Nakshatras are the twenty seven constellations or “lunar asterisms” that exist within and throughout the twelve major constellations Aries to Pisces. They are known to Western astronomical science by their Greek names. Each nakshatra occupies 13º20′ of the 360º circle of constellations, 13º20′ x 27 = 360º. Furthermore, each nakshatra is divided into quarters or padas. Each pada = 3º20′; so 3º20′ x 4 = 13º20′; 4 padas x 27 nakshatras = 108 padas in 360º.
The Moon gives different result, in each of the 27 nakshatras and in each pada or quarter of each nakshatra. Table below gives each nakshatra’s Sanskrit name as in used by Hindu lunar astrology, along with Greek astronomical name.
| Sr. No. | Sanskrit | Greek | Shape |
| 1. | Ashwini | Beta Arietis | 3 stars resembling the face of a horse |
| 2. | Bharani | 35 Arietis | 3 stars resembling a female sex organ |
| 3. | Krittika | Pleiades | 6 stars resembling a razor |
| 4. | Rohini | Aldebaran | 5 stars resembling a chariot |
| 5. | Mrigasira | Lambda Orionis | 5 stars resembling a deer’s head |
| 6. | Ardra | Alpha Betelgeuse | 1 star resembling a head |
| 7. | Punarvasu | Beta Geminorium Pollux | 5 stars resembling a bow |
| 8. | Pushya | Delta Cancri | 3 stars resembling a flower |
| 9. | Aslesha | Epsilon Hydrae | 6 stars representing a serpant |
| 10. | Magha | Regulus | 5 stars representing a palanquin |
| 11. | Poorvaphalguni | Delta Leonis | 4 stars resembling a cot |
| 12. | Uttharaphalguni | Danebola | 4 stars resembling a cot |
| 13. | Hastha | Delta Corvi | 5 stars resembling a palm |
| 14. | Chitra | Spica Virginis | 1 star resembling a pearl |
| 15. | Swathi | Arcturus | 1 star resembling a pearl |
| 16. | Vishakha | Alphae Librae | 3 stars resembling a potter’s wheel |
| 17. | Anuradha | Delta Scorpionis | 3 stars resembling a lotus |
| 18. | Jyeshta | Antares | 3 stars resembling an umbrella |
| 19. | Moola | LambdaScorpionis | 6 stars resembling a crouching lions |
| 20. | Poorvashada | Delta Sagitarii | 4 stars resembling a square |
| 21. | Uttharashada | Sigma Sagitarii | 4 stars resembling a square |
| 22. | Shravana | Alpha Aquilae | 3 stars resembling an arrow |
| 23. | Dhanishta | Beta Delphinum | 4 stars resembling an arrow |
| 24. | Sathabhisa | Lamda Aquarius | 100 stars resembling a flower |
| 25. | Poorvabhadrapada | Beta Pegasi | 4 stars resembling the legs of a cot |
| 26. | Uttarabhadrapada | Gama Pegasi | 4 stars resembling the legs of a cot |
| 27. | Revathi | Zeta Piscium | 3 stars resembling a fish |