A Nakshatra is one of 27 lunar mansions used in Vedic astrology. The Moon travels through all 27 Nakshatras in approximately 27.3 days. Your birth Nakshatra is the one the Moon was positioned in at the time of your birth, and it is considered an important factor in your astrological profile.

How is Nakshatra calculated from date of birth?

Nakshatra is determined by the position of the Moon at the time of birth. The Moon's longitude is calculated from the birth date and time, then mapped to one of the 27 Nakshatras, each spanning 13 degrees and 20 minutes of the zodiac. The specific quarter within that Nakshatra is called the Pada.

What is a Pada in Nakshatra?

Each Nakshatra is divided into four equal quarters called Padas. Each Pada spans 3 degrees and 20 minutes of arc. The Pada your Moon falls in at birth adds another layer of detail to your Nakshatra reading and is associated with specific qualities and sounds in naming traditions.

What is the difference between Nakshatra and Rashi (Moon Sign)?

Rashi is the zodiac sign the Moon occupies at birth, dividing the ecliptic into 12 signs of 30 degrees each. Nakshatra divides the same path into 27 lunar mansions of 13 degrees 20 minutes each. A Nakshatra is more specific than a Rashi — your Rashi covers a 30-degree arc while your Nakshatra covers only 13 degrees 20 minutes within that arc.

Why does birth time matter for Nakshatra calculation?

The Moon moves approximately 13 degrees per day, which means it can shift through a significant portion of a Nakshatra within a few hours. If you are born near the boundary between two Nakshatras, even a small difference in birth time can change the result. Providing the birth time improves accuracy, though the result is still an approximation without precise ephemeris data.

Which are the 27 Nakshatras?

The 27 Nakshatras are: 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, Dhanishtha, Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada, and Revati.

Nakshatra Calculator by Date of Birth

What this page shows

The result combines an approximate moon longitude with the matching nakshatra, its pada, and an easy moon-sign reference.

How to read it

Use the main result for quick identification and the chips below it for light interpretation ideas and follow-up guidance.

Important note

For formal astrological practice, precise ephemeris data and location-based calculations should be used to validate the estimate.

What is a Nakshatra?

In Vedic astrology, a Nakshatra is a lunar mansion — one of 27 equal divisions of the celestial path that the Moon travels through. Your birth Nakshatra is determined by the Moon's position at the exact time of your birth.

The Moon's journey

The Moon completes a full orbit of the Earth in approximately 27.3 days, which is why Vedic astrology divides the sky into exactly 27 Nakshatras. Each one spans 13 degrees and 20 minutes of arc along the ecliptic. As the Moon moves roughly half a degree per hour, your birth time significantly affects which Nakshatra it occupies.

More specific than your sun sign

Your sun sign (Rashi) covers a 30-degree arc of the zodiac and is shared by roughly one-twelfth of all people. Your Nakshatra covers only 13 degrees 20 minutes, making it a more precise identifier. Two people born in the same Rashi month may have different Nakshatras depending on the Moon's exact position at birth.

Used across Vedic traditions

Nakshatras are used in multiple aspects of Vedic astrology: naming conventions (the first syllable of a traditional name is derived from the Pada), muhurta (auspicious timing for events), compatibility matching in marriage (Kuta matching), and understanding personality traits and life tendencies.

The 27 Nakshatras — Complete Reference

Each Nakshatra has a ruling deity, a ruling planet, an element, and a set of associated qualities. This table covers all 27 for quick reference.

Ashwini to Krittika (1–3)

Ashwini (ruled by Ketu) is associated with speed and healing. Bharani (ruled by Venus) relates to restraint and transformation. Krittika (ruled by Sun) is linked to sharpness and purification. These three Nakshatras fall in Aries and early Taurus.

Rohini to Ardra (4–6)

Rohini (ruled by Moon) is considered the most fertile and creative Nakshatra. Mrigashira (ruled by Mars) is associated with searching and curiosity. Ardra (ruled by Rahu) relates to effort, storms, and transformation through difficulty.

Punarvasu to Ashlesha (7–9)

Punarvasu (ruled by Jupiter) is associated with renewal and return. Pushya (ruled by Saturn) is considered the most nurturing Nakshatra, often called the "king of Nakshatras." Ashlesha (ruled by Mercury) relates to wisdom and serpent energy.

Magha to Chitra (10–14)

Magha (ruled by Ketu) is linked to ancestors and authority. Purva Phalguni (Venus) relates to creativity and pleasure. Uttara Phalguni (Sun) connects to contracts and social bonds. Hasta (Moon) is associated with skill and dexterity. Chitra (Mars) relates to brilliance and craftsmanship.

Swati to Jyeshtha (15–18)

Swati (Rahu) is associated with independence and movement like wind. Vishakha (Jupiter) relates to purpose and achievement. Anuradha (Saturn) connects to devotion and friendship. Jyeshtha (Mercury) is linked to seniority and protection.

Mula to Revati (19–27)

Mula (Ketu) relates to roots and beginnings. The Ashadha pair and Shravana (Moon) span Sagittarius and Capricorn. Dhanishtha (Mars), Shatabhisha (Rahu), the Bhadrapada pair, and Revati (Mercury) complete the cycle through Aquarius and Pisces, returning the Moon to Ashwini.

Understanding Pada — The Four Quarters

Each Nakshatra is divided into four Padas (quarters). Knowing your Pada adds a more specific layer to your Nakshatra reading.

What Pada means

Pada literally means "foot" or "step" in Sanskrit. Each Pada spans 3 degrees and 20 minutes of arc. The four Padas of a Nakshatra correspond to the four aims of life in Hindu philosophy: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).

Pada in naming traditions

In Vedic naming conventions, each Pada is associated with a specific syllable sound. Traditional Hindu names are chosen so the first syllable matches the Pada of the child's birth Nakshatra. This is one reason why birth time matters for naming ceremonies — it determines the Nakshatra and Pada, which determines the correct naming syllable.

Pada and Navamsa

Each Pada of a Nakshatra corresponds to one sign in the Navamsa (D9) chart, which is used in Vedic astrology for deeper analysis of marriage, dharma, and spiritual development. The Navamsa sign of each Pada follows the sequence of zodiac signs starting from the Navamsa lord of the first Pada of each Nakshatra group.

Nakshatra and Moon Sign — What is the Difference?

Both Nakshatra and Moon Sign (Rashi) describe the Moon's position at birth, but at different levels of granularity.

Rashi — The Moon Sign

Rashi divides the zodiac into 12 signs of 30 degrees each. Your Moon Sign (Chandra Rashi) is the zodiac sign the Moon occupied at birth. It is used heavily in Indian horoscopes, daily and monthly predictions (panchanga), and relationship compatibility (Kundali matching). Approximately 1 in 12 people share your Moon Sign.

Nakshatra — More Specific

Nakshatra divides the same sky into 27 sections of 13 degrees 20 minutes each. Your Nakshatra is contained within your Rashi — two people with the same Moon Sign can have different Nakshatras. Approximately 1 in 27 people share your Nakshatra, making it a more unique identifier in Vedic astrology.

Which one to use

Moon Sign (Rashi) is typically used for broad compatibility checks, monthly transit readings, and daily panchanga guidance. Nakshatra is used for naming, detailed compatibility (Ashta Kuta matching), determining Mahadasha (planetary period) in Vimshottari Dasha, and naming children. Both are derived from the same Moon position — the Nakshatra provides additional precision.

How to Read Your Nakshatra Result

The calculator result shows three key pieces of information. Here is how to interpret each one.

Nakshatra name

This is your primary birth star. It is the Nakshatra the Moon was approximately in at the time of your birth. The name identifies your position within the 27-station lunar cycle and is the most important output for traditional Vedic purposes like naming and Dasha calculation.

Pada number

The Pada (1 through 4) indicates which quarter of the Nakshatra your Moon occupies. Pada 1 is associated with Dharma, Pada 2 with Artha, Pada 3 with Kama, and Pada 4 with Moksha. In naming tradition, each Pada has a specific syllable set used to select the first letter of the name.

Moon Sign (Rashi)

The Moon Sign shown is the zodiac sign containing your Nakshatra. Use this for broader horoscope reading, daily transit guidance, and general compatibility checks. It is less specific than the Nakshatra but more widely used in popular astrology content.

Explore Related Astrology Tools

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Frequently Asked Questions About Nakshatra

Common questions about Nakshatra, how it is calculated, and what the result means.

What is the most important Nakshatra?

All 27 Nakshatras are important in different contexts. Pushya is often called the most auspicious for muhurta (timing of events). Ashwini is associated with new beginnings. Rohini is considered highly creative. Your birth Nakshatra is specifically important for understanding your personality, naming, and Dasha period in Vimshottari astrology.

Can two people have the same Nakshatra?

Yes. Everyone born within the roughly 13.3 hours the Moon takes to cross one Nakshatra shares that Nakshatra on that day. Globally, approximately 1 in 27 people share any given Nakshatra, though the distribution is not perfectly even due to birth rate patterns.

Do I need my exact birth time for Nakshatra?

Birth time improves accuracy significantly. The Moon moves approximately 0.5 degrees per hour, so a few hours of difference can change the Pada and sometimes even the Nakshatra near boundaries. If you don't know the exact birth time, the calculator defaults to 12:00 noon but recommends treating the result as approximate.

Is this the same as a star sign?

Not exactly. Star sign in Western astrology refers to the Sun Sign — the zodiac sign the Sun occupied at birth. Nakshatra is based on the Moon's position and is a Vedic (Indian) astrology concept. They are different systems with different reference points, though both use your birth date as the starting point.

Get the estimate

Estimate nakshatra and pada using birth date and time.