The 27 Nakshatras

The nakshatra (NUHK-shuh-truh) system is one of the oldest and most distinctive features of Vedic astrology. While the 12 rashis divide the zodiac into 30° segments, the 27 nakshatras divide it into segments of 13°20’ each — a finer, star-based layer that adds precision, personality, and mythological depth to every planetary placement.

The word nakshatra derives from naksha (map) and tra (guard) — “that which guards the map of the sky.”

The 27 Nakshatras at a Glance

#	Nakshatra	Deity	Planetary Lord	Symbol	Core Quality
1	Ashwini	Ashwini Kumaras (divine physicians)	Ketu	Horse’s head	Healing, speed, initiation
2	Bharani	Yama (god of death)	Shukra (Venus)	Yoni (womb)	Restraint, transformation, bearing
3	Krittika	Agni (fire god)	Surya (Sun)	Razor / flame	Purification, sharpness, nurture
4	Rohini	Brahma (creator)	Chandra (Moon)	Ox cart	Fertility, growth, beauty
5	Mrigashira	Soma (moon god)	Mangal (Mars)	Deer’s head	Searching, curiosity, gentleness
6	Ardra	Rudra (storm god)	Rahu	Teardrop	Destruction for renewal, intensity
7	Punarvasu	Aditi (mother of gods)	Guru (Jupiter)	Quiver of arrows	Return, restoration, abundance
8	Pushya	Brihaspati (divine guru)	Shani (Saturn)	Cow’s udder	Nourishment, prosperity, dharma
9	Ashlesha	Nagas (serpent deities)	Budha (Mercury)	Coiled serpent	Clinging, mysticism, cunning
10	Magha	Pitris (ancestors)	Ketu	Throne	Authority, lineage, royal power
11	Purva Phalguni	Bhaga (god of fortune)	Shukra (Venus)	Front legs of a bed	Pleasure, creativity, relaxation
12	Uttara Phalguni	Aryaman (god of patronage)	Surya (Sun)	Back legs of a bed	Friendship, contracts, generosity
13	Hasta	Savitar (solar deity)	Chandra (Moon)	Open hand	Skill, craftsmanship, dexterity
14	Chitra	Vishvakarma (divine architect)	Mangal (Mars)	Bright jewel	Beauty, design, brilliance
15	Swati	Vayu (wind god)	Rahu	Shoot of a plant	Independence, flexibility, movement
16	Vishakha	Indra-Agni (dual deity)	Guru (Jupiter)	Triumphal arch	Determination, goal focus, intensity
17	Anuradha	Mitra (god of friendship)	Shani (Saturn)	Lotus	Devotion, friendship, organization
18	Jyeshtha	Indra (king of gods)	Budha (Mercury)	Earring / talisman	Seniority, protection, power
19	Mula	Nirriti (goddess of dissolution)	Ketu	Tied roots	Uprooting, investigation, foundation
20	Purva Ashadha	Apas (water deity)	Shukra (Venus)	Elephant tusk / fan	Invigoration, declaration, confidence
21	Uttara Ashadha	Vishvadevas (universal gods)	Surya (Sun)	Elephant tusk / plank	Final victory, endurance, integrity
22	Shravana	Vishnu (preserver)	Chandra (Moon)	Three footprints / ear	Listening, learning, connection
23	Dhanishtha	Vasus (elemental gods)	Mangal (Mars)	Drum	Wealth, rhythm, abundance
24	Shatabhisha	Varuna (god of cosmic waters)	Rahu	Empty circle	Healing, secrecy, mystical vision
25	Purva Bhadrapada	Aja Ekapada (one-footed goat)	Guru (Jupiter)	Sword / front of funeral cot	Intensity, penance, transformation
26	Uttara Bhadrapada	Ahir Budhnya (serpent of the deep)	Shani (Saturn)	Back of funeral cot	Depth, wisdom, spiritual restraint
27	Revati	Pushan (nourisher, guide)	Budha (Mercury)	Fish / drum	Safe passage, completion, compassion

Nakshatras and the Zodiac

Each rashi (30°) contains exactly 2.25 nakshatras (13°20’ each), creating a finer subdivision of the zodiac:

flowchart TD
    Z["Zodiac 360°"] --> R["12 Rashis × 30° each"]
    Z --> N["27 Nakshatras × 13°20' each"]
    R --> Fit["Each Rashi = 2.25 Nakshatras"]
    N --> Fit
    Fit --> Ex1["Mesha: Ashwini + Bharani + 1/4 Krittika"]
    Fit --> Ex2["Vrishabha: 3/4 Krittika + Rohini + 1/2 Mrigashira"]
    Fit --> Ex3["...and so on through Meena"]

The Vimshottari Dasha Cycle

The 27 nakshatras are grouped by their planetary lord, forming the 120-year Vimshottari Dasha sequence:

flowchart LR
    Ke["Ketu<br/>7 yrs"] --> Sh["Shukra<br/>20 yrs"]
    Sh --> Su["Surya<br/>6 yrs"]
    Su --> Ch["Chandra<br/>10 yrs"]
    Ch --> Ma["Mangal<br/>7 yrs"]
    Ma --> Ra["Rahu<br/>18 yrs"]
    Ra --> Gu["Guru<br/>16 yrs"]
    Gu --> Sa["Shani<br/>19 yrs"]
    Sa --> Bu["Budha<br/>17 yrs"]
    Bu -->|"Cycle repeats"| Ke

Janma Nakshatra: Your Birth Star

The single most important nakshatra in your chart is the one occupied by the Moon at birth — your Janma Nakshatra (JUHN-muh NUHK-shuh-truh). In traditional Vedic culture, a person’s Janma Nakshatra often mattered more than their Sun sign. It reveals:

Temperament and emotional orientation — the Moon’s nakshatra colors your inner world more intimately than the rashi alone.
Name selection — traditional naming conventions assign specific syllables to each nakshatra. Many Hindu names are chosen based on the child’s birth star.
Compatibility (Ashta Kuta) — nakshatra-based matching is the foundation of Vedic marriage compatibility analysis.

Nakshatras and the Dasha System

The planetary lord of your Janma Nakshatra determines the starting point of the Vimshottari Dasha system — the most widely used predictive timing framework in Vedic astrology. This 120-year cycle assigns periods to each of the nine grahas:

Ketu: 7 years · Shukra: 20 years · Surya: 6 years · Chandra: 10 years · Mangal: 7 years · Rahu: 18 years · Guru: 16 years · Shani: 19 years · Budha: 17 years

If your Moon falls in Pushya (lord: Shani), your dasha cycle begins with Shani’s period. The exact degree of the Moon within the nakshatra determines how much of that first dasha has already elapsed at birth. This single calculation anchors the entire predictive timeline of your life.

Beyond the Moon

While Janma Nakshatra gets the most attention, every graha occupies a nakshatra. The nakshatra placement of the Ascendant lord, the Sun, and the dasha lord at any given time all carry interpretive weight. Nakshatras add a layer of mythological texture and psychological nuance that rashis alone cannot provide — each one carries a story, a deity, and a specific kind of energy.

Vedtara calculates every graha’s nakshatra placement and uses these positions to determine your complete Vimshottari Dasha timeline, nakshatra-based compatibility scores, and the deeper personality signatures that only the 27-fold division reveals. Each nakshatra falls within one of the 12 Rashis, adding mythological and psychological texture to the sign it inhabits.

Next: Explore the 12 Bhavas (Houses) — the life domains where grahas and rashis manifest.