There are 27 nakshatras, starting with Ashwini and ending with Revati. A nakshatra is the star division, or lunar mansion, that the Moon is in at a given moment. Each one covers 13 degrees 20 minutes of the sky and has a ruling planet. In Vedic astrology the nakshatra is read alongside the zodiac sign and often says more about temperament and timing than the sign alone.
You see the nakshatra in every Nepali Panchang and in every birth chart. Your birth nakshatra sets the first letter of your traditional name and is used to pick auspicious dates for weddings, travel and ceremonies. Below is the full list of 27 with their ruling planets and a one-line trait, followed by the padas and how the system is used.
What Is a Nakshatra?
A nakshatra is one of 27 equal divisions of the Moon's monthly path around the zodiac. Each covers 13 degrees 20 minutes of the 360-degree circle, so the Moon passes through roughly one nakshatra per day. The nakshatra the Moon is in at your birth is your janma nakshatra, or birth star.
The word is Sanskrit and is often explained as "that which does not decay", a reference to the fixed stars. The 12 rashi (zodiac signs) divide the sky into 30-degree blocks; the 27 nakshatras divide it more finely. Each nakshatra has a ruling planet, a presiding deity, a symbol and a set of personality themes. For where the nakshatra appears in the daily almanac, see how to read today's Panchang.
What Are the 27 Nakshatras and Their Ruling Planets?
The 27 nakshatras follow a fixed order, from Ashwini at the start of Aries to Revati at the end of Pisces. The ruling planets repeat in a cycle of nine: Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury. The cycle runs three times, so each planet rules three nakshatras. The table lists each nakshatra with its lord and a one-line trait.
| # | Nakshatra | Ruling planet | One-line trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Ketu | Quick, energetic, healing and pioneering |
| 2 | Bharani | Venus | Disciplined, intense, carries and transforms |
| 3 | Krittika | Sun | Sharp, ambitious, cuts through obstacles |
| 4 | Rohini | Moon | Charming, fertile, loves comfort and beauty |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Mars | Curious, searching, gentle and restless |
| 6 | Ardra | Rahu | Stormy, transformative, emotionally deep |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Jupiter | Renewing, optimistic, returns to light |
| 8 | Pushya | Saturn | Nourishing, dutiful, the most auspicious star |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Mercury | Clever, hypnotic, intuitive and guarded |
| 10 | Magha | Ketu | Royal, proud, honours ancestors and tradition |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Venus | Playful, creative, loves pleasure and art |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Sun | Reliable, generous, steady in partnership |
| 13 | Hasta | Moon | Skilled, dexterous, works wonders by hand |
| 14 | Chitra | Mars | Artistic, brilliant, builds beautiful things |
| 15 | Swati | Rahu | Independent, flexible, moves like the wind |
| 16 | Vishakha | Jupiter | Goal-driven, determined, aims and achieves |
| 17 | Anuradha | Saturn | Devoted, friendly, builds lasting bonds |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | Mercury | Senior, protective, holds quiet authority |
| 19 | Mula | Ketu | Probing, uprooting, seeks the root of things |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Venus | Invincible, persuasive, unstoppable will |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Sun | Principled, enduring, wins by integrity |
| 22 | Shravana | Moon | Listening, learned, gathers knowledge |
| 23 | Dhanishta | Mars | Rhythmic, wealthy, musical and generous |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Rahu | Healing, secretive, mystical and reclusive |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Jupiter | Idealistic, fiery, devoted to a cause |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Saturn | Wise, calm, deep and compassionate |
| 27 | Revati | Mercury | Nurturing, kind, the gentle final star |
These traits are broad themes. A full reading looks at the nakshatra together with the rashi and the planetary positions. To compare the nakshatras with the sign-based system, see the 12 rashi and their traits.
What Are the 4 Padas of a Nakshatra?
Each nakshatra is divided into four equal quarters called padas. Each pada covers 3 degrees 20 minutes. Four padas across 27 nakshatras make 108 padas, the same as the number of beads on a mala. The pada gives the Moon's position more precisely and links each quarter to a navamsa sign.
Why padas matter
The pada splits the birth star into a smaller unit. Two people born under the same nakshatra on the same day can have different padas, which gives them different naming syllables and slightly different temperaments. Astrologers use the pada to give the traditional first syllable of a child's name and to refine compatibility readings.
Padas and the number 108
With 4 padas in each of 27 nakshatras, the full circle has 108 quarters. This is one reason the number 108 appears so often in Hindu and Buddhist practice: in mala beads, in chants repeated 108 times and in temple counts. Each pada also matches one of the 12 navamsa signs, which is how a chart adds nakshatra detail on top of the zodiac signs.
How Are Nakshatras Used in Naming and Muhurta?
In Nepali homes the nakshatra is used for two common decisions: choosing a name and choosing an auspicious time. At birth, the janma nakshatra and its pada give the syllable the child's formal name should start with. For events, the day's nakshatra is one of the main checks in muhurta selection.
Naming by nakshatra
Each pada of each nakshatra is assigned a Sanskrit syllable, and the child's formal name is meant to begin with it. For example, the four padas of Ashwini give the syllables Chu, Che, Cho and La. Families often keep this rashi naam for religious rituals even when the child uses a different everyday name.
Nakshatras in muhurta and Panchang
In muhurta, nakshatras are grouped by nature, such as fixed, sharp, swift or gentle, and each group suits certain activities. Pushya is preferred for almost any new start, while some nakshatras are avoided for travel or weddings. The day's nakshatra is one of the five limbs of the Panchang, along with tithi, vara, yoga and karana; see Panchang's tithi, nakshatra, yoga and karana. The Moon's nakshatra is also an input to the daily Rashifal. Today's nakshatra and its ending time are shown on the Katigate home page and in today's Panchang.
More on Katigate
Birth star and today’s Nakshatra
The Nakshatra shown in today’s Panchang describes the Moon for that displayed time. Your birth Nakshatra describes the Moon at your birth and does not change each day. The traditional personality meanings in this list are cultural interpretations, not measurements of someone’s character or future.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nakshatras are there, 27 or 28?
The standard system used in Nepali and Indian Panchang has 27 nakshatras of 13 degrees 20 minutes each. An older tradition adds a 28th, Abhijit, between Uttara Ashadha and Shravana. Most modern almanacs and birth charts use the 27-nakshatra system for calculation and naming.
How do I find my birth nakshatra?
Your birth nakshatra is the one the Moon was in at your exact time and place of birth. It cannot be worked out from your sun sign. You need an accurate birth time and a Panchang or astrology calculation. A kundali (birth chart), or the kundali feature in the Nepali Calendar app, shows your janma nakshatra and its pada.
Which nakshatra is considered the most auspicious?
Pushya, ruled by Saturn, is widely treated as the best nakshatra for starting new ventures, shopping and most ceremonies. Many traditions say Pushya should be avoided for weddings. Whether a time is auspicious always depends on the full muhurta: the nakshatra plus the tithi, yoga, weekday and chart.
Does my nakshatra decide my name?
Traditionally, yes. The pada of your birth nakshatra gives a Sanskrit syllable that your formal name should start with. Many families keep this rashi naam for rituals and use a different everyday name. It is a custom, not a legal rule, so practice differs between families and regions.