27 Nakshatras — Vedic Lunar Mansions
Nakshatras are the 27 divisions of the ecliptic, each spanning 13°20'. They form the backbone of Vedic predictive astrology, governing everything from personality to muhurat timing.
Understanding Nakshatras
Nakshatras, or lunar mansions, are the 27 segments of the ecliptic that the Moon traverses during its approximately 27.3-day sidereal cycle. Each nakshatra spans exactly 13 degrees and 20 minutes of arc, and is further divided into four padas (quarters) of 3 degrees and 20 minutes each.
In Vedic astrology, the nakshatra where your Moon is placed at birth is considered your birth star (Janma Nakshatra). This determines your Vimshottari Dasha sequence, your fundamental nature, and plays a crucial role in muhurat (electional astrology) and compatibility matching.
The Three Ganas
Nakshatras are classified into three ganas (temperaments): Deva (divine), Manushya (human), and Rakshasa (demonic). This classification is essential in marriage compatibility analysis, where matching ganas between partners indicates emotional and temperamental harmony.
Nakshatras and the Dasha System
The ruler of your birth nakshatra determines the starting planet of your Vimshottari Dasha cycle. Each of the nine planets rules three nakshatras, creating a systematic relationship between the lunar mansions and the planetary period system that governs the timing of life events.