The 27 Nakshatras

The zodiac in Vedic astrology is divided into 27 nakshatras, or lunar mansions, each 13°20′ wide. The Moon spends about a day in each one. The nakshatra the Moon occupied at your birth, your janma nakshatra, is one of the most important points in your chart.

Nakshatra list

#	Nakshatra	Ruler	Deity	Sign span
1	Ashwini	Ketu	Ashwini Kumaras	Aries
2	Bharani	Venus	Yama	Aries
3	Krittika	Sun	Agni	Aries – Taurus
4	Rohini	Moon	Brahma	Taurus
5	Mrigashira	Mars	Soma	Taurus – Gemini
6	Ardra	Rahu	Rudra	Gemini
7	Punarvasu	Jupiter	Aditi	Gemini – Cancer
8	Pushya	Saturn	Brihaspati	Cancer
9	Ashlesha	Mercury	Nagas	Cancer
10	Magha	Ketu	Pitris	Leo
11	Purva Phalguni	Venus	Bhaga	Leo
12	Uttara Phalguni	Sun	Aryaman	Leo – Virgo
13	Hasta	Moon	Savitar	Virgo
14	Chitra	Mars	Vishvakarma	Virgo – Libra
15	Swati	Rahu	Vayu	Libra
16	Vishakha	Jupiter	Indra-Agni	Libra – Scorpio
17	Anuradha	Saturn	Mitra	Scorpio
18	Jyeshtha	Mercury	Indra	Scorpio
19	Mula	Ketu	Nirriti	Sagittarius
20	Purva Ashadha	Venus	Apas	Sagittarius
21	Uttara Ashadha	Sun	Vishvadevas	Sagittarius – Capricorn
22	Shravana	Moon	Vishnu	Capricorn
23	Dhanishta	Mars	Vasus	Capricorn – Aquarius
24	Shatabhisha	Rahu	Varuna	Aquarius
25	Purva Bhadrapada	Jupiter	Aja Ekapada	Aquarius – Pisces
26	Uttara Bhadrapada	Saturn	Ahir Budhnya	Pisces
27	Revati	Mercury	Pushan	Pisces

Notice the rulers repeat in the same order of nine: Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury. That's the order of the Vimshottari dasha.

Why your nakshatra matters

• Dasha timing: the ruler of your birth nakshatra is the first Mahadasha of your life.
• Kundli matching: Tara, Yoni, Gana and Nadi, 21 of the 36 points, come from the two birth nakshatras. See Kundli matching explained.
• Naming: in many families the first syllable of a baby's name is chosen from the birth nakshatra's pada.
• Muhurat: each day's nakshatra in the Panchang helps choose auspicious dates.

Find yours

Generate a free Kundli to see your birth nakshatra and pada, and the nakshatra of every planet in your chart. Today's Moon nakshatra is always on the Panchang page.