Description
Resolve an explicitly established sidereal longitude into equal 27-fold nakshatra and quarter/pada bins; no ayanamsha selection or date calculation.
A panchanga uses calendrical labels derived from astronomical positions and conventions. Tithi uses Sun-Moon angular separation, while nakshatra calculations use an explicitly chosen sidereal reference. Classifying supplied angles is separate from computing ephemerides, local sunrise, and calendar-day observances.
Resolve an explicitly established sidereal longitude into equal 27-fold nakshatra and quarter/pada bins; no ayanamsha selection or date calculation.
When to use this tool
Use Panchanga Nakshatra Pada Calculator when you already have the required angular coordinate or tithi ordinal and need this limited classification.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter siderealLongitudeDegrees. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read result. Expand result to inspect the returned fields.
For siderealLongitudeDegrees in [0,360] wrap modulo 360 and set scaled=longitude*3/40. Return nakshatraOrdinal=floor(scaled)+1, fractionalNakshatra=scaled-floor(scaled), and pada=min(4,floor(fractionalNakshatra*4)+1) inside result.1
The official almanac publishes nirayana positions for the 27-nakshatra division together with time-dependent calendrical information. This angle classifier supplies none of those ephemerides or local calendar timings.2
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| siderealLongitudeDegrees | Already-corrected sidereal longitude in degrees; no ayanamsha is applied. | Required. Finite number. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| result | Object containing the calculated result members described below. | Required. Object. |
| result.nakshatraOrdinal | Nakshatra Ordinal | Calculated result member: number. |
| result.pada | One-based equal-quarter subdivision, one through four. | Calculated result member: number. |
| result.fractionalNakshatra | Fractional Nakshatra | Calculated result member: number. |
{
"input": {
"siderealLongitudeDegrees": 5
},
"output": {
"result": {
"nakshatraOrdinal": 1,
"pada": 2,
"fractionalNakshatra": 0.375
}
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Longitude must already use the intended sidereal reference and ayanamsha. This uses 27 equal sectors with four equal subdivisions each, without astronomical position calculation, unequal star spans, local dates, or astrological prediction.
- Outputs are nested inside result. Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Signed zero is exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use an astronomical ephemeris and a location-appropriate calendrical procedure for actual dates and end times. Verify the sidereal reference, time scale, local sunrise convention, and intended almanac tradition.
References
-
Calculation and input contract: panchanga/nakshatra-pada — tool.io
-
Rashtriya Panchang: National Calendar and Astronomical Panchanga of India — Positional Astronomy Centre, India Meteorological Department
Similar or alternative tools
- Panchanga Tithi Calculator
Compute geometric tithi index and progress from same-frame geocentric Sun/Moon longitudes using half-open 12-degree elongation bins; no sunrise assignment or ephemeris.
- Panchanga Paksha Classifier
Classify a resolved tithi ordinal into waxing Shukla or waning Krishna fortnight and its one-based position, without predicting dates.