Hindu Predictive Astrology Part 4: Planets, Signs and Constellations
In Part 3, we mastered Hindu time measurement. Now we study the building blocks that everything else rests upon: the 27 Nakshatras (the constellation system unique to Vedic astrology), how they map onto the 12 signs, and the complete classification scheme of the zodiacal signs.
Part 4 of 31 • Foundations • Covers: Book Chapters IV & V — Planets, Signs and Constellations + Peculiarities of the Zodiacal Signs
The zodiac is a circle of light and consequently knows no beginning or end. To measure distances within it, the ancients established a fixed reference point — the first point of Aries — and divided the circle into 27 constellations called Nakshatras.
The nakshatra system is what makes Vedic astrology fundamentally different from all other astrological traditions. While Western astrology divides the zodiac only into 12 signs, the Hindu system adds a second, finer layer of 27 stellar divisions. These nakshatras determine your Dasa (planetary period) sequence, your Janma Nakshatra (birth star), and numerous predictive techniques that have no Western equivalent.
27
Nakshatras
13° 20'
Each nakshatra
4 Padas
Per nakshatra
3° 20'
Each pada
27 × 13°20' = 360°. Each sign (30°) contains 2¼ nakshatras or 9 padas.
The 27 Nakshatras: Complete Reference
Each nakshatra is identified by a principal star (or star group), the number of visible stars, and a symbolic image. The Dasa ruler column shows which planet governs that nakshatra — this is the foundation of the Vimshottari Dasa system (covered in detail in Part 12).
| # | Nakshatra | Star Identification | Stars | Resembles | Dasa Ruler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aswini | β Arietis | 3 | Horse's face | Ketu 7y |
| 2 | Bharani | 41 Arietis | 3 | Female sexual organ | Venus 20y |
| 3 | Krittika | γ Tauri (Alcyone) | 6 | Razor | Sun 6y |
| 4 | Rohini | Aldebaran | 5 | Chariot | Moon 10y |
| 5 | Mrigasira | λ Orionis | 3 | Deer's head | Mars 7y |
| 6 | Aridra | α Betelgeuse | 1 | Head | Rahu 18y |
| 7 | Punarvasu | β Geminorum (Pollux) | 5 | Bow | Jupiter 16y |
| 8 | Pushyami | δ Cancri | 3 | Flower | Saturn 19y |
| 9 | Aslesha | ε Hydrae | 6 | Serpent | Mercury 17y |
| 10 | Makha | ρ Leonis (Regulus) | 5 | Palanquin | Ketu 7y |
| 11 | Pubba | δ Leonis | 4* | Legs of a cot | Venus 20y |
| 12 | Uttara | Denebola | 4* | Legs of a cot | Sun 6y |
| 13 | Hasta | ξ Corvi | 5 | Palm of hand | Moon 10y |
| 14 | Chitta | Virginis Spica | 1 | Pearl | Mars 7y |
| 15 | Swati | α Bootis (Arcturus) | 1 | Sapphire | Rahu 18y |
| 16 | Visakha | α Librae | 3 | Potter's wheel | Jupiter 16y |
| 17 | Anuradha | δ Scorpii | 3 | Umbrella | Saturn 19y |
| 18 | Jyeshta | Antares | 3 | Umbrella | Mercury 17y |
| 19 | Moola | ζ Scorpii | 6 | Crouching lion | Ketu 7y |
| 20 | Poorvashadha | δ Sagittarii | 4* | Square | Venus 20y |
| 21 | Uttarashadha | α Sagittarii | 4* | Square | Sun 6y |
| 22 | Sravana | α Aquilae | 3 | Arrow | Moon 10y |
| 23 | Dhanishta | β Delphini | 4 | Drum | Mars 7y |
| 24 | Satabhisha | λ Aquarii | 100 | Flower | Rahu 18y |
| 25 | Poorvabhadra | β Pegasi | 4* | Legs of a cot | Jupiter 16y |
| 26 | Uttarabhadra | γ Pegasi | 4* | Legs of a cot | Saturn 19y |
| 27 | Revati | ζ Piscium | 3 | Fish | Mercury 17y |
* Star counts marked with asterisk indicate shared star groups between paired nakshatras (Pubba-Uttara, Poorvashadha-Uttarashadha, Poorvabhadra-Uttarabhadra).
Sign–Nakshatra Mapping: Which Padas Fall in Which Signs
This is one of the most important reference tables in all of Vedic astrology. Since each sign is 30° and each pada is 3°20', exactly 9 padas (= 2¼ nakshatras) fit inside each sign. Traditional almanacs give planetary positions in nakshatras and padas, so you need this table to convert them to sign positions.
| Sign | Nakshatras & Padas Contained | Ends at |
|---|---|---|
| ♈ Aries Mesha |
Aswini (all 4 padas) + Bharani (all 4) + Krittika (pada 1) | 30° 00' |
| ♉ Taurus Vrishabha |
Krittika (padas 2,3,4) + Rohini (all 4) + Mrigasira (padas 1,2) | 60° 00' |
| ♊ Gemini Mithuna |
Mrigasira (padas 3,4) + Aridra (all 4) + Punarvasu (padas 1,2,3) | 90° 00' |
| ♋ Cancer Kataka |
Punarvasu (pada 4) + Pushyami (all 4) + Aslesha (all 4) | 120° 00' |
| ♌ Leo Simha |
Makha (all 4) + Pubba (all 4) + Uttara (pada 1) | 150° 00' |
| ♍ Virgo Kanya |
Uttara (padas 2,3,4) + Hasta (all 4) + Chitta (padas 1,2) | 180° 00' |
| ♎ Libra Thula |
Chitta (padas 3,4) + Swati (all 4) + Visakha (padas 1,2,3) | 210° 00' |
| ♏ Scorpio Vrischika |
Visakha (pada 4) + Anuradha (all 4) + Jyeshta (all 4) | 240° 00' |
| ♐ Sagittarius Dhanus |
Moola (all 4) + Poorvashadha (all 4) + Uttarashadha (pada 1) | 270° 00' |
| ♑ Capricorn Makara |
Uttarashadha (padas 2,3,4) + Sravana (all 4) + Dhanishta (padas 1,2) | 300° 00' |
| ♒ Aquarius Kumbha |
Dhanishta (padas 3,4) + Satabhisha (all 4) + Poorvabhadra (padas 1,2,3) | 330° 00' |
| ♓ Pisces Meena |
Poorvabhadra (pada 4) + Uttarabhadra (all 4) + Revati (all 4) | 360° 00' |
Example: If an almanac says the Moon is in Mrigasira, 3rd pada, look at the table: Mrigasira padas 3 and 4 fall in Gemini. So the Moon is in Gemini.
Example: If the Moon is in Punarvasu, 4th pada, that single pada falls in Cancer (not Gemini where the first 3 padas sit). These boundary nakshatras — Krittika, Mrigasira, Punarvasu, Uttara, Chitta, Visakha, Uttarashadha, Dhanishta, and Poorvabhadra — span two signs and require careful pada identification.
Sign Classifications: The Complete System
Each zodiacal sign has multiple classifications attributed to it by the ancient Maharishis. These are not mere labels — they directly affect predictions about character, health, relationships, and life events. Here is the complete classification matrix:
| Type | Sanskrit | Signs | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moveable | Chara Rasis | Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn | Activity, change, initiative, new beginnings |
| Fixed | Sthira Rasis | Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius | Stability, persistence, resistance to change |
| Common/Dual | Dwisvabhava Rasis | Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces | Adaptability, duality, flexibility |
Odd = Masculine = Cruel
Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius
Even = Feminine = Mild
Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces
| Element | Sanskrit | Signs |
|---|---|---|
| 🔥 Fire | Agnitatwa | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius |
| 🌍 Earth | Bhuatatwa | Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn |
| 💨 Air | Vayutatwa | Gemini, Libra, Aquarius |
| 💧 Water | Jalatatwa | Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces |
| Type | Sanskrit | Signs | Powerful During |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head-rising | Sirodaya | Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Aquarius | Day (except Gemini) |
| Hind-part rising | Prushtodaya | Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius, Capricorn | Night (+ Gemini) |
| Both | Ubhayodaya | Pisces | Day and Night |