THE STAR OF FIRE

THE SHEEP –
The sheep tend to live for others – giving wool for warmth and meat for nourishment. This translates to Krittika being there for others. However dominant they may be, they always recognise the need to provide for others and are rarely ever conscious of their own uniqueness. Through service to other can they discover themselves. They have a strangely submissive excellence about them. They appear meek and mild-mannered, but can become suddenly destructive. The moon’s exaltation is connected to the mythology of both Shiva and Daksha. A powerful Moon signifying a strong mind can both build (Daksha) and Destroy (Shiva).

THE SWORD, THE KNIFE, THE RAZOR, THE AXE
Krittika by name connotes Kirti — a great achievement, monumental deeds that are famous; Kartan — to cut, divide, to trim; also its instrument, viz., sword, knife, razor, etc. These instruments or weapons can be used in both constructive as well destructive ways

THE FIRE GOD AGNI – THE STAR OF FIRE
Agni is a Hindu deity, one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire and the acceptor of sacrifices. The sacrifices made to Agni go to the deities because Agni is a messenger from and to the other gods. He is ever-young, because the fire is re-lit every day, and also immortal.
Agni, the Vedic god of fire, has two heads, one marks immortality and the other marks an unknown symbol of life. Agni has made the transition into the Hindu pantheon of gods, without losing his importance. With Varuna and Indra, he is one of the supreme gods in the Rigveda. The link between heaven and earth, the deities and the humans, he is associated with Vedic sacrifice, taking offerings to the other world in his fire. In Hinduism, his vehicle is the ram.
Agni is the representation of brightness and brilliance and all armaments with fire-power. Fire is considered as purifier for it burns away all that is foul, dark and dull, also all that is low and sinful and inauspicious in the world. After this process only effulgence and radiance remain. Fire gives the earth its action and makes it vibrant and revives it after spells of cold that periodically cause a washed-out condition on the earth.
Agni, god of fire acts as the divine model for the sacrificial priest. He is the messenger who carries the oblation from humans to the gods, bringing the gods to sacrifice, and interceding between gods and humans (RgV.1.26.3). When Agni is pleased, the gods are generous. Agni represents the cultivated, cooked and cultured aspects of Vedic ritual.

KARTTIKEYA, THE SON OF KRITTIKA–THE GOD OF WAR AND VICTORY
Murugan, also known as Kārttikeya – कातके यः (“son of Krittika”), Skanda (“attacker”) among other names, is both the youthful God of war and Victory. He is known by many other names, including Kārttikeya (meaning ‘son of Krittika’), Arumugam or Shanmukha (meaning ‘one with six faces’), Kumāra(meaning ‘child or son’), Skanda (meaning ‘that which is spilled or oozed, namely seed’ in Sanskrit. The Atharva Veda describes Kumaran as ‘Agnibhuh’ or son of Agni, the fire god. The Satapatha Brahmana refers to him as the son of Rudra and the ninth form of Agni.
The star cluster Krittikā, popularly transliterated “Krittika” sometimes known as Kārtikā, corresponds to the open star cluster Pleiades in Indian astronomy and Jyotisha (Indian astrology). The name literally translates to “the cutters”. According to Hindu mythology, the god Murugan was raised by the six sisters known as the Krittikā and thus came to be known as Kārtikeya (literally “Him of the Kārtikā”). According to the Mahābhārata, Murugan was born to Agni and Svāhā, after the latter impersonated six of the seven wives of the Saptari and made love to him. The Saptarshi, hearing of this incident and doubting their wives’ chastity, divorced them. These wives then became the Kttikā.

Agni is the symbol of brightness and brilliance and all weapons with fire-power. And other things of this same category come within the range of Krittika group. The fire is considered as purifier for it burns away all that is sordid, dark and dull, also all that is low and sinful and inauspicious in the world. The dross thus blazed away, only effulgence and light remain. Fire gives the earth its activity and dynamic and revives it after spells of cold that periodically inflict comatose condition on the earth.

It is easy enough to deduce from fire the causal effect of the Krittika group. Mangal is the lord of that part of Krittika which is in Mesa Rasi and Mangal is like a mass of lightning in shining splendor. So the Krittika in Mesha is devastatingly brilliant, the effulgence being closely associated with an incendiary character.

The Krittika of Mesha Rasi is doubtless brilliant, it has plenty of heat which burns. The Krittika of Vrshabha Rasi has on the contrary a softened radiance, a wave of brightness that does not hurt. The lord of Vrshabha Rasi is Sukra and Sukra stands for worship of beauty and for poetry and imagination. He is radiantly white like Snow, the ‘Kunda’ flower and the ‘Utpal’. He is also the encyclopedic instructor of all branches of learning. It follows that the Krittika of Vrshabha Rasi is brilliant but the luminosity does not burn. It is soft and sweet and benevolent.

Fire is too subtle to admit of dress.
Agni remains hidden in wood, plants and water [terrestrial or aerial] Born in the sky it descends in form of lightning and the Sun and is the source of energy. It is at the root of all creation and expression of speech. In mythology it is ‘Master of the House, Domestic god and head of the clan’. There are many names of Agni, each is used in inviting and worshipping Agni for particular function and occasion. Krittika, therefore, denotes capability to give a desired change in a form by burning out all the impurities of life or the wrongs and give birth to purity, morality and virtues.

Mythology describes Krittika as the foster mother of Kartik devata who is beautiful in appearance and an able commander in a battle. He is still worshipped in South India. The ideas of Krittika are related to the ideas of a commander, fighter, a foster mother, nurse or an adopted child;. Since the root power of every action is Agni, either action of the senses, or digestion, or the subsistence of life, it is first worshipped in all Pujas (divine service). For different actions (Karmas) the same Agni is worshipped by different names. Agni is conceived in three planes physical, mental and spiritual. Krittika in Mesa (Tamo Guna) represents physical creative force. Krittika in Vrshabha (Raja Guna) represents the function of Agni (creative faculty) in mental plane.

Krittika by name connotes Kirti — a great achievement, monumental deeds that are famous; Kartan — to cut, divide, to trim; also its instrument, viz., sword, knife, razor, etc. In Krittika the portion that is in Mesa has ideas of burning sensations or feelings. It may be the fire of the stomach, body or mind. This is due to the characteristic of Mesa and Mangala. But Krittika in Vrshabha speaks for luster and glow of power, full of warmth and feelings. This is due to ideas of Vrshabha and Sukra.

Krittika is also known as the “Star of Fire” and is related to a commander, fighter, foster mother, lustre, glow of power, physical and creative force. Krittika being a female nakshatra suggests passivity, indicating that Krittika needs outer energy or life circumstance to activate their power.

This is the third nakshatra of the zodiac, spanning 26°-40′ in Mesha to 10°-00′ in Vrishabha. Kritikka is considered the nakshatra where power is born. This is the birth star of Chandra. The passivity of this nakshatra represents their ability to nurture power. Mythology describes Krittika as the foster mother of Kartik devata who is beautiful in appearance and an able commander in a battle.

Krittika Nakshatra burns up negativity, purifies what is mixed, and cooks or prepares that which is not yet ripe.This nakshatra rules war, battles, and disputes. Planets in Krittika activate its passive energy. Krittika denotes capability to give a desired change in a form by burning out all the impurities of life or the wrongs and give birth to purity, morality and virtues.

People with this nakshatra have a cutting wit and can be sarcastic and critical. They are stubborn, aggressive and can be very angry. Those born under Krittika nakshatra have strained relations with relatives and friends. However, these persons are gluttons, fond of spicy foods, well-versed academically, fond of opposite sex, bright in appearance , misers, worried nature and of widespread fame.

Those born on a Krittika day are fiery and full of creative energy. They like to take on big projects and are highly ambitious and self-motivated. Vast learning, logical, doubting mind, creative ability, unsteady fortune, hot blood, enthusiastic, engineering brain and brave are their typical characteristics.

Ascendant in Krittika:
Dignified, proud, honourable, ambitious, skilful, wealthy, truthful, honest, strong apetite, wavering mind at times.

Moon in Krittika:
Brilliant appearance, well-known, peaceful nature, good advisor, strong in purpose, determined, intelligent, unstable mind, gifts in fine arts, moves away from birth place, combative nature at times. The moon in Krittika indicates a person who is sharp, penetrating, sarcastic and critical. They are proud, ambitious, determined and focused on achieving their goals. They can be crusaders against injustice, protective of others, persistent and stubborn, but also aggressive and The first 3`20” of Kirtikka falls in Aries, which brings in aspirations for radical changes in personal and social life. The remaining 10` of this constellation falls in Taurus giving gifts of fine arts, beauty, elegance and fashionable dress.

Sun in Krittika: 
Spiritual warrior, disciplined, leadership, power over the masses, issues with authority figures, need for seclusion, solitude, gift in music, dance and drama, angry temperament, destructive.

THE PUSHKAR PADAS IN KRITTIKA NAKSHATRAS 
Krittika Pada 1 = Dhanushya navamsha = Mesha26:40 to 30:00 = Pushkara pada
Krittika Pada 3 = Meena navamsha = Vrishaba 06.40 to 10.00 = Pushkar Pada
• 24 of the total 108 Nakshatra-quarters are considered “Pushyakaraka” = highly auspicious.
• Each rashi contains two Pushyakaraka Navamsha = ruled byChandra, Shukra, uchcha Budha, and Brihaspati.
• Of the 24 Pushyakaraka Navamsha, 3 are further strengthened via Vargottamsha
• Each Rashi contains a specific degree of “Pushyakaraka Bhaga” which is maximally auspicious.
• 1st and 3rd navamsha of water sign = jala rashi
• 3rd and 5th navamsha of earth sign = privthi rashi
• 6th and 8th navamsha of air sign = vayu rashi
• 7th and 9th navamsha of fire sign = tejas rashi

Krittika 1st and 4th padas fall Purhkar navamshas and these navamshas are considered highly auspicious.

Career Interests: 
As the “Star of Fire” and is related to a commander, fighter, foster mother, lustre, glow of power, physical and creative force. Others: Spiritual teachers, advisors, musicians, dancers, singers, modeling, fashion designers, military careers, building contractors. Krittika like to eat and cook — often their main role in socializing = chef de cuisine.

Related activities: 
Rash actions, accepting fire (Brahmin ritual), competing, hot discussions (debates), working with metals. Military general, shaping aggressive forces in battle. Uses words as cutting instruments. Surgical skill with cutting edges, razors, knives, lasers, fire, most forms of metal weaponry. Politics, Theatre, Intelligence, brilliance, charisma, genius, Center-stage roles, Gambling, Gamesmanship, Speculative Ventures, Courtly Admirers and Entitlements.

Health issues: 
neck ache, throat soreness, headaches, fever, malaria.

Shadowy side: 
Stubborness, aggressive nature, destructive tendencies, a passive-aggressive personality, illicit affairs and attraction to others’ mates. If negative conditions apply, error of rejection generates erfectionism, vindictive blaming of others (e.g., blaming the poor for poverty). Impatient and intolerant. A brilliant and successful liar, who insists that his actions are always praiseworthy.