27 lunar mansions

What are Nakshatras?

The word Nakshatra comes from Sanskrit, roughly meaning “that which does not decay” — a reference to the fixed stars. Each Nakshatra spans 13 degrees and 20 minutes of the zodiac, and the Moon passes through all 27 in its roughly 27.3-day cycle.

Where the 12 zodiac signs give you a broad archetype, the 27 Nakshatras offer a much finer resolution. Two people with the Moon in the same sign can have very different Nakshatras — and therefore very different qualities, timing chapters, and compatibility profiles.

Why your birth Nakshatra matters

Your Moon’s Nakshatra at birth is arguably the most important single point in your Vedic chart. It determines:

• Your Dasha starting point — which planetary chapter you begin life in
• Your compatibility profile — classical matching is Nakshatra-based
• Your daily Tarabala — how the Moon’s current Nakshatra interacts with yours
• Your Pada personality — one of 108 distinct profiles

The 27 Nakshatras

Each Nakshatra has a ruling planet and a presiding deity from Vedic tradition. These associations come from classical texts and are standard across all schools of Vedic astrology.