Nakshatra in Astrology Image Source: Prokerala.com

All you need to know about the 27 nakshatras in astrology

Bearing in mind the 360 degrees of the elliptically structured zodiac, it can be divided into twelve houses with each house being equal to thirty degrees. With further subdivision of the same into twenty seven nakshatras or star constellation, each of the constellations occupies a magnitude of thirteen degrees and twenty minutes.

Just as an individual takes birth under different rasis or zodiac signs governing the twelve houses, similarly the celestial presence of the twenty seven 'nakshatras' or birth star governs our birth. Lunar placement in natal or birth chart determines the birth star governing an individual.

If you don't know your birth star, use the nakshatra finder to find out.

Todays Nakshatra

Uttara Ashadha Nakshatra Timing
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Next Shravana timing is on May 01 04:09 AM - May 02 03:11 AM

View May 01, 2024 Panchang → * Timing is in IST for Ujjain, India

Nakshatra Names and Their Meanings

The name of nakshatras in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi along with their meanings is given below.

Nakshatra Malayalam Tamil Telugu Hindi
Ashwini
Horse like woman
അശ്വതി அஸ்வினி అశ్విని अश्विनी
Bharani
The bearer
ഭരണി பரணி భరణి भरणी
Krittika
The Cutter
കാർത്തിക கார்த்திகை కృత్తిక कृत्तिका
Rohini
Red faced One
രോഹിണി ரோகிணி రోహిణి रोहिणी
Mrigashirsha
the deer's head
മകയിരം மிருகசீரிடம் మృగశిర म्रृगशीर्षा
Ardra
Moist One
തിരുവാതിര திருவாதிரை ఆర్ద్ర आर्द्रा
Punarvasu
Restoring goods
പുണർതം புனர்பூசம் పునర్వసు पुनर्वसु
Pushya
Nourishing
പൂയം பூசம் పపుష్యమి पुष्य
Ashlesha
The embracer
ആയില്യം ஆயில்யம் ఆశ్లేష आश्लेषा
Magha
The wealthy one
മകം மகம் మాఘ मघा
Purva Phalguni
Earlier reddish one
പൂരം பூரம் పూర్వ ఫల్గుని पूर्व फाल्गुनी
Uttara Phalguni
Latter reddish one
ഉത്രം உத்திரம் ఉత్తర ఫల్గుని उत्तर फाल्गुनी
Hasta
The hand
അത്തം அஸ்தம் హస్త हस्त
Chitra
The bright one
ചിത്തിര சித்திரை చిత్త चित्रा
Swati
Sword or Independence
ചോതി சுவாதி స్వాతి स्वाती
Vishaka
Forked (having branches)
വിശാഖം விசாகம் విశాఖ विशाखा
Anuradha
Disciple of divine spark
അനിഴം அனுஷம் అనురాధ अनुराधा
Jyeshta
The eldest
തൃക്കേട്ട கேட்டை జ్యేష్ట ज्येष्ठा
Moola
The root
മൂലം மூலம் మూల मूल
Purva Ashadha
Previous invincible one
പൂരാടം பூராடம் పూర్వాషాడ पूर्वाषाढा
Uttara Ashada
Latter invincible one
ഉത്രാടം உத்திராடம் ఉత్తరాషాడ उत्तराषाढा
Shravana
The audible
തിരുവോണം திருவோணம் శ్రావణ श्रवण
Dhanistha
The richest one
അവിട്ടം அவிட்டம் ధనిష్ఠ धनिष्ठा
Shatabhisaa
Hundred healers
ചതയം சதயம் శతభిష शतभिषक्
Purva Bhadrapada
Former blessed feet
പൂരുരുട്ടാതി பூரட்டாதி పూర్వాభాద్ర पूर्वभाद्रपदा
Uttara Bhadrapada
Latter blessed feet
ഉത്രട്ടാതി உத்திரட்டாதி ఉత్తరాభాద్ర उत्तरभाद्रपदा
Revati
The wealthy
രേവതി ரேவதி రేవతి रेवती

Importance of Nakshatra in Astrology

Since the constellation or nakshatra where moon finds its presence is known as the Janma Nakshatra and as moon influences the mental aspects of the native, nakshatra of the moon thus casts its indelible influence on moon. If one is born under Mars's nakshatra, it is likely to influence the aspects governed by Mars such as marriage and younger siblings.

With each nakshatra having a planetary lord, the placement of the same (planetary lord) determines the initial dasa or 'phase' in the horoscope of a native. Nakshatra lords also play an important role in determining the essential quality of a person besides helping to assess the focal points of his energy and ambition.

Nakshatra compatibility

With Vedic astrology giving much insistence on compatibility factors of bride & bridegroom, thorough matching of the horoscope prior to marital settlement is generally called for. Apart from taking into consideration the sun sign, rasi or moon sign, and the point of ascendance; nakshatra based compatibility is also emphasized.

Nakshatra centric matching also known as 'koota- guna matching' helps to pin point the relative merit and demerits of the concerned pair in respect of one another. In the realm of nakshatra matching at least eighteen positive points are necessitated for a union to be termed as compatible. As far as the similar matching is concerned, usually the cross checking follows from the girl's to that of the boy's with vertical calculation along the same row.

Nakshatra and Rasi

With both nakshatra and rasi being an intrinsic part of the same elliptical zodiac, both are fundamentally related to one another. Logically speaking twelve segments of rasi or moon signs correspond to the twenty seven nakshatras or constellations present in the similar ellipse. Other way round one can say that with twelve rasis being equal to twenty seven nakshatras, each rasi is equal to two and quarter of nakshatra.

Thirumana porutham in Tamil

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