Reference

The 27 Nakshatras: lunar mansions of Vedic astrology

Nakshatras are the oldest layer of Indian astronomy: 27 star groups along the Moon’s path. Your birth Nakshatra, the one the Moon occupied when you were born, shapes personality readings and sets the starting point of your Vimshottari dasha.

How your birth Nakshatra is found

Your local birth time is converted to Universal Time using the historical time-zone rules for your birthplace.
The Moon’s tropical longitude for that instant is computed with high-precision astronomical data.
The ayanamsa (Lahiri by default) is subtracted to give the sidereal longitude.
The sidereal longitude is divided by 13°20′. The whole number (plus one) gives the Nakshatra; the remainder gives the pada and how much of the Nakshatra the Moon has already crossed.

Example: a sidereal Moon at 47°10′ falls in Nakshatra 4 (Rohini, 40°00′–53°20′), 7°10′ into it, which is the 3rd pada (6°40′–10°00′ into the Nakshatra).

Padas: the four quarters

Each Nakshatra has four padas of 3°20′. Twenty-seven Nakshatras times four gives 108 padas, and 108 padas divided across twelve signs gives exactly nine per sign. The padas run through the signs in order: Ashwini pada 1 corresponds to the Aries navamsa, pada 2 to Taurus, and so on. Padas refine interpretation and are used in the traditional naming practice of choosing a first syllable linked to the birth pada.

All 27 Nakshatras

Spans are sidereal longitudes measured from 0° Aries (Mesha). Ruling planets follow the Vimshottari order Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, repeated three times. Symbols and deities follow the commonly cited classical attributions; some vary between sources.

The 27 Nakshatras with sidereal span, ruling planet (Vimshottari lord), presiding deity and symbol
#	Nakshatra	Sidereal longitude	Span within signs	Ruling planet	Deity	Symbol
1	Ashwini	0°00′–13°20′	0°00′ Aries – 13°20′ Aries	Ketu	Ashwini Kumaras	Horse's head
2	Bharani	13°20′–26°40′	13°20′ Aries – 26°40′ Aries	Venus	Yama	Yoni (womb)
3	Krittika	26°40′–40°00′	26°40′ Aries – 10°00′ Taurus	Sun	Agni	Razor or flame
4	Rohini	40°00′–53°20′	10°00′ Taurus – 23°20′ Taurus	Moon	Brahma (Prajapati)	Chariot or ox cart
5	Mrigashira	53°20′–66°40′	23°20′ Taurus – 6°40′ Gemini	Mars	Soma	Deer's head
6	Ardra	66°40′–80°00′	6°40′ Gemini – 20°00′ Gemini	Rahu	Rudra	Teardrop
7	Punarvasu	80°00′–93°20′	20°00′ Gemini – 3°20′ Cancer	Jupiter	Aditi	Quiver of arrows
8	Pushya	93°20′–106°40′	3°20′ Cancer – 16°40′ Cancer	Saturn	Brihaspati	Cow's udder or flower
9	Ashlesha	106°40′–120°00′	16°40′ Cancer – 30°00′ Cancer	Mercury	Nagas (serpent deities)	Coiled serpent
10	Magha	120°00′–133°20′	0°00′ Leo – 13°20′ Leo	Ketu	Pitris (ancestors)	Royal throne
11	Purva Phalguni	133°20′–146°40′	13°20′ Leo – 26°40′ Leo	Venus	Bhaga	Front legs of a bed
12	Uttara Phalguni	146°40′–160°00′	26°40′ Leo – 10°00′ Virgo	Sun	Aryaman	Back legs of a bed
13	Hasta	160°00′–173°20′	10°00′ Virgo – 23°20′ Virgo	Moon	Savitr (a solar deity)	Hand
14	Chitra	173°20′–186°40′	23°20′ Virgo – 6°40′ Libra	Mars	Tvashtar (Vishvakarma)	Bright jewel
15	Swati	186°40′–200°00′	6°40′ Libra – 20°00′ Libra	Rahu	Vayu	Young shoot swaying in the wind
16	Vishakha	200°00′–213°20′	20°00′ Libra – 3°20′ Scorpio	Jupiter	Indra and Agni	Triumphal archway
17	Anuradha	213°20′–226°40′	3°20′ Scorpio – 16°40′ Scorpio	Saturn	Mitra	Lotus
18	Jyeshtha	226°40′–240°00′	16°40′ Scorpio – 30°00′ Scorpio	Mercury	Indra	Circular amulet or earring
19	Mula	240°00′–253°20′	0°00′ Sagittarius – 13°20′ Sagittarius	Ketu	Nirriti	Bundle of roots
20	Purva Ashadha	253°20′–266°40′	13°20′ Sagittarius – 26°40′ Sagittarius	Venus	Apas (the waters)	Winnowing fan
21	Uttara Ashadha	266°40′–280°00′	26°40′ Sagittarius – 10°00′ Capricorn	Sun	Vishvadevas	Elephant's tusk
22	Shravana	280°00′–293°20′	10°00′ Capricorn – 23°20′ Capricorn	Moon	Vishnu	Ear or three footprints
23	Dhanishta	293°20′–306°40′	23°20′ Capricorn – 6°40′ Aquarius	Mars	The eight Vasus	Drum (mridanga)
24	Shatabhisha	306°40′–320°00′	6°40′ Aquarius – 20°00′ Aquarius	Rahu	Varuna	Empty circle
25	Purva Bhadrapada	320°00′–333°20′	20°00′ Aquarius – 3°20′ Pisces	Jupiter	Aja Ekapada	Front legs of a funeral cot
26	Uttara Bhadrapada	333°20′–346°40′	3°20′ Pisces – 16°40′ Pisces	Saturn	Ahir Budhnya	Back legs of a funeral cot
27	Revati	346°40′–360°00′	16°40′ Pisces – 30°00′ Pisces	Mercury	Pushan	Fish

Nakshatra lords and the Vimshottari dasha

The ruling planet of your birth Nakshatra is the lord of your first Mahadasha. If the Moon had crossed, say, 40% of the Nakshatra at birth, then 60% of that planet’s Mahadasha remained, and the rest of the sequence follows in the fixed order. This is why the Moon’s exact degree, and therefore your birth time, matters for dasha dates. Read more in our guide to Vedic astrology.

Nakshatra and Rashi together

Nine padas fit in each sign, so a Nakshatra can straddle two signs. Krittika, for example, begins in Aries and ends in Taurus. Your Moon’s Rashi and Nakshatra are read together: the Rashi gives the broad emotional temperament, the Nakshatra adds more specific imagery and nuance.

Find your birth Nakshatra and pada

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Frequently asked questions

How do I find my birth Nakshatra?

You need your date, exact time and place of birth. These give the Moon's sidereal longitude at birth, and the Nakshatra is the 13°20′ segment that longitude falls in. Your free Kundli on AstroVeda AI shows it with the pada.

Can my Nakshatra be wrong if my birth time is approximate?

It can. The Moon moves roughly half a degree an hour, so it takes about a day to cross one Nakshatra. If you were born near a boundary, an error of an hour or two can change the Nakshatra or the pada. Mark your time as approximate so the report flags this.

What is a Nakshatra pada?

Each Nakshatra is divided into four quarters called padas, each 3°20′ wide. The 108 padas map in sequence onto the navamsa signs, and the pada is traditionally used for finer interpretation and for choosing the starting syllable of a name.

Is there a 28th Nakshatra?

Some older lists include Abhijit, placed within the end of Uttara Ashadha and the start of Shravana. It is used in some muhurta (timing) work but is not part of the standard 27-Nakshatra scheme used for birth charts and Vimshottari dasha.