What is a Nakshatra?
A nakshatra is one of 27 equal sectors of the ecliptic, each spanning 13°20′ (360° ÷ 27). The Moon passes through roughly one nakshatra each day, which is why they are also called lunar mansions. Each nakshatra is further divided into four quarters (padas) of 3°20′.
Because Vedic astrology is Moon-based, the nakshatra occupied by the Moon at birth — your janma nakshatra — is especially important. It sets the starting point of your Vimshottari dasha, suggests the first syllable for a baby's name, and is central to kundli matching. For example, a Moon at 209° is in Libra and in Vishakha nakshatra.
Nakshatras at a Glance
Every nakshatra has a ruling planet (which also decides the dasha sequence), a presiding deity, a span in the zodiac, a motivation (purushartha) and an animal symbol (yoni) used in compatibility matching.
| # | Nakshatra | Ruler | Deity | Span | Motivation | Animal (Yoni) |
|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Ketu | Ashwini Kumaras | Aries 0°–13°20′ | Dharma | Horse (male) |
| 2 | Bharani | Venus | Yama | Aries 13°20′–26°40′ | Artha | Elephant (male) |
| 3 | Krittika | Sun | Agni | Aries 26°40′ – Taurus 10° | Kama | Sheep (female) |
| 4 | Rohini | Moon | Brahma (Prajapati) | Taurus 10°–23°20′ | Moksha | Serpent (male) |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Mars | Soma | Taurus 23°20′ – Gemini 6°40′ | Moksha | Serpent (female) |
| 6 | Ardra | Rahu | Rudra | Gemini 6°40′–20° | Kama | Dog (female) |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Jupiter | Aditi | Gemini 20° – Cancer 3°20′ | Artha | Cat (female) |
| 8 | Pushya | Saturn | Brihaspati | Cancer 3°20′–16°40′ | Dharma | Sheep (male) |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Mercury | Nagas | Cancer 16°40′–30° | Dharma | Cat (male) |
| 10 | Magha | Ketu | Pitris | Leo 0°–13°20′ | Artha | Rat (male) |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Venus | Bhaga | Leo 13°20′–26°40′ | Kama | Rat (female) |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Sun | Aryaman | Leo 26°40′ – Virgo 10° | Moksha | Cow (male) |
| 13 | Hasta | Moon | Savitr | Virgo 10°–23°20′ | Moksha | Buffalo (female) |
| 14 | Chitra | Mars | Vishwakarma | Virgo 23°20′ – Libra 6°40′ | Kama | Tiger (female) |
| 15 | Swati | Rahu | Vayu | Libra 6°40′–20° | Artha | Buffalo (male) |
| 16 | Vishakha | Jupiter | Indra & Agni | Libra 20° – Scorpio 3°20′ | Dharma | Tiger (male) |
| 17 | Anuradha | Saturn | Mitra | Scorpio 3°20′–16°40′ | Dharma | Deer (female) |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | Mercury | Indra | Scorpio 16°40′–30° | Artha | Deer (male) |
| 19 | Mula | Ketu | Nirriti | Sagittarius 0°–13°20′ | Kama | Dog (male) |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Venus | Apas | Sagittarius 13°20′–26°40′ | Moksha | Monkey (male) |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Sun | Vishvedevas | Sagittarius 26°40′ – Capricorn 10° | Moksha | Mongoose (male) |
| 22 | Shravana | Moon | Vishnu | Capricorn 10°–23°20′ | Artha | Monkey (female) |
| 23 | Dhanishta | Mars | Vasus | Capricorn 23°20′ – Aquarius 6°40′ | Dharma | Lion (female) |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Rahu | Varuna | Aquarius 6°40′–20° | Dharma | Horse (female) |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Jupiter | Aja Ekapada | Aquarius 20° – Pisces 3°20′ | Artha | Lion (male) |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Saturn | Ahir Budhnya | Pisces 3°20′–16°40′ | Kama | Cow (female) |
| 27 | Revati | Mercury | Pushan | Pisces 16°40′–30° | Moksha | Elephant (female) |
Nakshatra Lords and the Dasha Sequence
The nine planets rule the 27 nakshatras in a repeating cycle of three: Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury. The same order is used by the Vimshottari dasha system, so the lord of your birth nakshatra decides which planetary period you were born into.
Find your birth starYour nakshatra, its pada and your dasha periods are all in your free Vedic horoscope.
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