Nakshatra — The Lunar Mansion in Panchang
What is a Nakshatra?
A Nakshatra, often translated as “lunar mansion,” is one of 27 equal divisions of the ecliptic used in the Hindu Panchang and Jyotish, each spanning 13°20′. As the Moon travels through the zodiac over about 27–28 days, it passes through each Nakshatra roughly once. Many Nakshatras are traditionally associated with a particular star or small group of stars — but the 27 Nakshatras are a defined, evenly-spaced division of the ecliptic specific to this system, not the same thing as the 27 (or however many) constellations recognized in modern astronomy. The two shouldn’t be treated as interchangeable. Nakshatra is one of Panchang’s five core elements, alongside Vaar, Tithi, Yoga, and Karana.Why Nakshatra Is Used in Vedic Astrology
Nakshatra gives a much finer-grained position for the Moon than Rashi (zodiac sign — see Vedic Rashi) alone can. Where the zodiac has 12 signs of 30° each, the 27 Nakshatras of 13°20′ each divide the sky more than twice as finely. This additional precision is used throughout Vedic astrology, including in birth-chart analysis (a person’s “birth Nakshatra” is the one the Moon occupied at the moment of their birth) and in Panchang-based timing.The 27 Nakshatras
| # | Nakshatra | # | Nakshatra | # | Nakshatra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | 10 | Magha | 19 | Mula |
| 2 | Bharani | 11 | Purva Phalguni | 20 | Purva Ashadha |
| 3 | Krittika | 12 | Uttara Phalguni | 21 | Uttara Ashadha |
| 4 | Rohini | 13 | Hasta | 22 | Shravana |
| 5 | Mrigashira | 14 | Chitra | 23 | Dhanishta |
| 6 | Ardra | 15 | Swati | 24 | Shatabhisha |
| 7 | Punarvasu | 16 | Vishakha | 25 | Purva Bhadrapada |
| 8 | Pushya | 17 | Anuradha | 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada |
| 9 | Ashlesha | 18 | Jyeshtha | 27 | Revati |
Nakshatra Padas (Quarters)
Each of the 27 Nakshatras is traditionally divided into four padas (quarters) of 3°20′ each, used for finer birth-chart work. Padas aren’t covered in detail here because they aren’t currently displayed anywhere in the VedicDisha Panchang — this page focuses on what the Panchang actually shows.How Nakshatra Is Shown in the VedicDisha Panchang
Opening a date’s detail popup shows that day’s Nakshatra name (e.g. “Rohini”), along with an “until” time and the name of the next Nakshatra — the same Upto/Next mechanism used for Tithi, Karana, and Yoga (see Tithi & Paksha for how that mechanism works in detail).Nakshatra vs. Rashi — What’s the Difference?
These are commonly confused because both describe “where” a planet is in the sky, but at different resolutions:| Nakshatra | Rashi | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of divisions | 27 | 12 |
| Size of each division | 13°20′ | 30° |
| What it is | A defined 13°20′ division of the ecliptic, traditionally associated with particular lunar-mansion stars | One of the 12 zodiac signs |
Practical Takeaway
The Nakshatra shown in the VedicDisha Panchang tells you which of the 27 lunar-mansion divisions the Moon is passing through that day, down to the exact hour it changes — the same kind of measurement used to determine a person’s birth Nakshatra in Vedic astrology.Related Panchang Concepts
- Vedic Rashi — the 12-sign zodiac system, distinct from Nakshatra (see Vedic Rashi)
- Tithi & Paksha — the Moon’s lunar-day position (see Tithi & Paksha)
- View any date’s full detail on the Full Year Panchang