The 27 Nakshatras and Their Meaning in Vedic Astrology

Vedic astrology is an astrological tradition that originated in India. It differs from Western astrology in several ways. One of the main differences is that Vedic astrology has 27 “lunar mansions” called Nakshatras. Each Nakshatra represents a constellation along the Earth’s ecliptic plane. Though the stars of the Nakshatras are part of the Western astrological constellations, ancient Vedic astrologers divided them differently and gave them different names.

According to Hindu mythology, each Nakshatra is the daughter of Daksha, one of the creator gods, also called Prajapati. All the daughters are married to Chandra, the god of the Moon.

To find your natal Nakshatra, use a calculator like the one found at aaps.space.

The 27 Nakshatras and Their Meaning

1. Ashwini or Ashvini

Ruling Planet: South Node (Ketu)

Associated Deity: Ashvins, twins with the heads of a horse who are the gods’ doctors

Associated Stars: Sheratan and Mesarthim

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 23°46′ Aries-7°06′ Taurus

Quality or Modality: Swift (Laghu)

Associated Element: Earth

Personality Traits: Loyal friend, ambitious, stubborn, energetic, sexual, brave, traditional within a frame of modernity

2. Bharani

Ruling Planet: Venus (Shukra)

Associated Deity: Yama, the Hindu god of death

Associated Stars: Lilii Borea, 35 & 41 Areatis

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 7°06′-20°26′ Taurus

Quality or Modality: Fierce (Ugra)

Associated Element: Earth

Personality Traits: Calm, friendly, in the moment, straightforward, honest, independent, stylish, artistic, optimistic, ambitious

3. Krittika

Ruling Planet: The Sun (Surya)

Associated Deity: Agni, the Hindu fire god

Associated Stars: The Pleiades

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 20°26′ Taurus-3°46’ Gemini

Quality or Modality: Mixed (Misra)

Associated Element: Earth

Personality Traits: Fast-moving, critical, analytical, reliable, serious, disciplined, hard shell with a soft interior, tenacious

4. Rohini

Ruling Planet: The Moon (Chandra)

Associated Deity: Prajapati, the creator god in Hinduism

Associated Stars: Aldebaran

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 3°46′-17°06′ Gemini

Quality or Modality: Fixed (Sthira)

Associated Element: Earth

Personality Traits: Productive, loves nature, patient, stubborn, private, sometimes hedonistic or materialistic, health-conscious

5. Mrigrashira

Ruling Planet: Mars (Mangala)

Associated Deity: Chandra

Associated Stars: Meissa and Phi Orionis

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 17°06′ Gemini-0°26′ Cancer

Quality or Modality: Tender (Mridu)

Associated Element: Earth

Personality Traits: Curious, sometimes superficial, adventurous, talkative, cautious, possibly prone to anxiety

6. Ardra

Ruling Planet: North Node (Rahu)

Associated Deity: Rudra, god of wind and storms

Associated Stars: Betelgeuse

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 0°26-13°26 Cancer

Quality or Modality: Sharp (Tikshna)

Associated Element: Water

Personality Traits: Responsible, intelligent, loves learning, analytical, sometimes immature, mood swings, good memory

7. Punarvasu

Ruling Planet: Jupiter (Guru)

Associated Deity: Aditi, the goddess of motherhood and fertility

Associated Stars: Castor and Pollux

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 13°46′-27°06′ Cancer

Quality or Modality: Movable (Chara)

Associated Element: Water

Personality Traits: Hard working, confident, lucky, enjoys travel with a purpose, logical, jack-of-all-trades

8. Pushya

Ruling Planet: Saturn (Shani)

Associated Deity: Bhraspati, a sage who gives counsel to the other gods

Associated Stars: Asellus Borealis, Asellus Australis, and Theta Cancri

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 27°06′ Cancer-10°26′ Leo

Quality or Modality: Swift (Laghu)

Associated Element: Water

Personality Traits: Peaceful, expansive, abundant, optimistic, balanced, helpful, ethical, sometimes suspicious or overly protective of material items

9. Ashlesha

Ruling Planet: Mercury (Budh)

Associated Deity: Nagas, snake gods

Associated Stars: Delta, Epsilon, Eta, Rho, and Sigma Hydrae

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 10°26′-23°46′ Leo

Quality or Modality: Sharp (Tikshna)

Associated Element: Water

Personality Traits: Spiritual, interested in the occult, anxious, aware of social structures, strategic, sometimes deceitful or manipulative

10. Magha

Ruling Planet: South Node (Ketu)

Associated Deity: Pitrs, the forefathers

Associated Stars: Regulus

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 23°46′ Leo-7°06′ Virgo

Quality or Modality: Fierce (Ugra)

Associated Element: Water

Personality Traits: Regal, ambitious, idealistic, confident, sometimes bossy or braggy

11. Purva Phalguni

Ruling Planet: Venus (Shukra)

Associated Deity: Bhaga, a god of wealth

Associated Stars: Zosma and Chertan

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 7°06′-20°26′ Virgo

Quality or Modality: Fierce (Ugra)

Associated Element: Water

Personality Traits: Calm, enjoys resting more than most, laid back, strong anger but only when provoked

12. Uttara Phalguni

Ruling Planet: The Sun (Surya)

Associated Deity: Aryaman, the god of customs and habits

Associated Stars: Denebola

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 20°26′ Virgo-3°46′ Libra

Quality or Modality: Fixed (Sthira)

Associated Element: Fire

Personality Traits: Mischievous, creative, dignified, brave, dignified, enjoys helping others, sometimes self-centered

13. Hasta

Ruling Planet: The Moon (Chandra)

Associated Deity: Surya, the sun god

Associated Stars: Alchiba, Kraz, Algorab, Minkar

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 3°46′-17°06′ Libra

Quality or Modality: Swift (Laghu)

Associated Element: Fire

Personality Traits: Practical, not romantic, restless, detail-oriented, critical,

14. Chitra

Ruling Planet: Mars (Mangala)

Associated Deity: Vishvakarma, a craftsman god

Associated Stars: Spica

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 17°06′ Libra-0°26′ Scorpio

Quality or Modality: Tender (Mridu)

Associated Element: Fire

Personality Traits: Concerned with appearances, detail-oriented, anxious, logical, hard-working, business-minded

15. Swati or Svati

Ruling Planet: North Node (Rahu)

Associated Deity: Vayu, the wind god

Associated Stars: Arcturus

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 0°26′-13°46′ Scorpio

Quality or Modality: Movable (Chara)

Associated Element: Fire

Personality Traits: Open-minded, balanced, social, indecisive, forward-thinking, good planners

16. Vishaka

Ruling Planet: Jupiter (Guru)

Associated Deity: Indra, king of all the deities

Associated Stars: Zubenelgenubi, Zubeneschamali, Gamma and Iota Libris

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 13°46-27°06′ Scorpio

Quality or Modality: Mixed (Misra)

Associated Element: Fire

Personality Traits: Loves a party, envious of others, keeps problems to themselves, decisive, goal-oriented

17. Anuradha

Ruling Planet: Saturn (Shani)

Associated Deity: Mitra, a god of partnership and friendship

Associated Stars: Acrab, Dschubba, and Fang

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 27°06′ Scorpio-10°26′ Sagittarius

Quality or Modality: Tender (Mridu)

Associated Element: Fire

Personality Traits: Shy, has a few close friends but connects people easily, science and math-minded, easily adaptable, loves to travel

18. Jyeshtha

Ruling Planet: Mercury (Budh)

Associated Deity: Indra

Associated Stars: Antares, Paikauhale, and Sigma Scorpionis

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 10°26′-23°46′ Sagittarius

Quality or Modality: Sharp (Tikshna)

Associated Element: Air

Personality Traits: Respectful, enjoys material items, mature, sometimes lacks perspective, complains, helps those less fortunate

19. Mula or Moola

Ruling Planet: South Node (Ketu)

Associated Deity: Nirrti, goddess of destruction

Associated Stars: Larawag, Sargas, Shaula, Jabbah, and Zeta, Eta, Iota, Kappa, and Mu Scorpionis

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 23°46′ Sagittarius-7°06′ Capricorn

Quality or Modality: Sharp (Tikshna)

Associated Element: Air

Personality Traits: Persistent, impulsive, sometimes vain, non-violent, shy, dry sense of humor

20. Purvashada or Purva Ashada

Ruling Planet: Venus (Shukra)

Associated Deity: Apah, a water god

Associated Stars: Kaus Media and Kaus Australis

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 7°06′-20°26′ Capricorn

Quality or Modality: Fierce (Ugra)

Associated Element: Air

Personality Traits: Confident, adventurous, academic, optimistic, lucky, can be unrealistic or over-promise

21. Uttarashada or Uttara Ashada

Ruling Planet: The Sun (Surya)

Associated Deity: The Vishwa Devas, the universal gods

Associated Stars: Ascella and Nunki

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 20°26′ Capricorn-3°46′ Aquarius

Quality or Modality: Fixed (Sthira)

Associated Element: Air

Personality Traits: Elegant, thoughtful, enjoys structure, practical, sly,

22. Shravana

Ruling Planet: The Moon (Chandra)

Associated Deity: Vishnu, the god of time and preservation

Associated Stars: Altair, Beta and Gamma Aquilae

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 3°46′-17°06′ Aquarius

Quality or Modality: Movable (Chara)

Associated Element: Air

Personality Traits: Friendly, stubborn, tenacious, enjoys gossip, good at public speaking, clever

23. Dhanishta

Ruling Planet: Mars (Mangala)

Associated Deity: The Vasus, attendants of Indra and gods of abundance

Associated Stars: Sualocin and Delta Delphini

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 17°06′ Aquarius – 0°26′ Pisces

Quality or Modality: Movable (Chara)

Associated Element: Ether

Personality Traits: Multi-faceted, flexible, social, group-oriented, impressionable or gullible, easily successful

24. Shatabhisha

Ruling Planet: North Node (Rahu)

Symbol: An empty circle

Associated Deity: Varuna, god of the ocean and water

Associated Stars: Sadachbia

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 0°26′-13°46′ Pisces

Quality or Modality: Movable (Chara)

Associated Element: Ether

Personality Traits: Very private, suspicious, anxious, shy, intelligent, blunt, spiritual

25. Purva Bhadrapada

Ruling Planet: Jupiter (Guru)

Associated Deity: Ajaikapada, a one-legged version of the god Shiva

Associated Stars: Markab and Beta Pegasi

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 13°46′-27°06′ Pisces

Quality or Modality: Fierce (Ugra)

Associated Element: Ether

Personality Traits: Intense, serious, sometimes devious, quick to anger, eccentric, interested in the occult

26. Uttara Bhadrapada

Ruling Planet: Saturn (Shani)

Symbol: Back part of a funeral bed

Associated Deity: Ahirbudhnya, a serpent-like version of the god Rudra

Associated Stars: Algenib and Alpheratz

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 27°06′ Pisces-10°26′ Aries

Quality or Modality: Fixed (Sthira)

Associated Element: Ether

Personality Traits: Procrastinator, learns through experience, good with numbers, calm, logical, secretive

27. Revati

Ruling Planet: Mercury (Budh)

Symbol: Drum

Associated Deity: Pushan, a god of protection

Associated Stars: Revati

Corresponding Position in the Western Zodiac: 10°26′ – 23°46 Aries

Quality or Modality: Tender (Mritu)

Associated Element: Ether

Personality Traits: Shy, traditional, stands out in a crowd, caring and nurturing, sometimes has low self-esteem

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