The lunar mansions
The twenty-seven nakshatras
नक्षत्र
The sidereal zodiac is divided into twenty-seven nakshatras of 13°20′ each, through which the Moon passes in a little over twenty-seven days. Each is ruled by a planet in the Vimshottari scheme and presided over by a deity of the Vedic hymns.
| No. | Nakshatra | Span | Ruling planet | Presiding deity | Gana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | 0°00′ Aries to 13°20′ Aries | Ketu | The Ashvins | Deva |
| 2 | Bharani | 13°20′ Aries to 26°40′ Aries | Venus | Yama | Manushya |
| 3 | Krittika | 26°40′ Aries to 10°00′ Taurus | Sun | Agni | Rakshasa |
| 4 | Rohini | 10°00′ Taurus to 23°20′ Taurus | Moon | Prajapati (Brahma) | Manushya |
| 5 | Mrigashira | 23°20′ Taurus to 6°40′ Gemini | Mars | Soma | Deva |
| 6 | Ardra | 6°40′ Gemini to 20°00′ Gemini | Rahu | Rudra | Manushya |
| 7 | Punarvasu | 20°00′ Gemini to 3°20′ Cancer | Jupiter | Aditi | Deva |
| 8 | Pushya | 3°20′ Cancer to 16°40′ Cancer | Saturn | Brihaspati | Deva |
| 9 | Ashlesha | 16°40′ Cancer to 30°00′ Cancer | Mercury | The Sarpas (serpents) | Rakshasa |
| 10 | Magha | 0°00′ Leo to 13°20′ Leo | Ketu | The Pitris (ancestors) | Rakshasa |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | 13°20′ Leo to 26°40′ Leo | Venus | Bhaga | Manushya |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | 26°40′ Leo to 10°00′ Virgo | Sun | Aryaman | Manushya |
| 13 | Hasta | 10°00′ Virgo to 23°20′ Virgo | Moon | Savitar | Deva |
| 14 | Chitra | 23°20′ Virgo to 6°40′ Libra | Mars | Tvashtar (Vishvakarma) | Rakshasa |
| 15 | Swati | 6°40′ Libra to 20°00′ Libra | Rahu | Vayu | Deva |
| 16 | Vishakha | 20°00′ Libra to 3°20′ Scorpio | Jupiter | Indra and Agni | Rakshasa |
| 17 | Anuradha | 3°20′ Scorpio to 16°40′ Scorpio | Saturn | Mitra | Deva |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | 16°40′ Scorpio to 30°00′ Scorpio | Mercury | Indra | Rakshasa |
| 19 | Mula | 0°00′ Sagittarius to 13°20′ Sagittarius | Ketu | Nirriti | Rakshasa |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | 13°20′ Sagittarius to 26°40′ Sagittarius | Venus | Apas (the waters) | Manushya |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | 26°40′ Sagittarius to 10°00′ Capricorn | Sun | The Vishvedevas | Manushya |
| 22 | Shravana | 10°00′ Capricorn to 23°20′ Capricorn | Moon | Vishnu | Deva |
| 23 | Dhanishta | 23°20′ Capricorn to 6°40′ Aquarius | Mars | The Vasus | Rakshasa |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | 6°40′ Aquarius to 20°00′ Aquarius | Rahu | Varuna | Rakshasa |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | 20°00′ Aquarius to 3°20′ Pisces | Jupiter | Aja Ekapada | Manushya |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | 3°20′ Pisces to 16°40′ Pisces | Saturn | Ahir Budhnya | Manushya |
| 27 | Revati | 16°40′ Pisces to 30°00′ Pisces | Mercury | Pushan | Deva |