Rasi, Nakshatra and Padam Explained
Before any Porutham can be calculated, three foundational values must be known: your Rasi, Nakshatra, and Padam. Here's what each one means.
Rasi (ராசி) — the moon sign
Your Rasi is one of 12 zodiac divisions, determined by the position of the moon at your birth. Unlike Western sun-sign astrology, Tamil astrology is moon-based, since the moon moves fast enough to give a precise, personal reading tied to the exact moment of birth.
Nakshatra (நட்சத்திரம்) — the birth star
The moon's path is further divided into 27 Nakshatras, each a more specific "birth star" than the 12 Rasis alone. Your Nakshatra is central to most Porutham calculations — it's the single most important input for horoscope compatibility.
Padam (பாதம்) — the quarter
Each Nakshatra is further divided into 4 Padams (quarters), refining your birth star reading even further. Some traditional practices consider Padam when assessing especially fine-grained compatibility.
How Matrimony.fr calculates these
We use genuine astronomical calculation (Meeus algorithms for the moon's position, with Lahiri Ayanamsa applied) rather than approximation — the same category of method professional astrology software uses. This means accurate birth time and place genuinely matter: a birth time that's off by even an hour can shift your Nakshatra or Padam near a boundary. If you're unsure of your exact birth time, use your birth certificate or ask your family — it's worth the extra effort for a more reliable result.
Why this matters for your match
Everything in the 11-Porutham system builds on these three values. Taking a few minutes to enter your birth date, time, and place as accurately as possible is the single best thing you can do to get a trustworthy compatibility reading.