What Is Nakshatra?

Understanding Nakshatras

The word "Nakshatra" comes from naksha (map) + tra (guard) — literally "that which guards or maps the sky." Each Nakshatra spans 13°20' of the zodiac (360° ÷ 27 = 13.33°), creating 27 distinct segments.

Each Nakshatra has:

• A ruling planet — Connects to the Vimshottari Dasha timing system
• A presiding deity — Defines the spiritual energy and life themes
• A symbol — Visual representation of its core nature
• A shakti — A unique power or creative ability
• A gana — Temperament class (Deva/Manushya/Rakshasa)
• An animal symbol — Used in compatibility matching (Yoni Koota)

Why Your Nakshatra Matters

Your Moon Nakshatra determines:

• Your Dasha sequence — Which planetary period you start life in, and the entire timeline that follows
• Your compatibility — The Ashtakoot (36-point) matching system is entirely Nakshatra-based
• Your personality depth — Two people with Moon in Aries differ vastly depending on whether they're Ashwini, Bharani, or Krittika
• Daily predictions — The Moon transits through one Nakshatra per day, activating different themes
• Your name syllable — Traditional Vedic naming uses the first syllable of your Nakshatra

All 27 Nakshatras

Below are all 27 Nakshatras organized by zodiac sign, with their ruling planet, deity, symbol, shakti (power), and personality profile.

Aries (Mesha) Nakshatras

1. Ashwini (0°–13°20' Aries)

Ruler: Ketu  |  Deity: Ashwini Kumaras (divine physicians)
Symbol: Horse's head  |  Shakti: Power to heal quickly

Swift, pioneering, healing-oriented. Ashwini natives are fast-acting initiators who dislike waiting. Natural healers, athletes, and first-responders. Can be impulsive and restless.

2. Bharani (13°20'–26°40' Aries)

Ruler: Venus  |  Deity: Yama (god of death/dharma)
Symbol: Yoni (womb)  |  Shakti: Power to take life away and bring it forth

Creative, intense, transformative. Bharani natives deal with themes of birth, death, and rebirth throughout life. Artistic, sensual, and deeply passionate. Can struggle with excess and restraint.

3. Krittika (26°40' Aries–10° Taurus)

Ruler: Sun  |  Deity: Agni (fire god)
Symbol: Razor/flame  |  Shakti: Power to burn and purify

Sharp, purifying, truthful. Krittika natives cut through deception with blazing clarity. Natural leaders, critics, and purifiers. Can be overly critical or harsh in judgment.

Taurus (Vrishabha) Nakshatras

4. Rohini (10°–23°20' Taurus)

Ruler: Moon  |  Deity: Brahma (creator)
Symbol: Ox cart/chariot  |  Shakti: Power of growth

Beautiful, creative, magnetic. Rohini is considered the most fertile and attractive Nakshatra. Artistic talent, material comfort, and sensual pleasure. Can become possessive or materialistic.

5. Mrigashira (23°20' Taurus–6°40' Gemini)

Ruler: Mars  |  Deity: Soma (Moon god)
Symbol: Deer's head  |  Shakti: Power to give fulfillment

Curious, searching, gentle. Mrigashira natives are eternal seekers — always hunting for something more. Researchers, travelers, and restless romantics. Can be indecisive and perpetually unsatisfied.

Gemini (Mithuna) Nakshatras

6. Ardra (6°40'–20° Gemini)

Ruler: Rahu  |  Deity: Rudra (storm god)
Symbol: Teardrop/diamond  |  Shakti: Power to make effort

Intense, transformative, intellectual. Ardra natives experience storms that lead to clarity. Deep thinkers, researchers, and those who rebuild after destruction. Can be emotionally turbulent.

7. Punarvasu (20° Gemini–3°20' Cancer)

Ruler: Jupiter  |  Deity: Aditi (mother of gods)
Symbol: Bow and quiver  |  Shakti: Power of renewal

Optimistic, nurturing, expansive. Punarvasu natives bounce back from anything — the ultimate renewal energy. Teachers, counselors, and eternal optimists. Can be overly idealistic.

Cancer (Karka) Nakshatras

8. Pushya (3°20'–16°40' Cancer)

Ruler: Saturn  |  Deity: Brihaspati (Jupiter deity)
Symbol: Cow's udder/lotus  |  Shakti: Power to create spiritual energy

Nourishing, wise, reliable. Considered the most auspicious Nakshatra overall. Generous, responsible, and deeply caring. Natural providers and community pillars.

9. Ashlesha (16°40'–30° Cancer)

Ruler: Mercury  |  Deity: Nagas (serpent deities)
Symbol: Coiled serpent  |  Shakti: Power to inflict poison

Penetrating, mystical, intense. Ashlesha natives possess deep psychological insight and hypnotic presence. Researchers, psychologists, and those who work with hidden knowledge. Can be manipulative.

Leo (Simha) Nakshatras

10. Magha (0°–13°20' Leo)

Ruler: Ketu  |  Deity: Pitris (ancestors)
Symbol: Royal throne  |  Shakti: Power to leave the body

Regal, traditional, ancestral. Magha natives carry authority and connection to lineage. Leaders, historians, and those who honor tradition. Can be arrogant or stuck in the past.

11. Purva Phalguni (13°20'–26°40' Leo)

Ruler: Venus  |  Deity: Bhaga (god of fortune)
Symbol: Front legs of a bed  |  Shakti: Power of creative procreation

Joyful, creative, romantic. Purva Phalguni natives seek pleasure, love, and creative expression. Artists, performers, and lovers of life. Can be lazy or overly indulgent.

12. Uttara Phalguni (26°40' Leo–10° Virgo)

Ruler: Sun  |  Deity: Aryaman (god of contracts)
Symbol: Back legs of a bed  |  Shakti: Power of accumulation

Generous, helpful, committed. Uttara Phalguni natives build lasting partnerships and serve others. Counselors, social workers, and loyal partners. Can become overly dependent on recognition.

Virgo (Kanya) Nakshatras

13. Hasta (10°–23°20' Virgo)

Ruler: Moon  |  Deity: Savitar (creative Sun)
Symbol: Open hand  |  Shakti: Power to manifest what you seek

Skillful, clever, healing hands. Hasta natives are master craftspeople and healers. Artisans, surgeons, and those with exceptional manual dexterity. Can be cunning or restless.

14. Chitra (23°20' Virgo–6°40' Libra)

Ruler: Mars  |  Deity: Vishwakarma (divine architect)
Symbol: Bright jewel  |  Shakti: Power to accumulate merit

Beautiful, creative, architectural. Chitra natives create beauty and structure. Designers, architects, and those who craft lasting works. Can be vain or overly focused on appearances.

Libra (Tula) Nakshatras

15. Swati (6°40'–20° Libra)

Ruler: Rahu  |  Deity: Vayu (wind god)
Symbol: Young plant swaying  |  Shakti: Power to scatter like the wind

Independent, flexible, business-minded. Swati natives are self-made and adaptable. Entrepreneurs, diplomats, and those who thrive in change. Can be indecisive or rootless.

16. Vishakha (20° Libra–3°20' Scorpio)

Ruler: Jupiter  |  Deity: Indra-Agni (thunder & fire)
Symbol: Triumphal arch  |  Shakti: Power to achieve many fruits

Determined, goal-oriented, intense. Vishakha natives pursue goals with single-minded focus until achieved. Athletes, executives, and achievers. Can become obsessive or jealous.

Scorpio (Vrischika) Nakshatras

17. Anuradha (3°20'–16°40' Scorpio)

Ruler: Saturn  |  Deity: Mitra (god of friendship)
Symbol: Lotus  |  Shakti: Power of worship

Devoted, friendly, organizational. Anuradha natives build networks and maintain devotion through hardship. Managers, devotees, and loyal friends. Can struggle with loneliness despite social nature.

18. Jyeshtha (16°40'–30° Scorpio)

Ruler: Mercury  |  Deity: Indra (king of gods)
Symbol: Circular earring  |  Shakti: Power to rise and conquer

Protective, senior, powerful. Jyeshtha natives carry the weight of responsibility and authority. Executives, elder siblings, and protectors. Can be domineering or overburdened.

Sagittarius (Dhanu) Nakshatras

19. Mula (0°–13°20' Sagittarius)

Ruler: Ketu  |  Deity: Nirriti (goddess of destruction)
Symbol: Tied roots  |  Shakti: Power to destroy (to get to the root)

Investigative, destructive-creative, philosophical. Mula natives dig to the root of everything. Researchers, philosophers, and those who demolish to rebuild. Can be destructive or nihilistic.

20. Purva Ashadha (13°20'–26°40' Sagittarius)

Ruler: Venus  |  Deity: Apas (water deity)
Symbol: Elephant tusk/fan  |  Shakti: Power of invigoration

Invincible, purifying, optimistic. Purva Ashadha natives cannot be defeated — they rejuvenate and try again. Motivators, purifiers, and those who cleanse. Can be overconfident or preachy.

21. Uttara Ashadha (26°40' Sagittarius–10° Capricorn)

Ruler: Sun  |  Deity: Vishvedevas (universal gods)
Symbol: Elephant tusk/small bed  |  Shakti: Power to grant an unchallengeable victory

Righteous, leadership-oriented, final victory. Uttara Ashadha natives achieve lasting success through perseverance. Leaders who win through integrity. Can be rigid or lonely at the top.

Capricorn (Makara) Nakshatras

22. Shravana (10°–23°20' Capricorn)

Ruler: Moon  |  Deity: Vishnu (preserver)
Symbol: Three footprints/ear  |  Shakti: Power of connection

Listening, learning, connecting. Shravana natives excel at absorbing knowledge and connecting dots. Teachers, media professionals, and networkers. Can be gossip-prone or overly dependent on hearing praise.

23. Dhanishta (23°20' Capricorn–6°40' Aquarius)

Ruler: Mars  |  Deity: Vasus (eight elemental gods)
Symbol: Drum  |  Shakti: Power to give abundance

Wealthy, musical, rhythmic. Dhanishta natives accumulate resources and find rhythm in life. Musicians, dancers, and those who build material prosperity. Can be hollow inside despite outward success.

Aquarius (Kumbha) Nakshatras

24. Shatabhisha (6°40'–20° Aquarius)

Ruler: Rahu  |  Deity: Varuna (cosmic waters)
Symbol: Empty circle/100 flowers  |  Shakti: Power of healing

Mysterious, healing, secretive. Shatabhisha natives work with hidden medicines and cosmic mysteries. Doctors, researchers, and mystics. Can be extremely private or eccentric.

25. Purva Bhadrapada (20° Aquarius–3°20' Pisces)

Ruler: Jupiter  |  Deity: Aja Ekapad (one-footed serpent)
Symbol: Front of funeral cot  |  Shakti: Power to raise evolutionary level

Intense, transformative, fiery-spiritual. Purva Bhadrapada natives burn with spiritual fire and can be extreme. Ascetics, revolutionaries, and those who transform through crisis. Can be fanatical.

Pisces (Meena) Nakshatras

26. Uttara Bhadrapada (3°20'–16°40' Pisces)

Ruler: Saturn  |  Deity: Ahir Budhnya (serpent of the deep)
Symbol: Back of funeral cot  |  Shakti: Power to bring rain (fertility)

Deep, wise, controlled. Uttara Bhadrapada natives possess the depth of the ocean and the patience of Saturn. Spiritual counselors, deep thinkers, and those with ancient wisdom. Can seem cold or withdrawn.

27. Revati (16°40'–30° Pisces)

Ruler: Mercury  |  Deity: Pushan (nourisher, shepherd)
Symbol: Fish/drum  |  Shakti: Power of nourishment

Gentle, protective, journeying. Revati is the final Nakshatra — completion, safe passage, and divine protection. Guides, caretakers, and those who help others find their way. Can be overly dreamy or escapist.

How to Find Your Nakshatra

Your birth Nakshatra is determined by the Moon's exact position at the time of your birth. Unlike Sun signs which change monthly, the Moon moves through all 27 Nakshatras in approximately 27.3 days — spending roughly one day in each.

This is why accurate birth time matters in Vedic astrology. Even a few hours' difference can change your Nakshatra and completely alter your Dasha timeline.

Grahachara calculates your Moon Nakshatra to the exact degree using Swiss Ephemeris data — the same precision used by professional observatories.