The 27 Nakshatras
Lunar Mansions of Jyotish

What Are Nakshatras?

The Nakshatras are 27 divisions of the zodiac, each spanning 13°20'. The Moon travels through all 27 Nakshatras in approximately 27.3 days — one Nakshatra per day. Each Nakshatra has a ruling planet (called its lord), a presiding deity, a symbol, and a set of qualities that profoundly color any planet placed within it.

While the 12 Rashis (zodiac signs) describe broad categories of energy, the 27 Nakshatras offer extraordinary precision. The difference between the Moon at 0° Aries (Ashwini) and the Moon at 13° Aries (Bharani) is immense — even though both are in the same sign.

The Moon Nakshatra — Janma Nakshatra

The Nakshatra your Moon occupies at birth is called your Janma Nakshatra (birth star). This is one of the most important placements in your entire chart. It determines your Vimshottari Dasha starting point, your compatibility in relationships (through Nakshatra matching), and much of the deeper quality of your emotional life.

The Nine Nakshatra Lords

Each Nakshatra is ruled by one of the nine Vedic planets, cycling in a fixed sequence: Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury — then back to Ketu. This sequence is the same order as the Vimshottari Dasha, which is why your Janma Nakshatra lord determines your starting Dasha.

All 27 Nakshatras at a Glance

• Ashwini (0°–13°20' Aries) — Ketu · Healing, speed, initiation
• Bharani (13°20'–26°40' Aries) — Venus · Transformation, creativity, intensity
• Krittika (26°40' Aries–10° Taurus) — Sun · Purification, sharpness, leadership
• Rohini (10°–23°20' Taurus) — Moon · Fertility, beauty, abundance
• Mrigashira (23°20' Taurus–6°40' Gemini) — Mars · Seeking, gentleness, curiosity
• Ardra (6°40'–20° Gemini) — Rahu · Storms, transformation, raw power
• Punarvasu (20° Gemini–3°20' Cancer) — Jupiter · Renewal, abundance, the return of light
• Pushya (3°20'–16°40' Cancer) — Saturn · Nourishment, divine grace, auspiciousness
• Ashlesha (16°40'–30° Cancer) — Mercury · Serpentine wisdom, occult power, penetration
• Magha (0°–13°20' Leo) — Ketu · Ancestors, royalty, authority of lineage
• Purva Phalguni (13°20'–26°40' Leo) — Venus · Pleasure, creativity, the joy of existence
• Uttara Phalguni (26°40' Leo–10° Virgo) — Sun · Patronage, earned prosperity, support
• Hasta (10°–23°20' Virgo) — Moon · Skilled hands, craftsmanship, manifestation
• Chitra (23°20' Virgo–6°40' Libra) — Mars · Artistry, brilliance, the desire to create
• Swati (6°40'–20° Libra) — Rahu · Independence, movement, flexibility
• Vishakha (20° Libra–3°20' Scorpio) — Jupiter · Focused ambition, the fire of purpose
• Anuradha (3°20'–16°40' Scorpio) — Saturn · Devoted friendship, loyalty across distance
• Jyeshtha (16°40'–30° Scorpio) — Mercury · The eldest, the protector, the burden of power
• Mula (0°–13°20' Sagittarius) — Ketu · The root, destruction that clears space for truth
• Purva Ashadha (13°20'–26°40' Sagittarius) — Venus · Invincibility, purification, early victory
• Uttara Ashadha (26°40' Sagittarius–10° Capricorn) — Sun · Enduring victory, moral authority
• Shravana (10°–23°20' Capricorn) — Moon · Listening, learning, wisdom through observation
• Dhanishtha (23°20' Capricorn–6°40' Aquarius) — Mars · Wealth, music, rhythmic movement
• Shatabhisha (6°40'–20° Aquarius) — Rahu · The healer of 100 stars, solitude, secrecy
• Purva Bhadrapada (20° Aquarius–3°20' Pisces) — Jupiter · Transformation, the bridge between worlds
• Uttara Bhadrapada (3°20'–16°40' Pisces) — Saturn · Deep wisdom, kundalini, the power of stillness
• Revati (16°40'–30° Pisces) — Mercury · The final nakshatra, safe harbor, the gentle guide home