What is Nakshatra? (நட்சத்திரம்)

The 27 Lunar Mansions of the Hindu Zodiac

What is a Nakshatra?

A Nakshatra (நட்சத்திரம்) is one of the 27 equal divisions of the sidereal zodiac through which the Moon travels during one lunar month. The word means "star" in Sanskrit, and each Nakshatra is associated with one or more actual stars or asterisms visible in the night sky.

Since the Moon takes approximately 27.3 days to complete one orbit, it spends roughly one day in each Nakshatra. The Nakshatra occupied by the Moon at a given moment is called the Janma Nakshatra (birth star) when it occurs at the time of a person's birth, and it plays a central role in Tamil astrology, naming traditions, and muhurtham selection.

How Nakshatra is Calculated

The Moon's sidereal longitude (after applying Lahiri Ayanamsha) is divided into 27 segments of 13°20′ each. The Nakshatra number is floor(Moon longitude / 13.333°) + 1. Each Nakshatra is subdivided into 4 Padas (quarters) of 3°20′ each, giving 108 Padas in total — corresponding to the 108 beads of a Japa Mala.

All 27 Nakshatras

#	Sanskrit	Tamil	Ruler	Deity	Zodiac Span
1	Ashwini	அஸ்வினி	Ketu	Ashwini Kumaras	Aries 0°–13°20′
2	Bharani	பரணி	Venus	Yama	Aries 13°20′–26°40′
3	Krittika	கார்த்திகை	Sun	Agni	Aries 26°40′ – Taurus 10°
4	Rohini	ரோகிணி	Moon	Brahma	Taurus 10°–23°20′
5	Mrigashira	மிருகசீரிஷம்	Mars	Soma	Taurus 23°20′ – Gemini 6°40′
6	Ardra	திருவாதிரை	Rahu	Rudra	Gemini 6°40′–20°
7	Punarvasu	புனர்பூசம்	Jupiter	Aditi	Gemini 20° – Cancer 3°20′
8	Pushya	பூசம்	Saturn	Brihaspati	Cancer 3°20′–16°40′
9	Ashlesha	ஆயில்யம்	Mercury	Nagas	Cancer 16°40′–30°
10	Magha	மகம்	Ketu	Pitrs	Leo 0°–13°20′
11	Purva Phalguni	பூரம்	Venus	Bhaga	Leo 13°20′–26°40′
12	Uttara Phalguni	உத்திரம்	Sun	Aryaman	Leo 26°40′ – Virgo 10°
13	Hasta	அஸ்தம்	Moon	Savitar	Virgo 10°–23°20′
14	Chitra	சித்திரை	Mars	Vishwakarma	Virgo 23°20′ – Libra 6°40′
15	Swati	சுவாதி	Rahu	Vayu	Libra 6°40′–20°
16	Vishakha	விசாகம்	Jupiter	Indra-Agni	Libra 20° – Scorpio 3°20′
17	Anuradha	அனுஷம்	Saturn	Mitra	Scorpio 3°20′–16°40′
18	Jyeshtha	கேட்டை	Mercury	Indra	Scorpio 16°40′–30°
19	Moola	மூலம்	Ketu	Nirriti	Sagittarius 0°–13°20′
20	Purva Ashadha	பூராடம்	Venus	Apas	Sagittarius 13°20′–26°40′
21	Uttara Ashadha	உத்திராடம்	Sun	Vishwedevas	Sagittarius 26°40′ – Capricorn 10°
22	Shravana	திருவோணம்	Moon	Vishnu	Capricorn 10°–23°20′
23	Dhanishtha	அவிட்டம்	Mars	Ashta Vasus	Capricorn 23°20′ – Aquarius 6°40′
24	Shatabhisha	சதயம்	Rahu	Varuna	Aquarius 6°40′–20°
25	Purva Bhadrapada	பூரட்டாதி	Jupiter	Aja Ekapad	Aquarius 20° – Pisces 3°20′
26	Uttara Bhadrapada	உத்திரட்டாதி	Saturn	Ahir Budhnya	Pisces 3°20′–16°40′
27	Revati	ரேவதி	Mercury	Pushan	Pisces 16°40′–30°

Find Your Nakshatra: Nakshatra Calculator → · Chandrashtamam Calculator → · What is Chandrashtamam? →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nakshatra in Panchangam?

Nakshatra (நட்சத்திரம்) is the lunar mansion — one of the 27 segments of the sky through which the Moon travels. Each Nakshatra spans 13°20′ of the sidereal zodiac. The Moon spends approximately one day in each Nakshatra.

How many Nakshatras are there?

There are 27 Nakshatras in the standard system used in Panchangam. Some traditions include a 28th called Abhijit. Each Nakshatra is further divided into 4 Padas (quarters) of 3°20′ each.

What is Janma Nakshatra?

Janma Nakshatra is the Nakshatra occupied by the Moon at the time of your birth. It is one of the most important elements in Tamil astrology, determining your horoscope star sign, compatible Nakshatras for marriage, and auspicious periods like Chandrashtamam.

Why does Nakshatra matter for muhurtham?

Each Nakshatra has different qualities — some are highly auspicious (Rohini, Hasta, Anuradha) while others are inauspicious (Moola, Ashtami). For muhurtham selection, astrologers prefer days when the Moon occupies a favourable Nakshatra for the specific event.