The lunar mansions
A Nakshatra is one of 27 equal divisions of the zodiac, each 13 degrees 20 minutes wide. The word is usually translated as lunar mansion or birth star. The Moon takes about 27 days to circle the sky and spends about a day in each Nakshatra, so the astronomers of ancient India named a group of stars for each stop along its path.
Nakshatras are a distinctive feature of Vedic astrology. Western astrology divides the zodiac into twelve signs only. Vedic astrology adds this finer layer, so two people with the same Moon sign can have different Nakshatras and different descriptions. Your birth Nakshatra is the one the Moon occupied at birth.
Padas
Each Nakshatra is divided into four equal quarters called padas, each 3 degrees 20 minutes wide. Twenty seven Nakshatras with four padas each give 108 padas, and nine padas fill exactly one sign. The pada decides a finer detail, the sign of the Navamsa chart, and in many families the first syllable of a baby name.
How to find your Nakshatra
You need the sidereal position of the Moon at birth. Enter your date, time and place of birth in a Vedic chart calculator, and it will list the Nakshatra and the pada. Because the Moon moves about 13 degrees a day, the exact time matters. Born at the very start or end of a Nakshatra, a few hours can change the result.
The ruling planets
Each Nakshatra has a ruling planet, and the rulers repeat in a fixed order of nine: Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury. The order runs three times through the 27. The ruler of your birth Nakshatra decides where you begin in the Vimshottari Dasha timeline.
The full list
| No. | Nakshatra | Span in the zodiac | Ruler | Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Aries 0 to 13 20 | Ketu | Horse head |
| 2 | Bharani | Aries 13 20 to 26 40 | Venus | Yoni |
| 3 | Krittika | Aries 26 40 to Taurus 10 | Sun | Razor or flame |
| 4 | Rohini | Taurus 10 to 23 20 | Moon | Chariot |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Taurus 23 20 to Gemini 6 40 | Mars | Deer head |
| 6 | Ardra | Gemini 6 40 to 20 | Rahu | Teardrop |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Gemini 20 to Cancer 3 20 | Jupiter | Quiver |
| 8 | Pushya | Cancer 3 20 to 16 40 | Saturn | Flower |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Cancer 16 40 to 30 | Mercury | Coiled serpent |
| 10 | Magha | Leo 0 to 13 20 | Ketu | Throne |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Leo 13 20 to 26 40 | Venus | Front of a bed |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Leo 26 40 to Virgo 10 | Sun | Back of a bed |
| 13 | Hasta | Virgo 10 to 23 20 | Moon | Hand |
| 14 | Chitra | Virgo 23 20 to Libra 6 40 | Mars | Jewel |
| 15 | Swati | Libra 6 40 to 20 | Rahu | Young shoot |
| 16 | Vishakha | Libra 20 to Scorpio 3 20 | Jupiter | Archway |
| 17 | Anuradha | Scorpio 3 20 to 16 40 | Saturn | Lotus |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | Scorpio 16 40 to 30 | Mercury | Earring |
| 19 | Moola | Sagittarius 0 to 13 20 | Ketu | Bunch of roots |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Sagittarius 13 20 to 26 40 | Venus | Fan |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Sagittarius 26 40 to Capricorn 10 | Sun | Elephant tusk |
| 22 | Shravana | Capricorn 10 to 23 20 | Moon | Ear |
| 23 | Dhanishtha | Capricorn 23 20 to Aquarius 6 40 | Mars | Drum |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Aquarius 6 40 to 20 | Rahu | Empty circle |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Aquarius 20 to Pisces 3 20 | Jupiter | Front of a funeral cot |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Pisces 3 20 to 16 40 | Saturn | Back of a funeral cot |
| 27 | Revati | Pisces 16 40 to 30 | Mercury | Fish |
Positions are given in degrees and minutes of the sidereal zodiac, so 13 20 means 13 degrees 20 minutes.
Three cycles of nine
Because the nine rulers repeat three times, Nakshatras that are nine places apart share a ruling planet. Ashwini, Magha and Moola are all ruled by Ketu. Bharani, Purva Phalguni and Purva Ashadha are all ruled by Venus. This repeating pattern is the same one that drives the Dasha timeline, and it is a quick way to remember the table above.
Deities and qualities
Each Nakshatra has a presiding deity, which gives it a story and a quality. Ashwini belongs to the twin physicians called the Ashwini Kumaras and is linked with healing and speed. Rohini belongs to Brahma, the creator, and is linked with growth and beauty. Pushya belongs to Brihaspati, the teacher of the gods, and is considered one of the most nourishing. Revati belongs to Pushan, the protector of travelers, and is linked with safe passage and completion.
Nakshatras are also sorted by nature, such as fixed, movable, sharp or soft, and by animal symbol and caste in matching systems. These details are used in Ashta Koota, the scoring method for marriage compatibility.
Using the Nakshatras
Vedic astrologers use the birth Nakshatra for several purposes. It is read for personality and emotional style in the same way as the Moon sign, but in more detail. It sets the starting point of the Dasha system. It is also used to choose auspicious days, where the Nakshatra of the day is checked as part of the Panchang, and to match couples.
Western readers can think of Nakshatras as a second, finer language for the Moon. A person with the Moon in Taurus, for example, may have it in Krittika, Rohini or Mrigashira, and each gives a different flavor.