Baby Nakshatra Finder
Find the birth nakshatra, pada and rashi from the date, time and time zone of birth.
Find your baby's nakshatra
Enter the date, time and time zone of birth. The exact time matters: the Moon changes pada about every 6 hours.
Quick answer
A baby's birth nakshatra (janma nakshatra) is the lunar mansion the Moon was in at the moment of birth. Each of the 27 nakshatras has four padas of 3°20′, and each pada has a traditional starting syllable used to choose the baby's name at the Namakaran.
How the nakshatra is calculated
We work out the Moon's position at the exact moment of birth with the astronomy-engine library, then convert it to the sidereal zodiac used in Indian astrology by subtracting the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa — the standard adopted by the Indian government's Calendar Reform Committee and most panchangs.
The sidereal circle of 360° is divided into 27 nakshatras of 13°20′ each, and each nakshatra into four padas of 3°20′. Nine padas make up each of the 12 rashis, so the Moon's pada gives both the rashi (Moon sign) and the starting syllable for the name.
The Moon moves through a pada in about six hours, so the time of birth matters. If the Moon was near the edge of a pada, the tool tells you to confirm with your family priest.
Nakshatras, padas and starting syllables
Traditional Avakahada chakra syllables for each pada.
| Nakshatra | Pada syllables | Rashi |
|---|---|---|
| Ashwini | Chu (चू), Che (चे), Cho (चो), La (ला) | Mesh |
| Bharani | Li (ली), Lu (लू), Le (ले), Lo (लो) | Mesh |
| Krittika | A (अ), I (इ), U (उ), E (ए) | Mesh / Vrishabh |
| Rohini | O (ओ), Va (वा), Vi (वी), Vu (वू) | Vrishabh |
| Mrigashira | Ve (वे), Vo (वो), Ka (का), Ki (की) | Vrishabh / Mithun |
| Ardra | Ku (कू), Gha (घ), Nga (ङ), Chha (छ) | Mithun |
| Punarvasu | Ke (के), Ko (को), Ha (हा), Hi (ही) | Mithun / Kark |
| Pushya | Hu (हू), He (हे), Ho (हो), Da (डा) | Kark |
| Ashlesha | Di (डी), Du (डू), De (डे), Do (डो) | Kark |
| Magha | Ma (मा), Mi (मी), Mu (मू), Me (मे) | Simha |
| Purva Phalguni | Mo (मो), Ta (टा), Ti (टी), Tu (टू) | Simha |
| Uttara Phalguni | Te (टे), To (टो), Pa (पा), Pi (पी) | Simha / Kanya |
| Hasta | Pu (पू), Sha (ष), Na (ण), Tha (ठ) | Kanya |
| Chitra | Pe (पे), Po (पो), Ra (रा), Ri (री) | Kanya / Tula |
| Swati | Ru (रू), Re (रे), Ro (रो), Ta (ता) | Tula |
| Vishakha | Ti (ती), Tu (तू), Te (ते), To (तो) | Tula / Vrishchik |
| Anuradha | Na (ना), Ni (नी), Nu (नू), Ne (ने) | Vrishchik |
| Jyeshtha | No (नो), Ya (या), Yi (यी), Yu (यू) | Vrishchik |
| Mula | Ye (ये), Yo (यो), Bha (भा), Bhi (भी) | Dhanu |
| Purva Ashadha | Bhu (भू), Dha (धा), Pha (फा), Dha (ढा) | Dhanu |
| Uttara Ashadha | Bhe (भे), Bho (भो), Ja (जा), Ji (जी) | Dhanu / Makar |
| Shravana | Khi (खी), Khu (खू), Khe (खे), Kho (खो) | Makar |
| Dhanishta | Ga (गा), Gi (गी), Gu (गू), Ge (गे) | Makar / Kumbh |
| Shatabhisha | Go (गो), Sa (सा), Si (सी), Su (सू) | Kumbh |
| Purva Bhadrapada | Se (से), So (सो), Da (दा), Di (दी) | Kumbh / Meen |
| Uttara Bhadrapada | Du (दू), Tha (थ), Jha (झ), Nya (ञ) | Meen |
| Revati | De (दे), Do (दो), Cha (चा), Chi (ची) | Meen |
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need the exact time of birth?
The Moon moves about 13° a day, so it changes pada roughly every six hours and nakshatra about once a day. A different time can give a different syllable.
Is the nakshatra the same as the sun sign?
No. Rashi in Indian naming is the Moon sign in the sidereal zodiac. Western sun signs use the Sun's position in the tropical zodiac.
Which ayanamsa do you use?
The Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa, used by most Indian panchangs. Other ayanamsas differ by up to about a degree, which can matter near a pada boundary.
What if we don't follow the nakshatra syllable?
Many families choose freely, or use the syllable for a second 'nakshatra name' used in ceremonies. It is a tradition, not a rule.
Sources
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<iframe src="https://parentingtipsandguide.com/embed/tools/nakshatra-finder" title="Baby Nakshatra Finder" width="100%" height="720" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://parentingtipsandguide.com/tools/nakshatra-finder">Baby Nakshatra Finder</a> by ParentingTipsAndGuide.com</p>