The Moon in Krittika

The Moon in Krittika gives a sharp, penetrating mind and a directness that immediately separates the essential from the secondary. The person is principled, knows how to defend their own people and strives to correct what they consider wrong.

About the nakshatra Krittika

• Position: 26°40′–30° Aries; 0°–10° Taurus (the 3rd of the 27 nakshatras); for the Moon in the sign, see Moon in Aries, Moon in Taurus.
• Ruler: the Sun.
• Deity: Agni, the god of fire.
• Symbol: a razor, a blade or a flame.
• Gana: rakshasa.
• Full description: the nakshatra Krittika.

Mind and emotions

Krittika begins in Aries and continues in Taurus, so its Moon has two shades. In the first pada, in Aries, fire prevails: decisiveness, zeal, sharpness. In Taurus the Moon enters the sign of its exaltation — the point of the Moon's greatest strength falls at 3° Taurus, that is, in the second pada of Krittika. Here the mind becomes steadier and the feelings calmer. Agni, the deity of the nakshatra, is the fire that purifies and transforms, and this quality shows in the urge to get to the bottom of the truth.

Strengths and difficulties

The strengths are clarity of judgement, honesty, the ability to assess a situation critically and to take responsibility. The Sun as the ruler of the nakshatra gives dignity and a need for respect. Such people do well where precision and standards are needed: in management, cooking, crafts, engineering, teaching and any work connected with fire or metal.

The difficulty is prickliness: the Moon in Krittika often tells the truth in a way that hurts the listener. She can be demanding of herself and others and touchy about criticism directed at her. A warm tone and a willingness to listen make her strength constructive.

Relationships

In relationships this Moon is caring, like the fire of the hearth, and protects those close to her. She values loyalty and cannot stand falseness. It is important for the partner to understand that sharpness often hides vulnerability, and for Krittika to remember that loved ones are not obliged to meet her high standards.

The four padas

• 1st pada (26°40′–30° Aries). Sagittarius navamsha: idealism, energy, an interest in knowledge and mentoring; a fiery character.
• 2nd pada (0°–3°20′ Taurus). Capricorn navamsha: the Moon's point of exaltation lies here; practicality, endurance, the ability to build for the long term.
• 3rd pada (3°20′–6°40′ Taurus). Aquarius navamsha: independent thinking, an interest in society, unconventional solutions.
• 4th pada (6°40′–10° Taurus). Pisces navamsha: gentleness, compassion, creative and spiritual sensitivity.

The first mahadasha

The Vimshottari dasha is counted from the Moon's nakshatra, so the life of a person with the Moon in Krittika begins with the mahadasha of the Sun, whose full term is 6 years. How much of it remains after birth depends on how much of the nakshatra the Moon has already passed: at the start of the nakshatra almost the whole term, near its end very little. Next comes the mahadasha of the Moon (10 years). The Sun period is short, and the child soon moves into the Moon mahadasha; in childhood the role of the father or elders is often noticeable.

How Krittika shows itself in the solar part of the chart is described on the page The Sun in Krittika. You can find out the pada of your Moon and the exact dates of the dashas by drawing up a birth chart online.