In Ancient Indian astronomy, there are 27 nakshatras , or sectors along the ecliptic. A list of them is first found in the Vedanga Jyotisha, a text dated to the final centuries BCE^{[citation needed]}. The Nakṣatra system predates the influence of Hellenistic astronomy on Vedic tradition, which became prevalent from about the 2nd century CE. There are various systems of enumerating the Nakṣatra-s;^{[clarification needed]} although there are 27-28 days to a sidereal month, by custom only 27 days are used. The following list gives the corresponding regions of sky.^[1] Months in the modern Indian national calendar -- despite still carrying names that derive from the nakshatras -- do not signify any material correlation. It stands to reason that during the original naming of these months -- whenever that happened -- they were indeed based on the nakshatras that coincided with them in some manner. The modern Indian national calendar is a solar calendar, much like the Gregorian calendar wherein solstices and equinoxes fall on the same date(s) every year.

Nakshatras

No.	Name	Associated stars	Description	Image
1	Ashvini - अश्विनी "physician to the Gods"	β "Sheratan" and γ "Mesarthim" Arietis	Lord: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol : Horse's head Deity : Ashvins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Mesha Western zodiac 23°46 Aries - 7°06' Taurus
2	Bharani - भरणी "the bearer"	35, 39 "Lilii Borea", and 41 Arietis	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction Deity: Yama, god of death or Dharma Indian zodiac: 13° 20' - 26°40' Mesha Western zodiac 7°06' - 20°26' Taurus
3	Krittika - कृत्तिका an old name of the Pleiades; personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva.	Pleiades	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Knife or spear Deity : Agni, god of fire Indian zodiac: 26°40' Mesha - 10° Vrishabha Western zodiac 20°26' Taurus - 3°46’ Gemini
4	Rohini - रोहिणी "the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī	Aldebaran	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree Deity : Brahma or Prajapati, the Creator Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Vrishabha Western zodiac 3°46 - 17°06' Gemini
5	Mrigashira - मृगशिर "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī	λ "Meissa", φ Orionis	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Deer's head Deity: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god Indian zodiac: 23° 20' Vrishabha - 6° 40' Mithuna Western zodiac: 17°06' Gemini - 0°26' Cancer
6	Ardra - आर्द्रा "the storm god"	Betelgeuse	Lord: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head Deity : Rudra, the storm god Indian zodiac: 6° 40' - 20° Mithuna Western zodiac: 0°26' - 13°46 Cancer
7	Punarvasu - पुनर्वसु (dual) "the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"	Castor and Pollux	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Bow and quiver Deity : Aditi, mother of the gods Indian zodiac: 20° Mithuna - 3°20' Karka Western zodiac 13°46 - 27°06' Cancer
8	Pushya - पुष्य "the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya	γ "Asellus Borealis", δ "Asellus Australis" and θ Cancri	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle Deity : Bṛhaspati, priest of the gods Indian zodiac: 3°20' -16°40' Karka Western zodiac 27°06' Cancer - 10°26' Leo
9	Āshleshā - आश्ळेषा/आश्लेषा "the embrace"	δ, ε "Āshleshā Nakshatra", η, ρ, and σ "Minchir" Hydrae	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol: Serpent Deity : Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Karka Western zodiac 10°26' - 23°46 Leo
10	Maghā - मघा "the bountiful"	Regulus	Lord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Royal Throne Deity : Pitrs, 'The Fathers', family ancestors Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Simha Western zodiac 23°46 Leo - 7°06' Virgo
11	Pūrva Phalgunī - पूर्व फाल्गुनी "first reddish one"	δ "Zosma" and θ "Chertan" Leonis	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol : Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree Deity : Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity Indian zodiac: 13°20' - 26°40' Simha Western zodiac 7°06' - 20°26' Virgo
12	Uttara Phalgunī - उत्तर फाल्गुनी "second reddish one"	Denebola	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock Deity : Aryaman, god of patronage and favours Indian zodiac: 26°40' Simha- 10° Kanya Western zodiac 20°26' Virgo - 3°46 Libra
13	Hasta - हस्त "the hand"	α "Alchiba", β "Kraz", γ, δ "Algorab" and ε "Minkar" Corvi	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Hand or fist Deity : Savitri or Surya, the Sun god Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Kanya Western zodiac 3°46 - 17°06' Libra
14	Chitra - चित्रा "the bright one", a name of Spica	Spica	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl Deity : Tvastar or Vishvakarman, the celestial architect Indian zodiac: 23°20' Kanya - 6°40' Tula Western zodiac: 17°06' Libra - 0°26' Scorpio
15	Svati - स्वाति "Su-Ati (Sanskrit) Very good" name of Arcturus	Arcturus	Lord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral Deity : Vayu, the Wind god Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Tula Western zodiac 0°26' - 13°46 Scorpio
16	Vishakha - विशाखा "forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift"	α "Zubenelgenubi", β "Zubeneschamali", γ and ι Librae	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Triumphal arch, potter's wheel Deity : Indra, chief of the gods; Agni, god of Fire Indian zodiac: 20° Tula - 3°20' Vrishchika Western zodiac 13°46 - 27°06' Scorpio
17	Anuradha - अनुराधा "following rādhā"	β "Acrab", δ "Dschubba" and π "Fang" Scorpionis	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Triumphal archway, lotus Deity : Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Vrishchika Western zodiac 27°06' Scorpio - 10°26' Sagittarius
18	Jyeshtha - ज्येष्ठा "the eldest, most excellent"	α "Antares", σ, and τ "Paikauhale" Scorpionis	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : circular amulet, umbrella, earring Deity : Indra, chief of the gods Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Vrishchika Western zodiac 10°26' - 23°46 Sagittarius
19	Mula - मूल "the root"	ε "Larawag", ζ, η, θ "Sargas", ι, κ, λ "Shaula", μ and ν "Jabbah" Scorpionis	Lord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad Deity : Nirrti, goddess of dissolution and destruction Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Dhanus Western zodiac 23°46 Sagittarius - 7°06' Capricorn
20	Purva Ashadha - पूर्व आषाढा "first of the āṣāḍhā", āṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation	δ "Kaus Media" and ε "Kaus Australis" Sagittarii	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket Deity : Apah, god of Water Indian zodiac: 13°20' - 26°40' Dhanus Western zodiac 7°06' - 20°26' Capricorn
21	Uttara Ashadha - उत्तर आषाढा "Later invincible"	ζ "Ascella" and σ "Nunki" Sagittarii	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol : Elephant tusk, small bed Deity : Visvedevas, universal gods Indian zodiac: 26°40' Dhanus - 10° Makara Western zodiac 20°26' Capricorn - 3°46 Aquarius
22	Shravana - श्रवण	α "Altair", β and γ Aquilae	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol : Ear or Three Footprints Deity : Vishnu, preserver of universe Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Makara Western zodiac 3°46 - 17°06' Aquarius
23	Dhanishta - श्रविष्ठा/धनिष्ठा "most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest"	α "Sualocin" to δ Delphini	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol : Drum or flute Deity : Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance Indian zodiac: 23°20' Makara - 6°40' Kumbha Western zodiac 17°06' Aquarius - 0°26' Pisces
24	Shatabhisha - शतभिष/शततारका "requiring a hundred physicians"	γ Aquarii "Sadachbia"	Lord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol : Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars Deity : Varuna, god of cosmic waters, sky and earth Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Kumbha ; Western zodiac 0°26' - 13°46 Pisces
25	Purva Bhadrapada - पूर्व भाद्रपदा/पूर्व प्रोष्ठपदा "the first of the blessed feet"	α "Markab" and β Pegasi	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces Deity : Ajaikapada, an ancient fire dragon Indian zodiac: 20° Kumbha - 3°20' Meena ; Western zodiac 13°46 - 27°06' Pisces
26	Uttara Bhādrapadā - उत्तर भाद्रपदा/उत्तर प्रोष्ठपदा "the second of the blessed feet"	γ "Algenib" Pegasi and α "Alpheratz" Andromedae	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water Deity : Ahirbudhnya, serpent or dragon of the deep Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Meena ; Western zodiac 27°06' Pisces - 10°26' Aries
27	Revati - रेवती "prosperous"	ζ Piscium "Revati"	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : Fish or a pair of fish, drum Deity : Pushan, nourisher, the protective deity Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Meena Western zodiac 10°26' - 23°46 Aries
28	Abhijit - अभिजित "Invincible"	Lyra	Lord: vishnu (preserver) Symbol : shaligram, lotus delight in : Swathi (15th Nakshatra) Indian zodiac: 06°40' - 10°53'20 Makara Western zodiac

The 27 Nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the ecliptic each. Each Nakshatra is also divided into quarters or padas of 3°20’, and the below table lists the appropriate starting sound to name the child. The 27 nakshatras, each with 4 padas, give 108, which is the number of beads in a Japa mala, indicating all the elements (ansh) of Vishnu:

The names of nakshatras in other languages are adapted from the Sanskrit variation (apabhramsa) through Pali or Prakrit. The variations evolved for easier pronunciation in popular usage.