Last Updated on February 21, 2024 by astrologerbydefault

A quick post on the Nakshatra/lunar mansions today. Vedic astrology is built on the framework of the Nakshatra so basic understanding of this is necessary. Nakshatra analysis is a deep dive into the personality. It is helpful in attaining material goals as well as in spirituality and self-discovery. Nav tara is the easiest way to begin using the Naksahtra in your astrological predictions. There are 9 categories of Tara, ie Janma, Sampat, Vipat, Kshema, Pratyari, Sadhaka, Naidhana, Mitra, Ati mitra. These 9 categories repeat in 3 cycles, so each category contains 3 lunar mansions/Nakshatra.

To begin with, open any Vedic astrology software, input in your birth details. Check the Nakshatra in which your birth Moon is placed in, this is called your birth lunar mansion/ Janma nakshatra. You will need to know the sequence of the 27 nakshatra (post here). Count your Janma nakshatra as the 1^st one and then fill up this following Nav-tara table.

eg If your birth Moon Nakshatra is Uttarabhadrapada then,

The nine Tara in this Nav-tara chakra are,

1. Janma Tara – there are three lunar mansions in this. The 1st is the Janma (birth star) Nakshatra. The 10^th from the Janma nakshatra, also called Karma nakshatra. The 19^th from the Janma nakshatra also called the Adhana nakshatra. If there are any planets placed in any of these three lunar mansions, either in birth chart or in transit, then they have a significant effect on your body/ mind. If the lords of the Dushamsthan, the houses of turmoil ie the 6th 8th 12th lords occupy this nakshatras, or if there are ascendant specific malefic planets here then you will feel their negative effects on your mind/ body. Benefics here grant mental and physical strength. Planets at birth or in transit here give average results.

2. Sampat Tara – Count the 2^nd, 11^th and the 20^th Nakshatras from your Janma nakshatra. These three lunar mansions constitute this sub-group /Tara. Any planets placed in any of these three lunar mansions give very good results. ‘Sampat’ means wealth, prosperity, enjoyment, good fortune. Planets at birth or in transit here give excellent results.

3. Vipat Tara – Count the 3^rd, 12^th and the 21^st lunar mansions from the Janma nakshatra. A planet placed in any of these three lunar mansions, gives generally inauspicious results, crises in life, dangers, inimical events etc which are problematic on the material levels. Vipat means adversity. Planets at birth or in transit here give unpleasant results.

4. Kshema Tara – The 4th, the 13th and the 22nd Nakshatras counted from the janma nakshatra constitute this Tara. Any planets placed in any of these three lunar mansions, give good results, prosperity, well being and increase in fortune. This Tara specifically grants protection in the deepest sense. Kshema means all round prosperity. Planets at birth or in transit here give very good results.

5. Pratyak Tara – Pratyak means opposition. The 5^th, 14^th, and the 23rd nakshatra counted from the Janma nakshatra. Any planets placed in any of these three lunar mansions can give obstacles in life. Planets at birth or in transit here give unfavourable results.

6. Sadhaka Tara – The 6th, the 15th, and the 24th nakshatra counted from Janma nakshatra. Any planets placed in any of these three lunar mansions, give achievements, successes and fulfilment of goals. Sadhak means ‘what can be achieved’. Planets at birth or in transit here give very good results.

7. Naidhana Tara – The 7th, the 16th , and the 25th nakshatras counted from the Janma nakshatra. Any planets placed in any of these three lunar mansions, give very inauspicious results, also called ‘Vadha’ death, danger and severe misfortunes. Naidhana is essentially an ‘appointed ending’. Planets at birth or in transit here give unfavourable results.

8. Mitra Tara – The 8^th, 17^th and 26^th nakshatras counted from the Janma nakshatra. Any planets placed in any of these three lunar mansions, give good results, happiness, companionship etc. Mitra is ‘friend’. Planets at birth or in transit here give very good results.

9. Ati-Mitra Tara – The 9th, the 18th and the 27th nakshatras counted from Janma nakshatra constitute this Tara. Any planets placed in any of these three lunar mansions, give gains and highly auspicious events. Ati-mitra is an ‘extreme friend’. Planets at birth or in transit here give good results.

(I have written in detail on this Tara level interpretation in this post.)

Now to practically use this Nav-tara table and the positions of the planets. Note the following,

In your birth chart, note the nakshatra-s in which each of the 9 graha, are placed in. The Moon’s nakshatra is naturally the Janma nakshatra so will fall in the Janma-Tara. For the other planets check which Tara their nakshatra falls in to get a brief snap-shot of how this planet will influence the various aspects of your life. As this is in the birth chart this will be a life time effect.

To analyse transits, open the position of the planets in the current day. Note down which nakshatras each of the 9 planets are placed in. Check which Tara these nakshatra fall in. This will help in analysing what results the planets will give in transit. This will be a temporary effect linked to the transit.

Try to track the transit Moon for a few months through the Nakshatras and note how you felt. This will put you in the habit of revising your astrology concepts daily. You will be more mindful during your day. And you can gain a different perspective about your own mind. If you are aware of your own mind you will be more comfortable in any given situation.

Then the planetary lord of a Tara will be a single planet. The planets linked to the Nakshatra follow the same sequence, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury. This sequence repeats in 3 cycles of 9 Nakshatra. ie. the 3 Nakshatra of the Janma tara will belong to the same planet etc. So in our example, Mercury is linked to your Sampat Tara group, so his Vimshottari Dasha periods can give some sort of prosperity.

One thing is that these are the Nakshatra so they work primarily on the astral, emotional, mental and intuitive levels. Their effect is on your perceptions in a very subtle manner. If you are more connected to your astral self you will feel this effect more. Your astral self is by and large defined by your birth and navamsha charts. This remains somewhat constant but the ripples of emotions/ perceptions change with the transits. Today your emotions/perceptions are such because of the current planets in the skies. These were different 5yrs ago as then the planet’s transits were different, different Nakshatra were filtering the energies of the planets. And again your perceptions be different 5yrs down the line, as the planets again change their positions. In this manifested creation change is the only constant. There is no perfection, no climax. Jyotish is about observing things through time in a dispassionate manner. Thus it is a Ved-ang, it teaches you to be an Observer.