List of Nakshatras

The classical list of 27 nakshatras ("lunar mansion") is first found in the Vedanga Jyotisha, a text dated to the final centuries BCE. The nakshatra system predates the influence of Hellenistic astronomy on vedic tradition, which became prevalent from about the 2nd century CE.

In Hindu astrology, there are various systems of enumerating 27 or 28 nakshatras. Although there are 28 days to a sidereal month, by custom only 27 days are used, the last 28th day being considered unlucky. The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, following Basham.^[1]

No.	Name	Associated stars	Description
1	Ashvini "wife of the Ashvins"	β and γ Arietis	Lord: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol : Horse's head Deity : Ashvins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Mesha Western zodiac 26° Aries - 9°20' Taurus
2; 7	Bharani "the bearer"	35, 39, and 41 Arietis	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction Deity: 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	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Knife or spear Deity : Agni, god of fire Indian zodiac: 26°40' Mesha - 10° Vrishabha Western zodiac 22° 40' Taurus - 6° Gemini
4; 9	Rohini "the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī	Aldebaran	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree Deity : Brahma or Prajapati, the Creator Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Vrishabha Western zodiac 6° - 19°20' Gemini
5; 3	Mrigashīrsha "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī	λ, φ Orionis	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Deer's head Deity: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god Indian zodiac: 23° 20' Vrishabha - 6° 40' Mithuna Western zodiac: 19°20' Gemini - 2°40' Cancer
6; 4	Ardra "the moist one"	Betelgeuse	Lord: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head Deity : Rudra, the storm god Indian zodiac: 6° 40' - 20° Mithuna Western zodiac: 2° 40' - 16° Cancer
7; 5	Punarvasu (dual) "the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"	Castor and Pollux	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Bow and quiver Deity : Aditi, mother of the gods Indian zodiac: 20° Mithuna - 3°20' Karka Western zodiac 16° - 29°20' Cancer
8; 6	Pushya "the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya	γ, δ and θ Cancri	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle Deity : Bṛhaspati, priest of the gods Indian zodiac: 3°20' -16°40' Karka Western zodiac 29°20' Cancer - 12°40' Leo
9; 7	Āshleshā "the embrace"	δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol: Serpent Deity : Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Karka Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Leo
10; 15	Maghā "the bountiful"	Regulus	Lord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Royal Throne Deity : 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	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol : Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree Deity : Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity Indian zodiac: 13°20' - 26°40' Simha Western zodiac 9°20' - 22°40' Virgo
12	Uttara Phalgunī "second reddish one"	Denebola	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock Deity : Aryaman, god of patronage and favours 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	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Hand or fist Deity : Saviti or Surya, 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	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl Deity : Tvastar or Vishvakarman, the celestial architect 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	Lord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral Deity : Vayu, the Wind god Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Tula Western zodiac 2°40' - 16° Scorpio
16; 14	Vishakha "forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift"	α, β, γ and ι Librae	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Triumphal arch, potter's wheel Deity : 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	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Triumphal archway, lotus Deity : Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Vrishchika Western zodiac 29°20' Scorpio - 12°40' Sagittarius
18; 16	Jyeshtha "the eldest, most excellent"	α, σ, and τ Scorpionis	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : circular amulet, umbrella, earring Deity : Indra, chief of the gods Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Vrishchika Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Sagittarius
19; 17	Mula "the root"	ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis	Lord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad Deity : Nirrti, goddess of dissolution and destruction Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Dhanus Western zodiac 26° Sagittarius - 9°20' Capricorn
20; 18	Purva Ashadha "first of the aṣāḍhā", aṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation	δ and ε Sagittarii	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket Deity : 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	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol : Elephant tusk, small bed Deity : Visvedevas, universal gods Indian zodiac: 26°40' Dhanus - 10° Makara Western zodiac 22°40' Capricorn - 6° Aquarius
22; 20	Abhijit "victorious"^[2]	α, ε and ζ Lyrae - Vega	Lord: Brahma
23; 20	Sravana	α, β and γ Aquilae	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol : Ear or Three Footprints Deity : Vishnu, preserver of universe Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Makara Western zodiac 6° - 19°20' Aquarius
24; 21; 23	Dhanishta "most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest"	α to δ Delphini	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol : Drum or flute Deity : Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance Indian zodiac: 23°20' Makara - 6°40' Kumbha Western zodiac 19°20' Aquarius - 2°40' Pisces
24; 22	Shatabhisha "requiring a hundred physicians"	γ Aquarii	Lord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol : Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars Deity : Varuna, god of cosmic waters, sky and earth Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Kumbha ; Western zodiac 2°40' - 16° Pisces
25; 3	Purva Bhadrapada "the first of the blessed feet"	α and β Pegasi	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces Deity : Ajikapada, an ancient fire dragon Indian zodiac: 20° Kumbha - 3°20' Meena ; Western zodiac 16° - 29°20' Pisces
26; 4	Uttara Bhādrapadā "the second of the blessed feet"	γ Pegasi and α Andromedae	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water Deity : Ahir Budhyana, serpent or dragon of the deep Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Meena ; Western zodiac 29°20' Pisces - 12°40' Aries
27; 5	Revati "prosperous"	ζ Piscium	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : Fish or a pair of fish, drum Deity : Pushan, nourisher, the protective deity Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Meena Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Aries

Padas (quarters)

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, indicating all the elements (ansh) of Vishnu:

#	Name	Pada 1	Pada 2	Pada 3	Pada 4
1	Ashwini (अश्विनि)	चु Chu	चे Che	चो Cho	ला La
2	Bharani (भरणी)	ली Li	लू Lu	ले Le	लो Lo
3	Kritika (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	Chitra (चित्रा)	पे Pe	पो Po	रा Ra	री Ri
15	Svātī (स्वाति)	रू Ru	रे Re	रो Ro	ता Tha
16	Viśākhā (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	Mula (मूल)	ये Ye	यो Yo	भा Bha	भी Bhi
20	Pūrva Ashādhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा)	भू Bhu	धा Dha	फा Bha/Pha	ढा Dha
21	Uttara Aṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढ़ा)	भे Bhe	भो Bho	जा Ja	जी Ji
22	Śrāvaṇa (श्र‌ावण)	खी Ju/Khi	खू Je/Khu	खे Jo/Khe	खो Gha/Kho
23	Śrāviṣṭha (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhanishta	गा Ga	गी Gi	गु Gu	गे Ge
24	Shatabhisha (शतभिषा)or Śatataraka	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	Revati (रेवती)	दे De	दो Do	च Cha	ची Chi

Names in modern languages

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	Tamil தமிழ்	Sinhala සිoහල	Telugu తెలుగు	Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ	Malayalam മലയാളം	Mongolian	Chinese 宿
1	Ashvinī अश्विनी	Aswini அஸ்வினி	Aswida අස්විද	Ashwini అశ్విని	Ashwini ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ	Ashvati അശ്വതി	Шийдэм	婁
2	Bharanī भरणी	Baraṇi பரணி	Berana බෙරණ	Bharani భరణి	Bharani ಭರಣಿ	Bharaṇi ഭരണി	Гоё хүүхэн	胃
3	Krittikā कृत्तिका	Kārthikai கார்த்திகை	Kethi කැති	Kritika కృత్తిక	Kritika ಕೃತಿಕ	Kārttika കാർത്തിക	Нэг эхт зургаан хөвгүүн	昴
4	Rohini रोहिणी	Rōhiṇi ரோகிணி	Rehena රෙහෙණ	Rohini రోహిణి	Rohini ರೋಹಿಣಿ	Rōhiṇi രോഹിണി	Чөлөөт эх	畢
5	Mrigashīrsha म्रृगशीर्षा	Mirugasīridam மிருகசீரிடம்	Muwasirasa මුවසිරස	Mrigasiraa మ్రిగాశిర	Mrigashira ಮೃಗಶಿರ	Makayiram മകയിരം	Гөрөөсөн толгой	觜
6	Ārdrā आद्रा	Thiruvādhirai திருவாதிரை	Ada අද	Arudra ఆర్ద్ర	Ardra ಆರ್ದ್ರ	Ātira or Tiruvātira ആതിര (തിരുവാതിര)	Хэрцгий охин	參
7	Punarvasu पुनर्वसु	Punarpoosam புனர்பூசம்	Punavasa පුනාවස	Punarvasu పునర్వసు	Punarvasu ಪುನರ್ವಸು	Puṇartam പുണർതം	Өглөгт охин	井
8	Pushya पुष्य	Poosam பூசம்	Pusha පුෂ	Pushya పుష్య	Pushyami ಪುಷ್ಯ	Pūyam പൂയം	Найралт эх	鬼
9	Āshleshā आश्ळेषा / आश्लेषा	Ayilyam ஆயில்யம்	Aslisa අස්ලිස	Ashlesha ఆశ్లేష	Ashlesha ಆಶ್ಲೇಷ	Āyilyam ആയില്യം	Үнэг	柳
10	Maghā मघा	Magam மகம்	Maa මා	Maghaa మాఘ	Magha ಮಾಘ	Makam മകം	Их морь	星
11	Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī पूर्व फाल्गुनी	Pooram பூரம்	Puwapal පුවපල්	Pubba పూర్వ ఫల్గుని	Poorva ಪೂರ್ವ	Pūram പൂരം	Бага морь	張
12	Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī उत्तर फाल्गुनी	Uthiram உத்திரம்	Uttrapal උත්රපල්	Uttara ఉత్తర ఫల్గుని	Uttara ಉತ್ತರ	Utram ഉത്രം	Харцага	翼
13	Hasta हस्त	Astham அஸ்தம்	Hatha හත	Hasta హస్త	Hastaa ಹಸ್ತ	Attam അത്തം	Тугчин	軫
14	Chitrā चित्रा	Chithirai சித்திரை	Sitha සිත	Chittaa చిత్ర	Chitra ಚಿತ್ರ	Chittira ചിത്തിര (ചിത്ര)	Тэргүүн дагуул	角
15	Svātī स्वाती	Swathi சுவாதி	Saa සා	Swaati స్వాతి	Swathi ಸ್ವಾತಿ	Chōti ചോതി	Салхины эх	亢
16	Vishākhā विशाखा	Visakam விசாகம்	Wisa විසා	Vishaakha విశాఖ	Vishakha ವಿಶಾಖ	Vishākham വിശാഖം	Эрхтний тэнгэрт	氐
17	Anurādhā अनुराधा	Anusham அனுஷம்	Anura අනුර	Anuraadha అనురాధ	Anuradha ಅನುರಾಧಾ	Anizham അനിഴം	Гар од	房
18	Jyeshtha ज्येष्ठा	Kettai கேட்டை	Deta දෙට	Jyesthaa జఎస్త	Jyestha ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ	Kēṭṭa (Trikkēṭṭa) കേട്ട (തൃക്കേട്ട)	Хонгорцог	心
19	Mūla मूल	Mūlam மூலம்	Moola මුල	Moolaa మూల	Moola ಮೂಲ	Mūlam മൂലം	Онгоц	尾
20	Pūrva Ashādhā पूर्वाषाढा	Pūradam பூராடம்	Puwasala පුවසල	Poorvashaadha పూర్వశాధ	Poorvashadha ಪುರ್ವಾಷಾಡ	Pūrāṭam പൂരാടം	Суулга	箕
21	Uttara Ashādhā उत्तराषाढा	Uthirādam உத்திராடம்	Uttrasala උත්රසල	Uttarashaadha ఉత్తరాశాధ	Uttarashadha ಉತ್ತರಾಷಾಡ	Utrāṭam ഉത്രാടം	Элдэв тэнгэртэн	斗
22	Shravana श्रवण	Tiruvōnam திருவோணம்	Suvana සුවණ	Shravana శ్రావణ	Shravana ಶ್ರವಣ	Tiruvōnam ഓണം (തിരുവോണം)	Булаагч/Яруу эгшигт	女
23	Shravishthā or Dhanishta श्रविष्ठा or धनिष्ठा	Aviṭṭam அவிட்டம்	Denata දෙණට	Dhanishta ధనిష్ఠ	Dhanishta ಧನಿಷ್ಠ	Aviṭṭam അവിട്ടം	Тооно	虛
24	Shatabhishā or Shatataraka शतभिषक् / शततारका	Sadayam சதயம்	Siyawasa සියාවස	Shatabhisha శతభిష	Shatabhisha ಶಥಭಿಷ	Chatayam ചതയം	Чөдөр	危
25	Pūrva Bhādrapadā पूर्वभाद्रपदा / पूर्वप्रोष्ठपदा	Pūraṭṭādhi பூரட்டாதி	Puvaputupa පුවපුටුප	Poorvabhadraa పూర్వ భాద్రపద	Poorva Bhadrapada ಪೂರ್ವ ಭಾದ್ರಪದ	Pūraṭṭāti പൂരുരുട്ടാതി	Шувуун хошуут	室
26	Uttara Bhādrapadā उत्तरभाद्रपदा / उत्तरप्रोष्ठपदा	Uttṛṭṭādhi உத்திரட்டாதி	Uttraputupa උත්රපුටුප	Uttaraa bhadra ఉత్తర భాద్రపద	Uttara Bhadrapada ಉತ್ತರ ಭಾದ್ರಪದ	Uttṛṭṭāti ഉത്രട്ടാതി	Могой хүлэгч	壁
27	Revati रेवती	Rēvathi ரேவதி	Revathi රේවතී	Revati రేవతి	Revati ರೇವತಿ	Rēvati രേവതി	Дэлгэрүүлэгч	奎

References

↑ Arthur Llewellyn Basham, Indian Astronomy Appendix: Astronomy.
↑ 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. The span of 27 mean daily lunar motions totals 355.76167 degrees, and together these total 359.98945 degrees. Considered an "intercalary" lunar mansion.

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