The root — getting to the bottom of things, dissolution and truth.
| Ruling planet (dasha lord) | Ketu |
| Presiding deity | Nirriti / Prajapati (the root, dissolution) |
| Symbol | A tied bunch of roots / lion's tail |
| Gana (temperament) | Rakshasa |
| Naming syllables (pada 1–4) | Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi |
| Position in zodiac | Nakshatra 19 of 27 |
Mula means 'the root'. Ruled by Nirriti, goddess of dissolution, it is the nakshatra of digging down to foundations and tearing away illusion to reach the truth. Its bound-roots symbol speaks of investigation and radical change. Tradition associates Mula with a searching, philosophical mind, intensity, the courage to face hard truths and the power of profound transformation.
If a child is born under Mula nakshatra, tradition suggests a name beginning with one of these syllables, chosen by the Moon's pada (quarter) at birth: Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi — one syllable for each of the four padas.