Night sky filled with stars

Each nakshatra spans 13°20′ of the sidereal zodiac.

The 27 Nakshatras: A Guide to Lunar Mansions

How the zodiac's 27 lunar mansions shape personality, dasha timing and compatibility matching in Vedic astrology.

What Is a Nakshatra?

The zodiac is divided into 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions) of 13 degrees 20 minutes each. Your birth nakshatra is the one the Moon occupied at your moment of birth. It determines where your Vimshottari dasha sequence begins and plays a central role in matching (Ashta Koota).

The 27 Nakshatras

Each nakshatra has a ruling planet, a deity, an animal symbol and a quality (gana). Here is the complete sequence:

  1. Ashwini — Ketu. Healing, swift beginnings. Symbol: horse's head.
  2. Bharani — Venus. Transformation, cycles of birth and death. Symbol: yoni.
  3. Krittika — Sun. Power, purification, sharp focus. Symbol: razor.
  4. Rohini — Moon. Creativity, sensuality, growth. Symbol: chariot.
  5. Mrigashira — Mars. Curiosity, wandering, seeking. Symbol: deer's head.
  6. Ardra — Rahu. Storms, renewal, raw emotion. Symbol: teardrop.
  7. Punarvasu — Jupiter. Return, restoration, optimism. Symbol: quiver.
  8. Pushya — Saturn. Nourishment, community, structure. Symbol: flower.
  9. Ashlesha — Mercury. Cunning, intuition, serpent wisdom. Symbol: coiled serpent.
  10. Magha — Ketu. Ancestors, royalty, authority. Symbol: throne.
  11. Purva Phalguni — Venus. Pleasure, creativity, rest. Symbol: hammock.
  12. Uttara Phalguni — Sun. Patronage, social contract, duty. Symbol: bed.
  13. Hasta — Moon. Craftsmanship, skill, healing hands. Symbol: hand.
  14. Chitra — Mars. Beauty, artistry, bright light. Symbol: pearl.
  15. Swati — Rahu. Independence, flexibility, balance. Symbol: sword or coral.
  16. Vishakha — Jupiter. Goal-oriented, persistent. Symbol: decorated archway.
  17. Anuradha — Saturn. Devotion, friendship, discipline. Symbol: lotus.
  18. Jyeshtha — Mercury. Power, seniority, protection. Symbol: earring or umbrella.
  19. Mula — Ketu. Roots, research, uprooting. Symbol: tied bunch of roots.
  20. Purva Ashadha — Venus. Invincibility, cleansing. Symbol: elephant tusk.
  21. Uttara Ashadha — Sun. Permanent victory, ethics. Symbol: elephant tusk.
  22. Shravana — Moon. Listening, learning, connection. Symbol: ear.
  23. Dhanishtha — Mars. Wealth, music, abundance. Symbol: drum.
  24. Shatabhisha — Rahu. Healing, mystery, solitude. Symbol: empty circle.
  25. Purva Bhadrapada — Jupiter. Intensity, two-faced nature. Symbol: funeral cot.
  26. Uttara Bhadrapada — Saturn. Depth, patience, rain. Symbol: twins.
  27. Revati — Mercury. Journeys, protection, completion. Symbol: fish or drum.

Nakshatras and Dasha Timing

The Vimshottari dasha system assigns each nakshatra a ruling planet. Your birth nakshatra lord is the first dasha lord, with only the unexpired fraction of the period counted at birth. The sequence then continues in fixed order through 120 years.

Your birth nakshatra is shown on the Dashboard → Chart tab. The Dasha tab shows your full Vimshottari timeline with Mahadasha, Antardasha and Pratyantar levels.

Nakshatras in Compatibility

The 36-point Ashta Koota system used in Vedic marriage matching compares eight factors between two birth nakshatras. The most weighted are Nadi (physiology) at 8 points and Bhakut (emotional harmony) at 7 points. Astavya's compatibility calculator shows all eight factors with detailed explanations.

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The 27 Nakshatras: A Guide to Lunar Mansions | Astavya