Nakshatra
Overview
Nakshatra also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
: नक्षत्र ) is the term for lunar mansion
Lunar mansion
A lunar mansion is a segment of the ecliptic through which the moon moves in its orbit around the earth, often used by ancient cultures as part of their calendar system...
in Hindu astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to the most prominent asterisms
Asterism (astronomy)
In astronomy, an asterism is a pattern of stars recognized on Earth's night sky. It may form part of an official constellation, or be composed of stars from more than one. Like constellations, asterisms are in most cases composed of stars which, while they are visible in the same general direction,...
in the respective sectors.
The starting point for the nakshatras is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the star Spica
Spica
Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and the 15th brightest star in the nighttime sky. It is 260 light years distant from Earth...
called Chitrā in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
(other slightly different definitions exist).
Unanswered Questions
Discussions
Encyclopedia
Nakshatra also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
: नक्षत्र ) is the term for lunar mansion
Lunar mansion
A lunar mansion is a segment of the ecliptic through which the moon moves in its orbit around the earth, often used by ancient cultures as part of their calendar system...
in Hindu astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to the most prominent asterisms
Asterism (astronomy)
In astronomy, an asterism is a pattern of stars recognized on Earth's night sky. It may form part of an official constellation, or be composed of stars from more than one. Like constellations, asterisms are in most cases composed of stars which, while they are visible in the same general direction,...
in the respective sectors.
The starting point for the nakshatras is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the star Spica
Spica
Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and the 15th brightest star in the nighttime sky. It is 260 light years distant from Earth...
called Chitrā in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
(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 number of nakshatras reflects the number of days in a sidereal month (modern value: 27.32 days), that the width of a nakshatra is traversed by the moon in about one day. Each nakshatra is further subdivided into quarters (or padas) These play a role in popular Hindu astrology, where each pada is associated with a syllable, conventionally chosen as the first syllable of the given name of a child born when the moon was in the corresponding pada.
The nakshatras of traditional Hindu astronomy are based on a list of 28 asterisms found in the Atharvaveda
Atharvaveda
The Atharvaveda is a sacred text of Hinduism and one of the four Vedas, often called the "fourth Veda"....
(AVŚ 19.7) and also in the Shatapatha Brahmana
Shatapatha Brahmana
The Shatapatha Brahmana is one of the prose texts describing the Vedic ritual, associated with the Shukla Yajurveda. It survives in two recensions, Madhyandina and Kanva , with the former having the eponymous 100 adhyayas,7624 kandikas in 14 books, and the latter 104 adhyayas,6806 kandikas in 17...
. The first astronomical text that lists them is the Vedanga Jyotisha
Vedanga Jyotisha
The ' is an Indian text on Jyotisha, redacted by Lagadha .The text is foundational to the Vedanga discipline of Jyotisha. It is dated to the final centuries BCE...
.
In classical Hindu mythology (Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, Harivamsa
Harivamsa
The Harivamsha is an important work of Sanskrit literature, containing 16,374 verses, mostly in metre. The text is also known as . This text is believed as a khila to the Mahabharata and is traditionally ascribed to Krishna Dvaipayana Veda Vyasa...
), the creation of the nakshatras is attributed to Daksha
Daksha
In Hinduism, Daksha, "the skilled one", is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis, the Rishis and the Adityas. Daksha is said to be the son of Aditi and Brahma...
. They are personified as daughters of the deity and as mythological wives of Chandra
Chandra
In Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma . The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and...
, the moon god, or alternatively the daughters of Kashyapa, the brother of Daksha.
Each of the nakshatras is governed as 'lord' by one of the nine graha
Navagraha
Graha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
in the following sequence: Ketu
Ketu
*In Vedic astrology, Ketu is the Moon's South node. Ketu is generally referred to as a "shadow" planet.*Ketu is a historical location in present day Benin.*Ketu is another name for the mountain K2....
(South Lunar Node), Shukra
Shukra
Shukra , the Sanskrit for "clear, pure" or "brightness, clearness", is the name of the son of Bhrigu, and preceptor of the Daityas, and the guru of the Asuras, identified with the planet Venus, one of the Navagrahas...
(Venus), Ravi or Surya
Surya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
(Sun), Chandra
Chandra
In Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma . The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and...
(Moon), Mangala
Mangala
In Jyotish astrology, Mangala is the name for Mars, the red planet. Mars is also called Angaraka In Jyotish astrology, Mangala (Devanagari: मंगल) is the name for Mars, the red planet. Mars is also called Angaraka In Jyotish astrology, Mangala (Devanagari: मंगल) is the name for Mars, the red...
(Mars), Rahu
Rahu
In Hindu mythology, Rahu is a cut-off head of an asura, that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses. Rahu is one of the navagrahas in Vedic astrology...
(North Lunar Node), Guru or Brihaspati
Brihaspati
Bṛhaspati also known as Brahmanaspati and Deva-guru , is the name of a Vedic deity...
(Jupiter), Shani
Shani
Sanskrit Śhani शनि, Kannada Śhani ಶನಿ ದೇವರು,Shani/Sani , is one of the Navagraha or Jyotiṣa . Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn and is the Lord of Saturday....
(Saturn) and Budha
Budha
In Hindu mythology, Budha is the name for the planet Mercury, a son of Chandra with Tara or Rohini. He is also the god of merchandise and protector of Merchants....
(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
Dasha (astrology)
Dasha The dasha pattern shows which planets will be ruling at particular times in Jyotisha.-Overview:...
, which is considered of major importance in forecasting the life path of the individual in Hindu astrology.
In Vedic Sanskrit
Vedic Sanskrit
Vedic Sanskrit is an old Indo-Aryan language. It is an archaic form of Sanskrit, an early descendant of Proto-Indo-Iranian. It is closely related to Avestan, the oldest preserved Iranian language...
, the term may refer to any heavenly body, or to "the stars" collectively. The classical sense of "lunar mansion" is first found in the Atharvaveda
Atharvaveda
The Atharvaveda is a sacred text of Hinduism and one of the four Vedas, often called the "fourth Veda"....
, and becomes the primary meaning of the term in Classical Sanskrit.
Nakshatras in the Atharvaveda
In the AtharvavedaAtharvaveda
The Atharvaveda is a sacred text of Hinduism and one of the four Vedas, often called the "fourth Veda"....
(Shaunakiya recension, hymn 19.7) a list of 28 stars or asterisms is given, many of them corresponding to the later nakshatras:
(1) Kṛttikā (the Pleiads), (2) Rohinī, (3) Mrigashīrsha
Mrigashirsha
Sanskrit mr̥gáśiras the 5th nakshatra or lunar mansion as used in Hindu astronomy and astrology is the constellation Orion. Its position is described in the Surya Siddhanta....
, (4) Ārdrā
Ardra
Ardra may refer to:* Ardra is the Goddess of good luck and fortune in Hindu mythology, and a nakshatra associated with the star Betelgeuse in Indian astronomy...
,
(5) Punarvasu
Punarvasu
Punarvasu is a Nakshatra in Hindu astrology, which refers to the two brightest stars in the constellation of Gemini: Castor and Pollux.In Malayalam Punarvasu is termed Punartham...
, (6) Sūnritā, (7) Pushya
Pushya
Pushya is a nakshatra in Indian astronomy. It corresponds to γ, δ and θ Cancri, in the Cancer .-Naming practices:Under the traditional Hindu principle of naming individuals according to their birthstar , the following Sanskrit syllables correspond with this Nakshatra, and would belong at the...
, (8) Bhanu (the Sun), (9) Asleshā, (10) Maghā,
(11) Svāti (Arcturus), (12) Chitrā (Spica
Spica
Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and the 15th brightest star in the nighttime sky. It is 260 light years distant from Earth...
), (13) Phalgunis, (14) Hasta,
(15) Rādhas, (16) Vishākhā, (17) Anurādhā
Anuradha
Anuradha may be:*A disciple and a cousin of Gautama Buddha, see Anuruddha*a lunar mansion in Hindu astrology, see Anuradha *a film, see Anuradha...
, (18) Jyeshthā
Jyeshtha (nakshatra)
Jyeshtha is the 18th nakshatra or lunar mansion in Vedic astrology associated with the heart of the constellation Scorpii , and the stars α , σ, and τ ....
, (19) Mūla
Mula (astrology)
Mula is the 19th nakshatra or lunar mansion in Vedic astrology and corresponds to the stars ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, υ, λ, μ and ν Scorpii in the tail/sting of Scorpius. The symbol of Mula is a bunch of roots tied together or an 'elephant goad' and the Deity associated with it is Niriti, god of...
,
(20) Ashādhas, (21) Abhijit, (22) Sravana, (23) Sravishthās,
(24) Satabhishak
Shatabhisha
Shatabhisha, also known as Chathayam or Sadayam , or Shatabhishak or Shatataraka is the 24th nakshatra in Hindu astronomy. It corresponds to the star γ Aquarii...
, (25) Proshtha-padas, (26) Revati
Revati (nakshatra)
Revati is the twenty-seventh nakshatra in Hindu astrology, corresponding to ζ Piscium.It is ruled by Puṣan,one of the 12 Ādityas...
, (27) Asvayujas, (28) Bharani
Bharani
Bharani is the second nakshatra in Hindu astronomy, corresponding to 35, 39, and 41 Arietis. In Jyotiṣa, Bharani is ruled by Shukra ....
.
List of Nakshatras
The classical list of 27 nakshatras is first found in the Vedanga JyotishaVedanga Jyotisha
The ' is an Indian text on Jyotisha, redacted by Lagadha .The text is foundational to the Vedanga discipline of Jyotisha. It is dated to the final centuries BCE...
, a text dated to the final centuries BCE..
In Hindu astrology, there are various systems of enumerating 27 or 28 nakshatras.
The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, following Basham.
| No. | Name | Associated stars | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashvini Ashvini Asvini is the first nakshatra in Hindu astrology, corresponding to the head of Aries, including the stars β and γ Arietis.The name aśvinī is used by Varahamihira... "wife of the Ashvins" |
β Beta Arietis Beta Arietis is a star in the constellation Aries, marking the Ram's second horn. It has the traditional name Sheratan , and the Flamsteed designation 6 Arietis... and γ Gamma Arietis Gamma Arietis is a triple star system, 204 light years distant, in the constellation Aries. It has the traditional name Mesarthim, of obscure origin, and has been called "the First Star in Aries" as having been at one time the nearest visible star to the equinoctial point... Arietis Aries (constellation) Aries is one of the constellations of the zodiac, located between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east. Its name is Latin for ram, and its symbol is , representing a ram's horns... |
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| 2; 7 | Bharani Bharani Bharani is the second nakshatra in Hindu astronomy, corresponding to 35, 39, and 41 Arietis. In Jyotiṣa, Bharani is ruled by Shukra .... "the bearer" |
35 35 Arietis 35 Arietis is a star in the constellation Aries. Its apparent magnitude is 4.65.-References:*... , 39, and 41 41 Arietis 41 Arietis or c Arietis is a star in the constellation Aries. It does not possess a Greek letter Bayer designation, since this star was once part of the now-obsolete constellation Musca Borealis, but is sometimes designated c Arietis.41 Arietis belongs to the spectral class B8Vn, and has a stellar... Arietis Aries (constellation) Aries is one of the constellations of the zodiac, located between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east. Its name is Latin for ram, and its symbol is , representing a ram's horns... |
Yama Yama , also known as Yamarāja in India and Nepal, Shinje in Tibet, Yanluowang or simply Yan in China, Yeomla Daewang in South Korea and Enma Dai-Ō in Japan, is the lord of death, in Hinduism and then adopted into Buddhism and then further into Chinese mythology and Japanese mythology. First... , god of death or Dharma Dharma Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender... |
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| 3 | Krittika Krittika The star cluster ', sometimes known as Kārtikā, corresponds to the open star cluster Pleiades in Indian astronomy and... an old name of the Pleiades; personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva. |
Pleiades Pleiades (star cluster) In astronomy, the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters , is an open star cluster containing middle-aged hot B-type stars located in the constellation of Taurus. It is among the nearest star clusters to Earth and is the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky... |
Surya Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold... (Sun) Knife A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools... or spear Spear A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or... Agni Agni is a Hindu deity, one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire and the acceptor of sacrifices. The sacrifices made to Agni go to the deities because Agni is a messenger from and to the other gods... , god of fire Mesha King Mesha of Moab was a king of Moabites around the 9th century BC, known most famous for writing the Mesha stela.The books of Samuel record that Moab was conquered by David and retained in the territories of his son Solomon . Later, King Omri of Israel reconquered Moab after Moab was lost... - 10° Vrishabha |
 |
| 4; 9 | Rohini "the red one", a name of Aldebaran Aldebaran Aldebaran is a red giant star located about 65 light years away in the zodiac constellation of Taurus. With an average apparent magnitude of 0.87 it is the brightest star in the constellation and is one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky... . Also known as brāhmī |
Aldebaran Aldebaran Aldebaran is a red giant star located about 65 light years away in the zodiac constellation of Taurus. With an average apparent magnitude of 0.87 it is the brightest star in the constellation and is one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky... |
Chandra In Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma . The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and... (Moon Moon The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more... ) Chariot The chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled... , temple Temple A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out... , banyan tree Brahma Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the... or Prajapati Prajapati In Hinduism, Prajapati "lord of creatures" is a Hindu deity presiding over procreation, and protector of life. He appears as a creator deity or supreme God Viswakarma Vedic deities in RV 10 and in Brahmana literature... , the Creator |
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| 5; 3 | Mrigashīrsha Mrigashirsha Sanskrit mr̥gáśiras the 5th nakshatra or lunar mansion as used in Hindu astronomy and astrology is the constellation Orion. Its position is described in the Surya Siddhanta.... "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī |
λ Lambda Orionis Lambda Orionis is a star in the constellation Orion. It has the traditional names Meissa or Heka. "Meissa" derives from the Arabic "Al-Maisan" which means "The Shining One". This term was used for Gamma Gemini , but was somehow also mistakenly applied to λ Orionis and the name stuck... , φ Orionis Orion (constellation) Orion, often referred to as The Hunter, is a prominent constellation located on the celestial equator and visible throughout the world. It is one of the most conspicuous, and most recognizable constellations in the night sky... |
Soma Soma , or Haoma , from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma-, was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the subsequent Vedic and greater Persian cultures. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, whose Soma Mandala contains 114 hymns, many praising its energizing qualities... , Chandra Chandra In Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma . The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and... , the Moon god |
 |
| 6; 4 | Ardra Ardra Ardra may refer to:* Ardra is the Goddess of good luck and fortune in Hindu mythology, and a nakshatra associated with the star Betelgeuse in Indian astronomy... "the moist one" |
Betelgeuse Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, also known by its Bayer designation Alpha Orionis , is the eighth brightest star in the night sky and second brightest star in the constellation of Orion, outshining its neighbour Rigel only rarely... |
Rudra ' is a Rigvedic God, associated with wind or storm, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "The Roarer", or "The Howler".... , the storm god |
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| 7; 5 | Punarvasu Punarvasu Punarvasu is a Nakshatra in Hindu astrology, which refers to the two brightest stars in the constellation of Gemini: Castor and Pollux.In Malayalam Punarvasu is termed Punartham... (dual) "the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots" |
Castor Castor (star) Castor is the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Although it has the Bayer designation "alpha", it is actually fainter than Beta Geminorum... and Pollux Pollux (star) Pollux is an orange giant star approximately 34 light-years from the Earth in the constellation of Gemini . Pollux is the brightest star in the constellation, brighter than Castor... |
Aditi Aditi in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. In the Vedas Aditi is mother of the gods from whose cosmic matrix the heavenly bodies were born... , mother of the gods |
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| 8; 6 | Pushya Pushya Pushya is a nakshatra in Indian astronomy. It corresponds to γ, δ and θ Cancri, in the Cancer .-Naming practices:Under the traditional Hindu principle of naming individuals according to their birthstar , the following Sanskrit syllables correspond with this Nakshatra, and would belong at the... "the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya |
γ Gamma Cancri Gamma Cancri is a star system in the constellation Cancer. It has the traditional name Asellus Borealis .... , δ Delta Cancri Delta Cancri is an orange giant star approximately 180 light-years away in the constellation Cancer. It has the traditional name Asellus Australis which in Latin means "southern donkey colt"... and θ Theta Cancri Theta Cancri is a binary star in the constellation Cancer, 494 light years from Earth.θ Cancri is classified as an orange K-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +5.33. Since it is near the ecliptic, it can be occulted by the Moon and, very rarely, by planets... Cancri Cancer (constellation) Cancer is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for crab and it is commonly represented as such. Its symbol is . Cancer is small and its stars are faint... |
Shani Sanskrit Śhani शनि, Kannada Śhani ಶನಿ ದೇವರು,Shani/Sani , is one of the Navagraha or Jyotiṣa . Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn and is the Lord of Saturday.... (Saturn Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,... ) Karka Karka is a summit in the Hindu Raj range in Northern Pakistan and has a peak elevation of .Multiple Italian expeditions have been exploring the area from a geographic and ethnographic point of view .... Leo (constellation) Leo is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for lion. Its symbol is . Leo lies between dim Cancer to the west and Virgo to the east.-Stars:... |
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| 9; 7 | Āshleshā "the embrace" |
δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Sigma Hydrae Sigma Hydrae is the 4th-magnitude star in the constellation Hydra. Sigma Hydrae belongs to spectral class K1+III and has apparent magnitude +4.44... Hydrae Hydra (constellation) Hydra is the largest of the 88 modern constellations, measuring 1303 square degrees. It has a long history, having been included among the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy. It is commonly represented as a water snake... |
Naga Naga or NAGA may refer to:* Nāga, a group of serpent deities in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.-People:* Nayan / Nayar/Nair people of Kerala Society* Naga people, a diverse ethnic identity in Northeast India... , deified snakes |
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| 10; 15 | Maghā Magha Magha may refer to:* Magha , a month in the Hindu calendar* Magh , the same month in the Bengali calendar* Magha , an 8th century Sanskrit poet, who wrote Shishupala-vadha... "the bountiful" |
Regulus Regulus Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo and one of the brightest stars in the night sky, lying approximately 77.5 light years from Earth. Regulus is a multiple star system composed of four stars which are organized into two pairs... |
Pitrs The Pitṛs , are the spirits of the departed ancestors in Hindu culture.They are often remembered annually.It is a Hindu's duty to his ancestors to beget at least one son, so that he may continue to make offerings to the Pitris.... , 'The Fathers', family ancestors |
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| 11 | Pūrva Phalgunī "first reddish one" |
δ and θ Leonis Leo (constellation) Leo is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for lion. Its symbol is . Leo lies between dim Cancer to the west and Virgo to the east.-Stars:... |
Bhaga Sanskrit is a term for "lord, patron", but also for "wealth, prosperity". The cognate term in Avestan and Old Persian is , of uncertain meaning but used in a sense in which "lord, patron" might also apply. A Slavic cognate is "god"... , god of marital bliss and prosperity |
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| 12 | Uttara Phalgunī "second reddish one" |
Denebola Denebola Denebola is the second brightest star in the constellation Leo. It is an A-class star that is about distant from earth, and has a luminosity about twelve times that of the sun. Its apparent magnitude is 2.14... |
Aryaman Aryaman is one of the early Vedic deities . His name signifies "bosom friend". He is the third son of Aditi. He is an Aditya, a solar deity. He is supposed to be the chief of the manes and the Milky Way is supposed to be his path.Aryaman is another name for Surya or the Sun God... , god of patronage and favours |
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| 13 | Hasta Hasta -Sanskrit:*Hasta , a Sanskrit word meaning hand gesture or position*Hasta , a measure of length*the thirteenth Nakshatra of Hindu Astrology-Spanish:... "the hand" |
α Alpha Corvi Alpha Corvi is a star in the constellation Corvus. It has the traditional names Alchiba or Al Minliar al Ghurab .... , β Beta Corvi Beta Corvi is the second brightest star in the constellation of Corvus. It also has the name Kraz.... , γ Gamma Corvi Gamma Corvi is the brightest star in the constellation Corvus. Its traditional name is Gienah, which it shares with Epsilon Cygni... , δ and ε Epsilon Corvi Epsilon Corvi is a star in the constellation Corvus. It has the traditional name Minkar, from Arabian ألمنخر almánxar meaning "the nostril of the crow"... Corvi Corvus (constellation) Corvus is a small constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for raven or crow. It includes only 11 stars visible to the naked eye... |
Surya Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold... or Surya Surya Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold... , the Sun god |
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| 14 | Chitra Chitra Chitra is a Sanskrit adjective meaning "excellent, distinguished; bright, bright-coloured". As a noun, it may refer to:* Chitra, the Sanskrit name of Spica virginis**in Hindu astrology, the corresponding nakshatra .... "the bright one", a name of Spica |
Spica Spica Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and the 15th brightest star in the nighttime sky. It is 260 light years distant from Earth... |
Tvastar In Vedic religion,' , is the first born creator of the universe. In Yajurveda purusha suktha and in 10 mandala of Rg veda his character and attributes are merging with the concept like Hiranyagharbha/Prajapathy or Brahma.The term also transliterated as Tvaṣṭr, nominative , is the heavenly... or Vishvakarman Vishvakarman Viśvákarma is the Hindu presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects... , the celestial architect |
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| 15 | Svāti Svati Svati is the Sanskrit name of Arcturus, and also of the nakshatra associated with Arcturus in Hindu astrology.... name of Arcturus (of unknown derivation) |
Arcturus |
Vayu Vāyu is a primary Hindu deity, the Lord of the winds, the father of Bhima and the spiritual father of Lord Hanuman... , the Wind god |
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| 16; 14 | Viśākhā Visakha Viśākhā, also referred to as Migara's mother , was one of the chief female lay disciples of the Buddha. She became a stream-enterer and died at the age of 120.... "forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift" |
α Alpha Librae Alpha Librae is the second brightest star in the constellation Libra . It has the traditional name Zubenelgenubi. The name, from Arabic الزبن الجنوبي , means "southern claw" and was coined before Libra was recognized as distinct from Scorpius... , β Beta Librae Beta Librae is the brightest star in the constellation Libra. It has the traditional name Zubeneschamali and the Latin name Lanx Borealis... , γ Gamma Librae Gamma Librae is a star in the constellation Libra. It has the traditional name Zuben-el-Akrab, meaning "Shears of the Scorpion". The name is a modification of the Arabic al-Zuban al-Aqrab... and ι Librae Libra (constellation) Libra is a constellation of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for weighing scales, and its symbol is . It is fairly faint, with no first magnitude stars, and lies between Virgo to the west and Scorpius to the east.-Notable features:]... |
Indra ' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda... , chief of the gods; Agni Agni Agni is a Hindu deity, one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire and the acceptor of sacrifices. The sacrifices made to Agni go to the deities because Agni is a messenger from and to the other gods... , god of Fire |
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| 17 | Anuradha Anuradha Anuradha may be:*A disciple and a cousin of Gautama Buddha, see Anuruddha*a lunar mansion in Hindu astrology, see Anuradha *a film, see Anuradha... "following rādhā" |
β Beta Scorpii Beta Scorpii is a star system in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional names Acrab, Akrab or Elacrab, all come from al-'Aqrab, the Scorpion, for the whole constellation, as well as Graffias, a name it shares with Xi Scorpii... , δ Delta Scorpii Delta Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional name Dschubba Delta Scorpii (δ Sco, δ Scorpii) is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional name Dschubba Delta Scorpii (δ Sco, δ Scorpii) is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the... and π Pi Scorpii Pi Scorpii is a triple star system in the constellation Scorpius. It is approximately 459 light years from Earth.Pi Scorpii A is a contact binary of the Beta Lyrae type. Both its members are hot, blue-white B-type dwarfs. Together they have a mean apparent magnitude of +2.89. Their rotation... Scorpionis |
Mitra (Vedic) This article is about the Vedic deity Mitra. For other divinities with related names, see the general article Mitra.Mitra is an important divinity of Indic culture, and the patron divinity of honesty, friendship, contracts and meetings... , one of Adityas of friendship and partnership |
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| 18; 16 | Jyeshtha Jyeshtha (nakshatra) Jyeshtha is the 18th nakshatra or lunar mansion in Vedic astrology associated with the heart of the constellation Scorpii , and the stars α , σ, and τ .... "the eldest, most excellent" |
α, σ Sigma Scorpii Sigma Scorpii is a star system in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional name Al Niyat, although this name is sometimes also applied to Tau Scorpii, or to the asterism formed by both Sigma and Tau. Sigma Scorpii is 735 light years from the Sun.The primary component of the system,... , and τ Tau Scorpii Tau Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius. Tau Scorpii also has the traditional name Alniyat or Al Niyat, which it shares with σ Scorpii. The name derives from the Arabic النياط an-niyāţ meaning "the arteries".... Scorpionis |
Indra ' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda... , chief of the gods |
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| 19; 17 | Mula Mula (astrology) Mula is the 19th nakshatra or lunar mansion in Vedic astrology and corresponds to the stars ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, υ, λ, μ and ν Scorpii in the tail/sting of Scorpius. The symbol of Mula is a bunch of roots tied together or an 'elephant goad' and the Deity associated with it is Niriti, god of... "the root" |
ε Epsilon Scorpii Epsilon Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius. Patrick Moore introduced the name Wei but this seems to be a misreading; Wěi , meaning the Tail, was originally the name of a Chinese asterism or Xiù comprising the stars ε, μ1-2, ζ1-2, η, θ, ι, κ,... , ζ, η Eta Scorpii Eta Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius.Eta Scorpii is a yellow-white F-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +3.32. It is approximately 72.0 light years from Earth.... , θ Theta Scorpii Theta Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional name Sargas, of Sumerian origin.... , ι, κ Kappa Scorpii Kappa Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional name Girtab, which is the Sumerian word for 'scorpion' and has survived through the Babylonian star catalogues.... , λ Lambda Scorpii Lambda Scorpii is the second brightest star system in the constellation Scorpius, and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. It has the Bayer designation λ despite being the second brightest in its constellation... , μ Mu Scorpii The Bayer designation Mu Scorpii is shared by two star systems, in the constellation Scorpius:* μ¹ Scorpii* μ² ScorpiiThey are separated by 0.1° in the sky.... and ν Nu Scorpii Nu Scorpii is a star system in the constellation Scorpius.It is at least a quintuple star, probably a septuple, consisting of two close groups that are separated by 41". The brighter group, Nu Scorpii A and B, is split by 1.3" and composed of spectral type B2 subgiants... Scorpionis |
Nirrti In Hinduism, ' is the goddess of death and corruption, one of the dikpāla , representing the southwest . The name has the meaning of "absence of ṛta, lawless"... , goddess of dissolution and destruction |
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| 20; 18 | Purva Ashadha "first of the aṣāḍhā", aṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation |
δ Delta Sagittarii Delta Sagittarii is a star system in the constellation Sagittarius. It has the traditional names Kaus Media, Kaus Meridionalis, and Media. Kaus Media is 306 light years from Earth and radiates with a total luminosity of 1180 times that of the Sun... and ε Epsilon Sagittarii Epsilon Sagittarii is a binary star that lies 144.64 light-years distant in the constellation Sagittarius. It has a faint, 14th magnitude, companion, Epsilon Sagittarii B, 32 arcseconds distant.... Sagittarii Sagittarius (constellation) Sagittarius is a constellation of the zodiac, the one containing the galactic center. Its name is Latin for the archer, and its symbol is , a stylized arrow. Sagittarius is commonly represented as a centaur drawing a bow... |
Ap (water) Ap is the Vedic Sanskrit term for "water", in Classical Sanskrit occurring only in the plural, , whence Hindi . The term is from PIE hxap "water".... , god of Water |
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| 21 | Uttara Ashadha "second of the aṣāḍhā" |
ζ Zeta Sagittarii Zeta Sagittarii is the third brightest star system in the constellation Sagittarius. It has the traditional name Ascella from a Late Latin word meaning armpit.... and σ Sigma Sagittarii Sigma Sagittarii is the second brightest star system in the constellation Sagittarius.Its modern name Nunki is an Assyrian or Babylonian name recovered by archaeologists and made public by R.H.Allen.... Sagittarii Sagittarius (constellation) Sagittarius is a constellation of the zodiac, the one containing the galactic center. Its name is Latin for the archer, and its symbol is , a stylized arrow. Sagittarius is commonly represented as a centaur drawing a bow... |
Visvedevas The Visvedevas are the various Vedic gods taken together as a whole. In the Rigveda a number of hymns are addressed to them, including 1.89,3.54-56,4.55,5.41-51,6.49-52,7.34-37, 39, 40, 42, 43,8.27-30, 58, 83... , universal gods |
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| 22; 20 | Abhijit "victorious" |
α, ε Epsilon Lyrae Epsilon Lyrae , also known as the Double Double, is a multiple star system approximately 162 light-years away in the constellation of Lyra.-Star System:... and ζ Lyrae - Vega Vega Vega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night sky and the second brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus... |
Lord: Brahma Brahma Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the... |
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| 23; 20 | Shravana Shravana Shravana is the 22nd nakshatra or lunar mansion as used in Hindu astronomy and astrology. It belongs to the constellation Makara or Capricorn.... |
α, β and γ Aquilae Aquila (constellation) Aquila is a stellar constellation. Its name is Latin for 'eagle' and it is commonly represented as such. In mythology, Aquila was owned by the Roman god Jupiter and performed many tasks for him.... |
Vishnu Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God.... , preserver of universe |
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| 24; 21; 23 | Shravishthā "most famous", also Dhanishta "swiftest" |
α Alpha Delphini Alpha Delphini is a multiple star in the constellation Delphinus. It also has the name Sualocin, which was given to it as a practical joke by the astronomer Niccolò Cacciatore; the name is the Latinized version of his given name, spelled backwards.In Chinese, , meaning Good Gourd, refers to an... to δ Delphini Delta Delphini Delta Delphini is a giant star in the constellation Delphinus.-References:*... |
Vasu In Hinduism, the Vasus are attendant deities of Indra, and later Vishnu. They are eight elemental gods representing aspects of nature, representing cosmic natural phenomenon. The name Vasu means 'Dweller' or 'Dwelling'... s, deities of earthly abundance |
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| 25; 22 | Shatabhisha Shatabhisha Shatabhisha, also known as Chathayam or Sadayam , or Shatabhishak or Shatataraka is the 24th nakshatra in Hindu astronomy. It corresponds to the star γ Aquarii... j "requiring a hundred physicians" |
γ Aquarii Gamma Aquarii Gamma Aquarii is a star in the constellation Aquarius. It has the traditional name Sadachbia, from an Arabic expression سعد الأخبية sa‘d al-’axbiyah "luck of the homes " in Hindu system it is also called Sadhabhisk in devnagari, sadhayam in tamil.In the catalogue of stars in the Calendarium of Al... |
Varuna In Vedic religion, Varuna is a god of the sky, of water and of the celestial ocean, as well as a god of law and of the underworld... , god of cosmic waters, sky and earth |
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| 26; 3 | Purva Bhadrapada Pūrva Bhādrapadā Pūrva Bhādrapadā is the twenty-fifth nakshatra in Hindu astrology, corresponding to α and β Pegasi.It is placed under the domain of Bṛhaspati, the deity represented by the planet Jupiter.... "the first of the blessed feet" |
α Alpha Pegasi Alpha Pegasi is the third brightest star in the constellation Pegasus and one of the four stars in the asterism known as the Great Square of Pegasus. It has the traditional name Markab .Markab is a relatively average star nearing the end of its stellar evolution on the main sequence... and β Beta Pegasi Beta Pegasi is a star in the constellation Pegasus. Its traditional name is Scheat, a name that has also been used for Delta Aquarii.... Pegasi Pegasus (constellation) Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations.-Stars:... |
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| 27; 4 | Uttara Bhādrapadā Uttara Bhadrapada Uttara Bhādrapadā or Uttṛṭṭāti is the twenty-sixth nakshatra in Hindu astrology, corresponding to γ Pegasi and α Andromedae.It is ruled by Shani, the deity identified with the planet Saturn.... "the second of the blessed feet" |
γ Gamma Pegasi Gamma Pegasi is a star in the constellation of Pegasus. It also has the traditional name Algenib; confusingly however, this name is also used for Alpha Persei.... Pegasi Pegasus (constellation) Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations.-Stars:... and α Alpha Andromedae Alpha Andromedae , which has the traditional names Alpheratz and Sirrah , is the brightest star in the constellation of Andromeda. Located immediately northeast of the constellation of Pegasus, it is the northeastern star of the Great Square of Pegasus... Andromedae Andromeda (constellation) Andromeda is a constellation in the northern sky. It is named after Andromeda, the princess in the Greek legend of Perseus who was chained to a rock to be eaten by the sea monster Cetus... |
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| 28; 5 | Revati Revati (nakshatra) Revati is the twenty-seventh nakshatra in Hindu astrology, corresponding to ζ Piscium.It is ruled by Puṣan,one of the 12 Ādityas... "prosperous" |
ζ Piscium Pisces (constellation) Pisces is a constellation of the zodiac. Its name is the Latin plural for fish, and its symbol is . It lies between Aquarius to the west and Aries to the east... |
Pushan Pushan is a Vedic solar deity and one of the Adityas. He is the god of meeting. Pushan was responsible for marriages, journeys, roads, and the feeding of cattle. He was a psychopomp, conducting souls to the other world. He protected travelers from bandits and wild beasts, and protected men from... , nourisher, the protective deity |
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Padas (quarters)
The 27 Nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the eclipticEcliptic
The ecliptic is the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun. In more accurate terms, it is the intersection of the celestial sphere with the ecliptic plane, which is the geometric plane containing the mean orbit of the Earth around the Sun...
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 |
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| 1 | Aśvini (अश्विनि)) | चु Chu | चे Che | चो Cho | ला La |
| 2 | Bharaṇī Bharani Bharani is the second nakshatra in Hindu astronomy, corresponding to 35, 39, and 41 Arietis. In Jyotiṣa, Bharani is ruled by Shukra .... (भरणी) |
ली Li | लू Lu | ले Le | पो Lo |
| 3 | Kṛttikā (कृत्तिका) | अ A | ई I | उ U | ए E |
| 4 | Rohini(रोहिणी) | ओ O | वा Va/Ba | वी Vi/Bi | वु Vu/Bu |
| 5 | Mṛgaśīrsha (म्रृगशीर्षा) | वे Ve/Be | वो Vo/Bo | का Ka | की Ke |
| 6 | Ārdrā Ardra Ardra may refer to:* Ardra is the Goddess of good luck and fortune in Hindu mythology, and a nakshatra associated with the star Betelgeuse in Indian astronomy... (आर्द्रा) |
कु Ku | घ Gha | ङ Ng/Na | छ Chha |
| 7 | Punarvasu Punarvasu Punarvasu is a Nakshatra in Hindu astrology, which refers to the two brightest stars in the constellation of Gemini: Castor and Pollux.In Malayalam Punarvasu is termed Punartham... (पुनर्वसु) |
के Ke | को Ko | हा Ha | ही Hi |
| 8 | Puṣya (पुष्य) | हु Hu | हे He | हो Ho | ड Da |
| 9 | Āshleṣā (आश्लेषा) | डी Di | डू Du | डे De | डो Do |
| 10 | Maghā Magha Magha may refer to:* Magha , a month in the Hindu calendar* Magh , the same month in the Bengali calendar* Magha , an 8th century Sanskrit poet, who wrote Shishupala-vadha... (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 Hasta -Sanskrit:*Hasta , a Sanskrit word meaning hand gesture or position*Hasta , a measure of length*the thirteenth Nakshatra of Hindu Astrology-Spanish:... (हस्त) |
पू Pu | ष Sha | ण Na | ठ Tha |
| 14 | Citrā Citra Citra may refer to:* Citra , a lemon flavoured soda sold in India in the late 1980s and early '90s, owned by the Parle group* Citra Awards, or Piala Citra, the annual awards for cinematic achievements in Indonesia... (चित्रा) |
पे Pe | पो Po | रा Ra | री Ri |
| 15 | Svātī Svati Svati is the Sanskrit name of Arcturus, and also of the nakshatra associated with Arcturus in Hindu astrology.... (स्वाति) |
रू Ru | रे Re | रो Ro | ता Ta |
| 16 | Viśākhā Visakha Viśākhā, also referred to as Migara's mother , was one of the chief female lay disciples of the Buddha. She became a stream-enterer and died at the age of 120.... (विशाखा) |
ती Ti | तू Tu | ते Te | तो To |
| 17 | Anurādhā Anuradha Anuradha may be:*A disciple and a cousin of Gautama Buddha, see Anuruddha*a lunar mansion in Hindu astrology, see Anuradha *a film, see Anuradha... (अनुराधा) |
ना Na | नी Ni | नू Nu | ने Ne |
| 18 | Jyeṣṭha (ज्येष्ठा) | नो No | या Ya | यी Yi | यू Yu |
| 19 | Mūla Mula (astrology) Mula is the 19th nakshatra or lunar mansion in Vedic astrology and corresponds to the stars ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, υ, λ, μ and ν Scorpii in the tail/sting of Scorpius. The symbol of Mula is a bunch of roots tied together or an 'elephant goad' and the Deity associated with it is Niriti, god of... (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 Sravana Sravana may refer to:* Shravana, a Hindu nakshatra* Shraavana, a month... (श्रावण) |
खी Ju/Khi | खू Je/Khu | खे Jo/Khe | खो Gha/Kho |
| 23 | Śrāviṣṭha (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhaniṣṭha | गा Ga | गी Gi | गु Gu | गे Ge |
| 24 | Śatabhiṣā (शतभिषा)or Śatataraka | गो Go | सा Sa | सी Si | सू Su |
| 25 | Pūrva Bhādrapadā Pūrva Bhādrapadā Pūrva Bhādrapadā is the twenty-fifth nakshatra in Hindu astrology, corresponding to α and β Pegasi.It is placed under the domain of Bṛhaspati, the deity represented by the planet Jupiter.... (पूर्वभाद्रपदा) |
से Se | सो So | दा Da | दी Di |
| 26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā Uttara Bhadrapada Uttara Bhādrapadā or Uttṛṭṭāti is the twenty-sixth nakshatra in Hindu astrology, corresponding to γ Pegasi and α Andromedae.It is ruled by Shani, the deity identified with the planet Saturn.... (उत्तरभाद्रपदा) |
दू Du | थ Tha | झ Jha | ञ Da/Tra |
| 27 | Revatī (nakṣatra) (रेवती) | दे De | दो Do | च Cha | ची Chi |
Hindu given names
Hindu astrologers (see JyotishaJyotisha
Hindu astrology , also Jyotish or Jyotisha, from Sanskrit , from "light, heavenly body") is the ancient Indian system of astronomy and astrology...
) teach that when a child is born, they should be given an auspicious first name which will correspond to the child's Nakshatra.
The 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 Moon remains in each Nakshatra for approximately one day.
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.
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 Phalguni, 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 (Chala , Chara) 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, Bharani, Purva Phalguni, Purva Shadha, & Purva 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 Ashvini.
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 Mula
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
- AtmakarakaAtmakarakaAtmakaraka Atmakaraka is the significator of the soul's desire in Jyotisha.-Overview:The natural Atmakaraka is the Sun in all natal charts. The personal Atmakaraka is the Chara Atmakaraka...
- NavagrahaNavagrahaGraha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
- PanchangamPanchangamA panchāngam is a Hindu astrological almanac, which follows traditional Indian cosmology, and presents important astronomical data in tabulated form. It is sometimes spelled Pancanga, Panchanga, Panchaanga, or Panchānga, and is pronounced Panchānga...
- GandantaGandantaGandanta Gandanta is a spiritual or karmic knot in Jyotisha. Gandanta describes the junction points in the natal chart where the solar and lunar zodiacs meet, and are directly associated with times of soul growth.-Overview:The Gandanta points are located at the junctions of Pisces and Aries ,...
- Chinese constellationChinese constellationChinese constellations are the way the ancient Chinese grouped the stars. They are very different from the modern IAU recognized constellations. This is because the IAU was based on Greco-Roman astronomy instead of Chinese astronomy....
- Twenty-eight mansionsTwenty-eight mansionsThe Twenty-eight Mansions , ', ' or ' are part of the Chinese constellations system. They can be considered as the equivalent to the zodiacal constellations in the Western astronomy, though the Twenty-eight Mansions reflect the movement of the Moon in a lunar month rather than the Sun in a solar year...