Nakshatra: Difference between revisions

'''Nakshatra''' ({{lang-sa| नक्षत्रम्|translit=Nakṣatram}}) is the term for [[lunarLunar mansion]] in [[Hindu astrology]] and Buddhist astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to a prominent star or [[asterism (astronomy)|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 the ''[[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]],. whichThis wouldtranslates beto Ashvinī, a part of the modern constellation of Aries,. and theseThese 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 "[[first point of Aries|start of Aries]]".<ref>

In classical Hindu scriptures (''[[Mahabharata]], [[Harivamsa]]''), the creation of the asterisms is attributed to [[Daksha]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moor |first=Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kJDAAAAYAAJ&dq=Daksha+Nakshatra&pg=PA291 |title=The Hindu Pantheon |date=1810 |publisher=J. Johnson |pages=291 |language=en}}</ref> The Nakshatras are personified as daughters of Daksha and as wives of [[Chandra]], the god of the Moon. When Chandra neglected his 26 other wives in favour of [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]], his father-in-law cursed him with leprosy and proclaimed that the Moon would wax and wane each month.<ref>{{Cite book |lastlast1=Coulter |firstfirst1=Charles Russell |url=https://books.google.co.incom/books?id=QEJUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA437&dq=Chandra+Daksha&hlpg=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiO4MDnopSFAxUI1DQHHZQTCYo4ChDoAXoECAMQAw#v=onepage&q=Chandra%20Daksha&f=falsePA437 |title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities |last2=Turner |first2=Patricia |date=2021-12-06 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-9179-7 |pages=437 |language=en}}</ref> The Nakshatras are also alternatively described to beas the daughters of [[Kashyapa]].

This 27&nbsp;-day time cycle has been taken to mean a particular group of stars. The relationship to the stars reallyThis has to do with the periodicity with which the Moon travels over time and through space past the fieldspecific ofstar the specific starsfields called nakshatras. Hence, the stars are more like numbers on a clock, through which the hands of time pass (the moon) pass. This concept is described by J. Mercay (2012) in connection with ''[[Surya Siddhanta]]''.<ref name="mercay">

||'''[[Ashvini|Aśvini]]'''<br/>"The Horsemen"

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Ashvins]], the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods

*''Indian zodiac'': 0° – 13°20′ MeshaAries

||'''[[Bharani]]'''<br/>"theThe bearerBearer"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Shukra]] ([[Venus]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Yama]], [[god of death]] orand [[Dharma]]

*''Indian zodiac'': 13° 20′ – 26°40′ MeshaAries

||'''[[Krittika|Kṛttikā]]'''<br/>an"To old name of the Pleiades; personified as the nurses of ''Kārttikeya'', a son of Shiva.Cut"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Surya]] ([[Solar deity|Sun]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Agni]], god of fire

*''Indian zodiac'': 26°40′ MeshaAries – 10° VrishabhaTaurus

||'''[[Rohini (nakshatra)|Rohiṇi]]'''<br>"theRadiant red oneMaiden", a name of [[Aldebaran]]. Also known as ''brāhmī''

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Chandra]] ([[Moon]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Prajapati]], rigvedic form of [[Brahma]] - [[Creator deity|the Creator]]

*''Indian zodiac'': 10° – 23°20′ VrishabhaTaurus

||'''[[Mrigashīrsha|Mṛgaśīrā]]'''<br/>"theThe deerDeer's headHead". Also known as ''āgrahāyaṇī''

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Mangala]] ([[Mars]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Soma (deity)|Soma]], [[Chandra]], the Moonmoon god

*''Indian zodiac'': 23° 20′ VrishabhaTaurus – 6° 40′ MithunaGemini

||'''[[Ardra Nakshatra|Ārdrā]]'''<br/>"theThe moistMoist oneOne"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Rahu]] (North lunar node)

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Rudra]], therigvedic stormfierce form of [[Shiva]] god

*''Indian zodiac'': 6° 40′ – 20° MithunaGemini

||'''[[Punarvasu]]''' (dual)<br/>"theReturn two restorers of goods", also known as ''yamakau'' "theOf twoThe chariotsLight"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Bṛhaspati|Guru]] ([[Jupiter]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Bhūmi|Aditi]], mothergoddess ofrepresenting the godsinfinity and the mother of [[Adityas]]

*''Indian zodiac'': 20° MithunaGemini – 3°20′ KarkaCancer

||'''[[Pushya|Puṣya]]/Tishya'''<br/>"theThe nourisherNourisher", also known as ''sidhya'' or ''tiṣya''

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Shani]] ([[Saturn]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Bṛhaspati]], priestcounsellor of the gods

*''Indian zodiac'': 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ KarkaCancer

||'''[[Āshleshā|Āśleṣā]]'''<br/>"theThe embraceEmbrace"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Budha]] ([[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]])

*''Indian zodiac'': 16° 40′ – 30° KarkaCancer

||'''[[Maghā]]'''<br/>"theThe bountifulMighty"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]] (South lunar node)

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Pitrs]], 'The Fathers', family ancestors

*''Indian zodiac'': 0° – 13° 20′ SimhaLeo

||'''[[Purva Phalguni (Nakshatra)|Pūrva Phalgunī]]'''<br>"firstThe reddishFormer oneReddish One"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Shukra]] ([[Venus]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[AryamanBhaga]], god of marital bliss and prosperity

*''Indian zodiac'': 13° 20′ – 26°40′ SimhaLeo

||'''[[#List of Nakshatras|Uttara Phalgunī]]'''<br/>"secondThe reddishLatter oneReddish One"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Surya]] ([[Solar deity|Sun]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[BhagaAryaman]], god of patronage and favours

*''Indian zodiac'': 26° 40′ SimhaLeo - 10° KanyaVirgo

||'''[[Hasta (nakshatra)|Hasta]]'''<br/>"theThe handHand"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Chandra]] ([[Moon]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Savitr]], the Sunsun god

*''Indian zodiac'': 10° – 23° 20′ KanyaVirgo

||'''[[Chitra (nakshatra)|Chitrā]]'''<br/>"theThe brightBright oneOne", a name of Spica

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Mangala]] ([[Mars]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Tvastar]], /[[Vishvakarman|Vishwakarma]], artisan god

*''Indian zodiac'': 23° 20′ KanyaVirgo – 6° 40′ TulaLibra

||'''[[Svati|Svātī]]'''<br/>"Su-AtiThe (Sanskrit)Independent Very goodOne" name of Arcturus

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Rahu]] (North lunar node)

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Vayu]], the Windwind god

*''Indian zodiac'': 6° 40′ – 20° TulaLibra

||'''[[Vishākhā|Viśākhā]]'''<br/>"forked,Branching having branchesOut";

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Bṛhaspati|Guru]] ([[Jupiter]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Indra]], chiefking of the gods;[[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] and god of thunder, storms, and lightning, and [[Agni]], god of Fire - representing the duality of water and fire

*''Indian zodiac'': 20° TulaLibra – 3° 20′ VrishchikaScorpio

||'''[[Anuradha (nakshatra)|Anurādhā]]'''<br/> "followingFollowing ''Indra[[Radha]]''"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Shani]] ([[Saturn]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]], one of Adityas of friendship and partnership

*''Indian zodiac'': 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ VrishchikaScorpio

||'''[[Jyeshtha (nakshatra)|Jyeṣṭha]]'''<br/> "theThe eldest, most excellentEldest"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Budha]] ([[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Indra]], chiefking of the gods[[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]]

*''Indian zodiac'': 16° 40′ – 30° VrishchikaScorpio

||'''[[Mula (astrology)|Mūlā]]'''<br/>"theThe rootRoot"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]] (South lunar node)

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Nirṛti (goddess)|Nirrti]], goddess personifying death, decay, sorrow, as well as the peak of material achievement and the beginning of the spiritual impulse

*''Indian zodiac'': 0° – 13° 20′ DhanusSagittarius

||'''[[Purva Ashadha|Pūrva Āṣāḍhā]]'''<br/>"firstThe ofFormer the ''aṣāḍhā''Unconquered", ''aṣāḍhā'' "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Shukra]] ([[Venus]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Ap (water)|Apah]], god of Water

*''Indian zodiac'': 13° 20′ – 26° 40′ DhanusSagittarius

||'''[[Uttara Ashadha|Uttara Āṣāḍhā]]'''<br/>"LaterThe Latter invincibleUnconquered"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Surya]] ([[Solar deity|Sun]])

*''Indian zodiac'': 26° 40′ Dhanus –Sagittarius– 10° MakaraCapricorn

||'''[[Abhijit (nakshatra)|Abhijit]]'''<br/>"The Invincible"

*''Astrological Mateleader and Deity'': [[Brahma]]

*''Indian zodiac'': 6° 40′ Makara – 10° 53′ MakaraCapricorn

| 2322

||'''[[Shravana|Śravaṇa]]'''<br/> "To Hear"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Chandra]] ([[Moon]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Vishnu]], preserver of universe

*''Indian zodiac'': 10° – 23° 20′ MakaraCapricorn

| 2423

||'''[[Dhanishta|Dhaniṣṭhā]]''' <br/>"most famousWealthiest", also ''Shravishthā'' "swiftest"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Mangala]] ([[Mars]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': Eight [[vasuVasus]]s, deitiesgroup of eight deities associated with fire and light signifying earthly abundance

*''Indian zodiac'': 23° 20′ MakaraCapricorn – 6° 40′ KumbhaAquarius

| 2524

||'''[[Shatabhisha|Śatabhiṣa]]'''<br/>"ComprisingA aHundred hundred physiciansPhysicians"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Rahu]] (North lunar node)

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Varuna]], god of celestial waters

*''Indian zodiac'': 6° 40′ – 20° KumbhaAquarius

| 2625

||'''[[Purva Bhadrapada|Pūrva Bhādrapada]]'''<br/>"theThe firstFormer ofBlessed the blessed feetFeet"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Bṛhaspati|Guru]] ([[Jupiter]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Ekapada|Ajaikapada]], anone-footed ancientaspect fireof dragon{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}[[Shiva]]

*''Indian zodiac'': 20° KumbhaAquarius – 3° 20′ MeenaPisces

| 2726

||'''[[Uttara Bhādrapadā|Uttara Bhādrapada]]'''<br/>"theThe secondLatter ofBlessed the blessed feetFeet"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Shani]] ([[Saturn]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Ahirbudhnya Samhita|Ahirbudhnya]], serpent or dragon of the deep

*''Indian zodiac'': 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ MeenaPisces

| 2827

||'''[[Revati (nakshatra)|Revatī]]'''<br/> "prosperousProsperous"

*''Astrological Mateleader'': [[Budha]] ([[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]])

*''Rigvedic nameDeity'': [[Pushan]], nourisher, and the protective[[psychopomp]] deity

*''Indian zodiac'': 16° 40′ – 30° MeenaPisces