The 27 Nakshatras: Lunar Mansions of Vedic Astrology
The nakshatras are among the oldest parts of Indian astronomy: they already appear in the Vedas. The Moon takes about 27.3 days to go round the zodiac, so the sky is divided into 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions), about one for each day of the Moon's journey. They remain at the heart of Vedic astrology.
How the nakshatras divide the sky
Each nakshatra covers 13°20′ of the zodiac and is split into four padas (quarters) of 3°20′. Nine padas make one sign (rashi), so every sign holds two and a quarter nakshatras.
Your birth nakshatra
Your janma nakshatra is the nakshatra the Moon was in when you were born. It is used for:
- Vimshottari Dasha: the nakshatra's ruling planet decides which planetary period you are born into, and how much of it is left.
- Naming: each pada has a traditional first syllable for a child's name.
- Kundli Milan: Tara, Yoni, Gana and Nadi, four of the eight kootas, are judged from the two partners' nakshatras.
- Muhurta: choosing auspicious days for important beginnings.
The 27 nakshatras
| # | Nakshatra | Ruling planet | Sign (rashi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Ketu | Mesha |
| 2 | Bharani | Venus | Mesha |
| 3 | Krittika | Sun | Mesha, Vrishabha |
| 4 | Rohini | Moon | Vrishabha |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Mars | Vrishabha, Mithuna |
| 6 | Ardra | Rahu | Mithuna |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Jupiter | Mithuna, Karka |
| 8 | Pushya | Saturn | Karka |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Mercury | Karka |
| 10 | Magha | Ketu | Simha |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Venus | Simha |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Sun | Simha, Kanya |
| 13 | Hasta | Moon | Kanya |
| 14 | Chitra | Mars | Kanya, Tula |
| 15 | Swati | Rahu | Tula |
| 16 | Vishakha | Jupiter | Tula, Vrischika |
| 17 | Anuradha | Saturn | Vrischika |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | Mercury | Vrischika |
| 19 | Mula | Ketu | Dhanu |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Venus | Dhanu |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Sun | Dhanu, Makara |
| 22 | Shravana | Moon | Makara |
| 23 | Dhanishta | Mars | Makara, Kumbha |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Rahu | Kumbha |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Jupiter | Kumbha, Meena |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Saturn | Meena |
| 27 | Revati | Mercury | Meena |
The ruling planets repeat in a fixed order (Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury). That is also the order of the Vimshottari Dasha periods: 7, 20, 6, 10, 7, 18, 16, 19 and 17 years, 120 years in all.
Find your nakshatra
The Moon changes nakshatra about once a day, so finding yours needs the date, time and place of birth. Make your free Kundli to see your nakshatra and pada, or check compatibility with a partner's chart.