Nakshatra

Nakshatra (Sanskrit: नक्षत्र, IAST: Nakṣatra) is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology and Indian Astronomy. A nakshatra is one of 28 (sometimes also 27) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to a prominent star or asterisms in or near the respective sectors.

"Ashlesha" redirects here. For the star, see Epsilon Hydrae.

For the 2017 film, see Nakshatram (film).

See also: List of Nakshatras

The starting point for the nakshatras according to Vedas is "Kritika" (it has been argued because the Pleiades may have started the year at the time the Vedas were compiled, presumably at the vernal equinox), but, in more recent compilations, the start of the nakshatras list is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the star Spica called Chitrā in Sanskrit, which would be Ashvinī, an asterism that is part of the modern constellation Aries, and these compilations therefore may have been compiled during the centuries when the sun was passing through the area of the constellation Aries at the time of the vernal equinox. This version may have been called Meshādi or the "start of Aries".[1]

The first astronomical text that lists them is the Vedanga Jyotisha.[2]

In classical Hindu scriptures (Mahabharata, Harivamsa), the creation of the nakshatras is attributed to Daksha. They are personified as daughters of Daksha and as wives of Chandra known as the Moon God (who reluctantly married the 26 other nakshatra's on Daksha's request even though he was only interested to marry Rohini), or alternatively the daughters of Kashyapa, the brother of Daksha.

In the Atharvaveda

In the Atharvaveda (Shaunakiya recension, hymn 19.7) a list of 28 stars or asterisms is given, many of them corresponding to the later nakshatras:[3]

1. Kṛttikā (the Pleiades)
2. Rohinī (Aldebaran)
3. Mrigashīrsha
4. Ārdrā (Betelgeuse)
5. Punarvasu
6. Pushya
7. Asleshā
8. Maghā (Regulus)
9. Purva phalguni
10. Uttara phalguni (Denebola)
11. Hasta
12. Chitrā (Spica)
13. Svāti (Arcturus)
14. Vishākhā
15. Anurādhā
16. Jyeshthā
17. Mūla
18. Purva ashadha
19. Uttara ashadha
20. Shravana
21. Dhanishta
22. Satabhishak (Sadachbia)
23. Purva bhadrapada
24. Uttara bhadrapada
25. Revati
26. Ashvini
27. Bharani

This 27-day time cycle has been taken to mean a particular group of stars. The relationship to the stars really has to do with the periodicity with which the Moon travels over time and through space past the field of the specific stars called nakshatras. Hence, the stars are more like numbers on a clock through which the hands of time pass (the moon). This concept is also described by Dr. Jessie Mercay in her research on Surya Siddhanta.[4]

List of Nakshatras

In Hindu astronomy, there was an older tradition of 28 Nakshatras which were used as celestial markers in the heavens. When these were mapped into equal divisions of the ecliptic, a division of 27 portions was adopted since that resulted in a cleaner definition of each portion (i.e. segment) subtending 13° 20′ (as opposed to 12° ​51 ³⁄₇′ in the case of 28 segments). In the process, the Nakshatra Abhijit was left out without a portion.[5]^:179 The Surya Siddhantha concisely specifies the coordinates of the twenty seven Nakshatras.[5]^:211

It is noted above that with the older tradition of 28 Nakshatras each equal segment would subtend 12.85 degrees or 12° 51′. But the 28 Nakshatra were chosen at a time when the Vedic month was recognised as having exactly 30 days. In India and China the original 28 lunar mansions were not equal. Weixing Nui provides a list of the extent of the original 28 Nakshatras expressed in Muhurtas (with one Muhurta = 48 minutes of arc). Hindu texts note there were 16 Nakshatras of 30 Muhurtas, 6 of 45 Muhurtas, 5 of 15 Muhurtas and one of 6 Muhurtas.

The 28 mansions of the 360° lunar zodiac total 831 Muhurtas or 27.7 days. This is sometimes described as an inaccurate estimate of our modern sidereal period of 27.3 days, but using the ancient Indian calendar with Vedic months of 30 days and a daily movement of the Moon of 13 degrees, this early designation of a sidereal month of 831 Muhurtas or 27.7 days is very precise.[lower-alpha 1][6] Later some Indian savants dropped the Nakshatra named Abhijit to reduce the number of divisions to 27, but the Chinese retained all of their original 28 lunar mansions. These were grouped into four equal quarters which would have been fundamentally disrupted if it had been decided to reduce the number of divisions to 27.

Irrespective of the reason why ancient early Indian astronomers followed a Vedic calendar of exactly 12 months of 30 days it was this calendar and not a modern calendar of 365 days that they used for the astronomical calculations for the number of days taken for the Moon to complete one sidereal cycle of 360°. This is why initially they named 28 Nakshatras on their lunar zodiac.[7]

The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, per Basham (1954).[8]

No.	Name	Associated stars	Description	Image
1	Ashwini	β and γ Arietis	Astrological Mate: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol: Horse’s head Rigvedic name: Ashwins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods Indian zodiac: 0° – 13°20′ Mesha Western zodiac: 26° Aries – 9°20′ Taurus
2	Bharani "the bearer"	35, 39, and 41 Arietis	Astrological Mate: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction Rigvedic name: Yama, god of death or Dharma Indian zodiac: 13° 20′ – 26°40′ Mesha Western zodiac: 9° 20′ – 22° 40′ Taurus
3	Krittika an old name of the Pleiades; personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva.	Pleiades	Astrological Mate: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Knife or spear Rigvedic name: Agni, god of fire Indian zodiac: 26°40′ Mesha – 10° Vrishabha Western zodiac: 22° 40′ Taurus – 6° Gemini
4	Rohini "the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī	Aldebaran	Astrological Mate: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree Rigvedic name: Prajapati, the Creator Indian zodiac: 10° – 23°20′ Vrishabha Western zodiac: 6° – 19°20′ Gemini
5	Mrigashīra "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī	λ, φ Orionis	Astrological Mate: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Deer’s head Rigvedic name: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god Indian zodiac: 23° 20′ Vrishabha – 6° 40′ Mithuna Western zodiac: 19° 20′ Gemini – 2° 40′ Cancer
6	Ardra "the moist one"	Betelgeuse	Astrological Mate: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head Rigvedic name: Rudra, the storm god Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ – 20° Mithuna Western zodiac: 2° 40′ – 16° Cancer
7	Punarvasu (dual) "the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"	Castor and Pollux	Astrological Mate: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Bow and quiver Rigvedic name: Aditi, mother of the gods Indian zodiac: 20° Mithuna – 3°20′ Karka Western zodiac: 16° – 29°20′ Cancer
8	Pushya/Tishya "the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya	γ, δ and θ Cancri	Astrological Mate: Shani (Saturn) Symbol: Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle Rigvedic name: Bṛhaspati, priest of the gods Indian zodiac: 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Karka Western zodiac: 29° 20′ Cancer – 12° 40′ Leo
9	Ashleshā "the embrace"	δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae	Astrological Mate: Budha (Mercury) Symbol: Serpent Rigvedic name: Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes Indian zodiac: 16° 40′ – 30° Karka Western zodiac: 12° 40′ – 26° Leo
10	Maghā "the bountiful"	Regulus	Astrological Mate: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol: Royal Throne Rigvedic name: Pitrs, 'The Fathers', family ancestors Indian zodiac: 0° – 13° 20′ Simha Western zodiac: 26° Leo – 9° 20′ Virgo
11	Pūrva Phalgunī "first reddish one"	δ and θ Leonis	Astrological Mate: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree Rigvedic name: Aryaman, god of patronage and favours Indian zodiac: 13° 20′ – 26°40′ Simha Western zodiac: 9° 20′ – 22°40′ Virgo
12	Uttara Phalgunī "second reddish one"	Denebola	Astrological Mate: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock Rigvedic name: Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity Indian zodiac: 26° 40′ Simha- 10° Kanya Western zodiac: 22° 40′ Virgo – 6° Libra
13	Hasta "the hand"	α, β, γ, δ and ε Corvi	Astrological Mate: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Hand or fist Rigvedic name: Savitr, the Sun god Indian zodiac: 10° – 23° 20′ Kanya Western zodiac: 6° – 19° 20′ Libra
14	Chitra "the bright one", a name of Spica	Spica	Astrological Mate: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl Rigvedic name: Tvastar, Vishwakarma Indian zodiac: 23° 20′ Kanya – 6° 40′ Tula Western zodiac: 19° 20′ Libra – 2° 40′ Scorpio
15	Swāti "Su-Ati (sanskrit) Very good" name of Arcturus	Arcturus	Astrological Mate: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral Rigvedic name: Vayu, the Wind god Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ – 20° Tula Western zodiac: 2° 40′ – 16° Scorpio
16	Visakha "forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift"	α, β, γ and ι Librae	Astrological Mate: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol: Triumphal arch, potter's wheel Rigvedic name: Indra, chief of the gods; Agni, god of Fire Indian zodiac: 20° Tula – 3° 20′ Vrishchika Western zodiac: 16° – 29° 20′ Scorpio
17	Anuradha "following rādhā"	β, δ and π Scorpionis	Astrological Mate: Shani (Saturn) Symbol: Triumphal archway, lotus Rigvedic name: Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership Indian zodiac: 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Vrishchika Western zodiac: 29° 20′ Scorpio – 12° 40′ Sagittarius
18	Jyeshtha "the eldest, most excellent"	α, σ, and τ Scorpionis	Astrological Mate: Budha (Mercury) Symbol: circular amulet, umbrella, earring Rigvedic name: Indra, chief of the gods Indian zodiac: 16° 40′ – 30° Vrishchika Western zodiac: 12° 40′ – 26° Sagittarius
19	Mula "the root"	ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis	Astrological Mate: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol: Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad Rigvedic name: Nirrti, peak of material achievement and the beginning of the spiritual impulse Indian zodiac: 0° – 13° 20′ Dhanus Western zodiac: 26° Sagittarius – 9° 20′ Capricorn
20	Purva Ashadha "first of the aṣāḍhā", aṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation	δ and ε Sagittarii	Astrological Mate: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket Rigvedic name: Apah, god of Water Indian zodiac: 13° 20′ – 26° 40′ Dhanus Western zodiac: 9° 20′ – 22° 40′ Capricorn
21	Uttara Ashadha "second of the aṣāḍhā"	ζ and σ Sagittarii	Astrological Mate: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Elephant tusk, small bed Rigvedic name: Visvedevas, universal gods Indian zodiac: 26° 40′ Dhanus – 10° Makara Western zodiac: 22° 40′ Capricorn – 6° Aquarius
22	Abhijit	ζ and σ Lyra	Astrological Mate: Brahma Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ Makara – 10° 53′ Makara
23	Shravana	α, β and γ Aquilae	Astrological Mate: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Ear or Three Footprints Rigvedic name: Vishnu, preserver of universe Indian zodiac: 10° – 23° 20′ Makara Western zodiac: 6° – 19° 20′ Aquarius
24	Dhanishta "most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest"	α to δ Delphini	Astrological Mate: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Drum or flute Rigvedic name: Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance Indian zodiac: 23° 20′ Makara – 6° 40′ Kumbha Western zodiac 19° 20′ Aquarius – 2° 40′ Pisces
25	Shatabhisha "Comprising a hundred physicians"	Sadachbia	Astrological Mate: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars Rigvedic name: Varuna, god of celestial waters Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ – 20° Kumbha Western zodiac: 2° 40′ – 16° Pisces
26	Purva Bhadrapada "the first of the blessed feet"	α and β Pegasi	Astrological Mate: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol: Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces Rigvedic name: Ajaikapada, an ancient fire dragon Indian zodiac: 20° Kumbha – 3° 20′ Meena Western zodiac: 16° – 29° 20′ Pisces
27	Uttara Bhadrapada "the second of the blessed feet"	γ Pegasi and α Andromedae	Astrological Mate: Shani (Saturn) Symbol: Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water Rigvedic name: Ahir Budhyana, serpent or dragon of the deep Indian zodiac: 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Meena Western zodiac: 29° 20′ Pisces – 12° 40′ Aries
28	Revati "prosperous"	ζ Piscium	Astrological Mate: Budha (Mercury) Symbol: Fish or a pair of fish, drum Rigvedic name: Pushan, nourisher, the protective deity Indian zodiac: 16° 40′ – 30° Meena Western zodiac: 12° 40′ – 26° Aries

Padas (quarters)

Each of the 27 Nakshatras cover 13° 20’ of the ecliptic each. Each Nakshatra is also divided into quarters or padas of 3° 20’, and the below table lists the appropriate starting sound to name the child. The 27 nakshatras, each with 4 padas, give 108, which is the number of beads in a japa mala, representing all the elements (ansh) of Vishnu:

#	Name	Pada 1	Pada 2	Pada 3	Pada 4	Vimsottari Lord	Ruling Deity
1	Aśvini (अश्विनि)	चु Chu	चे Che	चो Cho	ला La	Ketu	Aswini Kumara
2	Bharaṇī (भरणी)	ली Li	लू Lu	ले Le	लो Lo	Venus	Yama
3	Kṛttikā (कृत्तिका)	अ A	ई I	उ U	ए E	Sun	Agni
4	Rohiṇī (रोहिणी)	ओ O	वा Va/Ba	वी Vi/Bi	वु Vu/Bu	Moon	Brahma
5	Mṛgaśīrṣā(म्रृगशीर्षा)	वे Ve/Be	वो Vo/Bo	का Ka	की Ke	Mars	Moon
6	Ārdrā (आर्द्रा)	कु Ku	घ Gha	ङ Ng/Na	छ Chha	Rahu	Shiva
7	Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु)	के Ke	को Ko	हा Ha	ही Hi	Jupiter	Aditi
8	Puṣya (पुष्य)	हु Hu	हे He	हो Ho	ड Da	Saturn	Jupiter
9	Āśleṣā (आश्लेषा)	डी Di	डू Du	डे De	डो Do	Mercury	Rahu
10	Maghā (मघा)	मा Ma	मी Mi	मू Mu	मे Me	Ketu	Pitr
11	Pūrva or Pūrva Phālgunī (पूर्व फाल्गुनी)	नो Mo	टा Ta	टी Ti	टू Tu	Venus	Bhaga
12	Uttara or Uttara Phālgunī (उत्तर फाल्गुनी)	टे Te	टो To	पा Pa	पी Pi	Sun	Sun
13	Hasta (हस्त)	पू Pu	ष Sha	ण Na	ठ Tha	Moon	Savitr
14	Chitrā (चित्रा)	पे Pe	पो Po	रा Ra	री Ri	Mars	Vishwakarma
15	Svāti (स्वाति)	रू Ru	रे Re	रो Ro	ता Ta	Rahu	Vaayu
16	Viśākhā (विशाखा)	ती Ti	तू Tu	ते Te	तो To	Jupiter	Indra Agni
17	Anurādhā (अनुराधा)	ना Na	नी Ni	नू Nu	ने Ne	Saturn	Mitra
18	Jyeṣṭhā (ज्येष्ठा)	नो No	या Ya	यी Yi	यू Yu	Mercury	Indra
19	Mūla (मूल)	ये Ye	यो Yo	भा Bha	भी Bhi	Ketu	Varuna, Nirriti
20	Pūrva Aṣāḍhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा)	भू Bhu	धा Dha	फा Bha/Pha	ढा Dha	Venus	Apah
21	Uttara Aṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढ़ा)	भे Bhe	भो Bho	जा Ja	जी Ji	Sun	Brahma
22	Śrāvaṇa (श्रावण)	खी Ju/Khi	खू Je/Khu	खे Jo/Khe	खो Gha/Kho	Moon	Vishnu
23	Śrāviṣṭhā (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhaniṣṭhā (धनिष्ठा)	गा Ga	गी Gi	गु Gu	गे Ge	Mars	Vasu
24	Śatabhiṣā (शतभिषा)or Śatataraka	गो Go	सा Sa	सी Si	सू Su	Rahu	Varuna
25	Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्वभाद्रपदा)	से Se	सो So	दा Da	दी Di	Jupiter	Aja Ek Pada
26	Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तरभाद्रपदा)	दू Du	थ Tha	झ Jha	ञ Da/Tra	Saturn	Ahirbudhanya
27	Revati (रेवती)	दे De	दो Do	च Cha	ची Chi	Mercury	Pooshan

See also

• Atmakaraka
• Navagraha
• Panchangam
• Gandanta
• Chinese constellations
• Twenty-eight mansions
• Decans (Egyptian)
• Saptarishi

Notes

1. The exact figure should be nearer 27.692308 but 27.7 is near enough.

References

1. The Radiant Words of Love & Wisdom By Vashisht Vaid, 2012
2. "Nakshatras and Upanakshatras". vedanet.com. American Institute of Vedic Studies. June 13, 2012. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015.
3. trans. Ralph T. H. Griffith, Hymns of the Atharva Veda, 1895. Original text via GRETIL Archived 2012-02-02 at the Wayback Machine from Gli inni dell’ Atharvaveda (Saunaka), trasliterazione a cura di Chatia Orlandi, Pisa 1991, collated with the ed. R. Roth and W.D. Whitney: Atharva Veda Sanhita, Berlin 1856.
   1. citrā́ṇi sākáṃ diví rocanā́ni sarīsr̥pā́ṇi bhúvane javā́ni | turmíśaṃ sumatím ichámāno áhāni gīrbhíḥ saparyāmi nā́kam
   2. suhávam agne kŕ̥ttikā róhiṇī cā́stu bhadráṃ mr̥gáśiraḥ śám ārdrā́ | púnarvasū sūnŕ̥tā cā́ru púṣyo bhānúr āśleṣā́ áyanaṃ maghā́ me
   3. púṇyaṃ pū́rvā phálgunyau cā́tra hástaś citrā́ śivā́ svātí sukhó me astu | rā́dhe viśā́khe suhávānurādhā́ jyéṣṭhā sunákṣatram áriṣṭa mū́lam
   4. ánnaṃ pū́rvā rāsatāṃ me aṣādhā́ ū́rjaṃ devy úttarā ā́ vahantu | abhijín me rāsatāṃ púṇyam evá śrávaṇaḥ śráviṣṭhāḥ kurvatāṃ supuṣṭím
   5. ā́ me mahác chatábhiṣag várīya ā́ me dvayā́ próṣṭhapadā suśárma | ā́ revátī cāśvayújau bhágaṃ ma ā́ me rayíṃ bháraṇya ā́ vahantu
4. Mercay, Jessie (2012). "Fundamentals of Mamuni Mayans Vaastu Shastras, Building Architecture of Sthapatya Veda and Traditional Indian architecture." Mercay, 2006 – 2012, AUM Science and Technology publishers.
5. Burgess, Ebenezer (1858). Translation of the Surya Siddhantha, a Textbook of Hindu Astronomy. The American Oriental Society.
6. Weixing, Nui; Xiaoyuan, Jiang. Astronomy in the Sutras translated into Chinese.
7. Jones, H. (September 2018). "The Origin of the 28 Naksatras in Early Indian Astronomy and Astrology". Indian Journal of History of Science: 317–324.
8. Basham, Arthur Llewellyn (1954). "Appendix II: Astronomy". The Wonder that was India. p. 490.