Nakshatra (Sanskrit: नक्षत्रम्, romanized: Nakṣatram) is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to a prominent star or asterisms in or near the respective sectors. In essence (in Western astronomical terms), a nakshatra simply is a constellation. Every nakshatra is divided into four padas (lit. "steps") related to the Char Dham, a set of four pilgrimage sites in India.

The starting point for the nakshatras according to Vedas is "Krittika" (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 Ashwinī, a 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.[3] They are personified as daughters of Daksha and as wives of Chandra, known as the Moon God (who reluctantly married the 26 other nakshatras on Daksha's request even though he was only interested to marry Rohini), or alternatively the daughters of Kashyapa.

In the Atharvaveda

Nakshatras in a circle

In the Atharvaveda (Shaunakiya recension, hymn 19.7) a list of 27 stars or asterisms is given, many of them corresponding to the later nakshatras:[4][lower-alpha 1]

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 described by J. Mercay (2012) in connection with Surya Siddhanta.[5]

List of Nakshatras

Positions of the Nakshatras on the celestial sphere

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 clearer definition of each portion (i.e. segment) subtending 13° 20′ (as opposed to 12° 51+37′ in the case of 28 segments). In the process, the Nakshatra Abhijit was left out without a portion.[6]:179 However, the Abhijit nakshatra becomes important while deciding on the timing of an auspicious event. The Surya Siddhantha concisely specifies the coordinates of the twenty-seven Nakshatras.[6]: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 2][7] 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.[8]

The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, per Basham (1954).[9]

No.NameAssociated starsDescriptionImage
1 Aśvini
β and γ Arietis
  • Astrological Mate: Ketu (South lunar node)
  • Symbol: Horse's head
  • Rigvedic name: Ashvins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods
  • Indian zodiac: 0° – 13°20′ Mesha
  • Tropical 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
  • Tropical zodiac: 9° 20′ – 22° 40′ Taurus
3 Kṛttikā
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
  • Tropical zodiac: 22° 40′ Taurus – 6° Gemini
4 Rohiṇi
"the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī
Aldebaran
5 Mṛgaśīrā
"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
  • Tropical zodiac: 19° 20′ Gemini – 2° 40′ Cancer
6 Ārdrā
"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
  • Tropical 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
  • Tropical zodiac: 16° – 29°20′ Cancer
8 Puṣya/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
  • Tropical zodiac: 29° 20′ Cancer – 12° 40′ Leo
9 Āśleṣā
"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
  • Tropical 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
  • Tropical 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 marital bliss and prosperity
  • Indian zodiac: 13° 20′ – 26°40′ Simha
  • Tropical 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 patronage and favours
  • Indian zodiac: 26° 40′ Simha- 10° Kanya
  • Tropical 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
  • Tropical zodiac: 6° – 19° 20′ Libra
14 Chitrā
"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
  • Tropical zodiac: 19° 20′ Libra – 2° 40′ Scorpio
15 Svātī
"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
  • Tropical zodiac: 2° 40′ – 16° Scorpio
16 Viśākhā
"forked, having branches";
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
  • Tropical zodiac: 16° – 29° 20′ Scorpio
17 Anurādhā
"following Indra"
β, δ and π Scorpionis
  • Astrological Mate: Shani (Saturn)
  • Symbol: Triumphal archway, lotus, bamboo
  • Rigvedic name: Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership
  • Indian zodiac: 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Vrishchika
  • Tropical zodiac: 29° 20′ Scorpio – 12° 40′ Sagittarius
18 Jyeṣṭha
"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
  • Tropical zodiac: 12° 40′ – 26° Sagittarius
19 Mūlā
"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
  • Tropical zodiac: 26° Sagittarius – 9° 20′ Capricorn
20 Pūrva Āṣāḍhā
"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
  • Tropical zodiac: 9° 20′ – 22° 40′ Capricorn
21 Uttara Āṣāḍhā
"Later invincible"
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
  • Tropical zodiac: 22° 40′ Capricorn – 6° Aquarius
22 Abhijit
ζ and σ Lyrae
  • Astrological Mate: Brahma
  • Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ Makara – 10° 53′ Makara
23 Śravaṇa
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
  • Tropical zodiac: 6° – 19° 20′ Aquarius
24 Dhaniṣṭhā
"most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest"
α, β, γ and 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
  • Tropical zodiac 19° 20′ Aquarius – 2° 40′ Pisces
25 Śatabhiṣa
"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
  • Tropical zodiac: 2° 40′ – 16° Pisces
26 Pūrva Bhādrapada
"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
  • Tropical zodiac: 16° – 29° 20′ Pisces
27 Uttara Bhādrapada
"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: Ahirbudhnya, serpent or dragon of the deep
  • Indian zodiac: 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Meena
  • Tropical zodiac: 29° 20′ Pisces – 12° 40′ Aries
28 Revatī
"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
  • Tropical 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:

#NamePada 1Pada 2Pada 3Pada 4Vimsottari LordRuling Deity
1Aśvini (अश्विनी)चु Chuचे Cheचो Choला LaKetuAswini Kumara
2Bharaṇī (भरणी)ली Liलू Luले Leलो LoVenusYama
3Kṛttikā (कृत्तिका)अ Aई Iउ Uए ESunAgni
4Rohiṇī (रोहिणी)ओ Oवा Va/Baवी Vi/Biवु Vu/BuMoonBrahma
5Mṛgaśīrṣā (मृगशीर्षा)वे Ve/Beवो Vo/Boका Kaकी KeMarsMoon
6Ārdrā (आर्द्रा)कु Kuघ Ghaङ Ng/Naछ ChhaRahuShiva
7Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु)के Keको Koहा Haही HiJupiterAditi
8Puṣya (पुष्य)हु Huहे Heहो Hoड DaSaturnBrihaspati
9Āśleṣā (आश्लेषा)डी Diडू Duडे Deडो DoMercuryRahu
10Maghā (मघा)मा Maमी Miमू Muमे MeKetuPitr
11Pūrva or Pūrva Phālgunī (पूर्व फाल्गुनी)नो Moटा Taटी Tiटू TuVenusBhaga
12Uttara or Uttara Phālgunī (उत्तर फाल्गुनी)टे Teटो Toपा Paपी PiSunSun
13Hasta (हस्त)पू Puष Shaण Naठ ThaMoonSavitr
14Chitrā (चित्रा)पे Peपो Poरा Raरी RiMarsVishwakarma
15Svāti (स्वाति)रू Ruरे Reरो Roता TaRahuVaayu
16Vishākhā (विशाखा)ती Tiतू Tuते Teतो ToJupiterIndra Agni
17Anurādhā (अनुराधा)ना Naनी Niनू Nuने NeSaturnMitra
18Jyeṣṭhā (ज्येष्ठा)नो Noया Yaयी Yiयू YuMercuryIndra
19Mūla (मूल)ये Yeयो Yoभा Bhaभी BhiKetuVaruna, Nirriti
20Pūrva Aṣāḍhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा)भू Bhuधा Dhaफा Bha/Phaढा DhaVenusApah
21Uttara Aṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढ़ा)भे Bheभो Bhoजा Jaजी JiSunBrahma
22Śrāvaṇa (श्रवण)खी Ju/Khiखू Je/Khuखे Jo/Kheखो Gha/KhoMoonVishnu
23Śrāviṣṭhā (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhaniṣṭhā (धनिष्ठा)गा Gaगी Giगु Guगे GeMarsVasu
24Śatabhiṣā (शतभिषा)गो Goसा Saसी Siसू SuRahuVaruna
25Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्वभाद्रपदा)से Seसो Soदा Daदी DiJupiterAja Ek Pada
26Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तरभाद्रपदा)दू Duथ Thaझ Jhaञ Da/TraSaturnAhirbudhnya
27Revati (रेवती)दे Deदो Doच Chaची ChiMercuryPooshan

See also

Nakshatra is one of the five elements of a Pañcāṅga. The other four elements:

Notes

  1. From Griffith (1895) Hymns of the Atharva Veda:[4]

    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]
     

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

References

  1. Vaid, Vashisht (2012). The Radiant Words of Love & Wisdom.
  2. "Nakshatras and Upanakshatras". vedanet.com. American Institute of Vedic Studies. June 13, 2012. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015.
  3. Moor, Edward (1810). The Hindu Pantheon. J. Johnson. p. 291.
  4. 1 2 3 Hymns of the Atharva Veda. Translated by Griffith, R.T.H. 1895.
    Original text via
    "Gretil". University of Goettingen. Archived from the original on 2012-02-02.
    from
    Orlandi, Chatia, ed. (1991). Gli inni dell Atharvaveda (Saunaka) (trasliteration). Pisa, IT.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
    collated with the edition of
    Roth, R.; Whitney, W.D., eds. (1856). Atharva Veda Sanhita. Berlin, DE.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. Mercay, Jessie (2012). Fundamentals of Mamuni Mayans Vaastu Shastras: Building architecture of Sthapatya Veda and traditional Indian architecture. AUM Science and Technology publishers.
  6. 1 2 Burgess, Ebenezer (1858). Translation of the Surya Siddhantha, a Textbook of Hindu Astronomy. The American Oriental Society.
  7. Weixing, Nui; Xiaoyuan, Jiang. Astronomy in the Sutras translated into Chinese.
  8. Jones, H. (September 2018). "The Origin of the 28 Naksatras in Early Indian Astronomy and Astrology". Indian Journal of History of Science. 53 (3): 317–324. Bibcode:2018InJHS..53..317J. doi:10.16943/ijhs/2018/v53i3/49463.
  9. Basham, Arthur Llewellyn (1954). "Appendix II: Astronomy". The Wonder that was India. Calcutta, IN: Rupa. p. 490.
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