Nakshatras are prominently studied in Jyotish (Indian Vedic Astrology), and have an important occult and practical impact on the overall natal chart interpretation.
Some of the earliest records of stars are those of ancient India in the Vedanga Jyotisha, and the Babylonians.
The Nakṣhatra system predates the influence of Hellenistic astronomy on Vedic tradition.
Different cultures identified different constellations, although Orion and Scorpius were recurrent.
In essence, a nakshatra simply is a constellation.
Hence, the stars are like numbers on a clock, through which the hands of time (The Moon) travels, along the ecliptic, past the specific star fields called nakshatras in a 27-day cycle. This concept is described in connection with the Surya Siddhanta.
The 27 Nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the ecliptic each. Each Nakshatra is also divided into quarters or padas (“steps/parts”) of 3°20’.
The 4 padas multiplied by 27 give 108, indicating all the elements of Vishnu.
There are various systems of enumerating the nakshatras and although there are 27-28 days to a sidereal month, by custom only 27 days are used.
In ancient times, there were 28 nakshatras, but some Indian sages later dropped Abhijit to reduce the number to 27. The Chinese, however, retained all 28 lunar mansions.
Abhijit is the 22nd lunar mansion and the name means “the victorious one”.
According to traditional beliefs, it is not necessarily a separate nakshatra per se, but rather a division within the sidereal Capricorn sign.
Abhijit is also the Sanskrit name for Vega, the brightest star in the constellation of Lyra. Although now is rarely considered by astrologers, it might still be mentioned.
The starting point for the Nakshatras according to the Vedas is “Krittika”, because the Pleiades may have started the year at the time the Vedas were compiled.
More recently the start of the nakshatras is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the star Spica, called Chitrā in Sanskrit.
So the starting point is now Ashwinī, a part of the modern constellation of Aries.
Here is a list of the 27 Nakshatras:
1 Ashwini, “physician to the Gods”.
In the constellation of Aries
Lord: Ketu (South lunar node)
Symbol: Horse’s head
Deity: Ashwins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods.
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Mesha
2 Bharani, “the bearer”.
In the constellation of Aries.
Lord: Shukra (Venus)
Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction
Deity: Yama, god of death or Dharma
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Mesha
3 Krittika, an old name of the Pleiades, personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva.
Lord: Surya (The Sun)
Symbol: Knife or spear
Deity: Agni, god of fire
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Mesha
4 Rohini, “the red one”, a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī.
Lord: Chandra (The Moon)
Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree
Deity: Brahma or Prajapati, the Creator
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Vrishabha
5 Mrigashira, “the deer’s head”. Also known as āgrahāyaṇī. In the constellation of Orion.
Lord: Mangal (Mars)
Symbol: Deer’s head
Deity: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Vrishabha – Mithuna
6 Ardra, “the storm god”. Betelgeuse.
Lord: Rahu (North lunar node)
Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head
Deity: Rudra, the storm god
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Mithuna
7 Punarvasu, “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 (sidereal) zodiac: Mithuna – Karka
8 Pushya, “the nourisher”, also known as sidhya or tiṣya.
In the constellation of Cancer.
Lord: Shani (Saturn)
Symbol: Cow’s udder, lotus, arrow and circle
Deity: Bṛhaspati, priest of the Gods
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Karka
9 Ashlesha, “the embrace”.
In the constellation of Hydra.
Lord: Budh (Mercury)
Symbol: Serpent
Deity: Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Karka
10 Magha, “the bountiful”. Regulus.
Lord: Ketu (south lunar node)
Symbol: Royal Throne
Deity: Pitris, ‘The Fathers’, family ancestors
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Simha
11 Purva Phalguni, “first reddish one”.
In the constellation of Leo.
Lord: Shukra (Venus)
Symbol: Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree
Deity: Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Simha
12 Uttara Phalguni, “second reddish one”. Denebola.
Lord: Surya (The Sun)
Symbol: Rear legs of bed, hammock
Deity: Aryaman, god of patronage and favours
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Simha – Kanya
13 Hasta, “the hand”.
In the constellation of Corvus.
Lord: Chandra (The Moon)
Symbol: Hand or fist
Deity: Savitri or Surya, the Sun god
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Kanya
14 Chitra, “the bright one”, a name of Spica.
Lord: Mangal (Mars)
Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl
Deity: Tvastar or Vishvakarman, the celestial architect
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Kanya – Tula
15 Swati, “Su-Ati” meaning “Very good” in Sanskrit, name of Arcturus.
Lord: Rahu (north lunar node)
Symbol: Shoot of a plant, coral
Deity: Vayu, the Wind god
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Tula
16 Vishaka, “forked, having branches”; also known as rādhā, “the gift”.
In the constellation of Libra.
Lord: Guru (Jupiter)
Symbol: Triumphal archway, potter’s wheel
Deity: Indra, chief of the gods; Agni, god of Fire
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Tula – Vrishchika
17 Anuradha, “following rādhā“.
In the constellation of Scorpius.
Lord: Shani (Saturn)
Symbol: Triumphal archway, lotus
Deity: Mitra, one of the Adityas (celestial deities) of friendship and partnership
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Vrishchika
18 Jyeshta, “the eldest, most excellent”.
In the constellation of Scorpius.
Lord: Budh (Mercury)
Symbol: circular amulet, umbrella, earring
Deity: Indra, chief of the gods
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Vrishchika
19 Mula, “the root”.
In the constellation of Scorpius.
Lord: Ketu (south lunar node)
Symbol: Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad (ankusha)
Deity: Nirrti, Goddess of dissolution and destruction
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Dhanus
20 Purva Ashadha, “first of the āṣāḍhā“, “the invincible one”.
In the constellation of Sagittarius.
Lord: Shukra (Venus)
Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket
Deity: Apah, god of Water
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Dhanus
21 Uttara Ashadha, “Later invincible”
In the constellation of Sagittarius.
Lord: Surya (The Sun)
Symbol: Elephant tusk, small bed
Deity: Visvedevas (Universal Gods)
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Dhanus – Makara
22 Shravana, “hearing” or “listening”
In the constellation of Aquila.
Lord: Chandra (The Moon)
Symbol: Ear or Three Footprints
Deity: Vishnu (Preserver of the Universe)
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Makara
23 Dhanishta, “most famous”, also Shravishthā “swiftest”.
In the constellation of Delphinus.
Lord: Mangal (Mars)
Symbol: Drum or flute
Deity: Eight vasus (Deities of earthly abundance)
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Makara – Kumbha
24 Shatabhishak, “requiring a hundred physicians”.
In the constellation of Aquarius.
Lord: Rahu (north lunar node)
Symbol: Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars
Deity: Varuna, god of cosmic waters, sky and earth
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Kumbha
25 Purva Bhadrapada, “the first of the blessed feet”.
In the constellation of Pegasus.
Lord: Guru (Jupiter)
Symbol: Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces
Deity: Ajaikapada, one-footed aspect of Shiva
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Kumbha – Meena
26 Uttara Bhadrapada, “the second of the blessed feet”.
In the constellation of Andromeda.
Lord: Shani (Saturn)
Symbol: Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water
Deity: Ahirbudhnya, serpent or dragon of the deep
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Meena
27 Revati, “prosperous”.
In the constellation of Pisces.
Lord: Budh (Mercury)
Symbol: Fish or a pair of fish, drum
Deity: Pushan, nourisher, the protective Deity
Indian (sidereal) zodiac: Meena
This was a brief list of the 27 Nakshatras (constellations) in Jyotish, Indian Vedic Astrology.
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Video version here:
Nakshatras, the 27 Lunar Mansions in Jyotish – Indian Vedic Astrology – An Introduction
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Links and References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakshatra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nakshatras
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhijit_(nakshatra)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterism_(astronomy)
https://www.astroved.com/astropedia/en/nakshatra
Pics:
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