Shravana Nakshatra spans 10°00' to 23°20' Capricorn and is the 22nd of the 27 nakshatras. The Moon rules it, and Lord Vishnu is its presiding deity.
Its symbols are an ear and 3 footprints, and its shakti is Samhanana shakti, the power of connection. This is the nakshatra of listening. Knowledge here passes from one person to the next by word of mouth.
In this article
Quick Facts About Shravana Nakshatra
Range: 10°00' to 23°20' Capricorn
Ruling planet: Moon
Deity: Lord Vishnu
Symbol: An ear, 3 footprints
Shakti: Samhanana shakti, the power of connection
Yoni: Monkey (female)
Gana: Deva
Motivation: Artha (wealth and purpose)
Body parts: Ears
Nature: Chara (movable)
Sacred tree: Arka (Aak)
Not sure of your birth nakshatra? Our free Nakshatra Calculator shows it with the pada.
The Meaning of Shravana
Shravana comes from the root shru, to hear. The same root gives Shruti, the name for the Vedas, which means "that which is heard." For thousands of years the Vedas passed from teacher to student by ear alone.
The month of Shrawan takes its name from this nakshatra, since its full Moon falls near Shravana. Janai Purnima falls on that full Moon, when the sacred thread is changed and families tie the raksha bandhan.
The whole nakshatra lies in Capricorn, a sign of Saturn. With the Moon as ruler, this gives a careful and disciplined mind that plans for the long term.
Lord Vishnu and the 3 Steps
The 3 footprints recall Vishnu's Vamana avatar. The Vedic verse for Shravana says the same thing: Vishnu, who strides far, took 3 steps across heaven, earth and sky. The verse and its meaning are on our nakshatra mantras page.
The 8th canto of the Bhagavata Purana tells the story in full. Bali, king of the Asuras, had taken the 3 worlds. Vishnu came to him as Vamana, a young Brahmin boy, and asked for 3 steps of land.
Bali agreed. Vamana grew until he covered the earth and the sky in 2 steps, and Bali offered his own head for the third. Vishnu blessed him for this surrender and gave him the kingdom of Sutala.
Vamana's birth is tied to this nakshatra as well. The Bhagavata Purana (8.18.5) says he appeared on the 12th lunar day with the Moon in Shravana, during Abhijit muhurta. In Kerala, Onam falls on Thiruvonam, the local name of Shravana, in memory of Bali.
Bali's story is a lesson in humility. Shravana natives learn best when they come to a teacher with the same humble attitude.
The Ear and the Path of Listening
In the Bhagavata Purana (7.5.23), Prahlada lists 9 forms of devotion. The first is shravanam, hearing about the Lord, and the other 8 build on it.
Shravana natives often learn best by ear. They remember what they hear, pick up languages easily and notice small changes in a speaker's tone. Friends bring them problems because they listen without interrupting.
The same gift has a cost. Natives also hear gossip and criticism, and much of it stays in the mind long after the conversation ends. Choosing what to listen to protects their peace.
The Moon in the Sign of Saturn
The Moon rules Shravana, and Capricorn belongs to Saturn. The mind here is reserved and responsible. Natives show feeling through duty and practical care.
2 padas strengthen the Moon. In pada 2 it takes Taurus navamsa, its sign of exaltation, and in pada 4 it takes Cancer navamsa, its own sign.
Other planets change dignity here too. Mars is in its sign of exaltation throughout Shravana, and Jupiter is in its sign of debilitation. A Jupiter here needs a Neecha Bhanga check before it is judged.
A strong Moon means emotional stability. When a Shravana native is shaken by every opinion, the Moon needs support, and the remedies below help.
The first 53'20" of Shravana, from 10°00' to 10°53'20" Capricorn, also fall within Abhijit.
Personality Traits of Shravana Natives
Shravana natives are good listeners. They are polite and soft-spoken, and people trust them with private matters.
Learning lasts their whole life. Many keep studying long after school ends, through books, teachers and conversation with people older than themselves.
Capricorn makes them organized. They plan their goals step by step over many years, write things down and leave very little to chance or memory.
Reputation and family tradition matter to them. Many also enjoy travel and come home from each trip with new ideas picked up from the people they met.
The Shadow Side of Shravana
Shravana's shadow comes mostly from the ear and the mind.
Criticism hurts them. A single harsh remark can stay for days and replay in the mind, and a steady daily practice helps them let it go.
Worry comes next. The Moon in Saturn's sign can make natives think too much about what might go wrong.
Those who hear everything are also tempted to repeat it. Keeping confidences protects their good name.
Some natives hold rigidly to tradition or try too hard to please, in the hope of being accepted. Honest speech, said kindly, serves them well over time.
The 4 Padas of Shravana Nakshatra
All of Shravana lies in Capricorn. Its padas move through the navamsa signs Aries, Taurus, Gemini and Cancer.
Pada 1: 10°00' to 13°20' Capricorn (Aries Navamsa)
Mars rules this navamsa. Natives are ambitious and quick to act on what they hear. The opening 53'20" of this pada falls within Abhijit.
Pada 2: 13°20' to 16°40' Capricorn (Taurus Navamsa)
Venus is the navamsa lord. Natives are steady and good with money, and many enjoy music. A Moon here is exalted in the navamsa.
Pada 3: 16°40' to 20°00' Capricorn (Gemini Navamsa)
This is the most talkative pada, with Mercury as the navamsa lord. Natives do well with languages, teaching and media, and they enjoy long discussions.
Pada 4: 20°00' to 23°20' Capricorn (Cancer Navamsa)
The Moon rules both the nakshatra and this navamsa. Natives are caring and devotional, and the family often turns to them in a crisis.
Career Paths for Shravana Natives
Teaching comes first for many natives, as lecturers, tutors and trainers. Counselling and mentoring also use their gift for listening.
The ear links others to sound, through radio, podcasts, music and audio engineering. Natives of the 3rd pada often do well as translators, interpreters or journalists.
Customer service and human resources suit Shravana. So do religious scholarship and katha, where knowledge is shared by speaking to a listening audience. Library and archive work also fits.
Health Focus for Shravana Natives
The Brihat Samhita places Shravana at the ears, and Capricorn rules the knees in the Kalapurusha. The Moon governs the mind and the fluids of the body.
Protect hearing from loud noise, including long hours of loud music through earphones, and keep regular sleep. A quiet period each day rests the mind.
Any ongoing concern belongs with a qualified doctor. Astrology shows areas of care, and medical advice decides the treatment.
Marriage and Compatibility
Shravana natives are caring partners who value family and tradition. They want a spouse who talks openly and listens in return.
The female monkey yoni pairs with the male monkey of Purva Ashadha, which shows strong instinctive compatibility. The Moon also rules Rohini and Hasta, and partners from those nakshatras share emotional care.
The monkey is hostile to the sheep yoni of Krittika and Pushya, so those pairings need a careful look at both charts. Our guna milan guide explains how all 8 kootas are scored together.
Remedies for Shravana Nakshatra
When the Moon or other planets in Shravana bring difficulty, these practices help. The Moon is the mind itself, so remedy for this nakshatra works directly on it.
Mantras and Worship
Chant Om Somaya Namah or Om Chandraya Namah on Mondays. Worship Lord Vishnu with Om Namo Narayanaya or the Vishnu Sahasranama, especially on days when the Moon is in Shravana.
Listening as Practice
Hear scripture regularly. Attend katha, or listen to recitations of the Bhagavata Purana and the Ramayana. This turns the natural gift of Shravana toward what calms the mind.
Gemstones and Colours
A natural Pearl set in silver supports the Moon when the full chart confirms it. Its use depends on the Moon's role for your ascendant. White and silver suit this nakshatra, and our gemstone guide explains how to use a stone as a support for the mind.
Charity and Service
Donate rice, milk or white clothes on Mondays. Giving books to students and supporting people with hearing loss both suit a nakshatra of the ear.
Lifestyle Practices
Keep 10 minutes of silence each day. Avoid repeating gossip, and share worries with 1 trusted person.
Auspicious Activities for Shravana
Shravana is a Chara, or movable, nakshatra, so it favours actions that involve motion. Starting a long trip, buying a vehicle and beginning work on a garden all suit it.
It also supports the start of study. Beginning lessons with a teacher, learning a language or starting music training goes well under Shravana.
Working With Shravana in Your Chart
Look at your Moon, your ascendant and any planets between 10°00' and 23°20' Capricorn. A Moon here describes your mind directly, since the Moon also rules the nakshatra. Our article on the Moon in the 27 nakshatras adds more on this placement.
With the ascendant here, these traits describe your manner. The house holding Shravana shows where you learn by listening, and Moon periods in the Vimshottari dasha bring its themes forward.
A Mars or Jupiter here needs its dignity read first, since Mars is exalted in Capricorn and Jupiter is debilitated.
Summary
Shravana Nakshatra spans 10°00' to 23°20' Capricorn under the Moon, with Lord Vishnu as its deity. Its symbols, the ear and the 3 footprints, point to listening and humility. The Moon gains navamsa strength in padas 2 and 4.
Teaching, counselling, sound and media suit these natives, and compatibility is strongest with Purva Ashadha and the other Moon-ruled nakshatras. Watch for sensitivity to criticism and worry. A short period of silence each day is the simplest place to start.
A full chart shows how Shravana works with the rest of your placements. Our astrologers can read yours in a personal Vedic Astrology Consultation.
