The 27 Nakshatras are the stations of the Moon, aka lunar mansions, that are evenly distributed along the sidereal zodiac that forms the basis of Vedic astrology.
The nakshatras have been introduced by the ancient Indian astronomers and astrologers. Each nakshatra (or lunar mansion, or station) is the part of the sky that the Moon covers during single day.
Since the nakshatras use the sidereal zodiac — meaning the real backdrop of physical fixed stars — each of them was assigned a particular group of stars, an asterism, that carries certain astrological symbolism.
The most accepted system of nakshatras consists of 27 equal divisions of the full 360º ecliptic circle and thus produces 27 equal segments of 13º20’ per nakshatra.
Each nakshatra is defined by a combination of:
a segment along the ecliptic
a corresponding asterism within that segment
A visual tour of the nakshatras
The best way to get the feeling of what the nakshatras actually are in the sky is to watch the animated tour along the ecliptic highlighting corresponding asterisms for each nakshatra. This way the reader will be able to identify those asterisms in the real sky and establish a deeper feeling for those sky segments.
The videos below should be watched in the HD (high definition) mode to enable legibility of text and fine starry sky details. Use the cogwheel icon at the bottom of the video to switch to the HD mode.
The two videos below present the nakshatras tour from both northern and southern hemispheres.
The two Moon cycles
There are two fundamental cycles of the Moon: sidereal orbital period and synodic month.
The shorter 27.27 day sidereal orbital period is the time it takes the Moon to complete its travel along the backdrop of the fixed stars. For example, if the Moon today were at fixed star Spica, it will take it 27.27 days to arrive at Spica again. The sidereal period reflects the alignment between the Moon and fixed stars. This cycle is the basis for defining the nakshatras.
The longer 29.5 day synodic month is the time from one New Moon to the next New Moon, aka the lunation cycle. The synodic period reflects the alignment between the Moon and the Sun.
The nakshatras are calculated using the sidereal orbital period and the sidereal zodiac.
How many nakshatras are there, 27 or 28?
A more “modern” system of 27 nakshatras — that is in fact more that 2,000 years old — uses the 365 days calendar with the Moon covering the arc of 13º20’ per day. This corresponds to the 27.27 day sidereal orbital period and produces the commonly accepted system of 27 nakshatras.
The older system of 28 nakshatras reflects the fact that in Vedic times the length of the year was considered to be 360 days with 12 perfect months of 30 days and the Moon was considered to travel exactly 13º per day. In that perfect but unfortunately imprecise system the sidereal orbital period was 27.69 days, meaning that it takes about 28 days for the Moon to complete the full circle along the ecliptic, hence 28 divisions of the ecliptic. The 360 day solar year was finally abandoned around 700 BCE.
Subdivisions of a nakshatra
Each nakshatra is further subdivided into four equal parts called the padas. Each pada is thus 3º20’.
Since one nakshatra corresponds to a segment of the sky travelled by the Moon in a single day, one may think of a pada as a quarter of a day, an approximate 6 hour period.
Symbolical associations of the padas can be conceptualised using the four fold model similar to the four quadrants of the astrological chart. The times are obviously approximate and symbolic in essence.
Pada
Part of day
Symbolism
Moon phase
Pada 1
Midnight to 6 hours
Spring, beginning
Waxing crescent
Pada 2
6 hours to noon
Summer, unfoldment
Waxing gibbous
Pada 3
Noon to 18 hours
Autumn, fruition
Waning gibbous
Pada 4
18 hours to midnight
Winter, reconciliation
Waning crescent
The Nakshatras calculator
Track the nakshatras (lunar mansions) of the Moon and other planets of astrological chart using a Home Screen widget and an app extension. Explore the add-on…
Perceiving the Nakshatras
The best way to experience the nakshatras is through direct observation of the night sky. The rest of this article will illustrate asterisms corresponding to each nakshatra and can serve as a guide for the reader to gain deeper familiarity with the prominent asterisms that constitute both the nakshatras and the zodiac signs, the foundations of astronomical constellations.
Expansion, caring, healing, helping, enduring, seeking for lost half, abandonment, stubbornness, resentment
13. Hasta
Name
The hand
Ruler
Moon
Symbol
Palm of the hand
Also
Blessings
Deity
Savitar, the Sun god
Sidereal
10º – 23º20 Virgo
Stars
α “Alchiba”, β “Kraz”, γ, δ “Algorab” and ε “Minkar” of Corvus
Energy
Moon and Mercury
Qualities
Clarity of thinking, creative and structured intelligence, humorous, self-development, ascetic tendencies, fragile health, stress, lack of patience, cold and calculating
Knowledgeable organiser and collaborator, respect of peers, stability, fixation, melancholy, coldness, abuse of powers
18. Jyeshtha
Name
The eldest, most excellent
Ruler
Mercury
Symbol
Circular amulet, umbrella, earring
Also
Most senior, chief, eldest
Deity
Indra, chief of the gods
Sidereal
16º40 – 30º Scorpio
Stars
α “Antares”, σ “Alniyat”, and τ “Paikauhale” of Scorpius
Energy
Mercury and Mars–Pluto
Qualities
Excellence in intelligence, penetrative mind, originality and flexibility, secretiveness, scheming, arrogant
19. Mula
Name
The root, foundation
Ruler
Ketu (South Node)
Symbol
Tied bunch of roots
Also
Tail of lion, foundation
Deity
Nirriti, goddess of dissolution and destruction
Sidereal
0º – 13º20 Sagittarius
Stars
ε “Larawag”, ζ, η, θ “Sargas”, ι, κ, λ “Shaula”, μ and ν “Jabbah” of Scorpius
Energy
South Node and Pluto–Jupiter
Qualities
Philosophical, deep, mysterious, redemption, power of attraction, wealth and power, manipulation, destruction
20. Purva Ashada
Name
The invincible
Ruler
Venus
Symbol
Elephant tusk, basket
Also
Undefeated, unsubdued
Deity
Apas, god of water
Sidereal
13º20 – 26º40 Sagittarius
Stars
δ “Kaus Media” and ε “Kaus Australis” of Sagittarius
Energy
Venus and Jupiter
Qualities
High priest or priestess, spiritual, philosophical, attractive, influential, independent, hubris, haughty, obstinate
21. Uttara Ashada
Name
The later invincible
Ruler
Sun
Symbol
Elephant tusk, small bed
Also
Universal, for all humankind, victory after time passed
Deity
Vishvadevas, universal gods
Sidereal
26º40 Sagittarius – 10º Capricorn
Stars
ζ “Ascella” and σ “Nunki” of Sagittarius
Energy
Sun and Jupiter
Qualities
Spiritual seeker, leadership, magnanimity, stability, centre of power, burn out, lack of motivation
22. Shravana
Name
Hearing
Ruler
Moon
Symbol
Ear, three footprints
Also
Learning, knowledge, flow of consciousness
Deity
Vishnu, preserver of universe
Sidereal
10º – 23º20 Capricorn
Stars
α “Altair”, β “Alshain” and γ “Tarazed” of Aquila
Energy
Moon and Saturn
Qualities
Receptive to the subtle, voice and communication, teaching and educating others, studying, seclusion, rigidity, suspicion
23. Dhanishtha
Name
The most famous, superlative of hearing
Ruler
Mars
Symbol
Drum, flute
Also
Symphony, music, singing, charity
Deity
Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance
Sidereal
23º20 Capricorn – 6º40 Aquarius
Stars
α “Sualocin”, Rotanev, Al Ukud, Al Salib of Delphinus
Energy
Mars and Saturn–Uranus
Qualities
Active vision of higher realms, knowledge of the hidden, compassion, social justice, ambitions becoming obstacles, material pursuits turning greed, ruthless and cold
Swords or two front legs of bed (or funeral cot), man with two faces
Also
Burning, scorching pair
Deity
Aja Ekapada, one-footed goat
Sidereal
20º Aquarius – 3º20 Pisces
Stars
α “Markab” and β “Scheat” of Pegasus
Energy
Jupiter and Uranus
Qualities
Original, eccentric, out-of-the-box visionaries, articulated and convincing, future oriented, mavericks, rebellious, critical, highly strung nervous system
26. Uttara Bhadrapada
Name
The second of the blessed feet
Ruler
Saturn
Symbol
Twins, back legs of bed (or funeral cot)
Also
Burning, scorching pair
Deity
Ahirbudhnya, dragon of the deep sea
Sidereal
3º20 – 16º40 Pisces
Stars
γ “Algenib” of Pegasus and α “Alpheratz” of Andromeda
Energy
Saturn and Jupiter–Neptune
Qualities
Affinity with cosmos, spirituality, deep and expansive, idealistic, peaceful, lack of incarnation, indecisiveness, chaotic, substance addiction
27. Revati
Name
The wealthy
Ruler
Mercury
Symbol
Fish or pair of fish, drum
Also
Prosperous intuition
Deity
Pushan, the nurturer
Sidereal
16º40 – 30º Pisces
Stars
ζ “Revati” of Pisces
Energy
Mercury and Jupiter–Neptune
Qualities
Inspired visionary, poetic and creative gifts, compassion and empathy, messy relationships, immaturity, naïveté, sense of irrelevance and inferiority, difficulties with self-identification
Abhijit
The Abhijit nakshatra does not belong to the standard 27 nakshatras. It is the remnant of the ancient 28 nakshatra system. Abhijit enjoys a special popular attention for perhaps purely nostalgic reasons. There has to be something “extra special” after all. Abhijit is the 22nd nakshatra of the 28 nakshatra system.
From the experiential sky gazing standpoint Abhijit isn’t that prominent or active as it is based on the asterism of the star Vega of the constellation of Lyra that is exceedingly far from the path travelled by the Moon. The ecliptic latitude of Vega is about 62º and the Moon never ventures further than just a few degrees from the ecliptic plane, its maximum inclination is 5.30º
Notice how much the Abhijit asterism image had to be zoomed out compared to other nakshatra images in order to fit Vega into the view.
When mapped onto the standard 27 nakshatras, the boundaries of Abhijit overlap with the last quarter of Uttara Ashadha (#21) and extend to the first 1/15th segment of Shravana (#22).
The Nakshatras calculator
Track the nakshatras (lunar mansions) of the Moon and other planets of astrological chart using a Home Screen widget and an app extension. Explore the add-on…
Comments
SAMKARAM astrologer
Good and useful to astrologers.