Nakshatras are 27 equal segments of the sidereal zodiac—lunar mansions tied to the Moon's motion. Your birth Nakshatra comes from the same Moon longitude as your Vedic Moon Sign; see how Moon Sign and Nakshatra relate.
What Are Nakshatras?
The 360° zodiac is divided into 12 Rashis and further into 27 Nakshatras of 13°20′ each. The Moon spends roughly a day per mansion, giving a finer emotional and timing signature than sign alone.
The Nakshatra Lords and Deities
Each Nakshatra has a planetary lord and traditional deity symbolism in classical Jyotish literature—used as interpretive language, not as literal prediction rules.
The Concept of Padas
Four Padas per Nakshatra (3°20′ each) refine the mansion placement and connect to divisional techniques such as Navamsha themes in traditional teaching.
Nakshatras and the Vimshottari Dasha
Birth Nakshatra sets the starting Vimshottari lord. Read Vimshottari Dasha for the 120-year cycle overview.