The 27 Nakshatras: Lunar Mansions, Padas, and Soul Blueprints in Jyotish

While zodiac signs (Rashis) divide the 360-degree sky into 12 broad 30-degree segments, Vedic Astrology (Jyotish) utilizes a much higher resolution celestial grid: the 27 Nakshatras (lunar constellations or lunar mansions).

The word Nakshatra is derived from Naksha (map) and Tara (star). Because the Moon takes approximately 27.3 days to orbit the Earth, it spends roughly one day traversing each of these 27 stellar zones.

---

The Structure of a Nakshatra: Degrees and Padas

Each of the 27 Nakshatras spans exactly 13 degrees and 20 minutes of the zodiac arc (360° ÷ 27 = 13° 20').

Furthermore, every Nakshatra is divided into 4 quarters called Padas (each measuring 3 degrees and 20 minutes):

• 1 Nakshatra = 4 Padas
• 9 Padas = 1 Rashi (Zodiac Sign = 30°)
• 108 Total Padas = Entire Zodiac (360°)

The 108 Nakshatra Padas correspond directly to the 108 beads on a traditional sacred Japa Mala, mapping cosmic acoustic frequencies to spiritual practice.

---

The Complete Roster of 27 Nakshatras

Each Nakshatra is governed by a specific Ruling Planet (Graha), a Presiding Deity, and a Symbolic Emblem:

#	Nakshatra Name	Span (Sign Degrees)	Ruling Graha	Presiding Deity	Symbolic Emblem
1	Ashwini	0°00' - 13°20' Aries	Ketu	Ashwini Kumaras	Horse's Head
2	Bharani	13°20' - 26°40' Aries	Venus	Yama (God of Dharma)	Yoni / Vessel
3	Krittika	26°40' Aries - 10°00' Taurus	Sun	Agni (God of Fire)	Razor / Flame
4	Rohini	10°00' - 23°20' Taurus	Moon	Brahma (The Creator)	Chariot / Ox Cart
5	Mrigashira	23°20' Tau - 6°40' Gem	Mars	Soma (Moon God)	Deer's Head
6	Ardra	6°40' - 20°00' Gemini	Rahu	Rudra (Storm Shiva)	Teardrop / Diamond
7	Punarvasu	20°00' Gem - 3°20' Can	Jupiter	Aditi (Cosmic Mother)	Bow & Quiver
8	Pushya	3°20' - 16°40' Cancer	Saturn	Brihaspati (Guru)	Cow's Udder / Lotus
9	Ashlesha	16°40' - 30°00' Cancer	Mercury	Nagas (Serpent Deities)	Coiled Serpent
10	Magha	0°00' - 13°20' Leo	Ketu	Pitrus (Ancestors)	Royal Throne
11	Purva Phalguni	13°20' - 26°40' Leo	Venus	Bhaga (God of Fortune)	Hammock / Couch
12	Uttara Phalguni	26°40' Leo - 10°00' Vir	Sun	Aryaman (Patronage)	Bed Posts
13	Hasta	10°00' - 23°20' Virgo	Moon	Savitar (Sun Deity)	Open Hand / Fist
14	Chitra	23°20' Vir - 6°40' Lib	Mars	Vishwakarma (Architect)	Bright Gem / Pearl
15	Swati	6°40' - 20°00' Libra	Rahu	Vayu (God of Wind)	Young Sprout / Coral
16	Vishakha	20°00' Lib - 3°20' Sco	Jupiter	Indra & Agni	Triumphal Arch
17	Anuradha	3°20' - 16°40' Scorpio	Saturn	Mitra (God of Friendship)	Lotus Flower
18	Jyeshta	16°40' - 30°00' Scorpio	Mercury	Indra (King of Deities)	Round Talisman / Earring
19	Mula	0°00' - 13°20' Sag	Ketu	Nirriti (Goddess of Roots)	Tied Bunch of Roots
20	Purva Ashadha	13°20' - 26°40' Sag	Venus	Apas (Water Deities)	Elephant's Tusk / Fan
21	Uttara Ashadha	26°40' Sag - 10°00' Cap	Sun	Vishvedevas (Universal)	Elephant Tusk / Small Bed
22	Shravana	10°00' - 23°20' Cap	Moon	Vishnu (The Preserver)	Three Footprints / Ear
23	Dhanishta	23°20' Cap - 6°40' Aqu	Mars	Eight Vasus (Abundance)	Drum / Flute
24	Shatabhisha	6°40' - 20°00' Aquarius	Rahu	Varuna (Cosmic Ocean)	Empty Circle / 100 Healers
25	Purva Bhadrapada	20°00' Aqu - 3°20' Pis	Jupiter	Aja Ekapada	Front of Funeral Cot
26	Uttara Bhadrapada	3°20' - 16°40' Pisces	Saturn	Ahirbudhnya (Deep Serpent)	Back of Funeral Cot
27	Revati	16°40' - 30°00' Pisces	Mercury	Pushan (Protector of Travelers)	Fish / Pair of Drumsticks

---

Why Your Birth Nakshatra Shapes Your Entire Life

1. Janma Nakshatra (Birth Constellation): The Nakshatra occupied by your Moon at the exact moment of birth is your Janma Nakshatra. It determines your instinctive emotional temperament, psychological archetypes, and subconscious motivations.

2. Dasha Sequence Trigger: The ruling planet of your Janma Nakshatra determines which Vimshottari Mahadasha you are born into! For example, being born with Moon in Pushya Nakshatra starts your life in a Saturn Mahadasha.

3. Nakshatra Compatibility (Tara Bala): In Kundli matching and Muhurta, the energetic distance between your Janma Nakshatra and a day's transit Nakshatra indicates whether that day brings smooth fortune (Sadhaka), wealth (Mitra), or demands caution (Vipat).

Discover your exact Janma Nakshatra and Pada by entering your birth details in AstroGnani!