RishiAstro
Vedic astrology glossary

What is a Nakshatra?

Also known as: lunar mansion

A nakshatra is one of the 27 lunar mansions — equal 13°20′ segments of the zodiac — that the Moon travels through. Your birth (Janma) nakshatra is the one the Moon occupied at birth.

Each nakshatra has a ruling planet, a deity and four padas (quarters), and drives much of Vedic prediction — from the Vimshottari Dasha sequence to Gun Milan compatibility.

The 27 nakshatras run from Ashwini to Revati.

Related terms

Start here — the basics