The lunar zodiac · 27 mansions
The Moon's twenty-seven rooms.
The nakshatras divide the zodiac into 27 segments of 13°20′. They add a layer of texture beneath the twelve signs: a Moon in Aries is not the same in Ashwini as it is in Bharani. This is one of the most distinctive tools in Vedic astrology.
13°20′ each
Ashwini
अश्विनी
Beginning · speed · healing
Bharani
भरणी
Desire · endurance · becoming
Krittika
कृत्तिका
Discernment · warmth · truth
Rohini
रोहिणी
Beauty · growth · abundance
Mrigashira
मृगशिरा
Search · curiosity · tenderness
Ardra
आर्द्रा
Storm · insight · renewal
Punarvasu
पुनर्वसु
Return · forgiveness · possibility
Pushya
पुष्य
Nourishment · care · steady fortune
Ashlesha
आश्लेषा
Depth · strategy · intuition
Magha
मघा
Lineage · dignity · authority
Purva Phalguni
पूर्व फाल्गुनी
Pleasure · play · affection
Uttara Phalguni
उत्तर फाल्गुनी
Bond · loyalty · partnership
Hasta
हस्त
Skill · care · practicality
Chitra
चित्रा
Craft · image · form
Swati
स्वाति
Freedom · movement · diplomacy
Vishakha
विशाखा
Ambition · focus · arrival
Anuradha
अनुराधा
Friendship · devotion · gather
Jyeshtha
ज्येष्ठ
Leadership · protection · seniority
Mula
मूल
Root · investigation · truth
Purva Ashadha
पूर्व आषाढ़ा
Confidence · persuasion · refresh
Uttara Ashadha
उत्तर आषाढ़ा
Integrity · victory · finish
Shravana
श्रवण
Listening · learning · memory
Dhanishta
धनिष्ठा
Rhythm · wealth · independence
Shatabhisha
शतभिषा
Pattern · healing · distance
Purva Bhadrapada
पूर्व भाद्रपद
Intensity · vision · transformation
Uttara Bhadrapada
उत्तर भाद्रपद
Wisdom · compassion · depth
Revati
रेवती
Safe passage · tenderness · completion
Why nakshatras matter
The Moon spends roughly one day in each nakshatra. Its position at your birth gives your janma nakshatra, the starting point of the Vimshottari dasha and a major key to your emotional and instinctive life.
Nakshatras are also used in compatibility, muhurta (timing) and the finer interpretation of every planet. A planet in a nakshatra is coloured by its ruling deity and its animal symbol.
The Moon is often considered the most personal point in the Vedic chart. If you only know your Sun sign, your nakshatra may be the missing piece that makes a reading feel like you.
Find your Moon sign →