Nakshatra Guide: How to Find the Birth Star of Your Baby
“Your child is born in Ashwini Nakshatra, ruled by Ketu with deity Ashwini Kumars.”
Such statements are very common to parents’ ears, aligning with various religious and spiritual beliefs.
The importance of the birth star in India during the naming ceremony, first hair-cut ceremony, to gain information about destiny, challenges about career, relationships, health, etc., is immense.
The above mentioned statement is a part of Vedic astrology which also forms an important part of Hindu philosophy.
Importance of Birth Star in India?
Nakshatra is defined by the position of the celestial bodies during birth, based on date of birth, time of birth, and place of birth of the child.
Later, this information helps in dissecting the characteristics, life path, and potential challenges in an individual’s life. It also provides certain astrological remedies and rituals to align the misaligned stars for their betterment.
Consider it like a blueprint for a person’s life story!
Also, despite the current modern generation, the new parents' unshaken belief towards Vedic Astrology marks its vital importance in one’s life.
Now, if you are curious about such astrological wonders, then this blog will certainly provide you with an enlightened insight.
What is a birth star (Nakshatra)?
The birth star, or Nakshatra, defines the true characteristics of the person, that is, their core personality, emotions, mental nature, and intrinsic nature. This is done by analyzing the exact positioning of the sun, moon, and other planets in the sky during the time and date of birth.
The sky is divided into:
- 12 zodiacs, 30 degrees apart, also known as the Sun sign, ruled by the movement of the Sun.
- 27 lunar constellations, 13.33 degrees apart, also known as Nakshatra, are ruled by the movement of the moon.
The Sun, Moon, and the other planets move along this division with their respective timeframes. This constant movement of the celestial bodies along the astrological divisions reflects upon the life path of an individual.
The sun moves around one degree per day and the moon around 13 degrees per day, which defines your current energies.
For example, if someone is born on March 21, then their zodiac sign is Aries with Bharani Nakshatra. It means they are ruled by deity Yama and have sensual, nurturing, stable, and creative characteristics. This is the person’s core personality.
The assessment only on the basis of zodiac signs with respect to planetary positions is a part of western astrology, but characterisation on the basis of zodiac signs, planetary position, and Nakshatra forms a part of Vedic astrology.
Division of Zodiac into 27 Birth Stars
Nakshatra Table|
Nakshatra |
Ruling Planet | Ruling Deity | Zodiac Sign | Key Characteristics | Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashwini | Ketu | Ashwini Kumaras | Aries (1°-13°20') | Swift, energetic, healing, impulsive, pioneering | Horse's head |
| Bharani | Venus | Yama (God of Death) | Aries (13°20'-26°40') | Determined, passionate, protective, intense | Yoni (female reproductive organ) |
| Krittika | Sun | Agni (God of Fire) | Taurus (26°40'-40°) | Fierce, sharp, strong-willed, nurturing | Knife, razor |
| Rohini | Moon | Brahma (Creator God) | Taurus (10°-23°20') | Creative, sensual, stable, fertile, nurturing | Chariot, ox |
| Mrigashira | Mars | Soma (Moon God) | Gemini (23°20'-6°40') | Curious, searching, restless, adaptable | Deer, antelope |
| Ardra | Rahu | Rudra (Storm God) | Gemini (6°40'-20°) | Intense, transformative, communicative, emotional | Teardrop, human head |
| Punarvasu | Jupiter | Aditi (Mother of Gods) | Cancer (20°-3°20') | Optimistic, nurturing, reflective, adaptable | Quiver of arrows, female figure |
| Pushya | Saturn | Brihaspati (Teacher of Gods) | Cancer (3°20'-16°40') | Compassionate, gentle, nurturing, spiritual | Cow's udder |
| Ashlesha | Mercury | Naga (Serpent Gods) | Cancer (16°40'-30°) | Intuitive, secretive, emotional, possessive | Serpent, coiled snake |
| Magha | Ketu | Pitris (Ancestors) | Leo (0°-13°20') | Regal, authoritative, proud, leadership-oriented | Throne, royal seat |
| Purvaphalguni | Venus | Bhaga (God of Fortune) | Leo (13°20'-26°40') | Creative, pleasure-loving, sociable, indulgent | Bed, hammock |
| Uttara Phalguni | Sun | Aryaman (God of Loyalty) | Leo (26°40'-30°) | Loyal, wise, authoritative, service-oriented | Pair of legs, plow |
| Hasta | Moon | Savitar (Sun God) | Virgo (0°-13°20') | Skilled, practical, communicative, perfectionist | Hand, fist |
| Chitra | Mars | Tvashtar (Divine Craftsman) | Virgo (13°20'-26°40') | Artistic, creative, intelligent, perfectionist | Pearl, jewel |
| Swati | Rahu | Vayu (Wind God) | Libra (0°-13°20') | Independent, adaptable, intelligent, free-spirited | Blade of grass, coral |
| Vishakha | Jupiter | Indra-Agni (Gods of Power and Fire) | Libra (13°20'-26°40') | Goal-oriented, ambitious, dynamic | Triumphal arch |
| Anuradha | Saturn | Mitra (God of Friendship) | Scorpio (26°40'-10°) | Disciplined, cooperative, patient, loyal | Lotus, portico |
| Jyestha | Mercury | Indra (King of Gods) | Scorpio (10°-23°20') | Intelligent, competitive, protective, authoritative | Earring, umbrella |
| Mula | Ketu | Nirriti (Goddess of Dissolution) | Scorpio (23°20'-6°40') | Philosophical, intense, transformative, spiritual | Flail, bunch of roots |
| Purvashadha | Venus | Apah (Water Goddess) | Sagittarius (6°40'-20°) | Enthusiastic, ambitious, creative, sensitive | Elephant tusk |
| Uttara Ashadha | Sun | Vishvadevas (Universal Gods) | Sagittarius (13°20'-26°40') | Strong, disciplined, victorious, determined | Plank of a bed |
| Shravan | Moon | Vishnu (Preserver God) | Capricorn (0°-13°20') | Devoted, calm, spiritual, communicative | Ear, listening |
| Dhanishta | Mars | Vasus (Gods of Wealth) | Capricorn (13°20'-26°40') | Energetic, musical, ambitious, social | Drum, flute |
| Shatabhisha | Rahu | Varuna (God of Cosmic Order) | Aquarius (0°-13°20') | Mysterious, independent, healing, humanitarian | Circle, empty circle |
| Purvabhadrapada | Jupiter | Aja Ekapad (One-Legged Goat) | Aquarius (13°20'-26°40') | Spiritual, intense, unconventional, eccentric | A sword, funeral cot |
| Uttara Bhadrapada | Saturn | Ahir Budhnya (Serpent of the Deep) | Pisces (26°40'-30°) | Wise, empathetic, serene, deep-thinking | Two twins, back of a funeral cot |
| Revati | Mercury | Pushan (God of Nourishment) | Pisces (0°-13°20') | Compassionate, nurturing, artistic, intuitive | Fish, drum |
There are 28 Nakshatras, but only 27 are used for the calculation in astrology. Each Nakshatra has its own ruling planet, deity, and is also associated with a symbol to indicate its nature.
The 27 Nakshatras are as follows:
| 1. Ashwini | 10. Magha | 19. Mula |
| 2. Bharani | 11. Purvaphalguni | 20. Purvashadha |
| 3. Krittika | 12. Uttara Phalguni | 21. Uttara Ashadha |
| 4. Rohini | 13. Hasta | 22. Shravan |
| 5. Mrigashira | 14. Chitra | 23. Danishta |
| 6. Arda | 15. Swati | 24. Stabhisha |
| 7. Punarvasu | 16. Vishakha | 25. Purvabhadrapada |
| 8. Pushya | 17. Anuradha | 26. Uttara Bhadrapada |
| 9. Ashlesha | 18. Jyestha | 27. Revati |
Importance of The Moon’s Position During Birth
The position of the sun represents your outer personality, which is the ego, conscious self, and soul. On the other hand, the moon represents the inner personality, like emotional, subconscious, and intrinsic needs.
Characteristics aligned with the moon's planetary position define your:
- Reactions to various life’s events on a subconscious level.
- Moods, feelings, and emotional responses.
- Mental habits and thought patterns—that is, calm or anxious, sad or happy, etc.
- Represents a nurturing environment due to maternal influence.
- Relationships and compatibility.
- Intuition, sensitivity, and empathy.
- Emotional and spiritual awareness.
For example, a person having the Moon in the Bharani Nakshatra represents intensity, passion, resilience, independence, creativity, morality, etc.
Also, the right placement of the moon in the birth chart is directly proportional to mental, emotional, and spiritual stability.
Why Know Your Baby's Birth Star?
The moon’s planetary position at the time of their birth is the most important aspect in understanding your baby’s birth star. It provides various characteristic insights into a child’s life.
Let us now understand its influence on various aspects, like:
1. Name Selection
Your child’s birth star determines their Nakshatra and the possible syllables for naming them.
Every Nakshatra is divided into four quarters, also known as “Aksharas.”
The syllables for child naming are determined by cross-checking them with the respective coordinates of the quarter at the time of birth.
The particular syllable is then chosen among the designated ones’ to name a child. By doing so, it is believed to bring prosperity into their lives.
This is because their name syncs with the respective cosmic energies through "Aksharas,” or syllables used.
For example, a child born in Pushya Nakshatra has a ruling planet as Saturn with deity Brahaspati, followed by Aksharas’ "Hu," "He," "Ho," and "Da." This means the child can be named Hemant, Damini, etc. on the basis of the particular syllable assigned to them based on their birth time quarter.
Why is the Nakshatra important for naming babies in India?
We carry our names throughout our lives; that is, it isn’t just a tag but also has a similar vibrational energy with the universe. This works like a law of attraction.
For example, if “Ho” is the syllable and the person is named "Hoor," according to their personality traits, then this name would enhance those underlying traits. With time, the person would also start showcasing the characteristics of the meaning of their name.
This helps provide affluent health, success, wealth, and prosperity in all aspects of their lives by resonating with the energy of the universe.
It also provides a clear life path by surpassing all the life challenges, either naturally or through various astrological remedies.
This can also keep the child mentally, emotionally, and spiritually stable by aligning with the positive energies of the universe.
2. Personality trait
Every Nakshatra is divided into four quarters, or "Aksharas,” having their own unique personality traits. The division of these quarters also helps in their zodiac sign divisions, thus imparting them with a fixed set of characteristics.
For example, a person born in Ashwini Nakshatra is adventurous, competitive, restless, impulsive, and a healer, whereas a person born in Bharani Nakshatra is strong-headed, creative, intense, and responsible. Here, both Ashwini Nakshatra and Bharani Nakshatra fall under the zodiac sign Aries.
Hence, knowledge of one’s child’s Nakshatra may help you to polish their strengths and weaknesses from their childhood.
This is also one of the most important reasons why the knowledge of Nakshatra is important for naming babies in India.
3. Future Predictions
The Sun, Moon, and other planets have a fixed path of revolution. Each of them holds certain energies. When these celestial bodies pass through the Nakshatras, they impart their energies, thus reflecting them in the person’s current or future life path.
For example:
If for a particular time period there is sun, moon, and mars in Magha Nakshatra, this means:
- Sun, depicting authority and leadership, the person would be optimistic about taking an important life decision.
- Moon, representing emotions, the person would be determined to receive emotional validation from people around them or would have heightened intuition.
- Mars, showcasing passion, would compel the person towards taking bold decisions.
All this together would predict the person’s present or future for a particular time period.
This is done by astrologers by assessing the movement of these celestial bodies for the desired time period.
Also, although your initial celestial placements might reflect your true personality, the movement of these bodies with time will determine your current or future energies.
Many times, your true personality or initial energy might challenge the current energy due to the celestial placements, leading to various obstacles in life.
This negative energy effect can be resolved with some astrological remedies, thus paving out a smooth path against the hurdles.
The above pointers serve as a seal to assure the importance of the birth star in India.
Steps on How to Find the Birth Star of a Baby
Finding your baby's birth star manually is challenging because it requires a lot of studying and assessing the plausible celestial alignments. Yet, you can find it with just a little information with the help of many online tools.
All you require is D-T-P, that is:
- Date of birth
- Time of birth
- Place of birth
It will provide the entire information of the Nakshatra, along with the possible syllables for child naming and their positive and negative personality traits.
How To Find A Baby’s Birth Star By Just Using Time And Date?
This can be done in two ways, that is:
- Online tools for calculating birth stars in Indian astrology
- Consulting an astrologer.
Following the necessary steps online to find a baby's Nakshatra by date of birth is the easiest way to get the initial information.
However, for a detailed understanding, consulting an astrologer is always recommended.
How do birth stars influence naming?
In total, there are 28 Nakshatras, among which 27 are used for the calculation.
These Nakshatras are further divided into four quarters, or padas, each. These quarters represent a fixed set of energies, reflecting the personality trait of the child falling under each of them.
Each Nakshatra also has a set of syllables, or "Aksharas,” resonating with that particular cosmic energy.
Naming your child with those designated syllables will help you sync their frequency through their names with the energies of the universe. This is believed to bring them good fortune in life.
For example, a person born in Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra is ruled by the Aksharas: "Se," "So," "Dha," "Dhi," "Di," "Da," "Daa," and "Dee." This means the names can be Sehal, Sonal, Dhara, Divya, Sohail, etc.
Also Read: Kids Personality by Zodiac Sign: A Parent's Essential Guide
The Connection Between Nakshatras and Planets
Nakshatra is primarily defined by the planetary position of the moon during the time of birth.
However, the sun and the other nine planets also play an important role in determining the characteristics, personality, and life path of an individual.
This is because each nakshatra is ruled by a certain celestial body whose qualities influence a person’s life.
Although planets’ placement in the birth chart also affects the child’s nakshatra, it is the moon’s placement that builds the foundation.
Relationship of Nakshatras and Padas
The term “pada" means section. Each Nakshatra is divided into four quarters, or padas. These padas are each ruled by a specific planet. Collaboration of the traits of all the planets in a particular nakshatra provides the complete characteristic traits and life path of the person.
How are planetary Dashas (periods) linked to the Nakshatra? [H3]
The term “Dasha” means situation. Each Nakshatra has a ruling planet associated with it, and their influence in the person’s life is known as Dasha.
Dasha stands for determining the time period for a particular life event. It might be positive or negative, thus influencing a person's life circumstances.
Each planet has its own unique Dasha, whose influences are felt in a particular Nakshatra at a particular time period.
Mahadasha, or major period, is determined by the ruling planet of the Nakshatra. It is known as the influence of the ruling planet with its’ dominating theme for a particular phase in the person’s life.
The Dasha cycle begins with the planetary position of the moon. Each Nakshatra has fixed Dasha periods that are associated with its ruling planet.
A person’s life is divided into Dashas, which are determined by the maximum influence of the ruling planet during that phase of time, known as Mahadasha.
Such planetary placements affect the child’s life path, circumstances, and destiny.
For example, Rahu and Ketu Dashas are known for their karmic lessons, which further bring transformation in the person; Jupiter Dasha brings growth, wisdom, and prosperity, and so on.
If there are one or two more planets present in your baby’s birth chart apart from the ruling planet, then all three will work together to create a mutual influence in a person’s life.
Popular Online Tools to Calculate Birth Stars
There are various online tools available to help you understand how to find your baby’s nakshatra and various other aspects associated with it.
Also, in case you are seeking one, then do check out R for Rabbit’s Nakshatra calculator to make your journey easier. All you have to do is enter the date, time, and place of birth and receive your Nakshatra, Pada, Rashi, optimistic and negative traits, and the syllables for child naming.
Benefits of Knowing Your Baby's Birth Star
The knowledge about your child’s birth star, or Nakshatra, can help you in various ways, like:
- Polishing their natural talents.
- Challenging their weaknesses to make them strong.
- In establishing boundaries and discipline in them.
- To understand their emotional and mental blueprint.
- Planning their auspicious events and ceremonies like naming, marriage, etc.
- Aligning with their favorable Dashas
Also Read: The Impact of Names on Child’s Future
Conclusion
A child's birth star, or Nakshatra, has an ancient significance, and it has been in the Hindu philosophy since forever.
Nakshatra helps in providing a holistic understanding about the child’s life, personality traits, and destiny. This can further help in paving a fruitful life path in their future.
Lastly, although these online tools might be helpful to gather a little information on how to find Nakshatra, it is just the tip of the iceberg. Therefore, to receive detailed information, it is always recommended to approach an authentic source and resources.