What is a Nakshatra?

A nakshatra is one of the 27 equal divisions of the ecliptic (the Sun's apparent path across the sky), each about 13°20′ wide. The Moon moves through roughly one nakshatra a day, which is why ‘today's nakshatra’ changes daily. Nakshatra is one of the five parts (anga) of the panchang, and every nakshatra has a ruling planet (swami graha) and a presiding deity.

The ecliptic — the Sun's apparent path — is a full 360°. Divide it into 27 equal parts and each part is 13°20′ (13 degrees, 20 minutes). Each such part is called a nakshatra.

• Every nakshatra is further divided into 4 padas (quarters) of 3°20′ each, so 27 × 4 = 108 padas in total (which is why the number 108 is significant).
• The Moon completes one orbit of the Earth in about 27.3 days, travelling roughly one nakshatra a day. That is why the nakshatra in the panchang changes every day.
• Each nakshatra has one main star (its ‘yoga tara’) by which it is identified in the sky.

‘Today's nakshatra’ is the one prevailing at sunrise on that day — it does not stay the same all day; it ends at a fixed time and the next one begins.

These are the astronomical / definitional points. The gana, deities and muhurat usage below belong to tradition and jyotish (astrology).

Significance

Nakshatra is one part of the panchang, and it marks the Moon's position in the sky. (Tithi is the angular distance between the Moon and Sun, whereas the nakshatra tells you which star-group the Moon is in at that moment.)

Practical uses:

• Namakaran (naming) — the first syllable for a baby's name is suggested from the nakshatra-pada at the time of birth.
• Muhurat — a favourable nakshatra is chosen for auspicious work.
• Vivah gunamilan (marriage matching) — nakshatra is used when weighing koots such as gana, nadi and yoni.
• Janma-nakshatra (birth nakshatra) — one foundation of the birth chart (janma-kundali).

In Indian astronomy the nakshatras are the backbone of the calendar — the names of the Marathi masa (months) themselves come from nakshatras (for example Chaitra from Chitra, Vaishakh from Vishakha, Margashirsh from Mrig).

List of the 27 nakshatras

The table below gives each nakshatra's ruling planet (swami graha), presiding deity and gana. The names and spellings use common Marathi forms; details of deities, planets and gana can vary slightly by tradition.

A memory aid for the planet order: the ruling planets cycle Ketu → Shukra → Surya → Chandra → Mangal → Rahu → Guru → Shani → Budh, and this cycle repeats three times (this is the basis of the Vimshottari dasha).

Note on the Phalguni deities (*): the deities of Purva and Uttara Phalguni (Bhag and Aryaman) appear interchanged in different ancient texts.

Gana and marriage matching

The nakshatras are grouped into three ganas — Dev, Manushya and Rakshasa — with 9 nakshatras each:

• Dev gana — considered gentle and cooperative in nature.
• Manushya gana — practical, in-between.
• Rakshasa gana — independent and firm. (Here ‘Rakshasa’ does not mean evil, but an independent, strong disposition.)

In marriage matching (the ashtakoot system), gana is one of the koots (factors); the compatibility of the partners' nakshatra-ganas is checked. That said, the criteria for gana and matching vary by tradition and by the panchang-maker — they are a guide, not a final rule.

Namakaran and muhurat usage

Namakaran (naming): the pada (quarter) of the nakshatra in which the Moon sits at the time of birth has a fixed first syllable assigned to it, and that syllable is suggested for the baby's name. Because there are 27 × 4 = 108 padas, each pada carries one syllable in the scheme.

As an example (this varies slightly by tradition):

The scheme varies slightly by panchang and family tradition, so decide a baby's name with panchang or purohit guidance.

Muhurat: a favourable nakshatra is chosen for a particular task (for example travel, griha-pravesh, or a wedding).

⚠️ Any ‘do this or avoid that on such-and-such nakshatra’ is astrological guidance — it varies by tradition and purohit, and should not be taken as a universal rule.

Panchak

Panchak means the last five nakshatras — Dhanishtha (second half), Shatataraka, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati. During this stretch the Moon is in the Kumbh (Aquarius) and Meen (Pisces) rashis.

Traditionally, this period is avoided for some tasks (especially travel to the south, roofing or timber work, and certain funeral-related customs). This is a belief and a tradition — not a universal, factual rule.

The type of panchak is named from the vaar (weekday) it begins on: Sunday → rog panchak, Monday → raj panchak (considered auspicious), Tuesday → agni panchak, Friday → chor panchak, Saturday → mrityu panchak. These labels are traditional beliefs — read them as cultural context, not as a universal rule.

Gandant / gandmul

Gandmul nakshatras (6): Ashwini, Ashlesha, Magha, Jyeshtha, Mul and Revati — the junction nakshatras ruled by Ketu and Budh.

Gandant is the unstable joint (sandhi) where one nakshatra ends and the next begins. There are three such joints, each about 48 minutes long (24 minutes before + 24 minutes after, 2 ghatika total):

• Revati (end) → Ashwini (start)
• Ashlesha (end) → Magha (start)
• Jyeshtha (end) → Mul (start)

Traditionally, a shanti ritual is recommended for a birth during this joint. This is a belief and a tradition — not a universal fact.

If a child is born under a gandmul nakshatra (Ashwini · Ashlesha · Magha · Jyeshtha · Mul · Revati), a gandmul-shanti is traditionally performed. The ritual varies by region and purohit — take panchang or purohit guidance for the details.

Regional practice

In Maharashtra, nakshatra-based namakaran (the barse naming ceremony) and recording the birth nakshatra are common; Marathi panchangs give the daily nakshatra and its end-time.

The names of the Marathi months are tied to the Moon's nakshatra at the full moon: Chaitra ← Chitra, Vaishakh ← Vishakha, Jyeshtha ← Jyeshtha, Ashadh ← (Purva/Uttara) Ashadha, Shravan ← Shravan, Bhadrapad ← (Purva/Uttara) Bhadrapada, Ashwin ← Ashwini, Kartik ← Krittika, Margashirsh ← Mrig, Paush ← Pushya, Magh ← Magha, Phalgun ← (Purva/Uttara) Phalguni.

Gandmul-shanti, the naming syllables and similar details can vary by household and local tradition and by purohit.

Good to know

• ‘Today's nakshatra’ is not the same all day — it ends at a fixed time and the next begins (see the end-time on the today's panchang page).
• Nakshatra times are location-dependent (based on sunrise and place) — one time does not apply everywhere.
• The ‘inauspicious’ effects of panchak and gandant are traditions and beliefs — read them as cultural context, not as a universal rule. Make important decisions with panchang or purohit guidance.
• Details of gana, deities and the naming syllables can vary slightly by panchang-maker and family tradition.

FAQ

What is a nakshatra?

It is one of the 27 equal divisions of the ecliptic (each about 13°20′); the nakshatra at any moment is the one the Moon is in. It is one part (anga) of the panchang.

How many nakshatras are there and what are their names?

There are 27 — Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrig, Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Magha, Purva/Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshtha, Mul, Purva/Uttarashadha, Shravan, Dhanishtha, Shatataraka, Purva/Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati.

Which are the gandmul nakshatras, and why are they considered inauspicious?

Ashwini, Ashlesha, Magha, Jyeshtha, Mul and Revati. Because they are junction nakshatras, caution is advised by tradition, and a shanti is suggested for a birth under them. This is a belief — not a universal rule.

What is panchak, and what is avoided during it?

The five nakshatras Dhanishtha (second half), Shatataraka, Purva/Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati (with the Moon in Kumbh–Meen). Traditionally some tasks are avoided; raj panchak, however, is considered auspicious.

How do I find my birth nakshatra (janma-nakshatra)?

From your time and place of birth, it is the nakshatra the Moon was in at that moment (read from a panchang or birth chart). That day's nakshatra also appears on the Today's Panchang page.

How is a baby's name chosen from the nakshatra?

Using the first syllable assigned to the pada of the birth nakshatra (the syllable scheme). Take the exact table from an authoritative source or a purohit.