Chandrashtama Meaning and Calculation
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Many Tamil and South Indian panchangs print a line every day that says which Moon signs have Chandrashtama (also written Chandrashtamam). If you have ever wondered what it means, how it is found, and whether you need to worry about it, this guide explains it simply.
What Chandrashtama means
The word joins Chandra (the Moon) and ashtama (eighth). Chandrashtama is the time when the transiting Moon is in the 8th sign from your birth Moon sign, your janma rasi.
In Vedic astrology the Moon stands for the mind, feelings and day-to-day comfort. The 8th house is the house of the hidden, the sudden and the unsettled. When the Moon passes through the 8th from its birth position, the mind is said to be less steady: people may feel more tired, sensitive or easily irritated, and plans can meet small hitches. That is why Muhurtha (choosing good times) avoids these days for new beginnings.
How to find your Chandrashtama
- Find your Moon sign (janma rasi) from your birth chart.
- Count eight signs forward from it, counting the Moon sign itself as 1.
- Whenever the Moon transits that sign, it is your Chandrashtama.
The 8th sign also contains a fixed set of nakshatras, so panchangs often list Chandrashtama by star: on the days the Moon is in these stars, Chandrashtama applies to you.
| Your Moon sign | Chandrashtama sign | Moon's stars during Chandrashtama |
|---|---|---|
| Aries (Mesha) | Scorpio | Vishakha 4, Anuradha, Jyeshtha |
| Taurus (Rishabha) | Sagittarius | Mula, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha 1 |
| Gemini (Mithuna) | Capricorn | Uttara Ashadha 2-4, Shravana, Dhanishta 1-2 |
| Cancer (Kataka) | Aquarius | Dhanishta 3-4, Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada 1-3 |
| Leo (Simha) | Pisces | Purva Bhadrapada 4, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati |
| Virgo (Kanya) | Aries | Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika 1 |
| Libra (Thula) | Taurus | Krittika 2-4, Rohini, Mrigashira 1-2 |
| Scorpio (Vrischika) | Gemini | Mrigashira 3-4, Ardra, Punarvasu 1-3 |
| Sagittarius (Dhanus) | Cancer | Punarvasu 4, Pushya, Ashlesha |
| Capricorn (Makara) | Leo | Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni 1 |
| Aquarius (Kumbha) | Virgo | Uttara Phalguni 2-4, Hasta, Chitra 1-2 |
| Pisces (Meena) | Libra | Chitra 3-4, Swati, Vishakha 1-3 |
The numbers after a star are its padas (quarters). For example "Vishakha 4" means only the last quarter of Vishakha, the part that falls in Scorpio.
A worked example
Suppose your Moon is in Leo. Counting Leo as 1: Virgo 2, Libra 3, Scorpio 4, Sagittarius 5, Capricorn 6, Aquarius 7, Pisces 8. So whenever the Moon moves through Pisces, from the last quarter of Purva Bhadrapada to the end of Revati, it is Chandrashtama for you.
How long it lasts and how often
The Moon completes a round of the zodiac in about 27.3 days and stays roughly 2 and a quarter days in each sign. So Chandrashtama comes once a month and lasts a little over two days. The exact start and end times change every month; a panchang or an ephemeris gives them. If you are not sure whether your chart uses the North or South Indian layout, North and South Indian Chart Styles shows how to read the Moon's sign in both.
What to do (and not do) on Chandrashtama days
Traditional advice is practical rather than fearful:
- Avoid starting important new things: signing major agreements, launching a business, a house-warming, fixing a wedding date.
- Keep conversations calm. Misunderstandings come more easily, so postpone difficult discussions if you can.
- Do routine work, finish pending tasks, rest well and avoid unnecessary risk while travelling or driving.
- Spend some time in prayer or quiet reflection. Many families light a lamp, chant a favourite mantra or visit a temple; these are matters of faith and comfort.
If something important cannot be moved, go ahead with care. Chandrashtama is one factor among many and never cancels a good chart or honest effort.
Chandrashtama, Tara Bala and Chandra Bala
Chandrashtama is part of a wider idea called Chandra Bala, the strength of the transiting Moon counted from your Moon sign. The Moon is usually considered favourable in the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th and 11th signs from your Moon and unfavourable in the 8th, which is Chandrashtama. Muhurtha combines Chandra Bala with Tara Bala, the star-based count from your birth nakshatra; see Tara Bala Meaning and Calculation. A day that is good by the panchang, gives you a good tara and is free of Chandrashtama is a personally strong day.
Choosing a day also involves the panchang's other limbs, such as the tithi and the nithya yoga.
Chandrashtama is not Ashtama Sani
The two are often confused. Chandrashtama is the Moon's monthly two-day pass through your 8th sign. Ashtama Sani is Saturn's transit through the 8th sign from your Moon, which lasts about two and a half years and belongs with Sade Sati in the study of Saturn's transits; see Sade Sati Meaning and Phases. The Moon's transit passes in a couple of days and its effect is light.
Summary
Chandrashtama is the time when the transiting Moon is in the 8th sign from your birth Moon sign. It comes about once a month and lasts about 2.25 days. Find it by counting eight signs from your Moon sign, or use the star list above. Use it as a gentle planning guide: avoid launching important things, stay calm in conversations and carry on with ordinary life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Chandrashtama?
Chandrashtama is the period when the transiting Moon passes through the 8th sign counted from your birth Moon sign (janma rasi). Traditionally it is a time to avoid starting important new work.
How long does Chandrashtama last?
About two and a quarter days. The Moon takes roughly 27.3 days to go round the zodiac, so it spends about 2.25 days in each sign and Chandrashtama comes back about once a month.
How do I find my Chandrashtama sign?
Count eight signs from your Moon sign, counting the Moon sign itself as the first. For example, for a Leo Moon the 8th sign is Pisces, so whenever the Moon transits Pisces it is Chandrashtama for you.
Is Chandrashtama dangerous?
No. It is a caution period, not a prediction of harm. People traditionally avoid beginning major undertakings, keep conversations calm and postpone big decisions if they can. Daily life goes on as usual.
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