A solar god of the Rig Veda, keeper of roads, travellers and herds, whom later lists count among the twelve Adityas. In Vedic astrology, he presides over Revati, the last of the 27 nakshatras, ruled by Mercury.

What does the name Pushan mean?

It comes from the Sanskrit root push, “to nourish, to make prosper”. Pushan is therefore the one who nourishes and makes things grow: he sees to it that herds, travellers and households lack nothing and arrive safely.

Which nakshatra does Pushan rule?

Revati, from 16°40′ to 30° sidereal Pisces, the 27th and last nakshatra, whose planetary ruler is Mercury. He gives it its gentleness, its sense of care and its talent as a guide, on the threshold of the passage to Ashwini.

Why is Pushan’s chariot drawn by goats?

The hymns say so without explaining it. One can read a trait of character in it: the goat is the animal of steep paths, sure of its footing where the horse hesitates, a mount made for a god of roads who goes everywhere and never loses the trail.

Yes, in the Vedic sense: he is one of the solar gods and, in later lists, one of the twelve Adityas. But above all he embodies the Sun that lights the road and makes things grow: the one who nourishes, protects travellers and finds what has been lost.

Nakshatra deity

Pushan: the keeper of the roads, deity of Revati

Pushan is a solar god of the Rig Veda, keeper of roads, travellers and herds; his name comes from the root push, “to nourish”. He presides over Revati, the 27th and last nakshatra, ruled by Mercury. He gives the art of guiding, of nourishing and of finding what has been lost, all the way to the end of the road.

Who is Pushan in the Vedas?

Pushan is one of the solar gods of the Rig Veda: not the dazzling Sun, but the one that lights up the road. His name comes from push, “to nourish, to make prosper”, and several hymns are devoted to him alone. Later lists count him among the twelve Adityas, the sons of Aditi, alongside Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman and Bhaga.

He knows every path. The hymns ask him to clear the wolf and the thief from the road, to bring back stray cattle, to lead the traveller safely home. He watches over herds, over roads and over every passage, those of the journey as well as those of life.

The myths and attributes of Pushan

A few traits make him recognisable among all the Vedic gods, and each one says something about the energy he gives:

The chariot drawn by goats: Pushan does not travel with horses, but with goats, the animal of steep paths. The same animal appears with Aja Ekapada, two nakshatras earlier.
The porridge: the Rig Veda calls him an eater of karambha, a cereal porridge, and tradition says he has no teeth. The god who feeds others is content with the simplest fare.
The goad: he carries the herdsman’s goad, to drive the herds and open the way.
The bride’s guide: in the wedding hymn of the Rig Veda, he is the one asked to lead the young bride by the hand to her new home.
The unveiling: the Isha Upanishad addresses a famous prayer to him: “The face of truth is hidden by a golden disc; remove it, O Pushan, so that the one who loves the truth may see it.”

Pushan, deity of Revati

Pushan presides over Revati, from 16°40′ to 30° sidereal Pisces, the last of the 27 nakshatras, ruled by Mercury. The choice is apt: at the end of the zodiac, a guide is needed to cross the passage to Ashwini and the next cycle. Pushan gives Revati its sense of the road, its gentleness and its generosity. People born under Revati often carry him without knowing it: they are the ones called on to welcome, to reassure, to show the way.

Mercury, ruler of the nakshatra, brings intelligence, speech and exchange. Together with Pushan, it draws the portrait of Revati: someone who knows where the road leads, can explain it simply and shares what they have. Where other nakshatras conquer or build, Revati accompanies.

How does Pushan show in your chart?

Pushan shows himself wherever an important point of your chart sits in Revati. Five placements make him speak loudly:

The Moon: a protective heart that wants everyone to arrive safely; life begins in the Mercury mahadasha.
The Ascendant: people ask you the way, newcomers are put in your care; you reassure through your gentleness.
Mercury: ruler of Revati, it sits in its own nakshatra despite its fall in Pisces; speech that guides through images rather than through argument.
Jupiter: in its own sign, it makes a generous teacher or companion on the road, who shares what they know without counting.
A planet in the last pada: from 26°40′ to 30° Pisces, it is vargottama and stands on the threshold of Ashwini; Pushan invites it to end well before beginning again.

How to honour Pushan?

Tradition keeps it simple, and nothing needs buying. Before setting off, pause for a moment on the threshold: think of the road, of the people you are going to meet, and ask inwardly to be well guided. It is the traveller’s prayer, the one the hymns addressed to Pushan.

The other gesture is to nourish: share a simple meal, feed an animal, help someone find their way. And if you love texts, slowly reread the verse of the Isha Upanishad quoted above: it makes Pushan the one who draws back the veil, so that what is true can be seen.

Is Pushan in your chart?

The nakshatra calculator gives the nakshatra and pada of your Moon, your Ascendant and each planet, with a link to the page of its deity. If Revati appears, Pushan accompanies that part of your chart; the pada shows in which sign of the D9 he expresses himself, from Sagittarius to Pisces.

To see everything on a single page, with the wheel, the nakshatras, the dashas and the karakas, open your Vedic birth chart.

Enter your date, time and place of birth: the site tells you whether Revati, the nakshatra of Pushan, lights up a part of your chart.

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