Rashi is a sign of the sidereal zodiac
The zodiac is divided into twelve equal 30-degree signs. When someone asks for a Moon rashi, the relevant position is the Moon, rather than a birthday-based Sun-sign shortcut. Our chart labels it from the calculated sidereal Moon longitude.
Nakshatra is a finer division
The same circle is divided into twenty-seven lunar mansions, each spanning 13 degrees 20 minutes. Each nakshatra has four padas. The names and traditional meanings form part of the interpretive system; the calculation identifies the segment.
One birth date can have more than one possibility
The Moon moves during a day. If your time is unknown and the date crosses a boundary, a single rashi, nakshatra or pada would give false precision. The Kundli tool shows candidates for the interval instead. Small changes near a boundary also need care when the time is recorded.
Use the label as a starting point
A rashi or nakshatra name does not independently establish your personality or what will happen next. A useful question is, ‘What does this term mean in this tradition, and what part of my chart supports the explanation?’
Sources and method
Original explanations of our current methods, with background sources below. A link does not imply endorsement. Traditional interpretation is separate from the calculated positions.
- IMD: Rashtriya Panchang
Background on the Indian calendar. Our declared calculation conventions and horizon assumptions can differ.