Vedic astrology
The 27 nakshatras
The nakshatras are 27 equal divisions of the sidereal zodiac, each 13°20′ wide. Your birth nakshatra is the one the Moon was in when you were born. Choose one to read about it.
| # | Nakshatra | Degrees (sidereal) | Lord | Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | 0°00′ Aries – 13°20′ Aries | Ketu | a horse’s head |
| 2 | Bharani | 13°20′ Aries – 26°40′ Aries | Venus | the yoni, the womb |
| 3 | Krittika | 26°40′ Aries – 10°00′ Taurus | Sun | a razor or a flame |
| 4 | Rohini | 10°00′ Taurus – 23°20′ Taurus | Moon | an ox cart or chariot |
| 5 | Mrigashira | 23°20′ Taurus – 6°40′ Gemini | Mars | a deer’s head |
| 6 | Ardra | 6°40′ Gemini – 20°00′ Gemini | Rahu | a teardrop or a diamond |
| 7 | Punarvasu | 20°00′ Gemini – 3°20′ Cancer | Jupiter | a quiver of arrows |
| 8 | Pushya | 3°20′ Cancer – 16°40′ Cancer | Saturn | a cow’s udder or a flower |
| 9 | Ashlesha | 16°40′ Cancer – 30°00′ Cancer | Mercury | a coiled serpent |
| 10 | Magha | 0°00′ Leo – 13°20′ Leo | Ketu | a royal throne |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | 13°20′ Leo – 26°40′ Leo | Venus | the front legs of a bed, or a hammock |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | 26°40′ Leo – 10°00′ Virgo | Sun | the back legs of a bed |
| 13 | Hasta | 10°00′ Virgo – 23°20′ Virgo | Moon | an open hand |
| 14 | Chitra | 23°20′ Virgo – 6°40′ Libra | Mars | a bright jewel or pearl |
| 15 | Swati | 6°40′ Libra – 20°00′ Libra | Rahu | a young shoot swaying in the wind |
| 16 | Vishakha | 20°00′ Libra – 3°20′ Scorpio | Jupiter | a triumphal arch decorated with leaves |
| 17 | Anuradha | 3°20′ Scorpio – 16°40′ Scorpio | Saturn | a lotus |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | 16°40′ Scorpio – 30°00′ Scorpio | Mercury | a circular amulet or an umbrella |
| 19 | Mula | 0°00′ Sagittarius – 13°20′ Sagittarius | Ketu | a bundle of roots |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | 13°20′ Sagittarius – 26°40′ Sagittarius | Venus | a winnowing fan or an elephant tusk |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | 26°40′ Sagittarius – 10°00′ Capricorn | Sun | an elephant tusk or the planks of a bed |
| 22 | Shravana | 10°00′ Capricorn – 23°20′ Capricorn | Moon | an ear, or three footprints |
| 23 | Dhanishta | 23°20′ Capricorn – 6°40′ Aquarius | Mars | a drum |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | 6°40′ Aquarius – 20°00′ Aquarius | Rahu | an empty circle |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | 20°00′ Aquarius – 3°20′ Pisces | Jupiter | a sword, or the front legs of a funeral cot |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | 3°20′ Pisces – 16°40′ Pisces | Saturn | the back legs of a funeral cot, or twins |
| 27 | Revati | 16°40′ Pisces – 30°00′ Pisces | Mercury | a fish, or a drum |
How to find your nakshatra
The Moon moves through a nakshatra in about a day, so you need your birth date and ideally your birth time and place. Enter them in Kapparo and switch to the Vedic view: it shows your Moon’s sidereal sign and nakshatra, and those of every planet.
Padas
Each nakshatra is split into four padas (quarters) of 3°20′. The padas follow the navamsa, the ninth-harmonic chart, so the four padas of one nakshatra take on the colour of four consecutive signs. Astrologers use them to fine-tune a reading.