Rohini — The Moon's Favourite Star
Of all 27 Nakshatras, Rohini (ரோகிணி) is said to be the Moon's favourite mansion — the star-house where the Moon feels most powerful, comfortable, and fertile. In Tamil and broader Indian mythology, the Moon is said to have 27 wives (the 27 Nakshatras) but to spend most of its time with Rohini, the most beautiful.
In modern astronomy, Rohini corresponds to Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) — the brilliant orange-red star that forms the "eye" of Taurus, the Bull. At just 65 light-years from Earth, Aldebaran is one of the closest giant stars to our solar system and one of the brightest in the night sky.
The Astronomy of Aldebaran
Aldebaran is a K-type orange giant — a star in the late phase of its life, having expanded enormously as it burns through its remaining fuel. Its diameter is approximately 44 times that of our Sun. If Aldebaran replaced the Sun at the centre of our solar system, its surface would extend nearly to the orbit of Mercury.
Despite its enormous size, Aldebaran is only about 65 light-years away — making it one of the nearest giant stars. Its orange-red colour comes from its surface temperature of about 3,900 Kelvin — cooler than our Sun's 5,778 Kelvin.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Western name | Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) |
| Distance | 65 light-years |
| Diameter | ~44× our Sun |
| Star type | K5 III orange giant |
| Apparent magnitude | 0.85 (14th brightest in sky) |
| Colour | Orange-red |
| Nakshatra position | 10°00′ – 23°20′ Taurus (sidereal) |
Rohini in the Panchangam
Rohini is considered the most auspicious Nakshatra for most activities — particularly marriages, starting new ventures, and planting crops. Its Moon-ruled quality is fertile, creative, and abundant. The deity is Brahma or Prajapati — the creator — reinforcing the themes of growth and new beginning.
In Tamil astrology, the Moon is considered exalted (highest strength) when in Taurus — the same sign containing Rohini. A person born with the Moon in Rohini is traditionally said to be blessed with beauty, creative ability, and material comfort.
Krishna's Birth Star
Lord Krishna is traditionally said to be born under Rohini Nakshatra — a claim that has fascinated both mythologists and astronomers. The Bhagavata Purana states Krishna was born at midnight on the Ashtami Tithi (8th waning moon) in the month of Sravana, with the Moon in Rohini. Astronomical back-calculation of this date to approximately 3228 BCE or the 4th–5th century BCE (scholars debate the date) places Rohini directly on the meridian at midnight — a celestial alignment that ancient Tamil and Indian astronomers apparently tracked with precision.
Finding Rohini in the night sky: Look for the V-shaped group of stars in Taurus called the Hyades. The brightest star at the tip of the V — the brilliant orange-red point — is Aldebaran (Rohini). It rises in the northeast in late autumn and is overhead in winter. It is one of the most beautiful naked-eye stars in all of Tamil sky-watching tradition.