for a nakshatra; a stone is considered only after the whole chart is read.

When is the Moon next in Karthigai?

The Moon passes through Karthigai about once every 27 days. In the coming months it is in the star on 27–28 October, 24 November and 21–22 December 2026 (IST). These are the days when the star’s natives traditionally keep their monthly janma nakshatra observance.

Frequently asked questions