The 27 nakshatras: birth-star ranges and a reading guide

In the equal-sector method used here, the zodiac circle is divided into 27 nakshatras of 13°20′ each. Each nakshatra contains four padas of 3°20′. A birth nakshatra is commonly found from the Moon's sidereal longitude. The selected ayanamsa therefore matters before any label is assigned.

The table is a coordinate reference, not a personality ranking. Astronomical star names, traditional deities and equal longitude sectors are different kinds of information. Read the six detailed profiles for that distinction in practice.

Ranges include their starting point and exclude their ending point. Exact endpoints belong to the following sector. The final endpoint wraps to Ashwini.

Start with a full-circle longitude and locate its sector. Then calculate the offset within that sector to identify the pada. A Moon at 32° is Taurus 2° but belongs to Krittika, because Krittika crosses a sign boundary. This is why looking only at the sign name cannot identify a birth star.

Our calculation walkthrough lets you try the arithmetic. If you are choosing a name, naming syllables explains how a pada-based convention differs from a universal naming rule. A family or language tradition can use a different spelling without changing the underlying coordinate.