Chapter 5 · नक्षत्र Nakshatra
The 27 nakshatras
The nakshatras are the oldest layer of Indian astronomy, and in Parashari Jyotish they do essential work: the Moon’s nakshatra at birth sets the whole timing system. This chapter shows how the 27 nakshatras map onto the signs, their padas, and the cycle of their lords.
- How the zodiac divides into 27 nakshatras and 108 padas
- How the nakshatras line up with the 12 signs
- The cycle of nakshatra lords, and why it matters for timing
1. Twenty-seven lunar mansions
Long before the twelve signs, Indian astronomers divided the sky by the Moon. It takes about 27 days to go round, so the zodiac is split into 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions) of 13°20′ each. Each nakshatra is further split into four quarters (padas) of 3°20′. Nine nakshatras fit into every four signs, so their edges line up with the signs every 120°.
Move the slider to place the Moon anywhere in the zodiac and see its nakshatra, pada and ruling planet. The outer ring shows the 27 nakshatras; the inner ring shows the 12 signs.
2. The nakshatra lords
Each nakshatra has a ruling planet. The lords repeat in a fixed cycle of nine: Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury. Three rounds of nine make 27. This sequence matters enormously: it is the order of the Vimshottari dasha periods you will meet in chapter 11, and the nakshatra of the Moon at birth decides where that sequence starts.
Select a lord to light up its three nakshatras.
Worked example · Albert Einstein
Einstein’s Moon is in Jyeshtha
His Moon is at 22°22′ Scorpio, in Jyeshtha, pada 2. Jyeshtha is ruled by Mercury, so his Vimshottari dashas began with a Mercury period, with about 9.7 of its 17 years still to run at birth. You will see where that leads in chapter 11.
Try it: set the slider above to 232.4°.
Birth data: 14 March 1879, 11:30 local time, Ulm, Germany; Rodden rating AA (from the birth record), as listed by Astrotheme from Astro-Databank. Positions converted by LotusAstro to the sidereal zodiac (Lahiri ayanamsa, about 22°10′ in 1879), whole-sign houses. One famous chart illustrates a technique; it proves nothing on its own.
Worked example · Indira Gandhi
Her Moon is in Uttara Ashadha
Her Moon is at 5°36′ Capricorn, in Uttara Ashadha, pada 3, ruled by the Sun. Her dashas therefore began with a short Sun period: only about 2.0 of its 6 years remained at birth.
Try it: set the slider above to 275.6°.
Birth data: 19 November 1917, 23:11 local time, Allahabad (now Prayagraj), India; source given as her own account (Rodden rating A), as listed by Astrotheme. Positions converted by LotusAstro to the sidereal zodiac (Lahiri ayanamsa, about 22°42′ in 1917), whole-sign houses. One chart illustrates a technique; it proves nothing on its own.
Test yourself