Citrā—The Dazzling Jewel

त्वष्टा॒ नक्ष॑त्रम॒भ्ये॑ति चि॒त्राम्। सु॒भंस॑सं युव॒तिं रोच॑मानाम्।
नि॒वे॒शय॑न्न॒मृता॒न्मर्त्यां॑श्च। रू॒पाणि॑ पिंशन् भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा̍।
तन्न॒स्त्वष्टा॒ तदु॑ चि॒त्रा विच॑ष्टाम्। तन्नक्ष॑त्रं भूरि॒दा अ॑स्तु॒ मह्यम्̍।
तन्नः॑ प्र॒जां वी॒रव॑तीं सनोतु। गोभि॑र्नो॒ अश्वै॒स्सम॑नक्तु यज्ञम् ॥ १२ ॥

tvaṣṭā nakṣatram abhyeti citrām |
subhaṃsasaṃ yuvatiṃ rocamānām |
niveśayann amṛtān martyāṃś ca |
rūpāṇi piṃśan bhuvanāni viśvā |
tan nas tvaṣṭā tad u citrā vicaṣṭām |
tan nakṣatraṃ bhūr idā astu mahyam |
tan naḥ prajāṃ vīravatīṃ sanotu |
gobhir no aśvais samanaktu yajñam || 12 ||

“Tvaṣṭṛ comes to the Citrā, the young and beautiful lady, shining!
Introducing Immortals and Mortals [into manifestation],
decorating all the worlds with beautiful forms!
That Tvaṣṭṛ should manifest for us,
That indeed Citrā should (reveal)!
That [rising] Nakṣatra now must be for me!
That should grant us the offspring full of valor,
And thus, unite Knowledge and Power in our Sacrifice.”

The Star that Orders the Cosmos

As spring welcomes summer in the northern hemisphere and folks are enjoying bonfires in their backyards, one is greeted by the view of a sparkling, bluish-white bright star in the southeastern skies hugging the ecliptic. The star is Citrā appearing as a single luminous star, known as Spica (Alpha Virginis) in the IAU Star Catalogue.^[1] It is one of brightest stars visible in the night sky (apparent magnitude of .95) and is the brightest star in Virgo (Kanyā). Astronomically, Citrā is a whirling double/binary star, but interestingly, the two stars in this system are individually indistinguishable from a single point of light, even with a telescope. Perhaps Citrā is telling us there is more to this star than meets the eye.

The radiance coming from Citrā gives it an appearance of a shining jewel, which is also the pratimā (symbol) for this nakṣatra. The brilliance of this star is seen in its natives with the skills they inculcate and the charisma they emanate. They tend to sparkle in the world as a precious jewel or a pearl hardened by the shaping it endures.

Citrā’s proximity to the ecliptic makes it an undisputed yoga-tārā, or reference star, for this nakṣatra from time immemorial. Its brightness and location at the halfway point of the zodiac make it the perfect marker/reference star not only for locating Virgo in the night sky but also for ascertaining the entire modern zodiac’s starting position, i.e., 0 degree of Aries (which by itself has very faint stars).^[2] Citrā’s position is at 30° Virgo or 0° Libra. As we will see, the creation of forms and structure is an attribute of this nakṣatra reflecting this particular fact that the entire zodiac’s form is defined by Citrā’s arrow of light marking the otherwise undefined location of 0° Aries—a truly remarkable example of the underlying order of intelligence in creation.

In Greek and Roman Mythology, the constellation of Kanyā and this star are associated with Demeter (Ceres), the goddess of the harvest. The Roman mythological symbolism associated with the harvest, is also serendipitously interesting with agriculture being an act of creation and fundamental to existence. In fact, it is said that Citrā also helped discover the phenomenon of the precession of equinoxes^[3] when the Greek astronomer, mathematician, and geographer, Hipparchus realized that the alignment between the temple at Thebes and Spica had drifted off over a few thousand years.

In the Hindu calendar system, when the Moon is full near this star, it is known as the month of Caitrā, and Caitrā Pūrṇimā is the first full moon after the beginning of the Hindu new year. This generally happens in the month of March or April. The day of Caitrā Pūrṇimā is especially auspicious being Hanuman Jayanti (the star birthday of the beloved deity, Hanuman) and also a day for venerating Citrāgupta (the celestial accountant of Karma).^[4]

If You Build It, They Will Come

The deity associated with the nakṣatra, Citrā, is Tvaṣṭṛ in the Vedas and Viśvakarma in the later Pūraṇic times, as well as in the epic references. Known as the celestial architect of the universe, Tvaṣṭṛ’s stories in the Vedas and Brāhmaṇas (Vedic commentaries), show him as an engineer par excellence. He is credited with having designed—amongst other wonderous things—the chalice for the gods to hold soma (the elixir of immortality), the thunderbolt of Indra (king of the deities), the bow of Śiva, the discus of Viṣṇu, and the flying chariot of Arjuna. He is responsible for shaping the womb for the birth of babies and the bodies which incarnate. Hence, all structure and form, planning, creation, and skills are characteristics of this star derived from its deity. We find artists, artisans, engineers, craftsmen, architects, and the like associated with Citrā.

The reference to weapons designed by Tvaṣṭṛ gives martial qualities, and natives under this star can be associated with warlike efforts/industries, can be tough adversaries, and may be bold and haughty, especially in speech. This is especially emphasized when the graha (planet) Mars is involved.

Tvaṣṭṛ took on Indra in a conflict but did not help his situation by bungling his speech during the Somayajña (ritual) he initiated for creating a demon to vanquish Indra.^[5] This can lead to Citrā natives sometimes speaking before they think and being brash. Our first native definitely embodies Citrā’s sharp and direct speech.

The architect Tvaṣṭṛ/Viśvakarma is a diligent, arduous worker, perfecting his skills and exactitude and expressing himself through his creation to a point where his individual identity takes a back seat. This quality of Citrā is observed in the legend where Viśvakarma sacrifices his own life in the process of creating the universe.^[6]

Such is the reverence for skills and creativity, which this nakṣatra brings forth, that in the Ṛg Veda there is a story about the Ṛbhu brothers.^[7] Though ordinary mortal priests, they had extraordinary prowess in technology and ingenuity through which they gained the boon of being seated next to the gods at sacred rituals defying insurmountable odds. This represents the zenith that mortals can achieve when the light of this singular star activates key placements in the chart giving them the creative power revered as Māyā Śakti.^[8]

A Gem by Any Other Name

As a noun, Citra means “bright and clear, as well as variegated, visible, conspicuous, and distinguished.” Thus, the natives are often fascinating, colorful, and shine in their fields of endeavor. There is an exclusivity about them. As darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, these natives tend to prevail. Their clarity makes for balanced thinking and profundity. By the light, the manifold creation is born and therefore, this nakṣatra is associated with the power to manifest the huge variety and proliferation of the material world and to do so in an orderly way.

Citrā also means “picture,” from which one can draw in the idea of movies, photography, paintings, and beautiful vistas. Movie stars like Jennifer Aniston, Sophia Loren, Cary Grant, Geena Davis, George Harrison, Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, and Goldie Hawn have their Ascendant or its lord in Citrā. We find poets, playwrights, and essayists who paint a picture with their words. Emerson, W.B. Yeats, P.B. Shelley, T.S. Elliot, Oscar Wilde, and D.H. Lawrence are skilled writers with Citrā lagnas or lords. Media personalities and television anchors like Anderson Cooper, Barbara Walters, and Diane Sawyer belong to the Citrā club by similar placements.

The etymology of the deity names Tvaṣṭṛ and Viśvakarma brings up meanings like “doer, agency, chiseling, producing, splitting, heat, etc.,” reiterating creativity, innovation, and workmanship, but also warlike qualities. Other notable personalities where these themes of Citrā are well illustrated are Andrew Weil, Charles De Gaulle, Mohandas Gandhi, and Jimmy Carter—all with significant Citrā placements.

Citrā Shines as a Hardworking Princess

Princess Anne August 15, 1950 11:50 London, UK^[9]

Anne, Princess Royal, (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise) is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. She is currently 15th in the line of succession to the British throne. One of the lesser known names, nevertheless the hardest working of the Royals, she does round the clock engagements and is involved with over 300 charities, organizations, and military regiments in the UK, Commonwealth, and abroad. According to the Times, in 2017, she carried out 455 official appearances at events, dinners, and receptions in the UK, with an additional 85 engagements overseas. This action-oriented Citrā native has her Ascendant degree at 1 degree 52 minutes Libra, which is very close to Citrā’s yoga tārā at 0° 00’ Libra. This also makes her Lagna vargottama, thus adding a hidden strength to her chart.^[10] The Saturn aspect to Mars in her lagna/Ascendant confirms this hardworking personality.

Another distinct quality of Citrā natives is that even though they are in the public eye, they actually prefer their privacy and diligently work to shield it. The idea comes from the extension of the pratimā —precious jewels are stowed away in a safe place, away from the public eye. Princess Anne is no exception to this. She stays away from media attention as much as possible. However, public appearance is a duty for a royal and her high profile is also seen in her chart with most planets above the horizon and close to the midheaven.

Colorful and Picture Perfect

A gem is brilliant and elegant, and in the same way, Citrā natives are often well-dressed individuals. Princess Anne has been known for her sharp attire, especially in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The Princess Royal sports bold patterns and vibrant pops of color, outfits that remain enviable, even decades later. “Princess Anne is a true style icon and was all about sustainable fashion before the rest of us really knew what that meant,” says British Vogue editor, Edward Enninful. “She is timeless in her style, and she wears a tailored suit better than anyone else I can think of.”^[11]

Princess Anne has an exquisite Puṣkala Yoga, which supplements this Citrā characteristic. Mantreśvara, in Phaladi̅pikā, states that a person with Puṣkala Yoga will be bestowed with wealth, royal honor, fame; will have ornaments and tasteful garments to wear, be soft spoken, and generous.^[12]

Although the above description of Puṣkala Yoga fits perfectly for Anne, there is the notable exception of the “soft-spoken” attribute. She has been known to be a no-nonsense and focused individual and harkening back to Viṣvakarma’s hasty speech, has been known to “let one fly.” Vanity Fair puts it like this: “She has a reputation for having inherited her father’s famously sharp tongue and waspish wit, once famously telling photographers to ‘naff off’ when they got in her way.”^[13] The second lord of speech is fiery Mars, aspected by Saturn and both Jupiter and Mercury (significators of speech) are aspected and yuti (conjoined) with the malefic Saturn, respectively.

With her numerous honorary military appointments, she sometimes will appear in a military uniform—a rarity for women in the royal family. The military uniforms are an uncanny reminder of Citrā’s military connection.

Skill in Action

The skill of Citrā natives is enlivened in Princess Anne as an excellent equestrian—a rather exclusive sport. As the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, who nurtured her own lifelong love affair with horses, and Prince Philip, who excelled at polo, it’s not surprising that Anne became intimately acquainted with equines by toddlerhood. She started formal lessons and was competing by the age of 11. Anne is known to relish the thrill of competition in choreographed performances and show-jumping events, and has sportingly endured the rougher side of equestrianism as and when falls have left her with broken appendages.

Princess Anne: The Equestrian

Among her notable accomplishments are a gold medal in the 1971 European Championships in spite of recovering from an erupted ovarian cyst. She was the first British royal to be selected for the Olympic team for the Montreal Olympics of 1976 and even though she did not win a medal and had a fall, she completed the course even with a concussion. Her Daughter, Zara, completed that endeavor by winning a silver medal as an equestrian in the 2012 London Olympics.

If we examine Princess Anne’s chart in detail, her lagna is marred by two malefics, Saturn and Mars. The lagna lord, Venus, is with the cruel Sun in the tenth bhava. These malefic influences portend harm to the body, which we notice with her issues during the equestrian competitions. That the malefics are not particularly strong (except Sun, which has directional strength) help her bounce back. A Kesari Yoga (formed between a strong retrograde Jupiter and the Moon in angles to each other) highlights the ability to network, and Phaladi̅pikā states that such a person can be “a lion-like destroyer of enemies.”^[14] Anne prevailed in another terrifying incident when she thwarted a terrifying kidnapping attempt by a gunman who shot and injured two police officers, her chauffeur, and a journalist while trying to drag her from her car.

Citrā is known as the star of prosperity, and largesse is abounding in Princess Anne’s life. Her net worth is estimated to be around $30M. Among the prosperity combinations in her chart, the most powerful is the association of the fifth and ninth lords (the bhāvas of fortune and grace), Saturn and Mercury, sitting in the eleventh bhāva of easy money, gains and interestingly, titles. In addition, Sun and Venus also form a money yoga as the lords of the eleventh bhāva of gains and the lagna lord Venus. It is also interesting to note that the eighth bhāva themes of inheritance and other people’s money is also brought into the combination through the Venus rulership of the eighth bhāva in a Libra Ascendant.

The one thing that kept coming back to me while working on Princess Anne as a Citrā native is ‘where is the engineer hidden in her?’. Then I ran into this piece of an interview she did with Vanity Fair. It seems, had she not been a royal, she would have been an engineer. “The practicality of how things work, I think, was always interesting as far as I was concerned. But I think it was a little bit early in the sort of scheme of things to have gone down that route.” Instead, she has made a point of championing women in her role as patron of Women into Science and Engineering. “I’ve certainly enjoyed being part of trying to encourage more girls to look at engineering as a realistic career.”^[15]

On a first glance, it’s easy to miss the Citrā themes in Princess Anne, but when one looks closely at her chart and digs deeper into her life, the manifestation of the nakṣatra themes holds its promise and as illustrated, they come alive in the canvas of her life.

Citrā Shines as a Consummate Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio November 11, 1974 2:47 Los Angeles, CA USA^[16]

Leonardo DiCaprio became a household name across the globe when the movie, Titanic, hit the theaters in 1997. This teenage heartthrob has evolved into a serious Hollywood method actor, film producer, and environmentalist. A serious student of his art, he challenges himself by playing unconventional roles in biopics and period films. Until last year, his films have kept moviegoers lining up at the ticket kiosks, grossing $7.2 billion worldwide. He frequently makes the annual rankings of the world's highest-paid actors list. His net worth is estimated to be a whopping $260M.

From a chart perspective, Leonardo’s lagna lord, Mercury, is in Citrā nakṣatra, and his Moon is in Hasta.^[17] This combination enhances the skills and capabilities of a person, which we find in spades with DiCaprio’s talent and versatility as an actor. He never gets clichéd in a particular type of role or genre in his pictures.

A Titanic Force

Starting as a child with television commercials, he ascended quickly, and at 19 years old secured an Oscar nomination for a remarkable best supporting role in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Some of his other most memorable roles were in films Titanic, Catch Me If You Can, Blood Diamond, The Great Gatsby, and The Revenant (Oscar and Golden Globe winner as Best Actor). However, one of his most outstanding performances was his role as Howard Hughes in The Aviator. The character of Hughes, known for his creative genius, brought DiCaprio an Academy Award nomination and was a role that could be linked to a quintessential Citrā.

A remarkable coincidence for this actor has to do with his first name. Apparently, DiCaprio was named Leonardo because his pregnant mother was looking at a Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy when he first kicked. Leonardo DaVinci, with his engineering skills and creative genius, would remind one of Citrā.

The privacy of Citrā prevails with DiCaprio. In spite of his stardom, Leonardo is a private person and stays away from making waves. His lagna lord and most of the grahas are below the horizon, which is seen as a potential marker for this tendency. However, it’s hard to keep that charisma of his under wraps and he does need to connect to his multitudes of fans.

An Eye for Art and Beauty

Citrā, symbolized as an exquisite gem, may impel its natives toward being collectors of exclusive items. Leonardo epitomizes that well with his impressive collection of art estimated to be at around $10M. Some of the paintings are from notables like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Salvador Dali, and Pablo Picasso. But due to the impressive area of yogas in the second bhāva of net worth, DiCaprio could more than afford art from the greatest masters. The svarāśi (own constellation), Venus in the second bhāva, is with first and tenth lord Mercury, giving both Dhana Yogas (wealth yogas) and yogas for pre-eminence, all supported by the aspect of a strong Jupiter. The second bhāva is also the place where we see his brilliant blue eyes and incredibly handsome face that melts hearts everywhere, confirming yet more Citrā meanings.

In addition to the art, DiCaprio also has quite a collection of real estate. Some of the most expensive homes have an architectural flair and are designed by renowned architects. Citrā natives have an interest in architecture keyed by the deity, Viśvakarma. DiCaprio is in the process of transforming an island off the coast of Belize into a luxurious eco-resort. It is being designed by architect Jean-Michel Gathy who is known for designing luxury hotels around the world. This is likely attributable to the fourth lord, Jupiter, being strong and unafflicted.

Dedicated to Solving Serious Global Issues

Leonardo DiCaprio has been an active philanthropist and a huge advocate for environmental causes and climate change since he was very young. It’s a big passion for him. His foundation does extensive work globally and he not only donates generously, he speaks on the topic of environment, invests in vegan food companies, and has been making documentaries to raise awareness. This underscores the profundity of a Citrā native. Here is a case where the world might think of DiCaprio as a frivolous bachelor dating supermodels, however, behind that facade, we find an environmental activist who thinks, plans, and is working hard to save the planet.

We, thus, see the brilliance of Citra come forth with these notable lives. Princess Anne embodies its qualities as a primly dressed, skilled equestrian, who could have been an engineer given the circumstances. She is the royal family’s most reliable, hard-working member who would any day prioritize her commitments over attention grabbing headlines.

DiCaprio, on the other hand, personifies an artist, incessantly perfecting his skills, a connoisseur of architecture, and an art collector with exquisite taste. He is shaping the environmental movement with his resources, most essential for our existence.

So, when you are out in the summer nights, looking up at the heavens and this dazzling jewel-like star catches your gaze, I hope it serves as a reminder for the themes Citrā represents. By inference, it enables the appreciation of the natives that are born with significant placements in this star. Citrā, which helps sculpt the zodiac, and its natives (not all celebrities) are all around us chiseling away, finessing their skills, structuring, planning, and engineering the world in their unique way. What better representation of man’s creative impulse, his creative efforts manifesting in infinite forms and shapes, in his pursuit of getting close to his creator, than the story of Citrā?

Author: Rohit Khetarpal

A corporate executive by profession and an electrical engineer by education. Rohit was born and raised in a mid-size town of eastern India. He moved to the United States for his master’s degree and stayed back to become a naturalized citizen. A curious stargazer from childhood, this interest alchemized to studying Jyotiṣa. He has been studying under the tutelage of Penny Farrow since 2012. He lives in Nashua, New Hampshire with his wife and daughter.

Endnotes:

1. IAU WGSN (Working Group Star Names). 2016. "Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 1." International Astronomical Union. July. Accessed May 23, 2021. http://www.pas.rochester.edu/~emamajek/WGSN/WGSN_bulletin1.pdf. ↑

2. Zimmerman, Rose. 2020. "Pertaining to the Stars."The Cosmic Kaleidoscope Journal. https://vedicchart.com/cosmic-kaleidoscope-journal/pertaining-to-the-stars/. Accessed May 23, 2021. ↑

3. ibid. ↑

4. n.d. Chitra Purnima. Accessed May 23, 2021. https://www.prokerala.com/festivals/chitra-purnima.html#:~:text=The%20Chitra%20Purnima%20is%20a,the%20life%20of%20all%20individuals. ↑

5. Radhe. 2014. The Divine Forces of the Lunar Nakshatras: as Originally Portrayed in the Vedas. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform:13.3, page 139. ↑

6. n.d. Indian Divinity. Accessed May 23, 2021. https://www.webonautics.com/mythology/vishwakarma.html. ↑

7. Radhe. 2014. The Divine Forces of the Lunar Nakshatras: as Originally Portrayed in the Vedas. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Chapter 13.4 page 139 ↑

8. Wikimedia Foundation. n.d. Adi Parashakti. Accessed May 23, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adi_Parashakti. ↑

9. n.d. "Astrodatabank." astro.com. Accessed April 21, 2021. https://www.astro.com/adb-search. ↑

10. A vargottama lagna means the lagna is in the same rāśi in the natal chart and in the navaṁśa chart (9th divisional chart) ↑

11. Nicholl, Katie. 2020. "Princess Anne Opens Up About Her Lifetime as a Royal." Vanity Fair, May. https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/04/princess-anne-opens-up-about-her-lifetime-as-a-royal. Accessed May 23., 2021. ↑

12. Kapoor, Dr. G.S., translation/commentary/annotation. 2020. Phaladīpikā . New Delhi: Ranjan Publications: 6.20. ↑

13. Nicholl, Katie. 2020. "Princess Anne Opens Up About Her Lifetime as a Royal." Vanity Fair, May. https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/04/princess-anne-opens-up-about-her-lifetime-as-a-royal. Accessed May 23., 2021. ↑

14. ibid. ↑

15. https://www.newcivilengineer.com/archive/word-to-the-wise-princess-anne-opens-diversity-centre-12-02-2016/ ↑

16. n.d. "Astrodatabank." astro.com. Accessed April 21, 2021. https://www.astro.com/adb-search. ↑

17. Hasta Lucas Schroeder, Getting a Handle on Hasta. 2021. The Cosmic Kaleidoscope Journal. June 1, 2021. Accessed June 16, 2021.

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n.d. Chitra Purnima. Accessed May 23, 2021. https://www.prokerala.com/festivals/chitra-purnima.html#:~:text=The%20Chitra%20Purnima%20is%20a,the%20life%20of%20all%20individuals.

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Dr. G.S. Kapoor, translation/commentary/annotation. 2020. Phaladīpikā. New Delhi: Ranjan Publications.

Goldenberg, Suzanne. 2016. "How Leonardo DiCaprio Became One of the World's Top Climate Change Champions." theguardian.com. February 29. Accessed May 23, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/feb/29/how-leonardo-dicaprio-oscar-climate-change-campaigner.

IAU WGSN (Working Group Star Names). 2016. "Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 1." International Astronomical Union. July. Accessed May 23, 2021. http://www.pas.rochester.edu/~emamajek/WGSN/WGSN_bulletin1.pdf.

n.d. Indian Divinity. Accessed May 23, 2021. https://www.webonautics.com/mythology/vishwakarma.html.

n.d. Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Accessed May 23, 2021. https://www.leonardodicaprio.org/.

Nicholl, Katie. 2020. "Princess Anne Opens Up About Her Lifetime as a Royal." Vanity Fair, May.

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R. Santhhanam, translator/commentary/editing. 2018. Bṛhat Pārāśara Horā Śāstra . New Delhi: Ranjan Publications .

Radhe. 2014. The Divine Forces of the Lunar Nakshatras: as Originally Portrayed in the Vedas. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

n.d. "Who Really Collects Art: Pt II Leonardo DiCaprio." monalovesgustav.com. Accessed May 23, 2021. https://monalovesgustav.com/who-really-collects-art-pt-ii-leonardo-dicaprio/.

Wikimedia Foundation. n.d. Adi Parashakti. Accessed May 23, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adi_Parashakti.

—. n.d. "Wikipedia.com." Leonardo DiCaprio. Accessed May 23, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_DiCaprio#Filmography_and_awards.

Zimmerman, Rose. 2020. "Pertaining to the Stars." The Cosmic Kaleidoscope Journal. ↑