Guide
What Is a Nakshatra? The 27 Lunar Mansions Explained
A nakshatra is one of 27 lunar mansions in Vedic astrology, each covering 13 degrees and 20 minutes of the zodiac. Your birth nakshatra is the one the Moon occupied when you were born, and it colours your mind, temperament and life timing.
Why the Moon matters in Vedic astrology
Vedic astrology gives the Moon a central role. Your Moon sign and nakshatra describe your mind and emotional nature, and they start your planetary periods, called dashas. That is why Indian astrologers often ask for your nakshatra before your Sun sign.
How the 27 nakshatras work
The zodiac is divided into 27 equal parts, each with a name, a ruling planet and a symbol, starting with Ashwini and ending with Revati. Each nakshatra is further split into four quarters called padas of 3 degrees 20 minutes. The Moon takes about a day to cross one nakshatra.
- Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigashira, Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha
- Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshtha
- Mula, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati
How to find yours
Use the Moon's sidereal position at your birth. The Janam Kundli tool on SimplyAstro shows your nakshatra, pada and ruling planet together with your dasha balance at birth. You need your birth date, time and place.
What your nakshatra tells you
Each nakshatra has a character. Pushya is nourishing and dutiful, Ardra is intense and searching, Hasta is skilled with the hands, and Revati is gentle and protective. The ruling planet also sets the first dasha of your life: someone born in a Venus-ruled nakshatra begins life in a Venus period.
Nakshatras in everyday Indian life
Nakshatras are used to choose baby names by the first syllable of the pada, to match couples and to pick auspicious times for events. Modern readers use them mainly as a richer description of the Moon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the nakshatra the same as the zodiac sign?
No. Signs divide the zodiac into 12 parts of 30 degrees. Nakshatras divide it into 27 parts of about 13 degrees.
How many padas does a nakshatra have?
Four, each covering 3 degrees and 20 minutes.
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