Nakshatra Guide — Your Vedic Birth Star

The 27 Nakshatras and Their Deities

• ✦1. Ashwini (अश्विनी) — 0° to 13°20' Aries — Ruled by Ketu. Deities: Ashwini Kumaras (divine physicians). Nature: Quick, healing, pioneering. Animals: Horse. Lucky gem: Amber.
• ✦2. Bharani (भरणी) — 13°20' to 26°40' Aries — Ruled by Venus. Deities: Yama (god of dharma). Nature: Responsible, nurturing, difficult births transform souls. Animal: Elephant. Lucky gem: Diamond.
• ✦3. Krittika (कृत्तिका) — 26°40' Aries to 10° Taurus — Ruled by the Sun. Deities: Agni (fire god). Nature: Cleansing, discerning, cutting away falsehood. Animal: Sheep. Lucky gem: Ruby.
• ✦4. Rohini (रोहिणी) — 10° to 23°20' Taurus — Ruled by the Moon. Deities: Brahma (creator). Nature: Beautiful, fertile, nurturing, sensual. Animal: Ox. Lucky gem: Pearl.
• ✦5. Mrigashira (मृगशिरा) — 23°20' Taurus to 6°40' Gemini — Ruled by Mars. Deities: Soma (Moon god). Nature: Curious, alert, deer-like sensitivity. Animal: Deer. Lucky gem: Red coral.
• ✦6. Ardra (आर्द्रा) — 6°40' to 20° Gemini — Ruled by Rahu. Deities: Rudra (Shiva in fierce form). Nature: Tempestuous, profound, transformative. Animal: Dog. Lucky gem: Hessonite garnet.
• ✦7. Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु) — 20° Gemini to 3°20' Cancer — Ruled by Jupiter. Deities: Aditi (infinity, cosmic mother). Nature: Returning, renewal, expansion, forgiveness. Animal: Cat. Lucky gem: Yellow sapphire.
• ✦8. Pushya (पुष्य) — 3°20' to 16°40' Cancer — Ruled by Saturn. Deities: Brihaspati (Jupiter). Nature: Nourishing, auspicious, highest in nobility. Animal: Cow. Lucky gem: Blue sapphire.
• ✦9. Ashlesha (आश्लेषा) — 16°40' to 30° Cancer — Ruled by Mercury. Deities: Nagas (serpents). Nature: Coiled wisdom, secrets, manipulation, transformation. Animal: Serpent. Lucky gem: Emerald.
• ✦10. Magha (मघा) — 0° to 13°20' Leo — Ruled by Ketu. Deities: Pitris (ancestors). Nature: Regal, authoritative, ancestral karma returns. Animal: Rat. Lucky gem: Amber.
• ✦11. Purva Phalguni (पूर्व फाल्गुनी) — 13°20' to 26°40' Leo — Ruled by Venus. Deities: Aryaman (liberal, noble). Nature: Artistic, creative, romantic, hedonistic. Animal: Rat. Lucky gem: Diamond.
• ✦12. Uttara Phalguni (उत्तर फाल्गुनी) — 26°40' Leo to 10° Virgo — Ruled by the Sun. Deities: Bhaga (prosperity). Nature: Disciplined, just, prosperity through work. Animal: Cow. Lucky gem: Ruby.
• ✦13. Hasta (हस्त) — 10° to 23°20' Virgo — Ruled by Mercury. Deities: Savitri (divine creator). Nature: Skillful, crafty, dexterous, healer. Animal: Buffalo. Lucky gem: Emerald.
• ✦14. Chitra (चित्र) — 23°20' Virgo to 6°40' Libra — Ruled by Mars. Deities: Tvashtar (cosmic architect). Nature: Creative, brilliant, builders of worlds. Animal: Tiger. Lucky gem: Red coral.
• ✦15. Swati (स्वाती) — 6°40' to 20° Libra — Ruled by Rahu. Deities: Vayu (wind god). Nature: Independent, mercurial, wavering, versatile. Animal: Buffalo. Lucky gem: Hessonite garnet.
• ✦16. Visakha (विशाखा) — 20° Libra to 3°20' Scorpio — Ruled by Jupiter. Deities: Indra & Agni (strength & fire). Nature: Goal-oriented, fiery, two paths. Animal: Tiger. Lucky gem: Yellow sapphire.
• ✦17. Anuradha (अनुराधा) — 3°20' to 16°40' Scorpio — Ruled by Saturn. Deities: Mitra (friendship). Nature: Devoted, loyal, following a path, inner strength. Animal: Doe. Lucky gem: Blue sapphire.
• ✦18. Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठा) — 16°40' to 30° Scorpio — Ruled by Mercury. Deities: Indra (supreme god). Nature: Leadership, courage, power, pride, struggle. Animal: Mongoose. Lucky gem: Emerald.
• ✦19. Mula (मूल) — 0° to 13°20' Sagittarius — Ruled by Ketu. Deities: Nirriti (dissolution). Nature: Root-seeking, destruction/foundation, investigation. Animal: Dog. Lucky gem: Amber.
• ✦20. Purva Ashadha (पूर्व आषाढ़ा) — 13°20' to 26°40' Sagittarius — Ruled by Venus. Deities: Apas (waters). Nature: Invincible, victorious, warrior spirit. Animal: Monkey. Lucky gem: Diamond.
• ✦21. Uttara Ashadha (उत्तर आषाढ़ा) — 26°40' Sagittarius to 10° Capricorn — Ruled by the Sun. Deities: Vishnu (sustainer). Nature: Victory, moral victory, warrior's path. Animal: Mongoose. Lucky gem: Ruby.
• ✦22. Shravana (श्रवण) — 10° to 23°20' Capricorn — Ruled by Moon. Deities: Vishnu. Nature: Listening, learning, devotion, precision. Animal: Monkey. Lucky gem: Pearl.
• ✦23. Dhanishtha (धनिष्ठा) — 23°20' Capricorn to 6°40' Aquarius — Ruled by Mars. Deities: Vasus (wealth gods). Nature: Wealthy, musical, rhythmic, generous. Animal: Lion. Lucky gem: Red coral.
• ✦24. Shatabhisha (शतभिषा) — 6°40' to 20° Aquarius — Ruled by Rahu. Deities: Varuna (cosmic ocean). Nature: Healing, mystery, many secrets, veiled. Animal: Horse. Lucky gem: Hessonite garnet.
• ✦25. Purva Bhadrapada (पूर्व भाद्रपदा) — 20° Aquarius to 3°20' Pisces — Ruled by Jupiter. Deities: Aja Ekapada (one-footed goat). Nature: Fierce, ascetic, spiritual warrior, two-faced. Animal: Lion. Lucky gem: Yellow sapphire.
• ✦26. Uttara Bhadrapada (उत्तर भाद्रपदा) — 3°20' to 16°40' Pisces — Ruled by Saturn. Deities: Ahir Budhyana (serpent of depths). Nature: Steady, peaceful, grounded despite spiritual depths. Animal: Cow. Lucky gem: Blue sapphire.
• ✦27. Revati (रेवती) — 16°40' to 30° Pisces — Ruled by Mercury. Deities: Pushan (nourisher). Nature: Protected, prosperous, ancient wisdom, fish. Animal: Fish. Lucky gem: Emerald.

How Your Janma Nakshatra Shapes You

Your Janma Nakshatra (the Moon's nakshatra at birth) is the foundation of your emotional nature, subconscious drives, and spiritual path. Unlike the Sun sign (which is about will and ego), the Moon sign (rashis) is about emotion, and the nakshatra goes even deeper — into instinct, conditioning, and soul memory. If the rashi is the river, the nakshatra is the exact bend where you are born into it. Someone born with Sun in Aries and Moon in Capricorn will be very different depending on whether the Moon was in Mrigashira (Mars-ruled, fiery, curious) or Shravana (Moon-ruled, precise, listening). The nakshatra carries the DNA of how you process emotion, handle stress, form attachments, and ultimately, serve your dharma.

Nakshatra Padas — The Four Quarters

Each nakshatra is divided into four padas (quarters), each spanning 3°20'. Each pada is ruled by a different sign and a different planetary lord. This creates 108 micro-divisions in the zodiac (27 nakshatras × 4 padas). Your exact birth position within your nakshatra's pada influences your sub-personality and specific karmic themes. For example, Rohini has four padas: Pada 1 in Taurus (Taurus energy), Pada 2 in Gemini (mental), Pada 3 in Cancer (emotional), and Pada 4 in Leo (creative). Someone born in Rohini Pada 4 will have very different flavors of Rohini's beauty and sensuality compared to Rohini Pada 1. Knowing your exact pada (which requires your precise birth time) adds remarkable specificity to your astrological reading.

Nakshatra Compatibility in Marriage

In Vedic matchmaking (Kundali Milan), one of the most important factors is nakshatra compatibility, particularly Nakshatra Guna Milan. The 27 nakshatras are arranged in a circular pattern, and the distance between your Janma Nakshatra and your partner's determines compatibility score. Some nakshatras are naturally harmonious (like Rohini with Rohini, or Chitra with Swati), while others can create friction. However, modern Jyotishis understand that raw nakshatra incompatibility can be overcome by other chart factors (strong Venus for marriage, benefic Moon placements, good Dashas running). The Ashta-Koota system uses 8 different matching criteria, of which Nakshatra Guna is just one. Two people born in 'incompatible' nakshatras can have thriving marriages if their overall charts support it.

Nakshatra and Health

Each nakshatra has specific health affinities and vulnerabilities. Krittika natives tend toward inflammation and fever (Agni/fire). Ashlesha natives are prone to digestive and coiling issues (serpent energy). Shravana natives often have nervous system sensitivity (they absorb too much). Pushya natives have the best health resilience but can take on others' burdens. Mula natives (root-seekers) can suffer from root chakra instability — anxiety, grounding issues, fear. Revati natives benefit from water-based therapies and coastal living. Your nakshatra, combined with your Moon sign and Lagna, creates your constitutional health blueprint. A knowledgeable Ayurvedic doctor or Jyotishi can prescribe nakshatra-specific remedies: herbs, practices, colors, and lifestyle adjustments that work WITH your natal energies rather than against them.

Nakshatra Ruling Planets and Mahadashas

Each nakshatra is ruled by one of the nine planets, and this determines your Vimshottari Mahadasha sequence. If your Moon is in Krittika (Sun-ruled), your first Mahadasha will be Sun. If your Moon is in Rohini (Moon-ruled), your first Mahadasha will be Moon. Your Mahadasha sequence runs for 120 years total, with each planet's period lasting a specific number of years. Sun's Mahadasha = 6 years. Moon's = 10 years. Mars = 7 years. Mercury = 17 years. Jupiter = 16 years. Venus = 20 years. Saturn = 19 years. Rahu = 18 years. Ketu = 7 years. Understanding which planet's dasha you are currently running and when transitions occur helps you prepare for major life shifts. A challenging Saturn Mahadasha, for example, is easier when you know it's coming and how long it will last.