Why is birth time important for Nakshatra calculation?

The Moon moves approximately 13° per day, which means it can transit through an entire Nakshatra (13°20') in roughly 24 hours. An inaccurate birth time — even by a few hours — can place the Moon in the wrong Nakshatra entirely. This is why precise birth time is critical for accurate Nakshatra determination.

What is the significance of Name Alphabet from Nakshatra?

In Vedic tradition, the first letter of a child's name is chosen based on the Nakshatra Pada at birth. Each of the 108 Padas has specific Sanskrit syllables assigned to it. Names starting with these syllables are believed to harmonize with the person's birth energy and planetary vibrations. This practice is called Naamkaran Sanskar.

🔍 Nakshatra Finder — Find Your Birth Star (Janma Nakshatra)

Free Nakshatra calculator by date of birth, time & place — with Pada, Rashi, Name Alphabet & personality analysis

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Enter Your Birth Details to Find Your Nakshatra

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📅 Date of Birth *

🕐 Time of Birth *

📍 Place of Birth

Today's Nakshatra — 25 April 2026

Current Nakshatra

Ashlesha

Nakshatra Pada

Pada 2

Moon Sign (Rashi)

Cancer

Moon Degree

21.9°

What is a Nakshatra?

In Vedic astrology (Jyotish Shastra), the sky is divided into 27 Nakshatras (नक्षत्र) — lunar constellations that each span 13°20' of the zodiac. These are not the same as the 12 Rashis (zodiac signs). While a Rashi covers 30° and provides broad personality traits, a Nakshatra covers only 13°20' and offers much more precise insights into your character, behavior, strengths, and life path.

The Moon changes Nakshatra approximately every 24 hours, which is why your exact time of birth is crucial. The Nakshatra where the Moon was positioned at the moment you were born is your Janma Nakshatra (जन्म नक्षत्र) — your birth star. This birth star determines your Vimshottari Dasha starting period, your name alphabet, your compatibility for marriage (Ashtakoota matching), and many other aspects of Vedic astrology.

Each Nakshatra is further divided into 4 Padas (quarters), giving a total of 108 Padas — the same sacred number represented in a Hindu japa mala (prayer beads). Each Pada maps to a specific Navamsa sign and carries its own set of characteristics and name syllables.

How Does the Nakshatra Finder Calculator Work?

Our Nakshatra Finder uses astronomical algorithms to calculate the Moon's exact sidereal longitude at your birth moment. Here's the process:

Convert Birth Time to Universal Time

Your local birth time is converted to Universal Time (UT) based on your birth city's timezone.

Calculate Julian Day

The birth date and time are converted to a Julian Day Number — the standard astronomical time reference.

Compute Moon's Tropical Longitude

Using lunar theory formulas, the Moon's position in the tropical zodiac is calculated with arc-minute precision.

Apply Lahiri Ayanamsa

The tropical longitude is converted to sidereal using the Lahiri Ayanamsa (the Government of India standard), which accounts for the precession of equinoxes.

Determine Nakshatra & Pada

The sidereal Moon longitude is mapped to one of the 27 Nakshatras (each 13°20') and one of 4 Padas (each 3°20').

27 Nakshatras — Quick Reference Table

All 27 Nakshatras with their ruling planets, deities, and zodiac span

#	Nakshatra	Hindi	Lord	Deity	Rashi	Degrees
1	Ashwini	अश्विनी	Ketu	Ashwini Kumaras	Aries	0° – 13°20'
2	Bharani	भरणी	Venus	Yama	Aries	13°20' – 26°40'
3	Krittika	कृत्तिका	Sun	Agni	Aries–Taurus	26°40' – 40°
4	Rohini	रोहिणी	Moon	Brahma	Taurus	40° – 53°20'
5	Mrigashira	मृगशिरा	Mars	Soma	Taurus–Gemini	53°20' – 66°40'
6	Ardra	आर्द्रा	Rahu	Rudra	Gemini	66°40' – 80°
7	Punarvasu	पुनर्वसु	Jupiter	Aditi	Gemini–Cancer	80° – 93°20'
8	Pushya	पुष्य	Saturn	Brihaspati	Cancer	93°20' – 106°40'
9	Ashlesha	आश्लेषा	Mercury	Nagas	Cancer	106°40' – 120°
10	Magha	मघा	Ketu	Pitris	Leo	120° – 133°20'
11	P. Phalguni	पू. फाल्गुनी	Venus	Bhaga	Leo	133°20' – 146°40'
12	U. Phalguni	उ. फाल्गुनी	Sun	Aryaman	Leo–Virgo	146°40' – 160°
13	Hasta	हस्त	Moon	Savitar	Virgo	160° – 173°20'
14	Chitra	चित्रा	Mars	Tvashtar	Virgo–Libra	173°20' – 186°40'
15	Swati	स्वाति	Rahu	Vayu	Libra	186°40' – 200°
16	Vishakha	विशाखा	Jupiter	Indragni	Libra–Scorpio	200° – 213°20'
17	Anuradha	अनुराधा	Saturn	Mitra	Scorpio	213°20' – 226°40'
18	Jyeshtha	ज्येष्ठा	Mercury	Indra	Scorpio	226°40' – 240°
19	Mula	मूल	Ketu	Nirriti	Sagittarius	240° – 253°20'
20	P. Ashadha	पू. आषाढ़ा	Venus	Apas	Sagittarius	253°20' – 266°40'
21	U. Ashadha	उ. आषाढ़ा	Sun	Vishvedevas	Sag–Cap	266°40' – 280°
22	Shravana	श्रवण	Moon	Vishnu	Capricorn	280° – 293°20'
23	Dhanishta	धनिष्ठा	Mars	Vasus	Cap–Aquarius	293°20' – 306°40'
24	Shatabhisha	शतभिषा	Rahu	Varuna	Aquarius	306°40' – 320°
25	P. Bhadrapada	पू. भाद्रपद	Jupiter	Aja Ekapada	Aqu–Pisces	320° – 333°20'
26	U. Bhadrapada	उ. भाद्रपद	Saturn	Ahir Budhnya	Pisces	333°20' – 346°40'
27	Revati	रेवती	Mercury	Pushan	Pisces	346°40' – 360°

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nakshatra in Vedic Astrology?

Nakshatra (नक्षत्र) is one of 27 lunar constellations in Vedic astrology, each spanning 13°20' of the zodiac. The Moon's position in a Nakshatra at your birth determines your Janma Nakshatra (birth star), which reveals your personality, destiny pattern, compatibility, and the starting Dasha period in the Vimshottari system.

How to find Nakshatra by date of birth?

Enter your date of birth, exact time of birth, and place of birth in the calculator above. The tool computes the Moon's sidereal longitude at your birth and determines your Nakshatra and Pada. Accurate time is essential since the Moon transits through one full Nakshatra in approximately 24 hours.

What is Nakshatra Pada and why does it matter?

Each Nakshatra is divided into 4 Padas (quarters) of 3°20' each. Your Pada determines your name alphabet (Naamakshar), your Navamsa sign, and adds a layer of specificity to your Nakshatra personality. Two people with the same Nakshatra but different Padas can have noticeably different traits.

How is Nakshatra different from Rashi (zodiac sign)?

Rashi divides the zodiac into 12 signs of 30° each, while Nakshatra divides it into 27 stars of 13°20' each. Each Rashi contains 2.25 Nakshatras, making Nakshatra a more granular system. For instance, three people with Moon in Cancer could have very different personalities based on whether their Nakshatra is Punarvasu, Pushya, or Ashlesha.

Why is birth time so important for Nakshatra?

The Moon moves roughly 13° per day, meaning it can traverse an entire Nakshatra in about 24 hours. A birth time error of even 2-3 hours could place your Moon in a completely different Nakshatra or Pada. This is why precise birth time (from the birth certificate or hospital records) is critical.

How are baby names chosen from Nakshatra?

In the Naamkaran Sanskar (naming ceremony), the baby's first name letter is chosen from the Pada of their birth Nakshatra. Each of the 108 Padas has specific Sanskrit syllables assigned. For example, Ashwini Pada 1 gives "Chu", Pada 2 gives "Che", etc. This is believed to harmonize the child with their birth energies.

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