The Moon's 27 mansions
Nakshatras
The zodiac divided into 27 spans of 13°20' each, one for every day of the Moon's circuit.
Swati
186°40'00" – 200°00'00" · lord Rahu
- Symbol
- Coral
- Deity
- Vayu
- Lord
- Rahu
- Gana
- Deva (divine — gentle, cooperative)
- Yoni
- Buffalo
- Nadi
- Antya (kapha)
- Varna
- Kshatriya
- Element
- Fire
Swati is the independent nakshatra — a single blade of grass moving in wind, Vayu for a deity, Rahu for a lord. It gives self-reliance, adaptability and a strong dislike of being controlled. Trade and negotiation belong here because both reward flexibility. The lesson of Swati is balance: it bends easily, which is a strength until there is nothing it will not bend for.
Strengths
Independence, adaptability, diplomacy, and a real gift for trade.
Needs watching
Restlessness and irresolution; the wind blows both ways.
Suited work: Business and trading, diplomacy and law, transport and aviation, self-employment of every kind.
Gana, yoni and nadi are the three attributes used in marriage matching; the varna and tattva describe temperament and element. The reading below describes the nakshatra itself, not the whole chart — the Moon's nakshatra is the strongest single indicator of temperament, but it is one factor among many.