Ardra nakshatra: degree range, padas and traditional context

Ardra occupies the equal sidereal sector from Gemini 6°40′ to before Gemini 20°00′. Ardra is traditionally associated with Rudra; tear and diamond imagery appear in its presentation.

A reference to a star group or symbol is not the mathematical definition of this sector. In this guide, the sector is defined by longitude. The birth-star label uses the Moon; another body can occupy the same sector without making it your Moon-based birth nakshatra.

Each pada spans 200 arcminutes, or 3°20′. Start points are included and end points are excluded.

Ardra ends at Gemini 20°. The exact ending point belongs to Punarvasu. A rounded “20° Gemini” display can conceal which side of that boundary the underlying longitude occupies.

Take an invented sidereal Moon longitude of 72°, equivalent to Gemini 12°00′. Its offset from the start of Ardra is 320 arcminutes.

floor(320 ÷ 200) + 1 = 2

The example is Ardra, pada 2. It is not a current ephemeris position or a personal reading. Reproduce it in the birth-star calculation notebook, keeping the same zodiac and offset convention.

The tear image can invite a question about emotional honesty, while the diamond image offers a different cultural emphasis. Neither permits a prediction of grief or disaster. If the symbolism feels unhelpful, stay with the coordinate reference and leave the metaphor aside.

Naming practices sometimes associate syllables with the pada. Consult the naming guide for the method and language caveats. For a personal chart, verify your birth inputs before comparing a label; precise-looking output cannot repair uncertain birth time or an unstated ayanamsa.