27 Nakshatras in Vedic Astrology — Complete Guide to the Lunar Mansions

In the Vedic system of Jyotish, the sky is not divided merely into 12 signs — it is further partitioned into 27 Nakshatras, or lunar mansions. These are the oldest and most foundational units of Vedic astronomy. Long before the 12-sign zodiac was established, ancient Indian astronomers mapped the sky through the monthly journey of the Moon, observing which star cluster it occupied each night. The result was a system of 27 star groups, each spanning 13 degrees and 20 minutes of the zodiac, which together describe the complete celestial backdrop against which human life unfolds.

The word Nakshatra comes from the Sanskrit roots naksha (to approach, to map) and tra (to guard, to protect). Nakshatras are thus the guardians of the celestial path — the stars that mark the Moon's route through the heavens. Your Janma Nakshatra (birth Nakshatra) is the lunar mansion occupied by the Moon at the exact moment of your birth, and it is considered one of the most important factors in your Jyotish reading — often more revealing than your Sun sign or even your Ascendant for questions of character and emotional life.

Each Nakshatra has a ruling planet drawn from the Vimshottari Dasha system, a presiding deity, a symbol, a Gana (temperamental classification), a Nadi (one of three energy channels), and specific qualities that shape the personality, health tendencies, and life themes of anyone born under it. This guide covers all 27 Nakshatras in sequence, explains how to locate your Janma Nakshatra, and illuminates the deeper classification system that makes Nakshatra analysis so precise.

The 27 Nakshatras — Complete Reference Table

The 27 Nakshatras follow a fixed sequence beginning at 0° Aries and running through the entire zodiac to 30° Pisces. Below is the complete list with planetary ruler, primary symbol, Gana classification, and the compatible Rashi (sign) grouping.

Gana — The Three Temperamental Natures

Every Nakshatra belongs to one of three Ganas — fundamental temperamental groupings that describe a person's core nature and approach to the world. The three Ganas are Deva (divine), Manushya (human), and Rakshasa (demonic). These terms do not imply moral judgement — they describe energetic qualities, not character flaws.

Deva Gana — The Divine Nature

Deva Gana Nakshatras (Ashwini, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Shravana, Revati, and Uttara Bhadrapada) produce gentle, sattvic, spiritually inclined, and naturally cooperative temperaments. Deva Gana individuals tend to be peaceful, giving, and oriented toward dharma. They often find harmony in social and spiritual contexts. The classical texts describe Deva Gana as being "easy to live with" and naturally inclined toward righteous conduct.

Manushya Gana — The Human Nature

Manushya Gana Nakshatras (Bharani, Rohini, Ardra, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Vishakha, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha, and Purva Bhadrapada) represent the balanced, worldly, practical temperament. Manushya Gana individuals operate effectively in the material world — they have desires, pursue ambitions, experience pleasure and pain with full human intensity. Neither especially gentle nor especially fierce, they represent the full spectrum of human experience.

Rakshasa Gana — The Intense Nature

Rakshasa Gana Nakshatras (Krittika, Ashlesha, Magha, Chitra, Vishakha, Jyeshtha, Mula, Dhanishtha, and Shatabhisha) produce intense, passionate, willful, and sometimes unconventional personalities. Rakshasa Gana individuals are often powerful, self-determined, and fiercely independent. They can be brilliant and transformative — but also domineering or uncompromising. Their intensity is a strength when channeled well.

Nadi — The Three Energy Channels

Beyond Gana, each Nakshatra belongs to one of three Nadi classifications: Aadi (Vata/wind), Madhya (Pitta/fire), and Antya (Kapha/water). Nadi is the most heavily weighted factor in marriage matching, carrying 8 points — the maximum in the Ashta Koota system — because it governs biological and karmic compatibility at the deepest level.

The classical rule is strict: two people born in the same Nadi (e.g., both in Aadi Nakshatras) form a Nadi Dosha — a significant incompatibility that the tradition associates with health challenges, progeny difficulties, and relationship friction. The remedy approach and conditions for cancellation are discussed in our dedicated Nadi Dosha guide.

How to Find Your Janma Nakshatra

Your Janma Nakshatra is determined by the position of the Moon at your exact time of birth. The calculation proceeds as follows: determine the Moon's longitude in degrees (0–360°); divide by 13.333° (13°20'); the integer result (0–26) gives you the Nakshatra number in sequence from Ashwini. For example, if your Moon is at 47°30', divide by 13.333 to get 3.56 — the fourth Nakshatra (Rohini, since we count from 0).

In practice, this calculation requires an accurate birth time, as the Moon moves approximately 13 degrees per day. An error of even a few hours can shift the Moon from one Nakshatra to another, particularly near the cusp between two Nakshatras. Rekhai's birth chart calculator handles this automatically — enter your birth date, time, and place, and your Janma Nakshatra is identified precisely.

Once you know your Janma Nakshatra, you have a window into your innate emotional temperament, your relationship with the ruling planet, your Dasha sequence starting point, and the qualities that will resonate most naturally with your core nature throughout life.

Nakshatra Padas — The Quarter Divisions

Each of the 27 Nakshatras is further divided into 4 Padas (quarters) of 3°20' each. This gives a total of 108 Padas across the zodiac — the sacred number in both Vedic and Buddhist traditions. Each Pada corresponds to one sign of the zodiac in sequence, and to one letter of the Sanskrit alphabet used to name children born in that Pada. The Navamsha chart — the most important divisional chart in Jyotish — maps directly to these 108 Padas, linking Nakshatra analysis to deeper chart interpretation.