Hasta nakshatra
Hasta is the 13th nakshatra, spanning 10°00′–23°20′ of sidereal Virgo. Ruled by the Moon with Savitr, the Sun as inspirer, as its deity, its symbol is an open hand: a swift star of skill and craft.
Also known as: Hast, Hastha, Hastham, Atham, Hasta star
Hasta means ‘hand’. Its five stars, the small constellation Corvus, are seen as an open palm with five fingers. Its deity is Savitr, the Sun in its role as the one who stirs us to act. The nakshatra is associated with skill, dexterity, healing hands and craftsmanship.
Hasta is one of the swift (kshipra) nakshatras, favoured for trade, learning, medicine, travel and practical beginnings, and it appears on the classical lists for weddings and naming ceremonies. Ruled by the Moon, it begins life in the Moon’s ten-year dasha. In Kerala, the ten days of Onam begin on Atham, as Hasta is known there, in the month of Chingam.
Its padas give the name syllables Pu, Sha, Na and Tha. ‘Swift’ in muhurat language does not mean hasty; it marks stars under which actions take hold quickly and easily.