The 27 Nakshatras: A Guide to the Lunar Mansions of Vedic Astrology
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Nakshatra | Lunar Mansion
In Vedic astrology, the Moon tells a very interesting story. As it moves through the 12 signs, it travels through 27 constellations of fixed stars called Nakshatras. These lunar mansions offer a more intimate look at how we think, feel, relate, and move through life. If the zodiac signs give us the big picture, the Nakshatras fill in the finer details.
Each Nakshatra has its own symbolism, ruling deity, planetary ruler, and a unique set of characteristics. Some are soft and nurturing, others are sharp and driven. Some carry themes of creation, while others are about endings, contracts, or dharma. They all have their own mythological tale, that when contemplated, reveals a rich and meaningful lesson.
In this post, I’ll walk you through all 27 Nakshatras to help you understand how they shape your inner world. The Nakshatra of your Ascendant, Moon and Sun are very important. They influence your plants, and tell their unique story through the Grahas.
Each Nakshatra is assigned a ruling planet and attached to the Mahadasha system of planetary periods. Your Moon Nakshatra at birth will set the stage for your dasha cycles and each period will activate the planet in your chart during its run. The dasha will also activate the houses that planet rules, the house it sits and the planets aspecting.
The Deity of each nakshatra is like the archetype character. Each one with a unique personality, desires, strengths and weaknesses. Their Vedic myth is the root of their meaning and symbolism.
Nava Tara is a system for identifying the auspicious or inauspicious nakshatras relative to their position from your natal Moon. Just like the Panchang, or Indian calendar, the spatial relationship between the nakshatras reveal a deeper meaning and effect. I offer a worksheet that allows you to fill in your Nakshatras and identify your most auspicious and supportive stars, but also the ones that can bring sorrow or challenge to you life.
The list of 27 lunar mansions are divided by where the gandanta points are located. Within each zodiac sign, or rashi, there are three nakshatras. Between Fire and Earth, Earth and Air, Air and Water, there is a nakshatra that blends to two signs. Where a water sign transitions into a fire sign there is no nakshatra to blend the energies. The space between water and fire is called gandanta. These locations in a chart are considered to be very karmic and can bring many challenges. These points serve as a kind of karmic turning point or milestone in a chart. Natal planets within the gandanta point is destined to deal with some kind of challenge, relative to the sign and houses it is in. So below, you will see that the last nakshatra and the first nakshatra in the groups below indicate where water meets fire: Ashlesha - Magha, Jyestha - Mula, and Revati - Ashwini.
Ashwini to Ashlesha | The Personal Stars
Themes of emergence, movement, growth, and emotional bonding. This group is where our first desires are formed, from here on out, as we journey around the zodiac through the cycles of time, the desires we crave and manifest will eventually becomes catalysts of suffering as we make our way through the gandanta points and reckon with the desires that are holding us back from spiritual and personal growth.
Ashwini – Quick action, healing, beginnings - Ruled by Ketu
Bharani – Boundaries, responsibility, birth - Ruled by Venus
Krittika – Sharp focus, purification, courage - Ruled by Sun
Rohini – Beauty, fertility, charm - Ruled by Moon
Mrigashira – Searching, curiosity, restlessness - Ruled by Mars
Ardra – Storms, sorrow, transformation - Ruled by Rahu
Punarvasu – Return, renewal, inner light - Ruled by Jupiter
Pushya – Nourishment, devotion, protection - Ruled by Saturn
Ashlesha – Mysticism, entanglement, subtle power - Ruled by Mercury
Magha to Jyeshtha- The Shared Stars
Themes of legacy, power, leadership, and responsibility. Here we are doubling down on what we desire and sharing it with others. We mix our desires with those of our relationships and together they form new karma.
Magha – Ancestry, dignity, authority - Ruled by Ketu
Purva Phalguni – Pleasure, creativity, rest - Ruled by Venus
Uttara Phalguni – Partnership, service, commitment - Ruled by Sun
Hasta – Skill, dexterity, charm - Ruled by Moon
Chitra – Beauty, design, inner brilliance - Ruled by Mars
Swati – Independence, movement, flexibility - Ruled by Rahu
Vishakha – Focus, ambition, purpose - Ruled by Jupiter
Anuradha – Friendship, loyalty, devotion - Ruled by Saturn
Jyeshtha – Superiority, protection, maturity - Ruled by Mercury
Mula to Revati- The Universal Stars
Themes of letting go, wisdom, dissolution, and spiritual growth. This group is where we learn to go beyond our material desires and wants, and into a higher plane. The pursuit of spiritual desires come to the surface and we are forced to deal with choosing one side or the other. Do we live a life devoid of the divine and whaler in all of our physical possessions and pleasures? Or do we set those meaningless things aside to go down a path paved with wisdom, love and hope?
Mula – Root work, destruction, truth-seeking - Ruled by Ketu
Purva Ashadha – Aspiration, cleansing, confidence - Ruled by Venus
Uttara Ashadha – Victory, legacy, perseverance - Ruled by Sun
Shravana – Listening, knowledge, humility - Ruled by Moon
Dhanishta – Rhythm, wealth, innovation - Ruled by Mars
Shatabhisha – Mystery, healing, solitude - Ruled by Rahu
Purva Bhadrapada – Intensity, duality, transformation - Ruled by Jupiter
Uttara Bhadrapada – Stillness, responsibility, depth - Ruled by Saturn
Revati – Compassion, endings, guidance - Ruled by Mercury
