How do I calculate my birth Nakshatra?

Your birth Nakshatra is determined by the Moon's sidereal longitude at the exact moment of your birth. Divide the Moon's degree position by 13.333 to find which of the 27 nakshatras it occupies. For example, Moon at 45° is in the 4th nakshatra (Rohini). Our calculator does this instantly using Swiss Ephemeris precision and accounts for your birth location's timezone.

How does my Nakshatra determine my Dasha?

The Vimshottari Dasha system uses the planet ruling your birth nakshatra as your starting dasha lord. For example, if your Moon is in Rohini Nakshatra (ruled by Moon), your first major dasha is Moon Dasha lasting 10 years. The planetary sequence is fixed: Ketu→Venus→Sun→Moon→Mars→Rahu→Jupiter→Saturn→Mercury, cycling over 120 years. This system is described in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Chapter 46.

What are the 27 Nakshatras and their ruling planets?

The 27 Nakshatras with their Vimshottari lords are: Ashwini (Ketu), Bharani (Venus), Krittika (Sun), Rohini (Moon), Mrigashira (Mars), Ardra (Rahu), Punarvasu (Jupiter), Pushya (Saturn), Ashlesha (Mercury), Magha (Ketu), Purva Phalguni (Venus), Uttara Phalguni (Sun), Hasta (Moon), Chitra (Mars), Swati (Rahu), Vishakha (Jupiter), Anuradha (Saturn), Jyeshtha (Mercury), Mula (Ketu), Purva Ashadha (Venus), Uttara Ashadha (Sun), Shravana (Moon), Dhanishtha (Mars), Shatabhisha (Rahu), Purva Bhadrapada (Jupiter), Uttara Bhadrapada (Saturn), Revati (Mercury).

Nakshatra Calculator: Find Your Birth Nakshatra

Discover which of the 27 lunar mansions shapes your personality, emotions, and life timing in Vedic astrology.

Calculate Your Nakshatra Free

Swiss Ephemeris Precision Instant Results 100% Free

A Nakshatra (also spelled Naksatra) is a lunar mansion in Vedic astrology spanning exactly 13 degrees 20 minutes (13.333°) of the zodiac. There are 27 Nakshatras that divide the entire 360-degree ecliptic, providing more granular personality classification than the 12 zodiac signs alone. Your Moon's nakshatra at birth determines your Vimshottari Dasha starting period—the Vedic timing system that predicts major life phases.

Classical source: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Chapter 46

☽ The Pada System

Each Nakshatra is divided into 4 Padas (quarters) of 3°20' each. The 108 total Padas (27 × 4) correspond directly to the Navamsha divisions, providing precise personality sub-types. Your Pada determines the exact flavor of your nakshatra's expression.

Nakshatra Pada System Diagram showing 4 quarters

⟳ Nakshatra → Dasha Connection

The Vimshottari Dasha system uses the planet ruling your birth nakshatra as your starting dasha lord. This 120-year cycle determines which planetary influences dominate different periods of your life. Understanding your nakshatra is the key to unlocking Vedic timing predictions.

Vimshottari Dasha Cycle showing 9 planetary periods

The 27 Nakshatras in Vedic Astrology

#	Nakshatra	Lord	Degree Range	Gana	Deity
1	Ashwini	Ketu	0°00' - 13°20' Aries	Deva	Ashwini Kumaras
2	Bharani	Venus	13°20' - 26°40' Aries	Manushya	Yama
3	Krittika	Sun	26°40' Ari - 10°00' Tau	Rakshasa	Agni
4	Rohini	Moon	10°00' - 23°20' Taurus	Manushya	Brahma
5	Mrigashira	Mars	23°20' Tau - 6°40' Gem	Deva	Soma
6	Ardra	Rahu	6°40' - 20°00' Gemini	Manushya	Rudra
7	Punarvasu	Jupiter	20°00' Gem - 3°20' Can	Deva	Aditi
8	Pushya	Saturn	3°20' - 16°40' Cancer	Deva	Brihaspati
9	Ashlesha	Mercury	16°40' - 30°00' Cancer	Rakshasa	Nagas
10	Magha	Ketu	0°00' - 13°20' Leo	Rakshasa	Pitris
11	Purva Phalguni	Venus	13°20' - 26°40' Leo	Manushya	Bhaga
12	Uttara Phalguni	Sun	26°40' Leo - 10°00' Vir	Manushya	Aryaman
13	Hasta	Moon	10°00' - 23°20' Virgo	Deva	Savitar
14	Chitra	Mars	23°20' Vir - 6°40' Lib	Rakshasa	Vishvakarma
15	Swati	Rahu	6°40' - 20°00' Libra	Deva	Vayu
16	Vishakha	Jupiter	20°00' Lib - 3°20' Sco	Rakshasa	Indra-Agni
17	Anuradha	Saturn	3°20' - 16°40' Scorpio	Deva	Mitra
18	Jyeshtha	Mercury	16°40' - 30°00' Scorpio	Rakshasa	Indra
19	Mula	Ketu	0°00' - 13°20' Sagittarius	Rakshasa	Nirriti
20	Purva Ashadha	Venus	13°20' - 26°40' Sagittarius	Manushya	Apas
21	Uttara Ashadha	Sun	26°40' Sag - 10°00' Cap	Manushya	Vishvedevas
22	Shravana	Moon	10°00' - 23°20' Capricorn	Deva	Vishnu
23	Dhanishtha	Mars	23°20' Cap - 6°40' Aqu	Rakshasa	Vasus
24	Shatabhisha	Rahu	6°40' - 20°00' Aquarius	Rakshasa	Varuna
25	Purva Bhadrapada	Jupiter	20°00' Aqu - 3°20' Pis	Manushya	Aja Ekapada
26	Uttara Bhadrapada	Saturn	3°20' - 16°40' Pisces	Manushya	Ahir Budhnya
27	Revati	Mercury	16°40' - 30°00' Pisces	Deva	Pushan

Ready to Find Your Nakshatra?

Enter your birth details and discover which lunar mansion shapes your destiny. Get your nakshatra, pada, planetary lord, and Dasha connection instantly.

Calculate Your Nakshatra Free

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Nakshatra in Vedic astrology?

A Nakshatra is a lunar mansion spanning exactly 13°20' of the zodiac. The 27 Nakshatras divide the 360° ecliptic into finer segments than the 12 zodiac signs, providing more precise personality and timing analysis. Your Moon's nakshatra at birth determines your Vimshottari Dasha starting period. Classical source: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Chapter 46.

How is my nakshatra different from my Moon sign?

Your Moon sign covers 30° of the zodiac, while your nakshatra covers only 13°20'. This means there are 2.25 nakshatras per zodiac sign. Nakshatras provide a more granular understanding of your Moon's influence—two people with Moon in Taurus could have very different personalities if one has Moon in Rohini and another in Mrigashira.

What determines my Vimshottari Dasha starting period?

Your Moon's nakshatra at birth determines which planet rules your first Dasha period. Each nakshatra is ruled by one of 9 planets in a fixed sequence: Ketu (7 years), Venus (20), Sun (6), Moon (10), Mars (7), Rahu (18), Jupiter (16), Saturn (19), Mercury (17). The total cycle is 120 years.

What if my calculator shows a different nakshatra than other sites?

Nakshatra calculations can differ based on: 1) Ayanamsa used (we use Lahiri), 2) Ephemeris precision (we use Swiss Ephemeris), 3) Timezone handling. If your Moon is near a nakshatra boundary, even a few minutes of birth time can change the result. Our calculations match professional Vedic astrology software.

What are the 3 Ganas (temperaments)?

Each nakshatra belongs to one of three Ganas: Deva (divine, gentle, spiritual), Manushya (human, balanced, worldly), or Rakshasa (intense, transformative, unconventional). Gana matching is used in compatibility analysis—same-gana matches are considered most harmonious.