Your birth nakshatra is the lunar mansion the Moon occupied at birth. The 360° circle divides into 27 nakshatras of 13°20′ each, and each nakshatra into four padas of 3°20′. The start of the Vimshottari dasha, the naming letter, and the Gana-Yoni-Nadi matching all run on the birth nakshatra.
The computation takes the Moon's sidereal longitude (Lahiri ayanamsa) and divides by 13°20′ — the quotient names the nakshatra, the remainder the pada. Time and place matter because the Moon crosses one nakshatra in about a day.
Why does the pada matter?
Each pada has its own name-letter and Navamsa sign — both naming and fine-grained results are set by the pada, and many nakshatras give different results pada by pada.
What are the Gandmool nakshatras?
Ashwini, Ashlesha, Magha, Jyeshtha, Mula and Revati — six nakshatras at sign junctions. Birth in them traditionally calls for a Gandmool shanti on the 27th day; the result flags this automatically.
How do I name a child from the nakshatra?
See your pada's letter and begin the name with that sound — the rashi-wise letter list gives every pada's letters and names.
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