Each Nakshatra has a certain planet as its lord. Indeed, it is the lord of the Nakshatra in which the Moon at birth is placed which decides which is the first dasa of the life of the person. Therefore, these Nakshatralords are important.

It is interesting to see if we can find some connection between the lordships and the gunas. And indeed the connection is there.

It turns out that Ketu, the Moon and Jupiter are the lords of Nakshatras, which have Rajas at a tertiairy level. Venus, Mars and Saturn are the lords of the Nakshatras, which have Tamas at a tertiary level. Finally, the Sun, Rahu and Mercury are the lords of the Nakshatras, which have Sattva at a tertiary level.

Before we draw conclusions from this let us look at the secondary level.

Ketu, Venus and the Sun are the lords of Nakshatras which have Rajas at the secondary level
(this is the first group of nine Nakshatras).

The Moon, Mars and Rahu are the lords of Nakshatras which have Tamas at the secondary
level (this is the second group of nine Nakshatras).

Finally, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury are the lords of Nakshatras, which have Sattva at the
secondary level (the third group of nine Nakshatras).

This is interesting because it gives us information about the gunas of the planets. If we mention the secondary level first and the tertiary level, second we can make the following summary.

Ketu is Rajas- Rajas

Venus is Rajas-Tamas

Sun is Rajas-Sattva

Moon is Tamas-Rajas

Mars is Tamas-Tamas

Rahu is Tamas-Sattva

Jupiter is Sattva-Rajas

Saturn is Sattva-Tamas

Mercury is Sattva-Sattva

Now we can draw some interesting conclusions about the character of the planets.

I will give some examples of this.

Venus is a planet that has to do with love and lust. To get what we want we move into action (Rajas). The result of this action is that we are going deeper into material life (Tamas).

The Sun is a fiery planet (Rajas), however it represents the soul in the chart and has therefore Sattva characteristics.

Jupiter too is a fiery planet (Rajas), but again has Sattva characteristics because is the planet of the Guru and inner wisdom.

Saturn is a spiritual planet, because it is the planet of Sannyas (renouncing the world). Nevertheless, as we all know Saturn represents matter and therefore also Tamas.

Rahu has the same energies as Saturn only in a different order. It brings us deep into material life (Tamas). However, it only is doing this so we are able to outlive everything that this earth has to offer and then liberate ourselves (Sattva).

It may come as a surprise to some people that Mercury turns out to be the most spiritual planet. However, one thing that distinguishes us from animals, is our capacity to think and evaluate ourselves. Mercury as an airy planet can liberate us from this earth. It is not a planet of materiality (Tamas) and neither does it like hard work and action (Rajas). It thinks about Tamas and Rajas instead of going into it.

It is not my intention to give all the answers, but merely to give the reader a system and to represent a way of thinking, which the reader can easily apply himself. After these examples, it will probably not be too hard to meditate about the character of Ketu, Mars and the Moon.

CONCLUSION

In this paragraph I have mentioned the connection of the gunas to the Nakshatras. Out of this have emerged conclusions about the connection of the gunas to the planets. I am well aware that there are other systems, which give information about the gunas and the planets. However, this system has a thorough theoretical foundation, which cannot be said of every system. The basis of most systems is mainly what the author of a certain book ‘feels’ must be the connection of the gunas to the planets.

3. THE NAKSHATRAS AND THE FOUR AIMS OF LIFE

Life has four aims:

1. Dharma: doing what you are supposed to do. Fulfilling your soul in daily activities
2. Artha: generating income and wealth so you can provide shelter and food for your body.
3. Kama: going after your desires.
4. Moksha: liberating your soul.

Every Nakshatra represents an energy in which one aim is stressed. Therefore, by looking at which planets are in which Nakshatras we can find out which aims of life are stressed in the life of a person.

At first sight there seems to be a connection between these aims and the elements. It is easy to see a connection between fire and Dharma, earth and Artha, air and Kama and moskha and water. However there is another division of Nakshatras in tattvas (elements). This is a different division then the division in aims of life.

The way the Nakshatras are divided among the aims of life is interesting. At first, the order of the aims is the same as the order of the signs which represents the connected elements in the zodiac.

We all know that the first sign in the zodiac is Aries (fire), then Taurus (earth), Gemini (air) and Cancer (water).

Now the first Nakshatra Ashwini is a Dharma Nakshatra, the second Nakshatra Bharani is a Artha Nakshatra, the third Krittika is a Kama Nakshatra and the fourth Rohini is a Moksha Nakshatra.

Then however something different happens. The fifth Nakshatra Mrigashira is also a Moksha Nakshatra and from then, the order is going backwards. So the sixth Nakshatra Ardra is a Kama Nakshatra, the seventh Punarvasu is an Artha Nakshatra and the eighth Pushya a Dharma Nakshatra.

Now we have returned at the ‘first aim’ Dharma again. The ninth Nakshatra Ashlesha is still a Dharma Nakshatra. From then, we go onwards: the tenth Nakshatra Magha is Artha, the eleventh Purva Phalguni is Kama, the twelfth Uttara Phalguni is Moksha.

From then, the same thing happens as with Rohini. Again the next Nakshatra Hasta is a Moksha Nakshatra and from then, we go backwards: Chitra is Kama, Swati is Artha and Vishakha is Dharma.

As can be expected there follows another Dharma Nakshatra which is Anuradha, then we have an
Artha Nakshatra Jyeshta, a Kama Nakshatra Mula and a Moksha Nakshatra Purvashadha.

At this point, something happens which may surprise us. At first what happens is very much what
we would have expected. There comes another Moksha Nakshatra, which is Utturashadha, but
then we  seem to skip the Kama Nakshatra and go right to an Artha Nakshatra which is Shravana
and then we come to a Dharma Nakshatra which is Dhanista.

Of course, it is interesting to know why we skip the Kama Nakshatra. The answer seems to be that
in the past there used to be a system of 28 Nakshatras. The 28st Nakshatra is Abhijit. This Nakshatra  is located between Purvashadha and Shravana. It is the only Nakshatra of which the main star Vega is located far away from the ecliptic. That is also why it is hard to locate it on the ecliptic and probably one reason why it is skipped.

However, some fifteen thousand years ago Vega used to be the polestar. In the past, this Nakshatra
could be very important. The fact that the deity which belongs to this Nakshatra is Brahma, the creator, seems to underline this. Today, this Nakshatra is sometimes used for religious purposes,
but is not a standard part of the system.

However, let us go back to the order of Nakshatras. We have arrived at Dhanistha, which is a Dharma Nakshatra. Now we will find as expected another Dharma Nakshatra, which is Shatabhishak. Then comes an Artha Nakshatra Purva Bhadrapada, a Kama Nakshatra Uttara Bhadrapada and we end with a Moksha Nakshatra Revati.

It is interesting that we start the sequence of Nakshatras with the Nakshatra Ashwini which is a
Dharma Nakshatra (that has to do with finding our purpose in life) and end with a Moksha Nakshatra which is about spiritual liberation.

In the diagram of the Nakshatras, which you can see above (in the paragraph about the gunas), you will also find a column which gives information of which purpose of life belongs to which Nakshatra.

D = Dharma, A = Artha, K=Kama and M = Moksha.

There is something, which strikes me if I look at the table of the Nakshatras. The first Nakshatra Ashwini is Rajas-Rajas-Rajas and is a Dharma Nakshatra.

The Nakshatra Chitra is Tamas-Tamas-Tamas and is a Kama Nakshatra.

The last Nakshatra Revati is Sattva-Sattva-Sattva and is a Moksha Nakshatra.

Therefore, there seems to be a connection between Rajas and Dharma, Tamas and Kama and Sattva and Moksha. This connection is logical if you look at the characteristics of the gunas and the purposes of life.

4. OTHER CHARACTERESTICS OF THE NAKSHATRAS

The symbolism of the Nakshatras is rich indeed. In addition to a planet, deity, symbol, aim of life and guna each Nakshatra also corresponds with a certain animal, animal type, caste, sex, temperament, dosha, tattva (element) and even winddirection.

Deities, planets and symbols are mentioned in my booklet the Hindu lunar zodiac, aims of life and gunas in the above paragraphs. I will now give a quick overview of the sexes, temperaments and animals. When interpreting Nakshatras I sometimes make use of these.

There is no real orderly system like with aims of life and gunas when dividing the Nakshatras among the sexes, temperaments and animals.

SEXES

Male nakshatras are: Ashwini, Bharani, Pushya, Ashlesha, Magha, Uttara Phalguni, Swati, Jyeshta, Mula, Purvashadha, Uttarashadha, Shravana and Purva Bhadrapada.

Female Nakshatras are: Krittika, Rohini, Mrigashira, Ardra, Punarvasu, Purva Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Vishakha, Anuradha, Dhanistha, Shatabhishak, Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati.

Male Nakshatras are more active than female Nakshatras. It is notable that sometimes male Nakshatras are governed by female deities and the other way around.

TEMPERAMENTS

Deva (godly) nakshatras are Ashwini, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Revati.

Human nakshatras are Bharani, Rohini, Ardra, Shravana and all the Purva and Uttara Nakshatras.

Rakshaka (demon) nakshatras are Krittika, Ashlesha, Magha, Chitra, Vishakha, Jyestha, Mula, Dhanistha, Shatabhishak.

People who have many planets in demon Nakshatras maybe more harsh then those who have planets in the deva Nakshatras which are mostly soft.

However we have to keep in mind that devas are not necessarily good and demons are not necessarily bad. In fact they both have their role in creation to play and are equally important.

If there were no demons, it would be impossible to deal with our karmic problems. In that case, we would probably be playing harp all-day and enjoying the sunshine. Not much spiritual growth  would result out of that.

ANIMALS

There is a connection between certain animal species and the Nakshatras. This is something that can be interesting to know about. You can look in which Nakshatra you have your ascendant, Moon or Sun and look at the corresponding animals. You may choose one (or more) of these as your ‘totem animal’.

You can meditate on this animal. When you see it, you can look at its characteristics. You can read books about the way it lives. When you see a program about this animal do not miss it because by watching the program you will learn more about yourself. Personally, I think it is funny and revealing to learn about yourself just by watching a certain animal.

Here comes the list. First I mention an animal and after that the Nakshatras which according to Indian tradition correspond with this animal.

As with most connections at first the reason why a certain animal belongs to a certain Nakshatra may not be clear. However, the reason is always there. Rather than writing a long essay about what might be the reasons I would ask you to think about this yourself. There are several books in which you will find descriptions of the Nakshatras like my booklet the Hindu lunar zodiac.

With these descriptions at your proposal, it may not be too difficult to find out the rational for these
connections. If you feel it is difficult, just meditate on it. If things get tough, you can see it as a Zen koan.