Nakshatra
| Nakshatras |
|---|
| Ashvinī |
| Bharanī |
| Kṛttikā |
| Rohinī |
| Mrigashīra |
| Ārdrā |
| Punarvasu |
| Pushya |
| Āshleshā |
| Maghā |
| Pūrva Phalgunī |
| Uttara Phalgunī |
| Hasta |
| Chitrā |
| Svātī |
| Vishākhā |
| Anurādhā |
| Jyeshtha |
| Mūla |
| Pūrva Ashādhā |
| Uttara Ashādhā |
| Shravana |
| Dhanistha |
| Shatabhisha |
| Pūrva Bhādrapadā |
| Uttara Bhādrapadā |
| Revatī |
Nakshatra (Devanagari: नक्षत्र, Sanskrit: nakshatra, 'star', from Sanskrit: naksha, 'approach', and Sanskrit: tra, 'guard') or lunar mansion is one of the 27 divisions of the sky, identified by the prominent star(s) in them, used in Jyotisha.[1]
Contents |
Overview
Each nakshatra represents a division of the ecliptic similar to the zodiac (13°20’ each instead of the 30° for each zodiac sign). The orbit of the moon is 27.3 days, so the Moon takes approximately one day to pass through each nakshatra.
The starting point for the nakshatras is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the starSpica called Chitrā in Sanskrit (other slightly different definitions exist). It is called Meshādi or the "start of Aries". The ecliptic is divided into each of the nakshatras eastwards starting from this point.
The list of Nakshatras is found in the Vedic texts (AV 19.7; Taittiriya Samhita) and also in the Shatapatha Brahmana. The first astronomy text that lists them is the Vedanga Jyotisha of Lagadha.
In Hindu mythology, the Nakshastras were created by Daksha and are personified as daughters of the deity and as mythological wives of Chandra, the moon god. Some even make them the daughters of Kashyapa, the brother of Daksha.[2]
Each of the nakshatras is governed as 'lord' by one of the nine graha in the following sequence: Ketu (South Lunar Node), Shukra (Venus), Ravi or Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Rahu (North Lunar Node), Guru or Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shani (Saturn) and Budha (Mercury). This cycle repeats itself three times to cover all 27 nakshatras. The lord of each nakshatra determines the planetary period known as the dasha , which is considered of major importance in forecasting the life path of the individual.
Nakshatra descriptions
The following are the 27 nakshatras and their meanings, with their equivalent positions in the Indian and Western zodiacs. The corresponding regions of sky are also given, following Basham's Appendix: Astronomy.
Although the Indian and Western zodiac signs have a common origin, due to differences in measuring the zodiac they have diverged from each other by about 25°. Therefore in the Western zodiac 0° Aries (Mesha) corresponds to 5° Pisces (Meena) in the Indian zodiac and so on.
| Sl. No. |
Sanskrit Name and Meaning |
Western star name | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashvini अश्विनी Horse-like-woman |
β and γ Arietis |
|
 |
| 2 | Bharani भरणी Bearer-woman |
35, 39, and 41 Arietis |
|
|
| 3 | Krittika कृत्तिका Cutting woman |
Pleiades |  |
|
| 4 | Rohini रोहिणी Red woman |
Aldebaran |
|
|
| 5 | Mrigashīrsha म्रृगशीर्षा Head of a Deer |
λ, φ Orionis |
|
 |
| 6 | Ardra आद्रा Moist One |
Betelgeuse |
|
|
| 7 | Punarvasu पुनर्वसु Return of the Light |
Castor and Pollux |
|
 |
| 8 | Pushya पुष्य Nourishing |
γ, δ and θ Cancri |  |
|
| 9 | Āshleshā आश्ळेषा / आश्लेषा The Embracer |
δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae |
|
 |
| 10 | Maghā मघा The Great One |
Regulus |
|
 |
| 11 | Pūrva Phalgunī पूर्व फाल्गुनी Former Reddish One |
δ and θ Leonis |
|
|
| 12 | Uttara Phalgunī उत्तर फाल्गुनी Latter Reddish One |
Denebola |
|
|
| 13 | Hasta हस्त The Hand |
α, β, γ, δ and ε Corvi |  |
|
| 14 | Chitra चित्रा Bright One |
Spica |
|
 |
| 15 | Svātī स्वाती Sword or Independence |
Arcturus |
|
 |
| 16 | Vishakha विशाखा Fork Shaped (Having branches) |
α, β, γ and ι Librae |  |
|
| 17 | Anuradha अनुराधा Disciple of Divine Spark |
β, δ and π Scorpionis |
|
 |
| 18 | Jyeshtha ज्येष्ठा The Eldest |
α, σ, and τ Scorpionis |
|
 |
| 19 | Mula मूळ The Root |
ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis |
|
|
| 20 | Purva Ashadha पूर्वाषाढा Early Victory or The Undefeated |
δ and ε Sagittarii |
|
 |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha उत्तराषाढा Latter victory or Latter Undefeated |
ζ and σ Sagittarii |
|
|
| 22 | Shravana श्रवण Hearing |
α, β and γ Aquilae |
|
 |
| 23 | Shravishthā or Dhanishta श्रविष्ठा or धनिष्ठा Richest One |
α to δ Delphinus |
|
 |
| 24 | Shatabhisha or Shatataraka शतभिषक् / शततारका Hundred Healers |
γ Aquarii |
|
 |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada पूर्वभाद्रपदा / पूर्वप्रोष्ठपदा Former Happy Feet |
α and β Pegasi |
|
 |
| 26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā उत्तरभाद्रपदा / उत्तरप्रोष्ठपदा Latter Happy Feet |
γ Pegasi and α Andromedae |
|
.png) |
| 27 | Revati रेवती (The Wealthy) |
ζ Piscium |
|
 |
There is an additional 28th intercalary nakshatra, Abhijit (अभिजित्)(α, ε and ζ Lyrae - Vega - between Uttarasharha and Sravana). Its longitude starts from 06° 40' to 10° 53' 40 in sidereal Capricorn i.e. from the last quarter of Uttra Ashadha to first 1/15 th part of Shravana. Its span is 4° 13' 40 (4.22777... degrees). The span of 27 mean daily lunar motions totals 355.76167 degrees, and together these total 359.98945 degrees. Unless specifically mentioned it is not included in the list of the 27 constellations. It is held as an auspicious constellation in electional astrology. It is small (Laghu / Kshipra) in nature. The lord of Abhijit is Brahma.
Divisions
The 27 Nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the ecliptic each. Each Nakshatra is also divided into quarters or padas of 3°20’, as follows:
| # | Name | Pada 1 | Pada 2 | Pada 3 | Pada 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashvini (अश्विनि)) | चु Chu | चे Che | चो Cho | ला La |
| 2 | Bharani (भरणी) | ली Li | लू Lu | ले Le | पो Lo |
| 3 | Krittikā (कृत्तिका) | अ A | ई I | उ U | ए E |
| 4 | Rohini(रोहिणी) | ओ O | वा Va/Ba | वी Vi/Bi | वु Vu/Bu |
| 5 | Mrigashīrsha (म्रृगशीर्षा) | वे Ve/Be | वो Vo/Bo | का Ka | की Ke |
| 6 | Ārdrā (आर्द्रा) | कु Ku | घ Gha | ङ Ng/Na | छ Chha |
| 7 | Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु) | के Ke | को Ko | हा Ha | ही Hi |
| 8 | Pushya (पुष्य) | हु Hu | हे He | हो Ho | ड Da |
| 9 | Āshleshā (आश्लेषा) | डी Di | डू Du | डे De | डो Do |
| 10 | Maghā (मघा) | मा Ma | मी Mi | मू Mu | मे Me |
| 11 | Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī (पूर्व फाल्गुनी) | नो Mo | टा Ta | टी Ti | टू Tu |
| 12 | Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī (उत्तर फाल्गुनी) | टे Te | टो To | पा Pa | पी Pi |
| 13 | Hasta (हस्त) | पू Pu | ष Sha | ण Na | ठ Tha |
| 14 | Chitrā (चित्रा) | पे Pe | पो Po | रा Ra | री Ri |
| 15 | Svātī (स्वाति) | रू Ru | रे Re | रो Ro | ता Ta |
| 16 | Vishākhā (विशाखा) | ती Ti | तू Tu | ते Te | तो To |
| 17 | Anurādhā (अनुराधा) | ना Na | नी Ni | नू Nu | ने Ne |
| 18 | Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठा) | नो No | या Ya | यी Yi | यू Yu |
| 19 | Mūla (मूल) | ये Ye | यो Yo | भा Bha | भी Bhi |
| 20 | Pūrva Ashādhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा) | भू Bhu | धा Dha | फा Bha/Pha | ढा Dha |
| 21 | Uttara Ashādhā (उत्तराषाढ़ा) | भे Bhe | भो Bho | जा Ja | जी Ji |
| 22 | Shravana (श्रवण) | खी Ju/Khi | खू Je/Khu | खे Jo/Khe | खो Gha/Kho |
| 23 | Shravishthā (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhanishta | गा Ga | गी Gi | गु Gu | गे Ge |
| 24 | Shatabhishā (शतभिषा)or Shatataraka | गो Go | सा Sa | सी Si | सू Su |
| 25 | Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्वभाद्रपदा) | से Se | सो So | दा Da | दी Di |
| 26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तरभाद्रपदा) | दू Du | थ Tha | झ Jha | ञ Da/Tra |
| 27 | Revatī (रेवती) | दे De | दो Do | च Cha | ची Chi |
Names
The names of nakshatras in other languages are adapted from the Sanskrit variation (apabhramsa) through Pali or Prakrit. The variations evolved for easier pronunciation in popular usage.
| # | Sanskrit संस्कृतम् |
Malayalam മലയാളം |
Tamil தமிழ் |
Mongolian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashvinī अश्विनी |
Ashvati അശ്വതി |
Aswini அஸ்வினி |
Шийдэм |
| 2 | Bharanī भरणी |
Bharaṇi ഭരണി |
Baraṇi பரணி |
Гоё хүүхэн |
| 3 | Krittikā कृत्तिका |
Kārttika കാർത്തിക |
Kārthikai கார்த்திகை |
Нэг эхт зургаан хөвгүүн |
| 4 | Rohini रोहिणी |
Rōhiṇi രോഹിണി |
Rōhiṇi ரோகிணி |
Чөлөөт эх |
| 5 | Mrigashīrsha म्रृगशीर्षा |
Makayiram മകയിരം |
Mirugasīridam மிருகசீரிடம் |
Гөрөөсөн толгой |
| 6 | Ārdrā आद्रा |
Ātira or Tiruvātira ആതിര (തിരുവാതിര) |
Thiruvādhirai திருவாதிரை |
Хэрцгий охин |
| 7 | Punarvasu पुनर्वसु |
Puṇartam പുണർതം |
Punarpoosam புனர்பூசம் |
Өглөгт охин |
| 8 | Pushya पुष्य |
Pūyam പൂയം |
Poosam பூசம் |
Найралт эх |
| 9 | Āshleshā आश्ळेषा / आश्लेषा |
Āyilyam ആയില്യം |
Ayilyam ஆயில்யம் |
Үнэг |
| 10 | Maghā मघा |
Makam മകം |
Magam மகம் |
Их морь |
| 11 | Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī पूर्व फाल्गुनी |
Pūram പൂരം |
Pooram பூரம் |
Бага морь |
| 12 | Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī उत्तर फाल्गुनी |
Utram ഉത്രം |
Uthiram உத்திரம் |
Харцага |
| 13 | Hasta हस्त |
Attam അത്തം |
Astham அஸ்தம் |
Тугчин |
| 14 | Chitrā चित्रा |
Chittira ചിത്തിര (ചിത്ര) |
Chithirai சித்திரை |
Тэргүүн дагуул |
| 15 | Svātī स्वाती |
Chōti ചോതി |
Swathi சுவாதி |
Салхины эх |
| 16 | Vishākhā विशाखा |
Vishākham വിശാഖം |
Visakam விசாகம் |
Эрхтний тэнгэрт |
| 17 | Anurādhā अनुराधा |
Anizham അനിഴം |
Anusham அனுஷம் |
Гар од |
| 18 | Jyeshtha ज्येष्ठा |
Kēṭṭa (Trikkēṭṭa) കേട്ട (തൃക്കേട്ട) |
Kettai கேட்டை |
Хонгорцог |
| 19 | Mūla मूल |
Mūlam മൂലം |
Mūlam மூலம் |
Онгоц |
| 20 | Pūrva Ashādhā पूर्वाषाढा |
Pūrāṭam പൂരാടം |
Pūradam பூராடம் |
Суулга |
| 21 | Uttara Ashādhā उत्तराषाढा |
Utrāṭam ഉത്രാടം |
Uthirādam உத்திராடம் |
Элдэв тэнгэртэн |
| 22 | Shravana श्रवण |
Tiruvōnam ഓണം (തിരുവോണം) |
Tiruvōnam திருவோணம் |
Булаагч/Яруу эгшигт |
| 23 | Shravishthā or Dhanishta श्रविष्ठा or धनिष्ठा |
Aviṭṭam അവിട്ടം |
Aviṭṭam அவிட்டம் |
Тооно |
| 24 | Shatabhishā or Shatataraka शतभिषक् / शततारका |
Chatayam ചതയം |
Sadayam சதயம் |
Чөдөр |
| 25 | Pūrva Bhādrapadā पूर्वभाद्रपदा / पूर्वप्रोष्ठपदा |
Pūruruṭṭāti പൂരുരുട്ടാതി |
Pūruruṭṭādhi பூரட்டாதி |
Шувуун хошуут |
| 26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā उत्तरभाद्रपदा / उत्तरप्रोष्ठपदा |
Uttṛṭṭāti ഉത്രട്ടാതി |
Uttṛṭṭādhi உத்திரட்டாதி |
Могой хүлэгч |
| 27 | Revati रेवती |
Rēvati രേവതി |
Rēvathi ரேவதி |
Дэлгэрүүлэгч |
Traditional Hindu names
Hindu astrologers (see Jyotisha) teach that when a child is born, they should be given an auspicious first name which will correspond to the child's Nakshatra. It is claimed that the benefit of this naming is that when the child hears this sound it generates the feeling of wholeness within the child. The child gains the feeling of comfort 'that mother is at home', whereas the wrong name can lead to feelings of isolation or alienation. The Moon is associated with mother, so using this sound gives the child that comfort feeling of mother.
Each birthstar has corresponding Sanskrit sounds which would belong at the beginning of such a name. These are available under each Nakshatra, listed above. The principle technique for deducing the name is to see which nakshatra the moon is in at the moment of birth; this gives four possible sounds. A refinement is to pick one sound out of that four that relates to the Pada or division of the Nakshatra. Each Nakshatra has four Padas and four sounds and each Pada is of equal width. The Nakshatra changes every 62 minutes of time and the Pada every 15 minutes.
A further refinement or opportunity is to instead use the Nakshatra that the ascendent resides in at birth. The same broad choice of sounds and Padas apply, but now the sounds change roughly every 15 minutes. The ascendent passes through all 27 Nakshatras every 24 hours, being in each one for 53 and a third minutes of time, and is in a Pada for 13 and a third minutes of time. By using the ascendent's nakshatra, instead of the moon's nakshatra leads more to comfort of the Self, rather than comfort of the mother. This second approach is only really applicable if intuitively the moon approach does not feel right.
Use in electional astrology
Constellations are grouped on the basis of their nature, type of their face, degree of their beneficence, their quarters in different signs, with reference to the constellation occupied by the Sun, with reference to the birth constellation (Janma Nakshatra), their caste, etc. The current constellation occupied by the Moon, and its nature forms the fundamental of Vedic system of electional astrology (Muhurta). Some of the activities and works which are associated with the Nakshatras are given below based on their fundamental nature:
- Fixed (Dhruva, Sthira) constellations:
Rohini, Uttara Bhādrapadā , Uttra Falguni, and Uttara Ashada
Fixed and permanent nature, house, village, temple, entering in new hose-city-temple, religious works, rites for getting peace, propitiation of portents, Vinayaka Shanti, coronation, sowing of seeds, planting of small garden, starting of vocal music, friendship, sexual works, making & wearing of ornaments & clothes may be auspiciously begun / effectively performed. Works allocated to delicate & friendly (Mridu) asterisms may also be performed.
- Movable (Chal , Char) constellations:
Punarvasu, Swaati, Sharavana, Shatabhishā & Shravishthā
Related to motion & movement, riding on a vehicle or elephant, opening of shop, walking first time, walking in garden, sex, making jewellery, learning of a trait. Things performed in Small (Laghu) constellation are also effectively performed in the Movable constellations.
- Cruel (Ugra, Karur) constellations:
Magha, Bharni, Porva Falguni, Poorva Shada, & Poorva Bhadra.
Ambush, burning, poisoning (self & others), making & using weapons especially related to fire, cheating / deception / wickedness / craftiness, cutting & destroying, controlling of animals, beating & punishing of enemy. Works allocated to Sharp / Horrible (Darun) asterisms are also successfully done in these asterisms.
- Mixed (Mishra & Sadharan) constellations
Vishakha & Krittika.
Fire works, burning of sacred fire (Agnihotra), using poison, fearsome works, arresting, adulteration (mixing), donation of ox to get one’s desires fulfilled (Vrashotsarga). Works prescribed under cruel (Ugra, Karur) constellations may also be performed. As per N.S. works of Sweet / delicate & friendly (Mridu & Maitri) constellations can also be included.
- Small (Laghu & Kshipra) constellations
Hasta, Abhijit, Pushya, and Ashvani.
Selling, medical knowledge, using & handling of medicines, literature-music-art, the 64 Kala Shilpa (various arts, sculpture etc.) jewellery making & wearing, sexual intercourse. And the works prescribed for Movable (Char) constellations. Though Abhijit is included in Small group of asterisms, but is rarely referred in the Muhurt prescriptions.
- Sweet/Delicate & Friendly (Mridu & Maitri) constellations
Mrigashīrsha, Chitra, Anuradha and Revati.
Starting & learning singing of songs, clothes & jewellery making & wearing, Manglik works, matter related to friends, female company, enjoyments, sexual passions.
- Sharp & Horrible ( Teekshan & Darun ) constellations:
Jyeshta, Ardra, Ashlesha, and Moola
Charm or spell causing disease or death, hypnotism, sorcery; ghost, ambush, horror, murder, capture, matters related to secrecy, backbiting, starting of quarrel, separation, matters related to friendship & breaking thereof, training & tying of animals, pleasure works, playing games, getting made & wearing of new dress & ornaments, starting & learning singing of songs, entering into village / city, peaceful & developmental works.
See also
- Atmakaraka
- Navagraha
- Panchangam
- Gandanta
- Chinese constellation
- Twenty-eight mansions
References
Notes
Authors who have written books on the Nakshatras include:
- Prashant Trivedi
- Dennis Harness
- Komilla Sutton
- Valerie Roebuck
- Bepin Behari
- K.T. Shubhakaran
- Bill Levacy
- Jim Kelleher
- U.S.Pulippani
- Astrologer and Vastu Consultant Shri Ashish Chaukkar from Mumbai