The 27 nakshatras explained
The nakshatras are the 27 lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. Each is 13 degrees 20 minutes wide and has four padas (quarters). Your birth nakshatra is the one the Moon was in when you were born, and its ruling planet starts your Vimshottari dasha.
How the nakshatras are laid out
The zodiac is 360 degrees, and 360 divided by 27 gives 13 degrees 20 minutes per nakshatra. Each nakshatra is divided into four padas of 3 degrees 20 minutes, which gives 108 padas in all. Because a sign is 30 degrees wide, it holds two nakshatras plus a quarter of a third (nine padas per sign).
The nine planets rule the nakshatras in a repeating order: Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury. Three nakshatras share each ruler.
The full list
| # | Nakshatra | Starts at (sidereal) | Ruling planet | Deity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Aries 0°00' | Ketu | Ashwini Kumaras |
| 2 | Bharani | Aries 13°20' | Venus | Yama |
| 3 | Krittika | Aries 26°40' | Sun | Agni |
| 4 | Rohini | Taurus 10°00' | Moon | Brahma (Prajapati) |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Taurus 23°20' | Mars | Soma |
| 6 | Ardra | Gemini 6°40' | Rahu | Rudra |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Gemini 20°00' | Jupiter | Aditi |
| 8 | Pushya | Cancer 3°20' | Saturn | Brihaspati |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Cancer 16°40' | Mercury | Nagas |
| 10 | Magha | Leo 0°00' | Ketu | Pitris (ancestors) |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Leo 13°20' | Venus | Bhaga |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Leo 26°40' | Sun | Aryaman |
| 13 | Hasta | Virgo 10°00' | Moon | Savitar |
| 14 | Chitra | Virgo 23°20' | Mars | Tvashtar (Vishvakarma) |
| 15 | Swati | Libra 6°40' | Rahu | Vayu |
| 16 | Vishakha | Libra 20°00' | Jupiter | Indra and Agni |
| 17 | Anuradha | Scorpio 3°20' | Saturn | Mitra |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | Scorpio 16°40' | Mercury | Indra |
| 19 | Mula | Sagittarius 0°00' | Ketu | Nirriti |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Sagittarius 13°20' | Venus | Apas (waters) |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Sagittarius 26°40' | Sun | Vishvedevas |
| 22 | Shravana | Capricorn 10°00' | Moon | Vishnu |
| 23 | Dhanishta | Capricorn 23°20' | Mars | Vasus |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Aquarius 6°40' | Rahu | Varuna |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Aquarius 20°00' | Jupiter | Aja Ekapada |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Pisces 3°20' | Saturn | Ahir Budhnya |
| 27 | Revati | Pisces 16°40' | Mercury | Pushan |
How to find yours
Your nakshatra depends on the Moon's position at birth. Enter your details in the nakshatra calculator to find your nakshatra, pada and ruling planet. If you do not know your birth time, it will tell you when two nakshatras are possible.
Frequently asked questions
How many nakshatras are there?
There are 27 in the standard system. Some texts add a 28th, Abhijit, for certain purposes, but charts normally use 27.
What is a pada?
A pada is one quarter of a nakshatra, 3 degrees 20 minutes wide. Each pada falls in one sign.
What is a janma nakshatra?
It is the nakshatra the Moon occupied at your birth, also called your birth star.
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