Panchang reference
What is Nakshatra?
Nakshatra (नक्षत्र) is one of 27 equal divisions of the sidereal zodiac, used to describe the Moon's position.
Each division spans 13°20′. The Moon passes through them in order, from Ashwini (अश्विनी) through Revati (रेवती), taking roughly a day in each. These are equal calendar divisions, not the unequal outlines of visible constellations.
How to read the row
The dashboard names the Moon's nakshatra at sunrise in the selected city, followed by its ending time and the next nakshatra.
For Delhi on 2 October 2026, it shows Mrigashira (मृगशिरा) until 02:53 (tomorrow), then Ardra. Mrigashira is active at sunrise on 2 October; Ardra starts at 02:53 on 3 October. “Tomorrow” refers to the date after the one displayed, in city time.
The 27 nakshatras
The names below follow the dashboard's order and spelling. The nature column gives the traditional activity groups explained below.
| Nakshatra | Traditional nature |
|---|---|
| 1. Ashwini (अश्विनी) | Light |
| 2. Bharani (भरणी) | Fierce |
| 3. Krittika (कृत्तिका) | Mixed |
| 4. Rohini (रोहिणी) | Stable |
| 5. Mrigashira (मृगशिरा) | Soft |
| 6. Ardra (आर्द्रा) | Sharp |
| 7. Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु) | Movable |
| 8. Pushya (पुष्य) | Light |
| 9. Ashlesha (आश्लेषा) | Sharp |
| 10. Magha (मघा) | Fierce |
| 11. Purva Phalguni (पूर्व फाल्गुनी) | Fierce |
| 12. Uttara Phalguni (उत्तर फाल्गुनी) | Stable |
| 13. Hasta (हस्त) | Light |
| 14. Chitra (चित्रा) | Soft |
| 15. Swati (स्वाती) | Movable |
| 16. Vishakha (विशाखा) | Mixed |
| 17. Anuradha (अनुराधा) | Soft |
| 18. Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठा) | Sharp |
| 19. Moola (मूल) | Sharp |
| 20. Purva Ashadha (पूर्वाषाढा) | Fierce |
| 21. Uttara Ashadha (उत्तराषाढा) | Stable |
| 22. Shravana (श्रवण) | Movable |
| 23. Dhanishta (धनिष्ठा) | Movable |
| 24. Shatabhisha (शतभिषा) | Movable |
| 25. Purva Bhadrapada (पूर्व भाद्रपद) | Fierce |
| 26. Uttara Bhadrapada (उत्तर भाद्रपद) | Stable |
| 27. Revati (रेवती) | Soft |
After Revati, the sequence returns to Ashwini. Spellings such as Mrigashirsha, Svati and Mula refer to Mrigashira, Swati and Moola respectively.
Why some systems count 28
The extra name is Abhijit (अभिजित्), placed between Uttara Ashadha and Shravana. Specialised arrangements such as Sarvatobhadra Chakra retain this 28-name convention.
The daily dashboard uses the 27 equal divisions. Abhijit is not an extra 13°20′ division added to that circle. Its inclusion belongs to a different counting convention; the daily sequence does not occasionally gain a new division.
Abhijit nakshatra and Abhijit Muhurat are different. One is a nakshatra; the other is a short daytime window near midday.
Traditional nakshatra groups
Traditional muhurta classifications group nakshatras by the character of an activity:
- Stable, Dhruva (ध्रुव): lasting work, such as planting trees or establishing buildings.
- Movable, Chara (चर): movement and activities intended to change location.
- Light, Laghu (लघु): learning, arts and trade.
- Soft, Mridu (मृदु): friendship, clothing, ornamentation and music.
- Sharp, Tikshna (तीक्ष्ण): forceful or separating acts in the classical classification.
- Fierce, Ugra (उग्र): severe or destructive acts in the classical classification.
- Mixed, Mridu-Tikshna (मृदु-तीक्ष्ण): a combination of soft and sharp qualities.
These are traditional activity classifications, not personality descriptions or predictions of an event's outcome. A group alone does not establish a complete muhurta for a ceremony. The dashboard's Now verdict does not use these groups.
Daily and birth nakshatra
The daily row describes the Moon on that date. A birth nakshatra describes the Moon at a person's birth time. They need not be the same. The Kundli page uses a birth date, time and place for that separate calculation.
Each nakshatra also has four quarters, or padas, of 3°20′ each. The daily Panchang row shows the nakshatra name; a birth chart provides the more specific placement.
Why another calendar may differ
Comparisons need the same date, location and reference time. Different sunrise times can select different nakshatras near a boundary. A different ayanamsa, the reference used for the sidereal zodiac, can shift that boundary too. The site's convention is described on About.
The traditional interpretation guide considers nakshatra alongside the other parts of the Panchang and daily windows. See today's nakshatra on the Delhi dashboard.