A nakshatra is a 13°20' slice of the sidereal zodiac, governed by a deity and ruled by a planet. There are 27 nakshatras (sometimes 28 with Abhijit), beginning with Ashwini at 0° Aries and ending with Revati at 30° Pisces. Each nakshatra has four padas (quarters) of 3°20' each. The Moon's nakshatra at birth (janma nakshatra) determines the starting point of the Vimshottari Dasha system and is a primary input for marriage matching (ashta koota).
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Vedic · Glossary
Nakshatra
A lunar mansion — one of 27 equal slices of the sidereal zodiac.