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Ashwini	Bharani	Krittika	Rohini
Mrigshirsha	Ardra	Punarvasu	Pushya
Ashlesha	Magha	Purvaphalguni	Uttaraphalguni
Hasta	Chitra	Swati	Vishakha
Anuradha	Jyeshtha	Moola	Purvashadha
Uttarashadha	Shravana	Dhanishtha	Shatbhisha
Poorvabhadrapada	Uttarabhadrapada	Revati	Abhijit

Nakshatra or Stars in Astrology

These celestial luminaries make all the difference in astrological calculations. Initially, the zodiac was grouped in 12 Rashis for convenience, however the ancient seers have farther subdivided the heavens into 27 Nakshatras or star constellations for the call of precession. These constellations or the Nakshatras emerged as one of the most important components in Astrology.

Vedic astrology identifies each constellation with a star. The 360 degree division of the sky is therefore further divided into 27 subdivision of 13.20 degrees identified with 27 stars. Each of these Nakshatras are farther subdivided into four Padas or quarters of 3 degrees and 20 minutes. Therefore the first Rashi, Mesha, which has 30 degrees, contains the entire 4 Padas (13:20′) of the 1st star constellation Ashwini, the entire 4 Padas (13:20′) of the 2nd star constellation Bharani and the 1st Pada (3:20′) of the third star constellation Krittika. In this manner, each Rashi comprises of 9 Padas. Some schools of astrology also consider 28 divisions with an additional star called Abhijit. However, for all practical purposes only 27 stars starting from Ashwini are considered. (Ref: the chart).

These Nakshatras are broadly classified under the three heads of Deva (divine), Nara (human) and Rakshasa (Demonic). Farther, they are subdivided by their gender and Varna (cast), and are also ascribed with qualities such as colour, presiding deity, merits and ruler ship of body parts, planets etc.

While the effects of a particular planet placed in a Rashi is studied, the position of the planet in respect to the Nakshatra and its particular Pada is also born in mind. Indians through ages have been taking into account these Nakshatras for determining the auspicious dates and Muhurtha (moment) for any cultural or religious event including marriage. The role of Nakshatras and their respective Padas in predictive astrology is unique to Indian astrology.

Nakshatras (Constellations) and their essential merits

No.	Nakshatras (Constellations)	Astronomical Name	Deity	Ruling Planet Starting Dasha	Colour
1	Ashwini	Beta Arietis	Ashwini brothers	Ketu	Blood red
2	Bharani	35 Arietis	Yama	Venus	Blood red
3	Krittika	Eta Tauri	Agni	Sun	White
4	Rohini	Aldebaran	Brahma	Moon	White
5	Mrigshirsha	Lambda Orionis	Chandra	Mars	Silver Grey
6	Ardra	Alpha Orionis	Rudra	Rahu	Green
7	Punarvasu	Beta Geminorium	Adity	Jupiter	Lead
8	Pushya	Delta Cancri	Brihaspathi	Saturn	Black mixed with red
9	Ashlesha	Alpha Hydroe	Nagas	Mercury	Black mixed with red
10	Magha	Regulus	Pithras	Ketu	Ivory or cream
11	Purvaphalguni	Delta Leonis	Bhaga	Venus	Light brown
12	Uttaraphalguni	Beta Leonis	Aryaman	Sun	Bright blue
13	Hasta	Delta Corvi	Aditya	Moon	Deep green
14	Chitra	Spica Virginis -Vegus	Tvashtav	Mars	Black
15	Swati	Arcturus	Vayu	Rahu	Black
16	Vishakha	Alpha Libroe	Indra-Agni	Jupiter	Golden
17	Anuradha	Delta Scorpio	Mitra	Saturn	Reddish brown
18	Jyeshtha	Antares	Indra	Mercury	Cream
19	Mula	Lambda Scorpio	Nirrti	Ketu	Brownish yellow
20	Purvashadha	Delta Sagittari	Jal	Venus	Black
21	Uttarashadha	Sigma sagittari	Vishwa deva	Sun	Copper
22	Shravana	Alpha Aquiloe	Vishnu	Moon	Light blue
23	Dhanishtha	Beta Delphinum	Ashta vasav	Mars	Silver Grey
24	Shatbhisha	Lambda Aquarius	Varuna	Rahu	Aquamarine
25	Poorvabhadrapada	Alpha Pegasi	Ajaikapat	Jupiter	Silver grey
26	Uttarabhadrapada	Gama Pegasi	Ahir Budhanya	Saturn	Purple
27	Revati	Zeta Piscum	Pooshvav	Mercury	Brown
28	Abhijit	Vega	Brahma	Sun	Brownish yellow

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