Vedic astrology or Hindu astrology has been derived from the Vedas ¨C the prime Hindu text of philosophy. It is the study of the positions of different planets with respect to the zodiac and the effect of these planets on an individual. 12 Nakshatras rule the 12 lunar months in the Vedic calendar. According to Vedic astrology the zodiac is divided into 27 parts of 13 degrees and 20 minutes each. Each division is known as a nakshatra. Naksha means to approach and Tra means to guard. Nakshatras are also known as lunar mansions or birth star or lunar asterisms. It describes the mental attitude and the planetary periods (dashas) of a person born in a particular constellation. It also describes your thought process, intuition, and sub conscious behavior as well as destiny. The birth star is also known as the Janma Nakshatra. The moon stays in one particular nakshatra for one day. The nakshatra or birth star of a person is essential for match making calculations and election astrology. It is said that the Nakshatra system is much older than the Rashi or sign system. Nakshatras are very significant and are supposed to show us our karmic path. The different Nakshatras / Lunar Mansions / Birth Star are as listed below: