AstroAdviser ProLesson 5
The 27 Nakshatras
The zodiac is also divided into 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions) of 13°20′ each, starting from Ashwini.
The Moon spends about one day in each nakshatra, so your birth nakshatra shows the mind and nature you were born with.
Each nakshatra has four padas (quarters) of 3°20′. The pada fixes the first syllable of a traditional name.
Each nakshatra has a ruling planet in the repeating order Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury. This order drives the Vimshottari dasha.
Nakshatras are used for naming, muhurat (good timing) and matching, where Tara, Yoni, Gana and Nadi all come from the two birth nakshatras.