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A Study Guide to Nakshatra Memorization

By Angela Pennington

Nakshatras are rich in imagery and powerful in myth. Becoming familiar with the Lunar Mansions
brings depth and focus to natal consultations. The Jyotish who understands a clients Moon in a
particular Nakshatra, gains a great understanding of how a person feels and thinks. A vitally
important quality for creating an atmosphere of safety and healing for the people who entrust their
charts to us. Sharing these ancient stories and their symbols with clients is a powerful tool, helping
them to connect with their own divinity and directing them on a path toward personal empowerment.

For the student, Nakshatras can be daunting area of study, especially the thought of memorizing
them! After all, there are 27 modern Lunar Mansions each 13 degrees 20’ minutes and they have
Myths, Deities, Symbols, Degrees, Rulers, Doshas, Elements and more to consider. Whew! Nakshatras
are literally a lifetime of study in their own right. Students at ACVA are required to know the
Nakshatras before they graduate. Several students have asked me how I learned them. My standard
reply is “study a little everyday” but the truth is, in my experience, I have discovered a rhythm to
learning them and the chart below is designed to demonstrate the technique:

Lord Degrees Red Black White

Ketu 0 - 13° 20' Ashwini Aries Magha Leo Mula Sagittarius

13°20' - Purva Purva
Venus Bharani Aries Leo Sagittarius
26°40' Phalguni Ashadha

26°40' - Aries - Uttara Leo - Uttara Sagittarius -

Sun Krittika
10°00' Taurus Phalguni Virgo Ashadha Capricorn
10°00' -
Moon Rohini Taurus Hasta Virgo Shravana Capricorn
23°20'
23°20' - Taurus - Virgo - Capricorn -
Mars Mrigashira Chitra Dhanishtha
6°40' Gemini Libra Aquarius
6°40' -
Rahu Ardra Gemini Swati Libra Shatabhisha Aquarius
20°00'
20°00' - Gemini - Libra - Purva Aquarius -
Jupiter Punarvasu Vishakha
3°20' Cancer Scorpio Bhadrapada Pisces
3°20' - Uttara
Saturn Pushya Cancer Anuradha Scorpio Pisces
16°40' Bhadrapada

16°40 -
Mercury Ashlesha Cancer Jyeshtha Scorpio Revati Pisces
30°00'

As we memorize, its important to keep in mind a few key points:

1. There are three groups of nine Nakshatras which we shall refer to as Red, Black and White. Each
group span four zodiac signs:

Red Lunar Mansions, Aries through Cancer complete. Fiery and rajastic in nature, bringing a beautiful
sense of creativity and passion.

Black Lunar Mansions, Leo through Scorpio complete. Tamas in nature, a place of looking inward and
thinking deeply.
White Lunar Mansions, Sagittarius through Pisces complete. Sattvic in nature releasing us from the
bondage of materiality and connecting us to the divine.

“While the Nakshatra’s originated in ancient India, they are also used in the astrology of Tibeten
Buddhism. In Tibet it is said that the first nine, the red mansions, are associated with Earth, the second
set of nine or black mansions with the Underworld, and the third or white mansions with Heaven” -
Kenneth Johnson author “Mansions Of the Moon”

2. The Lords rule three Nakshatras of which the degrees will be the same. Memorize degree with Lord
and then Lord with Nakshatras; this will result in “instant recall”.

3. Memorize using numbers. The Nakshatra will always reduce to the same number as its lord.
Referencing the chart above:

Ketu is number 1: Ashwini = 1, Magha = 10 (or 1 + 0 = 1) , Mula = 19 (or 1 +9 =10 reduce 1 + 0 = 1)

Venus is number 2: Bharani = 2, P. Phalguni = 11 (1+1=2), P. Ashadha = 20 (2+0=2)

(These number and planet correspondences are not the same in Vedic Numerology)

In the process of memorizing, its helpful to learn one column at a time. For example, learn the order
of the Lords first (same as the Vimshottari Dasha sequence), degrees second etc. As we are learning,
its helpful to make a special “mental note” of the first Nakshatra and its zodiac sign in each group:
Ashwini = Aries, Magha = Leo, Mula= Sagittarius. This technique can help us keep our bearings in
case we begin to lose our way in all those Nakshatras!

Roeland de Looff and Martha Ijzerman have published a set of fantastic Nakshatra study cards.
Wonderful flashcards, the classic images are black and white. Release your inner muse and color
while meditating on a Nakshatra.

Effectively learning the Nakshatras requires daily exposure. Once the basics are committed to
memory, its amazing how quickly we advance in our studies!

I hope these study tips help you organize your mind and prepare for your exams. Join me in our next
article as we explore utilizing Nakshatras in chart reading.

Bibliography:
The Nakshatras author Dennis Harness, PH.D
. Mansions of the Moon author Kenneth Johnson
The Hindu Lunar Zodiac Cards author Roeland de Looff , Illustrations Martha Ijzerman

Om Ganesh!
Angela Pennington
Editor

Angela Pennington Biography:

Angela Pennington Angela Pennington is a natural entrepenuer and over the last 20 years has
owned and operated three unique and successful small businesses in the
Pacific Northwest. Recently, she earned her ACVA Level I Certification and is
currently working towards completion of ACVA Level II.

Angela has been a professional tarot reader and popular teacher of Goddess
studies for over ten years. At present, she is developing her Vedic Astrology
consulting business.

Angela was our first Student Editor, now editor, for the ACVA News and is a
member of CVA ( Council Vedic Astrology )

Angela Pennington Contact Information:

Angela Pennington
Jyotish Visharada, CVA
Editor AVCA Student Newsletter
editor@vedicastrology.org
(206) 412-7837

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