Nakshatras
Nakshatras tests the 27 lunar mansions, their rulers, padas, deities and the classificatory systems used in matching and muhurta. The exam expects precise boundaries in sidereal longitude, not approximate names.
Structure
Each nakshatra spans 13°20′, and each is divided into four padas of 3°20′. The sequence begins with Ashwini at 0° Aries sidereal. Rulers repeat in the order Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury. Each nakshatra also carries a deity, gana, yoni, nadi, varna and tara classification. These are used in marriage matching, prasna and muhurta, but they do not override the chart’s house and dignity analysis.
Worked example
The Moon is at 15° Taurus sidereal. Krittika runs from 26°40′ Aries to 10° Taurus; Rohini runs from 10° to 23°20′ Taurus. Therefore 15° Taurus is Rohini. Its padas are 10°–13°20′, 13°20′–16°40′, 16°40′–20° and 20°–23°20′; 15° falls in the second pada. Rohini is ruled by the Moon, so the Moon is in its own nakshatra. That fact matters for Vimshottari balance and for judging the Moon’s strength.
Mark-losing traps
- Using the 28-nakshatra scheme with Abhijit without saying so.
- Forgetting that nakshatra boundaries are sidereal and shift with ayanamsa.
- Counting padas from 0° of the sign instead of from the nakshatra start.
- Confusing the Moon’s nakshatra with the lagna nakshatra.
- Treating gana or yoni alone as a complete compatibility judgment.
A precise answer states the ayanamsa, the boundary calculation and the pada before drawing a conclusion.