Mulaमूल

Mula, the nineteenth nakshatra, opens Sagittarius at 0 degrees. Its name is the Sanskrit word for root, and the symbol is a bunch of roots tied together. Its stars lie in the tail of the Scorpion, and a number of writers connect them to the direction of the centre of our galaxy, a modern gloss on an old idea of reaching the origin of things.

The deity is Nirriti, the Vedic goddess of dissolution and misfortune, whom the early hymns ask to stay away. Later reading sees her as the force that clears what has decayed so that new growth can begin. Ketu is the planetary lord and the gana is Rakshasa. Along with Ashwini and Magha, Mula is ruled by Ketu in the Vimshottari system, so each of these three begins a new group of nine.

Mula is grouped as tikshna, or sharp, in muhurat lists, and tradition advises against it for gentle ceremonies such as housewarmings. In several regional customs a child born in Mula is given a propitiatory ritual called Mula shanti, a practice that is cultural and optional. Syllables commonly listed for the four padas are Ye, Yo, Bha and Bhi. Because the nakshatra marks the start of a sign, astrologers also read it together with the preceding gandanta of Jyeshtha.