A nakshatra is one of the 27 lunar mansions the Moon travels through as it circles the zodiac roughly once a month. Each nakshatra spans 13°20′ of the ecliptic, and together they map the sky into 27 equal segments. Your janma nakshatra (birth star) is the nakshatra the Moon occupied at the moment you were born.
Why the Moon, not the Sun
Vedic timekeeping is lunar-anchored. The Moon moves quickly and reflects the mind and emotions, so the nakshatra system tracks subtle, day-to-day rhythms that the solar zodiac alone cannot.
What your nakshatra tells you
- Birth star — used in your kundli (birth chart) and for matching compatibility (guna milan).
- Naming — traditionally the first syllable of a child''s name is chosen from the birth nakshatra''s pada (quarter).
- Muhurta — auspicious timings for sevas, travel, and ceremonies are chosen partly by the day''s nakshatra.
The 27 nakshatras
They run from Ashwini through Revati:
- Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika
- Rohini, Mrigashira, Ardra
- Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha
- Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni
- Hasta, Chitra, Swati
- Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshtha
- Mula, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha
- Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha
- Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati
Each nakshatra has a ruling deity and a planetary lord, which shape its qualities.
Finding your nakshatra
Your janma nakshatra is computed from your date, exact time, and place of birth — the same inputs as a kundli. Use the Kundli tool to find yours; if you only know your birth date, the result is approximate, because the Moon can change nakshatra within a single day.