Nakshatra
Nakshatra Finder (from DOB)
Enter your birth date, time, and place. Get your janma nakshatra, pada, lord, and the traditional starting syllable.
A birth nakshatra is the lunar mansion the Moon occupies at the moment of birth. Vedic astrology divides the 360° zodiac into 27 nakshatras of 13°20′ each, with 4 padas (3°20′ each) per nakshatra (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Ch. 3). The Moon crosses one nakshatra in roughly 24 hours, making precise birth time essential for kundli matching, dasha calculation, and the Vedic naming tradition. Nakshara computes the lunar longitude using Swiss Ephemeris (Moshier analytical ephemeris) and Lahiri ayanamsa, the official standard of India's Calendar Reform Committee (1955).
FAQ
Questions about nakshatra
What is the difference between nakshatra and rashi?
Rashi is one of 12 equal 30-degree divisions of the sky, while nakshatra is one of 27 finer, 13°20' divisions. Nakshatra gives a more precise placement, and each one further splits into four padas.
What is a pada?
Each nakshatra divides into four equal padas of 3°20' each. In traditional naming, the baby's birth pada determines the first syllable of the name.
Why does finding your nakshatra need an exact birth time?
The Moon spends only about 24 hours in each nakshatra, so a birth time that is off by even a couple of hours can shift the nakshatra or pada. An accurate birth time keeps the result reliable.