Magha

Magha (maghā) is the tenth nakshatra; its name means "gifts" and "might." It is lunar mansion No. 10, ruled by Ketu. Magha is connected with dignity, legacy, and reverence for ancestors — with lineage and its strength.

Place in the system

Magha occupies 120°00′–133°20′, at the start of Leo, and divides into four padas of 3°20′ each. In the Vimshottari system it is ruled by Ketu, and together with Ashwini and Mula it forms the trio of "Ketu" nakshatras.

Magha's start coincides with a gandanta junction at the transition from a water sign into a fire sign, so its first degrees are considered especially sensitive. As the first nakshatra of regal Leo, Magha sets a tone of dignity and continuity.

Practical meaning

By tradition Magha's symbol is a throne: a sign of power, status, and legacy. The Brihat Samhita (XV.8) assigns to this mansion people rich in gold and grain, mountain dwellers, those devoted to parents and ancestors, merchants, heroes, carnivorous beings, and women-haters; also granaries. This is a recurring theme of the mansion, not a portrait of any one person: classical lists describe tendencies, not fate.

By tradition this is a nakshatra of ancestral memory and continuity: it rests on those who came before, and it values tradition, hierarchy, and earned respect. Ketu as ruler adds a sense that real strength comes from the past — from roots, experience, and legacy. Its weak point is pride and attachment to status: when respect for the past turns into arrogance, Magha's strength turns against itself.

In daily practice

When the Moon moves through Magha, the day favors acting with dignity, honoring elders and tradition, attending to family matters, and recognizing merit. It is a good time for ceremonies and anything connected with respect and standing.

How favorable such a day is for you personally is refined by Tara Bala from your birth nakshatra. A day of Magha is an occasion to lean on experience and act so as not to be ashamed before those who came before. Sharp, impulsive moves are better postponed — Magha favors measured pace and respect for established order.