The 27 nakshatras

India divided the sky into twenty-seven lunar mansions long before the twelve signs. Each is 13 degrees 20 minutes wide - about one day of the Moon's travel - and the one the Moon occupied at your birth is your janma nakshatra.

Find your nakshatra from your birth details

All 27, in order

  1. Ashwini अश्विनी

    Ruled by: Ketu Deity: Ashwini Kumaras Symbol: a horse's head

    The first nakshatra, and the one that moves fastest.

  2. Bharani भरणी

    Ruled by: Venus Deity: Yama Symbol: a yoni

    Ruled by Venus and presided over by Yama, the god who receives the dead - which sounds severe and is not.

  3. Krittika कृत्तिका

    Ruled by: Sun Deity: Agni Symbol: a blade

    Agni's nakshatra, ruled by the Sun, with a blade for a symbol.

  4. Rohini रोहिणी

    Ruled by: Moon Deity: Brahma Symbol: a cart

    The Moon's own favourite, ruled by the Moon and presided over by Brahma the creator.

  5. Mrigashira मृगशीर्ष

    Ruled by: Mars Deity: Soma Symbol: a deer's head

    A deer's head, ruled by Mars, with Soma for its deity.

  6. Ardra आर्द्रा

    Ruled by: Rahu Deity: Rudra Symbol: a teardrop

    Rudra's nakshatra, ruled by Rahu, with a teardrop for its symbol.

  7. Punarvasu पुनर्वसु

    Ruled by: Jupiter Deity: Aditi Symbol: a quiver of arrows

    'Good again' - the nakshatra of return and renewal, ruled by Jupiter with Aditi, mother of the gods, as its deity.

  8. Pushya पुष्य

    Ruled by: Saturn Deity: Brihaspati Symbol: a cow's udder

    Classically the most auspicious of all twenty-seven.

  9. Ashlesha आश्लेषा

    Ruled by: Mercury Deity: the Nagas Symbol: a coiled serpent

    The coiled serpent, ruled by Mercury with the Nagas as deities.

  10. Magha मघा

    Ruled by: Ketu Deity: the Pitris Symbol: a throne

    The throne, ruled by Ketu, with the Pitris - the ancestors - as its deities.

  11. Purva Phalguni पूर्वा फाल्गुनी

    Ruled by: Venus Deity: Bhaga Symbol: the front legs of a bed

    Venus-ruled, with Bhaga the god of delight and good fortune.

  12. Uttara Phalguni उत्तरा फाल्गुनी

    Ruled by: Sun Deity: Aryaman Symbol: the back legs of a bed

    The back of the bed, ruled by the Sun with Aryaman, god of contracts and patronage.

  13. Hasta हस्त

    Ruled by: Moon Deity: Savitr Symbol: an open hand

    An open hand, ruled by the Moon with Savitr the solar deity of skill.

  14. Chitra चित्रा

    Ruled by: Mars Deity: Tvashtar Symbol: a bright jewel

    The bright jewel, ruled by Mars with Tvashtar the celestial architect.

  15. Swati स्वाती

    Ruled by: Rahu Deity: Vayu Symbol: a young shoot in the wind

    A young shoot moving in the wind, ruled by Rahu with Vayu for its deity.

  16. Vishakha विशाखा

    Ruled by: Jupiter Deity: Indra and Agni Symbol: an archway

    An archway, ruled by Jupiter with Indra and Agni together.

  17. Anuradha अनुराधा

    Ruled by: Saturn Deity: Mitra Symbol: a lotus

    The lotus, ruled by Saturn with Mitra, god of friendship.

  18. Jyeshtha ज्येष्ठा

    Ruled by: Mercury Deity: Indra Symbol: an earring

    'The eldest', an earring for a symbol, ruled by Mercury with Indra, king of the gods.

  19. Mula मूल

    Ruled by: Ketu Deity: Nirriti Symbol: a bunch of tied roots

    The root, ruled by Ketu with Nirriti, goddess of dissolution.

  20. Purvashadha पूर्वाषाढा

    Ruled by: Venus Deity: Apas Symbol: a fan

    'The early victory', ruled by Venus with Apas, the waters.

  21. Uttarashadha उत्तराषाढा

    Ruled by: Sun Deity: the Vishwadevas Symbol: an elephant's tusk

    'The later victory', ruled by the Sun with the Vishwadevas.

  22. Shravana श्रवण

    Ruled by: Moon Deity: Vishnu Symbol: an ear

    An ear, ruled by the Moon with Vishnu.

  23. Dhanishta धनिष्ठा

    Ruled by: Mars Deity: the Vasus Symbol: a drum

    A drum, ruled by Mars with the eight Vasus.

  24. Shatabhisha शतभिषा

    Ruled by: Rahu Deity: Varuna Symbol: an empty circle

    'A hundred healers', an empty circle, ruled by Rahu with Varuna.

  25. Purva Bhadrapada पूर्वा भाद्रपदा

    Ruled by: Jupiter Deity: Aja Ekapada Symbol: the front of a funeral cot

    Ruled by Jupiter with Aja Ekapada, the one-footed goat.

  26. Uttara Bhadrapada उत्तरा भाद्रपदा

    Ruled by: Saturn Deity: Ahir Budhnya Symbol: the back of a funeral cot

    Ruled by Saturn with Ahir Budhnya, the serpent of the deep.

  27. Revati रेवती

    Ruled by: Mercury Deity: Pushan Symbol: a fish

    The last nakshatra - a fish, ruled by Mercury with Pushan, the guardian of travellers and of herds.