Each nakshatra (13°20′) is divided into four padas of 3°20′, giving 108 padas in the zodiac — nine in every sign. Each pada is exactly one navamsa (D9) sign, which is why the pada decides a planet’s D9 strength. It also gives the first syllable for a name. Example: 12°40′ Simha is Magha pada 4, in Karka navamsa.
The numbers
| Unit | Size | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Zodiac | 360° | — |
| Rashi (sign) | 30° | 12 |
| Nakshatra | 13°20′ | 27 |
| Pada (quarter) | 3°20′ | 108 (27 × 4) |
| Padas per sign | — | 9 (2¼ nakshatras) |
Because a sign holds exactly nine padas, the padas line up with the navamsa (D9): each pada is one navamsa. That is why the pada matters so much — it decides the D9 sign of every planet, and the D9 is the chart read for marriage and for the inner strength of each planet.
Which navamsa each pada gives
The navamsa sequence runs Mesha, Vrishabha, Mithuna … Meena and repeats every 12 padas, starting from Ashwini pada 1 = Mesha. A quick rule by sign element:
| Rashi element | Its 9 padas begin in | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fire (Mesha, Simha, Dhanu) | Mesha | Simha 0°–3°20′ (Magha pada 1) = Mesha navamsa |
| Earth (Vrishabha, Kanya, Makara) | Makara | Kanya 0°–3°20′ (Uttara Phalguni pada 2) = Makara navamsa |
| Air (Mithuna, Tula, Kumbha) | Tula | Tula 0°–3°20′ (Chitra pada 3) = Tula navamsa |
| Water (Karka, Vrischika, Meena) | Karka | Karka 0°–3°20′ (Punarvasu pada 4) = Karka navamsa |
Worked examples
| Position | Nakshatra and pada | Navamsa | Name syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12°40′ Simha (Leo) | Magha, pada 4 (10°–13°20′) | Karka | Me |
| 25°00′ Vrishabha (Taurus) | Mrigashira, pada 1 (23°20′–26°40′) | Simha | Ve |
| 5°00′ Kanya (Virgo) | Uttara Phalguni, pada 3 (3°20′–6°40′) | Kumbha | Pa |
| 18°00′ Makara (Capricorn) | Shravana, pada 3 (16°40′–20°) | Mithuna | Khe |
Find your own Moon’s nakshatra and pada with the nakshatra calculator, and your full D9 with the Navamsa calculator.
Where padas are used
- Naming: each of the 108 padas has its own first syllable — see baby names by nakshatra.
- Navamsa: a planet’s pada fixes its D9 sign; a planet in the same sign in D1 and D9 is vargottama and counted as strong.
- Gand mool: the padas at the water–fire sign junctions (the end of Ashlesha, Jyeshtha and Revati, and the start of Magha, Mula and Ashwini) are the gand mool padas.
- Muhurat: some choices are refined to a pada, but the nakshatra itself is the main factor.
The Vimshottari dasha balance at birth is calculated from the Moon’s exact degree within the nakshatra, not from the pada alone.
A note on Abhijit
Some almanacs list a 28th nakshatra, Abhijit, used only in muhurat. It covers the last quarter of Uttara Ashadha and the first fifteenth of Shravana — about 6°40′ to 10°53′ of Makara — and does not enter the 27-nakshatra pada scheme or the dasha system.
Frequently asked questions
How many degrees is one nakshatra pada?
3°20′. Each nakshatra is 13°20′ and has four padas, so the zodiac holds 108 padas.
What is the link between pada and navamsa?
Each pada is exactly one navamsa (D9) sign. The sequence starts with Ashwini pada 1 in Mesha and repeats every 12 padas, so a planet’s pada gives its navamsa sign directly.
Which pada of a nakshatra is best?
No pada is best in general. Each takes the colour of its navamsa sign; the pada that makes a planet vargottama or puts it in a friendly or exalted navamsa strengthens that planet in your chart.
Why does the pada matter for a baby name?
Each of the 108 padas has a traditional first syllable (Avakahada chakra). The name is usually chosen to start with the syllable of the Moon’s pada at birth.
Part of our guide: Nakshatras →
Want your planets’ padas and navamsa read together? A personal reading looks at D1 and D9 side by side.
Book a Consultation · ₹5,100 WhatsApp Dr. SharmaThis article is offered as general guidance in the Vedic tradition. Astrology is a tool for reflection and is not a substitute for professional medical, legal or financial advice.
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