The 27 nakshatras vedic astrology system is the lunar zodiac that complements the 12-sign solar zodiac. Where the 12 rashis give the broad pattern of personality and general life themes, the 27 nakshatras give the specific texture: the subtle energetic signature, the deity association, the specific karmic theme, and the detailed prediction tools that Vedic astrology uses for precise timing. This guide provides an overview of all 27 nakshatras with their essential characteristics.
Why 27 Nakshatras?
The Moon completes one cycle through the zodiac in approximately 27 days. Each day the Moon transits through one nakshatra (one 13 degree 20 minute portion). The 27 nakshatras therefore represent the 27 stations of the Moon's monthly journey.
Mythologically, the 27 nakshatras are the wives of Chandra (Moon), daughters of Prajapati Daksha. Each has her own personality, gifts, and themes, which Chandra experiences as he transits through her portion of the sky each month.
Practically, the nakshatras are essential to Vedic astrology because they provide:
- The basis for the Vimshottari Mahadasha system
- Detailed birth-time prediction beyond the rashi
- Compatibility analysis through the 8 kootas
- Daily muhurta (auspicious time) calculation
- Karmic insight into specific life themes
The 27 Nakshatras: Complete List
1. Ashwini (0 to 13.20 Aries)
Lord: Ketu Deity: Ashwini Kumars (divine twin horsemen, healers) Symbol: Horse's head Key trait: Pioneering, healing, speed
Ashwini natives are initiators with natural healing capacity. They love to be first and bring fresh energy to any field. (See our complete Ashwini guide.)
2. Bharani (13.20 to 26.40 Aries)
Lord: Venus Deity: Yama (god of death and transformation) Symbol: Yoni (female reproductive organ) Key trait: Creative transformation, fertility, ethical responsibility
Bharani natives carry the energy of profound transformation. They are often morally serious, fertile in creative and material ways, and capable of significant ethical work.
3. Krittika (26.40 Aries to 10 Taurus)
Lord: Sun Deity: Agni (god of fire) Symbol: Razor or knife Key trait: Cutting through illusion, leadership, fire
Krittika natives have a quality of sharpness and clarity. They cut through what is false to find what is real. Often leaders, teachers, or those who reform institutions.
4. Rohini (10 to 23.20 Taurus)
Lord: Moon Deity: Brahma (creator) Symbol: Ox cart Key trait: Beauty, abundance, longing
Rohini is the Moon's most beloved nakshatra. Krishna was born here. Natives carry exceptional beauty, creative gifts, and capacity for love. (See our complete Rohini guide.)
5. Mrigashira (23.20 Taurus to 6.40 Gemini)
Lord: Mars Deity: Soma (Moon as god) Symbol: Deer's head Key trait: Curious seeking, exploration, gentleness
Mrigashira natives are seekers. They explore, search, and refine. Often gentle in manner but persistent in pursuit.
6. Ardra (6.40 to 20 Gemini)
Lord: Rahu Deity: Rudra (storm and destruction) Symbol: Diamond or teardrop Key trait: Intense transformation through storm
Ardra natives carry storm energy: intense, transformative, sometimes destructive of the old to make way for the new.
7. Punarvasu (20 Gemini to 3.20 Cancer)
Lord: Jupiter Deity: Aditi (mother of the gods) Symbol: Bow and quiver Key trait: Renewal, return, mother's nurturing
Punarvasu means "return of light." Natives have a quality of starting again, of returning to light after darkness. Strongly nurturing.
8. Pushya (3.20 to 16.40 Cancer)
Lord: Saturn Deity: Brihaspati (Jupiter as god) Symbol: Cow's udder Key trait: Nourishment, dharma, stability
Pushya is classically the most auspicious nakshatra. Natives are wise, stable, nurturing, dharmic. (See our complete Pushya guide.)
9. Ashlesha (16.40 to 30 Cancer)
Lord: Mercury Deity: Nagas (serpent deities) Symbol: Coiled serpent Key trait: Depth, magnetism, hidden power
Ashlesha natives have serpentine power: charismatic, deep, sometimes secretive. Often profound healers or transformative teachers.
10. Magha (0 to 13.20 Leo)
Lord: Ketu Deity: Pitrs (ancestors) Symbol: Royal throne Key trait: Royal nature, ancestor connection, leadership
Magha natives carry royal energy. They are often connected strongly to ancestors, lineage, and traditional authority.
11. Purva Phalguni (13.20 to 26.40 Leo)
Lord: Venus Deity: Bhaga (god of fortune) Symbol: Front legs of a bed Key trait: Pleasure, creativity, leisure
Purva Phalguni natives love beauty, comfort, and creative expression. They bring joy and abundance to those around them.
12. Uttara Phalguni (26.40 Leo to 10 Virgo)
Lord: Sun Deity: Aryaman (god of patrons) Symbol: Back legs of a bed Key trait: Patronage, contracts, marriage
Uttara Phalguni natives are excellent in partnership: marriage, business, social contracts. They support others and are supported.
13. Hasta (10 to 23.20 Virgo)
Lord: Moon Deity: Savitr (Sun as creator) Symbol: Hand Key trait: Skill, dexterity, healing hands
Hasta natives have skilled hands: crafts, healing, intricate work. Practical and reliable.
14. Chitra (23.20 Virgo to 6.40 Libra)
Lord: Mars Deity: Vishvakarma (divine architect) Symbol: Bright jewel Key trait: Beautiful design, artistic gifts, structure
Chitra natives are creators of beauty in structured form: architects, designers, artists who work with form.
15. Swati (6.40 to 20 Libra)
Lord: Rahu Deity: Vayu (wind) Symbol: Coral or shoot blown by wind Key trait: Independence, movement, adaptability
Swati natives are independent, mobile, often traveling. They adapt and flow.
16. Vishakha (20 Libra to 3.20 Scorpio)
Lord: Jupiter Deity: Indra and Agni (king of gods, fire god) Symbol: Triumphal arch or forked branch Key trait: Achievement, focused goal, intensity
Vishakha natives are determined achievers. They pursue goals with intensity and often reach prominent positions.
17. Anuradha (3.20 to 16.40 Scorpio)
Lord: Saturn Deity: Mitra (god of friendship) Symbol: Lotus Key trait: Devotion, friendship, organized spirituality
Anuradha natives are devoted: in friendship, spiritual practice, and structured work. Often build institutions or communities.
18. Jyeshtha (16.40 to 30 Scorpio)
Lord: Mercury Deity: Indra (king of gods) Symbol: Earring or amulet Key trait: Seniority, authority, secret knowledge
Jyeshtha natives carry the energy of the eldest: authority, responsibility, secret knowledge. Often leaders in their families and fields.
19. Mula (0 to 13.20 Sagittarius)
Lord: Ketu Deity: Nirriti (goddess of dissolution) Symbol: Tied roots Key trait: Going to the root, dissolution, spiritual radical change
Mula natives go to the root of things. They dissolve what is unnecessary and reach the essential. Often spiritual seekers.
20. Purva Ashadha (13.20 to 26.40 Sagittarius)
Lord: Venus Deity: Apas (waters) Symbol: Fan or winnowing basket Key trait: Early victory, invincibility, water energy
Purva Ashadha natives have a quality of invincibility in early efforts. They flow like water and find their way.
21. Uttara Ashadha (26.40 Sagittarius to 10 Capricorn)
Lord: Sun Deity: Vishvadevas (universal gods) Symbol: Elephant tusk Key trait: Universal victory, lasting achievement
Uttara Ashadha natives build lasting achievements that benefit many. Universally respected.
22. Shravana (10 to 23.20 Capricorn)
Lord: Moon Deity: Vishnu Symbol: Ear or three footprints Key trait: Listening, learning, spiritual scholarship
Shravana natives are listeners and learners. Often scholars, teachers, or those who carry traditional knowledge.
23. Dhanishta (23.20 Capricorn to 6.40 Aquarius)
Lord: Mars Deity: Eight Vasus (gods of light) Symbol: Drum Key trait: Music, rhythm, group leadership
Dhanishta natives are rhythmic: musicians, dancers, group leaders who organize energy through pattern.
24. Shatabhisha (6.40 to 20 Aquarius)
Lord: Rahu Deity: Varuna (god of cosmic waters) Symbol: Empty circle or 100 healers Key trait: Mystery, healing, isolation
Shatabhisha natives are mysterious healers. Often work with the hidden, isolated, or marginalized.
25. Purva Bhadrapada (20 Aquarius to 3.20 Pisces)
Lord: Jupiter Deity: Aja Ekapada (one-footed goat) Symbol: Front legs of a funeral bed Key trait: Spiritual intensity, transformation, dualism
Purva Bhadrapada natives carry intense spiritual energy. Often work with transformation at deep levels.
26. Uttara Bhadrapada (3.20 to 16.40 Pisces)
Lord: Saturn Deity: Ahir Budhnya (serpent of the deep) Symbol: Back legs of a funeral bed Key trait: Deep wisdom, occult knowledge, completion
Uttara Bhadrapada natives carry deep, ancient wisdom. Often work in spiritual or occult fields.
27. Revati (16.40 to 30 Pisces)
Lord: Mercury Deity: Pushan (nourishing Sun) Symbol: Fish or drum Key trait: Nourishment, journey, completion
Revati natives carry the energy of safe journey and nourishment. Often supportive figures, teachers of children, or those who help others complete their journeys.
How to Use This Guide
If you know your birth nakshatra, focus on that nakshatra's section. Read the lord, deity, symbol, and key trait to understand the energetic signature of your placement.
For each of the major nakshatras, Soul Infinity is publishing detailed individual guides covering personality, the 4 padas, career, marriage, and remedies. Currently published: Rohini and Pushya. Ashwini and additional nakshatras are in progress.
The Vimshottari Dasha and Nakshatras
Your birth nakshatra determines your Vimshottari Mahadasha sequence:
- Ashwini, Magha, Mula nakshatras: Ketu Mahadasha at birth
- Bharani, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha: Venus Mahadasha at birth
- Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha: Sun Mahadasha at birth
- Rohini, Hasta, Shravana: Moon Mahadasha at birth
- Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishta: Mars Mahadasha at birth
- Ardra, Swati, Shatabhisha: Rahu Mahadasha at birth
- Punarvasu, Vishakha, Purva Bhadrapada: Jupiter Mahadasha at birth
- Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada: Saturn Mahadasha at birth
- Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati: Mercury Mahadasha at birth
The exact Mahadasha activation time depends on the precise degree of the Moon within the nakshatra at birth.
Booking a Nakshatra-Focused Consultation
For a consultation focused on your birth nakshatra, current dasha, and how the nakshatra shapes your life themes, contact Soul Infinity through WhatsApp.