The searching deer — curiosity, gentleness and the seeking mind.
| Ruling planet (dasha lord) | Mars |
| Presiding deity | Soma (the Moon / nectar of immortality) |
| Symbol | Deer's head |
| Gana (temperament) | Deva |
| Naming syllables (pada 1–4) | Ve, Vo, Ka, Ki |
| Position in zodiac | Nakshatra 5 of 27 |
Mrigashira means 'the deer's head'. Ruled by Soma, the lunar nectar, it carries the restless, gentle energy of a deer in search — forever seeking the sweet and the beautiful. Tradition associates this nakshatra with curiosity, a roving and inquisitive mind, sensitivity, a love of exploration and an eternal quest for something just beyond reach.
If a child is born under Mrigashira nakshatra, tradition suggests a name beginning with one of these syllables, chosen by the Moon's pada (quarter) at birth: Ve, Vo, Ka, Ki — one syllable for each of the four padas.