Jyotisha essentials

What is Nakshatra?

Learn about the 27 lunar mansions, their four Padas and planetary lords.

Twenty-seven lunar divisions

Jyotisha divides the sidereal zodiac into 27 equal Nakshatras. Each spans 13°20′, making Nakshatra a more precise description of the Moon’s position than Rashi alone.

Four Padas

Every Nakshatra has four equal quarters called Padas, each 3°20′ wide. The Moon’s exact longitude determines the Pada.

Planetary lords

The Nakshatras follow a repeating nine-lord sequence: Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury. A lord is a traditional interpretive association, not the planet physically nearest that Nakshatra.