Nakshatra is a term that means a star or a constellation in Hindu Jyotish Shastra or Vedic astrology. There are 27 Nakshatras in total, each with its own characteristics and effects.

Nakshatras are based on the position of the Moon in the sky, which changes every day. The Moon is the most important planet in Vedic astrology, as it represents the mind, emotions, and intuition of a person. The Nakshatra where the Moon was located at the time of birth is called the Janma Nakshatra or the birth star. It reveals the personality, temperament, character, and destiny of a person.

Each Nakshatra has its own symbol, deity, ruling planet, element, animal, gender, caste, and quality. These attributes affect the nature and behavior of a person born under that Nakshatra. For example, Ashwini Nakshatra is symbolized by a horse, ruled by Ketu, associated with fire element, represented by a male horse, belonging to Vaishya caste, and having Sattva quality. A person born under Ashwini Nakshatra is said to be energetic, quick, adventurous, intelligent, and humble.

Each Nakshatra is also divided into four equal parts called Padas or quarters. Each Pada has a different zodiac sign and ruling planet associated with it, which adds more details and accuracy to the astrological interpretation. For example, Ashwini Nakshatra has four Padas: Aries sign ruled by Mars in the first Pada, Taurus sign ruled by Venus in the second Pada, Gemini sign ruled by Mercury in the third Pada, and Cancer sign ruled by Moon in the fourth Pada. A person born under Ashwini Nakshatra will have different characteristics depending on which Pada they belong to.

Nakshatras are used for various astrological purposes such as making predictions, choosing auspicious times, finding compatibility, naming babies, etc. By knowing one’s Nakshatra and its characteristics, one can understand oneself better and improve one’s life in various ways.