ARDRA

Ardra extends from 66° 40' to 80° 00' (6° 40'to 20° 00' Gemini). The asterism is affected by all three gunas; rajas is the primary attribute, tamas the secondary, and sattwa the tertiary. Its motivational impulse is kama, the passional nature of man. Within the overall influence of Mercury, ruler of Gemini, Rahu or the North Node of the Moon governs the asterism itself. Its four quarters are guided by Jupiter and Saturn. The presiding deity of the nakshatra is Rudra, the god of destruction.

It is interesting to note that the asterism's name, Ardra, means green, fresh, soft and moist, but it's rulership is assigned to the god of destruction and its planetary lordship is bestowed on Rahu, a karmic planet which generally precipitates much misfortune; even the lords of the four quarters, Jupiter and Saturn, mysteriously linked with occult training and renunciation. Thus this asterism destroys material reality and the soul's involvement in illusion which, however, becomes difficult to renounce. It is symbolized by a precious human head, both of which suggest the mind, which on the one hand imposes upon experiences its own version of "reality" while at the same time the mind may be the principle destroyer of illusion ignorance.

The nature of mind may best be expressed through the study of esoteric law, but on the materialistic side it expresses itself as conflict.