What is a Nakshatra?
The word Nakshatra (நட்சத்திரம்) means "that which never decays" in Sanskrit — a fitting name for the fixed stars. The 27 Nakshatras divide the full circle of the zodiac (360°) into 27 equal segments of 13°20′ each. As the Moon orbits Earth in approximately 27.3 days, it passes through one Nakshatra per day — making the Nakshatra system the original lunar calendar of Tamil tradition.
Each Nakshatra has a main star (or star cluster) at its centre, a ruling planet (one of nine: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu), a presiding deity, a symbol, and a quality. These attributes govern the nature of any day when the Moon occupies that mansion — affecting timing of rituals, festivals, and auspicious events.
The Nine Planetary Rulers and Their Nakshatras
The 27 Nakshatras are governed by 9 planetary rulers in a repeating pattern of 3 each — this forms the basis of the Tamil astrological Dasha system (planetary period sequence):
| Planet (Graha) | Tamil Name | Nakshatras Ruled |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Suryan (சூரியன்) | Karthigai, Uthiram, Uthiradam |
| Moon | Chandran (சந்திரன்) | Rohini, Hastham, Thiruvonam |
| Mars | Chevvai (செவ்வாய்) | Mrigashira, Chithirai, Avittam |
| Rahu | Rahu (ராகு) | Thiruvathirai, Swathi, Sadhayam |
| Jupiter | Guru (குரு) | Punarvasu, Vishakam, Poorattathi |
| Saturn | Sani (சனி) | Poosam, Anusham, Uthirattathi |
| Mercury | Budhan (புதன்) | Ayilyam, Kettai, Revathi |
| Ketu | Ketu (கேது) | Magam, Moolam, Ashwini |
| Venus | Shukran (சுக்கிரன்) | Pooram, Pooradam, Bharani |
All 27 Nakshatras — Complete Reference
| # | Tamil Name | Tamil Script | Star / Cluster | Ruler | Deity | Symbol | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | அசுவினி | Beta Arietis (Sheratan) | Ketu | Ashwini Kumaras (twin healers) | Horse's head | Quick, energetic, healing |
| 2 | Bharani | பரணி | 41 Arietis (Musca Borealis) | Venus | Yama (god of death/dharma) | Yoni (womb/vessel) | Transformation, cycles |
| 3 | Karthigai | கார்த்திகை | Pleiades cluster | Sun | Agni / Murugan | Flame / razor | Purification, courage |
| 4 | Rohini | ரோகிணி | Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) | Moon | Brahma / Prajapati | Cart / chariot | Fertile, creative, beloved |
| 5 | Mrigashira | மிருகசீரிடம் | Lambda Orionis | Mars | Soma (Moon god) | Deer's head | Searching, gentle, curious |
| 6 | Thiruvathirai | திருவாதிரை | Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis) | Rahu | Rudra (storm god / Shiva) | Teardrop / diamond | Destructive, transforming, fierce |
| 7 | Punarvasu | புனர்பூசம் | Pollux & Castor (Gemini) | Jupiter | Aditi (mother of gods) | Quiver of arrows | Renewal, return, abundant |
| 8 | Poosam | பூசம் | Delta Cancri (Asellus Australis) | Saturn | Brihaspati (Jupiter deity) | Arrow / flower | Nourishing, protective, wise |
| 9 | Ayilyam | ஆயில்யம் | Alpha Hydrae (Alphard) | Mercury | Sarpa (serpent deities) | Coiled serpent | Mystical, sharp, penetrating |
| 10 | Magam | மகம் | Regulus (Alpha Leonis) | Ketu | Pitrs (ancestral spirits) | Royal throne / palanquin | Ancestral, regal, powerful |
| 11 | Pooram | பூரம் | Delta + Epsilon Hydrae | Venus | Bhaga (god of fortune) | Fig tree / front legs of bed | Pleasure, beauty, creative |
| 12 | Uthiram | உத்திரம் | Beta Leonis (Denebola) | Sun | Aryaman (god of patronage) | Back legs of bed | Responsible, disciplined, giving |
| 13 | Hastham | ஹஸ்தம் | Alpha-Epsilon Corvi (Corvus) | Moon | Savitr (Sun as creative force) | Open hand / fist | Skilled, crafty, determined |
| 14 | Chithirai | சித்திரை | Spica (Alpha Virginis) | Mars | Vishwakarma (divine architect) | Bright jewel / pearl | Creative, dazzling, artistic |
| 15 | Swathi | சுவாதி | Arcturus (Alpha Bootis) | Rahu | Vayu (wind god) | Young plant shoot | Independent, scattered, flexible |
| 16 | Vishakam | விசாகம் | Alpha + Beta Librae | Jupiter | Indra & Agni | Forked branch / triumphal arch | Ambitious, purposeful, intense |
| 17 | Anusham | அனுஷம் | Delta + Beta Scorpii | Saturn | Mitra (friendship deity) | Lotus / triumphal arch | Friendly, devoted, patient |
| 18 | Kettai | கேட்டை | Antares (Alpha Scorpii) | Mercury | Indra (king of gods) | Circular talisman / umbrella | Protective, intense, prideful |
| 19 | Moolam | மூலம் | Lambda Scorpii (Shaula) | Ketu | Nirrti (goddess of dissolution) | Bunch of roots / tied roots | Research, depth, destructive-creative |
| 20 | Pooradam | பூராடம் | Delta + Epsilon Sagittarii | Venus | Apas (water goddesses) | Elephant tusk / fan | Invincible, proud, enterprising |
| 21 | Uthiradam | உத்திராடம் | Sigma Sagittarii (Nunki) | Sun | Vishvedevas (universal gods) | Elephant tusk / small bed | Victorious, restrained, universal |
| 22 | Thiruvonam | திருவோணம் | Altair (Alpha Aquilae) | Moon | Vishnu | Three footprints | Perceptive, learned, devoted |
| 23 | Avittam | அவிட்டம் | Beta + Alpha Delphini | Mars | Vasus (eight elemental deities) | Drum / flute | Humanitarian, courageous, dynamic |
| 24 | Sadhayam | சதயம் | Lambda Aquarii (Sadachbia) | Rahu | Varuna (cosmic order deity) | 100 stars / empty circle | Scientific, secretive, humanitarian |
| 25 | Poorattathi | பூரட்டாதி | Alpha + Beta Pegasi | Jupiter | Aja Ekapada (one-footed goat) | Front of funeral cot | Fiery, passionate, transforming |
| 26 | Uthirattathi | உத்திரட்டாதி | Gamma Pegasi (Algenib) | Saturn | Ahirbudhnya (serpent of deep) | Back of funeral cot | Disciplined, mystical, deep |
| 27 | Revathi | ரேவதி | Zeta Piscium | Mercury | Pushan (nourisher, path-keeper) | Fish / drum | Nurturing, journey-completing, gentle |
The 27 Nakshatras as a Visual Grid
Special Nakshatras in Tamil Tradition
While all 27 Nakshatras are significant, certain ones hold special importance in Tamil culture:
- Karthigai (3) — The Pleiades, associated with Lord Murugan. The Tamil month of Karthigai (November–December) and the great Karthigai Deepam fire festival are named after this Nakshatra.
- Rohini (4) — Aldebaran, the Moon's favourite mansion. The Moon is considered most powerful and auspicious in Rohini, which is why Lord Krishna is traditionally said to be born under this Nakshatra.
- Chithirai (14) — Spica, the bright star of Virgo. This is the Nakshatra for which Tamil New Year month Chithirai is named — the Sun is near Spica when it enters Aries at Puthandu.
- Thiruvonam (22) — Altair. The most important Nakshatra for Onam, the great harvest festival of South India, celebrated when the Moon is in Thiruvonam in the Malayalam month of Chingam.
- Kettai (18) — Antares, the rival of Mars. This brilliant red star (500 light-years away, 700 times the diameter of the Sun) is one of the most spectacular naked-eye Nakshatras to observe.
- Revathi (27) — The last Nakshatra, Zeta Piscium. Revathi marks the end of the zodiac — its ruling deity Pushan is the guide of travellers, protector of journeys, and guardian of the path between worlds.
How to Use the Nakshatra in Daily Life
In Tamil families, the Nakshatra is consulted for three main purposes:
- Birth Nakshatra: The Nakshatra the Moon occupied at the moment of birth determines a person's Janma Nakshatra — a lifelong astrological signature used for choosing compatible partners, timing ceremonies, and understanding personality.
- Daily timing: Each day's Nakshatra (as the Moon moves through the 27) governs the quality of that day. Certain Nakshatras are auspicious for starting new ventures, others for spiritual practice, travel, or rest.
- Festival timing: Major Tamil festivals are timed to specific Nakshatra conditions — Karthigai Deepam requires the Moon in Karthigai, Thiruvonam festival requires the Moon in Thiruvonam, and so on.
The Nakshatra system is one of the oldest surviving astronomical classifications still in daily use anywhere in the world. While Western astronomy moved away from star-mansion systems centuries ago, Tamil families across Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and the global diaspora still consult the Nakshatra every day — a living 2,000-year astronomical tradition.
நட்சத்திரம் என்றால் என்ன?
நட்சத்திரம் என்பது நிலவு பயணிக்கும் 27 வானியல் வீடுகள். நிலவு பூமியை ஒரு முறை சுற்றி வர 27.3 நாட்கள் ஆகும். இந்த 27.3 நாட்களில் நிலவு 27 வெவ்வேறு நட்சத்திர வீடுகளில் தங்கியிருக்கும் — ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் ஒரு வீட்டில்.
27 நட்சத்திரங்கள்
அஸ்வினி, பரணி, கார்த்திகை, ரோகிணி, மிருகசீரிஷம், திருவாதிரை, புனர்பூசம், பூசம், ஆயில்யம், மகம், பூரம், உத்திரம், அஸ்தம், சித்திரை, சுவாதி, விசாகம், அனுஷம், கேட்டை, மூலம், பூராடம், உத்திராடம், திருவோணம், அவிட்டம், சதயம், பூரட்டாதி, உத்திரட்டாதி, ரேவதி.
நட்சத்திரத்தின் அமைப்பு
ஒவ்வொரு நட்சத்திரமும் 13.33 டிகிரி வானத்தை உள்ளடக்கியது. ஒவ்வொரு நட்சத்திரமும் 4 பாதங்களாக (3.33 டிகிரி வீதம்) பிரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 27 × 4 = 108 பாதங்கள் — இந்த 108 என்ற எண் இந்திய மரபில் புனிதமானது.
நட்சத்திரமும் குணங்களும்
ஒவ்வொரு நட்சத்திரமும் ஒரு கோளால் ஆளப்படுகிறது, ஒரு தெய்வத்துடன் தொடர்புடையது, ஒரு குணத்தை கொண்டுள்ளது. பிறந்த நட்சத்திரம் (ஜன்ம நட்சத்திரம்) ஒருவரின் ஜாதகத்தில் மிக முக்கியமான இடத்தை வகிக்கிறது.
கார்த்திகை நட்சத்திரம்: இது பிளைடிஸ் (Pleiades) நட்சத்திர கூட்டம். ஆறு நட்சத்திர கன்னிகைகளை சின்னமாக கொண்டது. முருகன் இந்த நட்சத்திரத்தில் தோன்றியதாக தமிழ் மரபு கூறுகிறது.