The Moon in Punarvasu

The Moon in Punarvasu gives a benevolent, optimistic mind and a remarkable ability to recover. Even after losses the person returns to balance and to faith in the best.

About the nakshatra Punarvasu

• Position: 20°–30° Gemini; 0°–3°20′ Cancer (the 7th of the 27 nakshatras); for the Moon in the sign, see Moon in Gemini, Moon in Cancer.
• Ruler: Jupiter.
• Deity: Aditi, the mother of the gods, the goddess of infinity.
• Symbol: a quiver of arrows.
• Gana: deva (divine).
• Full description: the nakshatra Punarvasu.

Mind and emotions

The name of the nakshatra is translated as "return of the light" or "good again". Its deity Aditi is the boundless mother, and this Moon carries a motherly breadth and tolerance. The first three padas are in Gemini and the last one in Cancer, the Moon's own sign. Jupiter as the ruler inclines the mind towards philosophy, study and the search for meaning. Emotionally the person is content with little and does not like excess.

The myth of the return of the goddess Aditi and the birth of her sons, the Adityas, gives Punarvasu the motif of a second chance. The person tends to return to former places, people and pursuits, but at a new level, and it is often precisely the second attempt at the same undertaking that succeeds.

Strengths and difficulties

The strengths are optimism, generosity, sincerity and the ability to console. Such people teach and explain well and can unite people around a shared idea. Punarvasu supports teaching, writing, counselling, travel, hospitality and anything where people's hope needs to be restored.

The difficulty is inconstancy: the person may often change places, jobs and plans, each time starting "with a clean slate". Sometimes excessive trustfulness leads to disappointment. It helps to learn to keep what has been achieved and to solve problems rather than walk away from them.

Relationships

In relationships Punarvasu is warm and faithful and values friendship within the union. Shared views and simple domestic joy matter to her. She forgives easily, but under constant pressure she may simply leave in order to start again.

The four padas

• 1st pada (20°–23°20′ Gemini). Aries navamsha: activity, initiative, a wish to act on one's own principles.
• 2nd pada (23°20′–26°40′ Gemini). Taurus navamsha: practicality, a love of comfort and stability, the ability to accumulate.
• 3rd pada (26°40′–30° Gemini). Gemini navamsha: intellect, sociability, an interest in languages and communication.
• 4th pada (0°–3°20′ Cancer). Cancer navamsha, vargottama: maximum emotionality, care, attachment to home and family.

The first mahadasha

The first mahadasha for the Moon in Punarvasu is the period of Jupiter (16 years in full). The further the Moon has advanced through the nakshatra, the less of this period remains at birth. Then comes the 19-year mahadasha of Saturn. The Jupiter mahadasha in childhood and youth is often favourable for study and brings the support of mentors, provided Jupiter is not afflicted in the chart.

The solar version of this nakshatra is discussed on the page The Sun in Punarvasu. To see the pada of your Moon and the course of the mahadashas, draw up a birth chart on the site.