What is Nakshatra?

There are 27 stars or nakshatrams in the Zodiac. Each of these stars belong to a Rasi. Each of these nakshatrams have 4 pathams and 9 pathams form a rasi. Thus 2 nakshatrams and one quarter of a nakshatram form a Rasi.

Naksha indicates an approach and Tra refers to guarding. Each Nakshatram has a mythical god whose guards and guides the cosmos in its evolution. The location of the planets in specific nakshatrams alters their significance. The zodiac comprises of 360 degrees. The twelve zodiac signs rule 30 degrees each. There are 27 Nakshatrams, each Zodiac sign comprising 2 and 1/4 Nakshatrams. The Zodiac has been divided into 27 groups of Nakshtrams. These are only the principal members of several groups of fixed stars.

Beginning Mesham, each Nakshatram comprises part of the elliptic. The degrees covered by the Moon in a 24 hour Day. Each Nakshatra is further divided into four parts known as 'padam'. The 27 nakshatras are divided in to 3 groups, known as paryayam or cycle. The seven planets and the nodes of the moon have the rulership assigned to each Nakshatram. They repeat themselves in the same sequence.

Use the rasi nakshatra calculator feature of ePanchang.com to find out your nakshatram, rasi, lagnam and more here.

The character or the gunas of the nakshatrams also change according to their position. So, the first nakshatram Aswini is a rajas, rajas, rajas. Similarly, the last nakshatram which is Revati, is attributed the gunas of satva, satva, satva.

Find Your Nakshatram using ePanchangam.com, your horoscope, especially your auspicious dates here