Nakshatra

Endpoint POST https://starsapi.com/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra

Returns the birth nakshatra (Janma Nakshatra) — the lunar mansion occupied by the Moon at the moment of birth. The nakshatra is one of the most important factors in Vedic astrology: it determines the Vimshottari dasha lord, the namakshar (name syllable), and shapes the native’s core temperament.

The response includes the nakshatra name, number, pada, Vimshottari lord, presiding deity, symbol, element (tatva), type, direction, and the Moon’s exact sidereal longitude. For the full avakhada breakdown (varna, gana, yoni, nadi, paya), call /natal/avakhada.

Authentication

Required. Three methods accepted:

Method	Example
Header (recommended)	`X-Api-Key: am_live_xxxxxxxxxxxx`
Bearer	`Authorization: Bearer am_live_xxxxxxxxxxxx`
Query	`?api_key=am_live_xxxxxxxxxxxx`

See authentication for security considerations.

Request body

Send a JSON object with Content-Type: application/json. All core fields are required.

Field	Type	Required	Description
`year`	integer	Yes	Birth year, 4-digit (e.g. `1990`).
`month`	integer	Yes	Birth month, `1`–`12`.
`day`	integer	Yes	Day of month, `1`–`31`.
`hour`	integer	Yes	Hour in 24-hour local clock time, `0`–`23`.
`minute`	integer	Yes	Minute, `0`–`59`.
`second`	integer	No	Second, `0`–`59`. Default `0`.
`latitude`	number	Yes	Signed decimal degrees, −90…90. Positive = North (e.g. `28.6139`).
`longitude`	number	Yes	Signed decimal degrees, −180…180. Positive = East (e.g. `77.2090`).
`timezone`	string	Yes	IANA timezone identifier (e.g. `Asia/Kolkata`). DST is resolved automatically.
`name`	string	No	Native’s name. Use `/vedic/birth-details` to retrieve it.
`place`	string	No	Birth place label. Use `/vedic/birth-details` to retrieve it.
`ayanamsa`	string	No	Sidereal mode. Default `lahiri`. Full list of 45+ ayanamsas →

Response shape

A single data.nakshatra object. Birth input is not echoed back — call /vedic/birth-details separately.

Field	Type	Description
`name`	string	Nakshatra name (e.g. `Uttara Bhadrapada`).
`number`	integer	Nakshatra number, 1 = Ashwini … 27 = Revati.
`nakshatra_lord`	string	Vimshottari dasha lord.
`nakshatra_pada`	integer	Pada (quarter), `1`–`4`.
`deity`	string	Presiding deity of the nakshatra.
`symbol`	string	Traditional symbol.
`tatva`	string	Element: `Fire`, `Earth`, `Air`, `Water`, or `Ether`.
`type`	string	Nakshatra type: `Fixed`, `Movable`, `Soft`, `Sharp`, etc.
`direction`	string	Associated direction (e.g. `West`).
`moon_longitude`	number	Moon’s absolute sidereal longitude (0–360).
`moon_longitude_dms`	string	Same in D°M′S″ format.

Use cases

Nakshatra profile cards — display deity, symbol, element, and type for a rich nakshatra overview.
Dasha starting point — the nakshatra_lord determines the Mahadasha at birth.
Direction-based advice — the direction field supports traditional muhurta and travel recommendations.
Onboarding — surface the user’s birth nakshatra the moment they enter their details.

Errors

HTTP	Code	Cause
400	`MISSING_FIELD`	A required birth field is absent.
400	`INVALID_DATE`	Invalid calendar date.
400	`INVALID_TIME`	Hour/minute/second out of range.
400	`INVALID_TIMEZONE`	Numeric or non-IANA timezone.
400	`INVALID_COORDINATE`	`latitude` / `longitude` out of range.
401	`AUTH_MISSING_KEY`	No API key in request.
401	`AUTH_INVALID_KEY`	Key format invalid or not found.
401	`AUTH_REVOKED_KEY`	Key has been revoked.
403	`AUTH_ORIGIN_DENIED`	Request from non-whitelisted origin.
405	`METHOD_NOT_ALLOWED`	Non-POST request.
429	`RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`	Plan quota exceeded.
500	`CALCULATION_ERROR`	Ephemeris calculation failed.

Error response format

{
  "success": false,
  "error": {
    "code": "INVALID_TIMEZONE",
    "message": "Unrecognised timezone: 'Asia/Calcutta_'. Use a valid IANA identifier such as 'Asia/Kolkata'."
  }
}

# Replace YOUR_API_KEY with the key from your dashboard
curl -X POST "https://starsapi.com/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
        "year": 1990,
        "month": 5,
        "day": 20,
        "hour": 14,
        "minute": 30,
        "second": 0,
        "latitude": 28.6139,
        "longitude": 77.209,
        "timezone": "Asia/Kolkata"
    }'

const response = await fetch(
  'https://starsapi.com/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra',
  {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'X-Api-Key': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      year: 1990,
      month: 5,
      day: 20,
      hour: 14,
      minute: 30,
      second: 0,
      latitude: 28.6139,
      longitude: 77.209,
      timezone: 'Asia/Kolkata'
    })
  }
);
const result = await response.json();

if (result.success) {
  console.log(result.data);
}

import requests
import os

response = requests.post(
    'https://starsapi.com/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra',
    headers={'X-Api-Key': os.environ['STARSAPI_KEY']},
    json={
        'year': 1990,
        'month': 5,
        'day': 20,
        'hour': 14,
        'minute': 30,
        'second': 0,
        'latitude': 28.6139,
        'longitude': 77.209,
        'timezone': 'Asia/Kolkata'
    }
)
result = response.json()

if result['success']:
    print(result['data'])

<?php
$payload = [
    'year' => 1990,
    'month' => 5,
    'day' => 20,
    'hour' => 14,
    'minute' => 30,
    'second' => 0,
    'latitude' => 28.6139,
    'longitude' => 77.209,
    'timezone' => 'Asia/Kolkata',
];

$ch = curl_init('https://starsapi.com/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, json_encode($payload));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
    'X-Api-Key: ' . getenv('STARSAPI_KEY'),
    'Content-Type: application/json'
]);

$response = curl_exec($ch);
$data = json_decode($response, true);

if ($data['success']) {
    print_r($data['data']);
}

import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;
import 'dart:convert';

Future<Map<String, dynamic>> getAscendant() async {
  final response = await http.post(
    Uri.parse('https://starsapi.com/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra'),
    headers: {
      'X-Api-Key': 'YOUR_API_KEY',
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    },
    body: jsonEncode({
      'year': 1990,
      'month': 5,
      'day': 20,
      'hour': 14,
      'minute': 30,
      'second': 0,
      'latitude': 28.6139,
      'longitude': 77.209,
      'timezone': 'Asia/Kolkata',
    }),
  );
  return jsonDecode(response.body);
}

import Foundation

func getAscendant() async throws -> [String: Any] {
    var request = URLRequest(url: URL(string:
        "https://starsapi.com/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra"
    )!)
    request.httpMethod = "POST"
    request.setValue("YOUR_API_KEY", forHTTPHeaderField: "X-Api-Key")
    request.setValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
    request.httpBody = """
        {
            "year": 1990,
            "month": 5,
            "day": 20,
            "hour": 14,
            "minute": 30,
            "second": 0,
            "latitude": 28.6139,
            "longitude": 77.209,
            "timezone": "Asia/Kolkata"
        }
        """.data(using: .utf8)

    let (data, _) = try await URLSession.shared.data(for: request)
    return try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data) as! [String: Any]
}

import okhttp3.*
import org.json.JSONObject

val client = OkHttpClient()
val JSON = "application/json; charset=utf-8".toMediaType()

fun getAscendant(callback: (JSONObject) -> Unit) {
    val payload = """
    {
        "year": 1990,
        "month": 5,
        "day": 20,
        "hour": 14,
        "minute": 30,
        "second": 0,
        "latitude": 28.6139,
        "longitude": 77.209,
        "timezone": "Asia/Kolkata"
    }
    """.trimIndent()

    val request = Request.Builder()
        .url("https://starsapi.com/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra")
        .addHeader("X-Api-Key", "YOUR_API_KEY")
        .post(payload.toRequestBody(JSON))
        .build()

    client.newCall(request).enqueue(object : Callback {
        override fun onResponse(call: Call, response: Response) {
            callback(JSONObject(response.body!!.string()))
        }
        override fun onFailure(call: Call, e: java.io.IOException) {
            e.printStackTrace()
        }
    })
}

package main

import (
    "bytes"
    "encoding/json"
    "fmt"
    "net/http"
    "os"
)

func main() {
    payload, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]interface{}{
        "year": 1990,
        "month": 5,
        "day": 20,
        "hour": 14,
        "minute": 30,
        "second": 0,
        "latitude": 28.6139,
        "longitude": 77.209,
        "timezone": "Asia/Kolkata",
    })

    req, _ := http.NewRequest("POST",
        "https://starsapi.com/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra",
        bytes.NewBuffer(payload))
    req.Header.Set("X-Api-Key", os.Getenv("STARSAPI_KEY"))
    req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")

    resp, _ := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    var result map[string]interface{}
    json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&result)
    fmt.Println(result["data"])
}

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://starsapi.com/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra')
payload = {
  'year' => 1990,
  'month' => 5,
  'day' => 20,
  'hour' => 14,
  'minute' => 30,
  'second' => 0,
  'latitude' => 28.6139,
  'longitude' => 77.209,
  'timezone' => 'Asia/Kolkata'
}

req = Net::HTTP::Post.new(uri)
req['X-Api-Key'] = ENV['STARSAPI_KEY']
req['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
req.body = payload.to_json

http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true
res = http.request(req)

data = JSON.parse(res.body)
puts data['data'] if data['success']

200 RESPONSE

{
  "status": 200,
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "nakshatra": {
      "name": "Uttara Bhadrapada",
      "number": 26,
      "nakshatra_lord": "Saturn",
      "nakshatra_pada": 2,
      "deity": "Ahir Budhnya",
      "symbol": "Back legs of a funeral cot",
      "tatva": "Ether",
      "type": "Fixed",
      "direction": "West",
      "moon_longitude": 337.7411,
      "moon_longitude_dms": "337°44'28\""
    }
  },
  "meta": {
    "endpoint": "/api/v3/vedic/natal/nakshatra",
    "version": "3.0",
    "response_time_ms": 6,
    "timestamp": "2026-06-09T06:08:12+05:30",
    "credits_remaining": 198598,
    "request_id": "d8585d66748bd801",
    "ayanamsa": {
      "name": "Lahiri",
      "value": 23.725957,
      "value_dms": "23°43'33\""
    }
  }
}