iVillage

The Moon at the time of birth (or an event) is located in one of 27 lunar mansions or Nakshatras as they are called in Vedic astrology. The Moon moves through the 360 degrees of the zodiac in the course of one month and spends about one day in each of the Nakshatras. A Nakshatra is simply the familiar zodiac divided into 27 parts, each 13-degrees, 20 minutes of angular arc.

We all know that the zodiac most familiar to us is divided into 12 sections, one for each month the Sun spends in that sign. With the Nakshatras, the zodiac is divided into 27 sections and it is the Moon that we watch move through these areas of the sky. We could say that the Nakshatra you were born in is another kind of Moon sign.

The Nakshatras are ancient and are used by virtually all Vedic/Hindu astrologers in many different ways. The Nakshatra in which you were born is an important key to your character.

The lunar mansion or nakshatra is typically calculated at daybreak (about 5am). Whichever Nakshatra the Moon is in a daybreak is considered the one to use for that day. However, it is also important to note when (during that 24-hour day) the Moon moves into the next subsequent Nakshatra. That Nakshatra and the time it is entered are usually listed in most Tibetan calendars.

Each lunar mansion has its own flavor and interpretation, just as the familiar zodiac signs have their meaning. In Tibet, the tropical zodiac is used to measure the lunar mansions or Nakshatras.