Introduction
Swati is the fifteenth of the 27 nakshatras. It lies entirely in Tula (Libra), from Libra 6°40′ to Libra 20°00′. Its Vimshottari lord is Rahu, whose mahadasha lasts 18 years. The Muhūrta-cintāmaṇi names its deity as Vayu, the wind. Its popular symbol is a young shoot swaying in the wind.
Your birth nakshatra is the one the Moon occupied when you were born. It sets your first mahadasha and the syllable for your name.
Temperament (as tradition sees it)
With the wind as its deity, astrology associates Swati with movement, freedom and openness. A young shoot in the wind bends but does not break, so the symbol points to flexibility, adapting to circumstances and slowly making one's own place.
Its gana is Deva, which tradition links with a gentle, cooperative temperament. Tula is seen as the sign of balance and fairness, so Swati is also linked with courtesy and diplomacy. Rahu is a shadow point, a node of the Moon; tradition links it with seeking new and different paths.
All of this is only a leaning. The whole chart, the lagna, the planets and the dasha are read together.
Strengths and things to keep in mind
Strengths: tradition links this nakshatra with flexibility, a gentle way of putting things, eagerness to learn and self-reliance.
Things to keep in mind: when many paths seem open, decisions can sometimes take a while. Taking up many things at once can scatter energy. Choosing one goal at a time and finishing it is a simple balance. How far any of this applies is for the whole chart to say.
Work and interests
Tradition connects Swati with work that involves conversation, movement and room to work independently. Trade, travel-related work, communication and media, mediation and agreements, or one's own independent work are often named as interests. These are themes, not one fixed job; the 10th house, its lord and the dasha are also read.
Relationships
In relationships, tradition links Swati with friendship, respect and valuing one's own space. Such people are thought to be friendly and to want openness in a relationship. Saying one's needs clearly, such as a little time alone, helps a partner understand.
In kundli matching, gana, yoni and nadi come from the birth nakshatra, but a match is understood from the whole picture.
Faith
The deity of Swati is Vayu, associated with the breath of life. Tradition sees sitting quietly in the open air for a few moments in the morning and taking his name as a simple practice.
ॐ वायवे नमः
(Nakshatra deity: Muhūrta-cintāmaṇi, Nakshatra-prakaraṇa 1; the name-mantra is in traditional use)
Daan (folk belief, optional): plant a sapling or give one as a gift, and look after it.
Name syllables
By tradition each pada of a nakshatra has a syllable, and a name is often begun with it. The syllables of Swati are:
- Pada 1: रू
- Pada 2: रे
- Pada 3: रो
- Pada 4: ता
The pada depends on the exact position of the Moon at birth, so check the pada as well as the nakshatra. Use the name-letter calculator to see your own syllable.
To see the whole picture, make your free kundli.