The 27 Nakshatras and Their Planetary Lords: A Beginner's Guide
A complete beginner's reference to the 27 nakshatras of Vedic & KP astrology, their symbols and their ruling planets (star-lords) — from Ashwini to Revati.
The nakshatras are the 27 "Moon-stations" the zodiac is divided into — each about 13°20′ wide. Every nakshatra is ruled by one of the nine grahas, called its star-lord (nakshatra lord). In KP astrology this lordship is essential: it's the second rung of the KP ladder and helps show which areas of life a point in the chart connects to.
Below is a complete beginner reference — each nakshatra, a simple symbol to remember it by, and its ruling planet.
The 27 nakshatras and their lords
| Nakshatra | Symbol clue | Ruling planet (lord) |
|---|---|---|
| Ashwini | Horse head | Ketu |
| Bharani | Yoni | Venus |
| Krittika | Knife | Sun |
| Rohini | Chariot | Moon |
| Mrigashirsha | Deer's head | Mars |
| Ardra | Tear / diamond | Rahu |
| Punarvasu | Bow and quiver | Jupiter |
| Pushya | Cow's udder | Saturn |
| Ashlesha | Serpent | Mercury |
| Magha | Throne | Ketu |
| Purva Phalguni | Front legs of a bed | Venus |
| Uttara Phalguni | Rear legs of a bed | Sun |
| Hasta | Hand | Moon |
| Chitra | Jewel | Mars |
| Swati | Plant shoot / coral | Rahu |
| Vishakha | Arch / wheel | Jupiter |
| Anuradha | Arch / lotus | Saturn |
| Jyeshtha | Amulet / earring | Mercury |
| Mula | Roots | Ketu |
| Purva Ashadha | Fan / tusk | Venus |
| Uttara Ashadha | Small bed / tusk | Sun |
| Shravana | Ear / footprints | Moon |
| Dhanishtha | Drum / flute | Mars |
| Shatabhisha | Empty circle | Rahu |
| Purva Bhadrapada | Swords / two-faced man | Jupiter |
| Uttara Bhadrapada | Twins / bed legs | Saturn |
| Revati | Fish | Mercury |
Notice the repeating order
Look closely and you'll see the lords cycle in a fixed sequence — Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury — repeating three times across the 27 nakshatras. This is the Vimshottari order, the same sequence used to calculate planetary periods (dashas) for timing events. It is one of the most elegant patterns in Jyotish.
How this is used in a reading
Knowing your Moon's nakshatra (your Janma Nakshatra) is a traditional starting point for a Vedic reading. In KP, the star-lord of each cusp and planet feeds into the significator analysis that decides whether an event is promised. You don't need to memorise this table — but it shows the careful structure underneath every accurate prediction.
If you'd like to know what your own nakshatras and their lords reveal about a specific question, a personal reading is the clearest next step.
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