List of Nakshatras
In Hindu astrology, there are 27 nakshatras ("lunar mansions", Sanskrit: नक्षत्र, IAST: Nakṣatra), or sectors along the ecliptic. A list of them is first found in the Vedanga Jyotisha, a text dated to the final centuries BCE. The Nakṣatra system predates the influence of Hellenistic astronomy on Vedic tradition, which became prevalent from about the 2nd century CE. There are various systems of enumerating the Nakṣatra-s; although there are 27-28 days to a sidereal month, by custom only 27 days are used. The following list gives the corresponding regions of sky.[1]
Nakshatras
No. | Name | Associated stars | Description | Image |
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1 | Ashvini "physician to the Gods" |
β and γ Arietis |
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2 | Bharani "the bearer" |
35, 39, and 41 Arietis |
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3 | Krittika an old name of the Pleiades; personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva. |
Pleiades | ||
4 | Rohini "the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī |
Aldebaran |
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5 | Mrigashīrsha "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī |
λ, φ Orionis | ||
6 | Ardra "the storm god" |
Betelgeuse |
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7 | Punarvasu (dual) "the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots" |
Castor and Pollux |
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8 | Pushya "the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya |
γ, δ and θ Cancri | ||
9 | Āshleshā "the embrace" |
δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae |
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10 | Maghā "the bountiful" |
Regulus |
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11 | Pūrva Phalgunī "first reddish one" |
δ and θ Leonis |
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12 | Uttara Phalgunī "second reddish one" |
Denebola |
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13 | Hasta "the hand" |
α, β, γ, δ and ε Corvi | ||
14 | Chitra "the bright one", a name of Spica |
Spica |
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15 | Swāti "Su-Ati (sanskrit) Very good" name of Arcturus |
Arcturus |
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16 | Vishakha "forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift" |
α, β, γ and ι Librae | ||
17 | Anuradha (nakshatra) / Anusham Anuradha "following rādhā" |
β, δ and π Scorpionis |
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18 | Jyeshtha "the eldest, most excellent" |
α, σ, and τ Scorpionis |
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19 | Mula "the root" |
ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis |
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20 | Purva Ashadha "first of the āṣāḍhā", āṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation |
δ and ε Sagittarii |
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21 | Uttara Ashadha "second of the āṣāḍhā" |
ζ and σ Sagittarii |
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22 | Sravana |
α, β and γ Aquilae |
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23 | Dhanishta "most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest" |
α to δ Delphini |
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24 | Shatabhisha "requiring a hundred physicians" |
γ Aquarii |
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25 | Purva Bhadrapada "the first of the blessed feet" |
α and β Pegasi |
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26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā "the second of the blessed feet" |
γ Pegasi and α Andromedae |
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27 | Revati "prosperous" |
ζ Piscium |
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28 | Abhijit "victorious"[2] |
α, ε and ζ Lyrae - Vega | Lord: Brahma (creator)
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Abhijit is not considered as a Nakshatra anymore
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 |
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1 | Ashwini (अश्विनि) | चु Chu | चे Che | चो Cho | ला Laa |
2 | Bharani (भरणी) | ली Lii | लू Luu | ले Le | लो Lo |
3 | Krittika (कृत्तिका) | अ A | ई I | उ U | ए E |
4 | Rohini(रोहिणी) | ओ O | वा Vaa/Baa | वी Vii/Bii | वु Vuu/Buu |
5 | Mrigashīrsha(मृगशीर्ष) | वे Ve/Be | वो Vo/Bo | का Kaa | की Kii |
6 | Ārdrā (आर्द्रा) | कु Ku | घ Gha | ङ Ng/Na | छ Chha |
7 | Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु) | के Ke | को Ko | हा Haa | ही Hii |
8 | Pushya (पुष्य) | हु Hu | हे He | हो Ho | ड ḍa |
9 | Āshleshā (अश्लेषा) | डी ḍii | डू ḍuu | डे ḍe | डो ḍo |
10 | Maghā (मघा) | मा Maa | मी Mii | मू Muu | मे Me |
11 | Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī (पूर्व फल्गुनी) | मो Mo | टा ṭaa | टी ṭii | टू ṭuu |
12 | Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī (उत्तर फल्गुनी) | टे ṭe | टो ṭo | पा Paa | पी Pii |
13 | Hasta (हस्त) | पू Puu | ष Sha | ण Na | ठ ṭha |
14 | Chitra (चित्रा) | पे Pe | पो Po | रा Raa | री Rii |
15 | Svātī (स्वाति) | रू Ruu | रे Re | रो Ro | ता Taa |
16 | Viśākhā (विशाखा) | ती Tii | तू Tuu | ते Te | तो To |
17 | Anurādhā (अनुराधा) | ना Naa | नी Nii | नू Nuu | ने Ne |
18 | Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठा) | नो No | या Yaa | यी Yii | यू Yuu |
19 | Mula (मूल) | ये Ye | यो Yo | भा Bhaa | भी Bhii |
20 | Pūrva Āshādhā (पूर्व आषाढ़) | भू Bhuu | धा Dhaa | फा Bhaa/Phaa | ढा Daa |
21 | Uttara Āṣāḍhā (उत्तर आषाढ़) | भे Bhe | भो Bho | जा Jaa | जी Jii |
22 | Śrāvaṇa (श्रावण) | खी Ju/Khii | खू Je/Khuu | खे Jo/Khe | खो Gha/Kho |
23 | Śrāviṣṭha (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhanishta | गा Gaa | गी Gii | गु Gu | गे Ge |
24 | Shatabhisha (शतभिषा)or Śatataraka | गो Go | सा Saa | सी Sii | सू Suu |
25 | Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्व भाद्रपद) | से Se | सो So | दा Daa | दी Dii |
26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तर भाद्रपद) | दू Duu | थ Tha | झ Jha | ञ ña |
27 | Revati (रेवती) | दे De | दो Do | च Cha | ची Chii |
Names in Indian and Asian 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 | Odia ଓଡିଆ | Malayalam മലയാളം | Tamil தமிழ் | Sinhala සිoහල | Dhivehi ދިވެހި | Telugu తెలుగు | Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ | Bengali বাংলা | Mongolian | Chinese 宿 | Tibetan བོད་སྐད། རྒྱུ་སྐར་ཉེ་བདུན། | |
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1 | Ashvinī अश्विनी | Aswini ଅଶ୍ଵିନୀ | Ashvati അശ്വതി | Ashwini அசுவினி | Aswida අස්විද | A'sidha އައްސިދަ | Aswini అశ్విని | Ashwini ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ | Ashwini অশ্বিনী | Шийдэм | 婁 | ཐ་སྐར། | |
2 | Bharanī भरणी | Dwijaa ଦ୍ଵିଜା | Bharaṇi ഭരണി | Baraṇi பரணி | Berana බෙරණ | Burunu ބުރުނު | Bharani భరణి | Bharani ಭರಣಿ | Bharaṇi ভরণী | Гоё хүүхэн | 胃 | བྲ་ཉེ། | |
3 | Krittikā कृत्तिका | Krutikaa କୃତିକା | Kārttika കാർത്തിക | Kārthikai கார்த்திகை | Kethi කැති | Kethi ކެތި | Kritika కృత్తిక | Kritika ಕೃತಿಕ | Krittika কৃত্তিকা | Нэг эхт зургаан хөвгүүн | 昴 | སྨིན་དྲུག | |
4 | Rohini रोहिणी | Rohini ରୋହିଣୀ | Rōhiṇi രോഹിണി | Rōhiṇi ரோகிணி | Rehena රෙහෙණ | Roanu ރޯނު | Rohini రోహిణి | Rohini ರೋಹಿಣಿ | Rohiṇi রোহিণী | Чөлөөт эх | 畢 | སྣར་མ། | |
5 | Mrigashīrsha म्रृगशीर्षा | Mrugasiraa ମୃଗଶିରା | Makayiram മകയിരം | Mirugasīridam மிருகசீரிடம் | Muwasirasa මුවසිරස | Miyaheli މިޔަހެލި | Mrigasiraa మృగశిర | Mrigashira ಮೃಗಶಿರ | Mrigashira মৃগশিরা | Гөрөөсөн толгой | 觜 | མགོ | |
6 | Ārdrā आर्द्रा | Adra ଆଦ୍ରା | Ātira or Tiruvātira ആതിര (തിരുവാതിര) | Thiruvādhirai திருவாதிரை | Ada අද | Adha އަދަ | Arudra ఆరుద్ర | Ardra ಆರ್ದ್ರ | Ardra আর্দ্রা | Хэрцгий охин | 參 | ལག | |
7 | Punarvasu पुनर्वसु | punarbasu ପୁନର୍ବସୁ | Puṇartam പുണർതം | Punarpoosam புனர்பூசம் | Punavasa පුනාවස | Funoas ފުނޯސް | Punarvasu పునర్వసు | Punarvasu ಪುನರ್ವಸು | Punarbasu পুনর্বসু | Өглөгт охин | 井 | ནབས་སོ། | |
8 | Pushya पुष्य | Pushyaa ପୁଷ୍ୟା | Pūyam പൂയം | Poosam பூசம் | Pusha පුෂ | Fus ފުސް | Pushya పుష్య | Pushyami ಪುಷ್ಯ | Pushya পুষ্যা | Найралт эх | 鬼 | རྒྱལ། | |
9 | Āshleshā आश्ळेषा / आश्लेषा | Ashleshaa ଆଶ୍ଳେଷା | Āyilyam ആയില്യം | Ayilyam ஆயில்யம் | Aslisa අස්ලිස | Ahuliha އަހުލިހަ | Ashlesha ఆశ్లేష | Ashlesha ಆಶ್ಲೇಷ | Ashleshā অশ্লেষা | Үнэг | 柳 | སྐག | |
10 | Maghā मघा | Magaa ମଘା | Makam മകം | Magam மகம் | Maa මා | Maa މާ | Maghaa మఘ | Magha ಮಘ | Magha মঘা | Их морь | 星 | མཆུ། | |
11 | Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī पूर्व फल्गुनी | Purba Falguni ପୂର୍ବ ଫାଲ୍ଗୁନୀ | Pūram പൂരം | Pooram பூரம் | Puwapal පුවපල් | Fura ފުރަ | Pubba పూర్వ ఫల్గుని | Poorva ಪೂರ್ವ | Purbaphālguni পূর্বফাল্গুনী | Бага морь | 張 | གྲེ། | |
12 | Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī उत्तर फल्गुनी | Uttara falguni ଉତ୍ତର ଫାଲ୍ଗୁନୀ | Utram ഉത്രം | Uthiram உத்திரம் | Uttrapal උත්රපල් | Uthura އުތުރަ | Uttara ఉత్తర ఫల్గుని | Uttara ಉತ್ತರ | Uttar Phālguni উত্তরফাল্গুনী | Харцага | 翼 | དབོ། | |
13 | Hasta हस्त | Hastaa ହସ୍ତା | Attam അത്തം | Ashtham அசுதம் | Hatha හත | Atha އަތަ | Hasta హస్త | Hastaa ಹಸ್ತ | Hastā হস্তা | Тугчин | 軫 | མེ་བཞི། | |
14 | Chitrā चित्रा | Chitraa ଚିତ୍ରା | Chittira ചിത്തിര (ചിത്ര) | Chithirai சித்திரை | Sitha සිත | Hitha ހިތަ | Chittaa చిత్త | Chitra ಚಿತ್ರ | Chitrā চিত্রা | Тэргүүн дагуул | 角 | ནག་པ། | |
15 | Svātī स्वाती | Swati ସ୍ଵାତୀ | Chōti ചോതി | Swathi சுவாதி | Saa සා | Hey ހޭ | Swaati స్వాతి | Swathi ಸ್ವಾತಿ | Swāti স্বাতী | Салхины эх | 亢 | ས་རི། | |
16 | Vishākhā विशाखा | Bishakha ବିଶାଖା | Vishākham വിശാഖം | Visakam விசாகம் | Wisa විසා | Vihaa ވިހާ | Vishaakha విశాఖ | Vishakha ವಿಶಾಖ | Bishakha বিশাখা | Эрхтний тэнгэрт | 氐 | ས་ག | |
17 | Anurādhā अनुराधा | Anuradha ଅନୁରାଧା | Anizham അനിഴം | Anusham அனுசம் | Anura අනුර | Nora ނޮރަ | Anuraadha అనురాధ | Anuradha ಅನುರಾಧಾ | Anuradha অনুরাধা | Гар од | 房 | ལྷ་མཚམས། | |
18 | Jyeshtha ज्येष्ठा | Jyosthaa ଜ୍ୟୋଷ୍ଠା | Kēṭṭa (Trikkēṭṭa) തൃക്കേട്ട | Kettai கேட்டை | Deta දෙට | Dhosha ދޮށަ | Jyesthaa జ్యేష్ఠ | Jyestha ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ | Jyestha জ্যেষ্ঠা | Хонгорцог | 心 | སྣྲོན། | |
19 | Mūla मूल | Mulaa ମୂଳା | Mūlam മൂലം | Mūlam மூலம் | Moola මුල | Mula މުލަ | Moolaa మూల | Moola ಮೂಲ | Mula মূলা | Онгоц | 尾 | སྣུབས། | |
20 | Pūrva Ashādhā पूर्वाषाढा | Purbasaadhaa ପୂର୍ବାଷାଢା | Pūrāṭam പൂരാടം | Pūradam பூராடம் | Puwasala පුවසල | Furahalha ފުރަހަޅަ | Poorvashaadha పూర్వాషాడ | Poorvashadha ಪುರ್ವಾಷಾಡ | Poorbashada পূর্বাষাঢ়া | Суулга | 箕 | ཆུ་སྟོད། | |
21 | Uttara Ashādhā उत्तराषाढा | Uttarasaadha ଉତ୍ତରଷାଢା | Utrāṭam ഉത്രാടം | Uthirādam உத்திராடம் | Uttrasala උත්රසල | Uthurahalha އުތުރަހަޅަ | Uttarashaadha ఉత్తరాషాడ | Uttarashadha ಉತ್ತರಾಷಾಡ | Uttarashada]] উত্তরাষাঢ়া | Элдэв тэнгэртэн | 斗 | ཆུ་སྨད། | |
22 | Shravana श्रवण | Sravana ଶ୍ରବଣା | Tiruvōnam ഓണം (തിരുവോണം) | Tiruvōnam திருவோணம் | Suvana සුවණ | Huvan ހުވަން | Shravana శ్రవణ | Shravana ಶ್ರವಣ | Shraban শ্রবণা | Булаагч/Яруу эгшигт | 女 | གྲོ་བཞིན། | |
23 | Shravishthā or Dhanishta श्रविष्ठा or धनिष्ठा | Dhanishathaa ଧନିଷ୍ଠା | Aviṭṭam അവിട്ടം | Aviṭṭam அவிட்டம் | Denata දෙණට | Dhinasha ދިނަށަ | Dhanishta ధనిష్ఠ | Dhanishta ಧನಿಷ್ಠ | Dhanishta ধনিষ্ঠা | Тооно | 虛 | མོན་གྲེ། | |
24 | Shatabhishā or Shatataraka शतभिषक् / शततारका | Satavisaa ସତଭିଷା | Chatayam ചതയം | Sadayam சதயம் | Siyawasa සියාවස | Hiyavihaa ހިޔަވިހާ | Shatabhisha శతభిష | Shatabhisha ಶತಭಿಷ | Shatabhisha শতভিষা | Чөдөр | 危 | མོན་གྲུ | |
25 | Pūrva Bhādrapadā पूर्वभाद्रपदा / पूर्वप्रोष्ठपदा | Purba vadrapada ପୂର୍ବଭାଦ୍ରପଦ | Pūruruṭṭāti പൂരുരുട്ടാതി | Pūraṭṭādhi பூரட்டாதி | Puvaputupa පුවපුටුප | Furabadhuruva ފުރަބަދުރުވަ | Poorvabhadraa పూర్వ భాద్రపద | Poorva Bhadrapada ಪೂರ್ವ ಭಾದ್ರಪದ | Poorbabhadra পূর্বভাদ্রপদ | Шувуун хошуут | 室 | ཁྲུམས་སྟོད། | |
26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā उत्तरभाद्रपदा / उत्तरप्रोष्ठपदा | Uttara vadrapada ଉତ୍ତରାଭାଦ୍ରପଦ | Uttṛṭṭāti ഉത്രട്ടാതി | Uttṛṭṭādhi உத்திரட்டாதி | Uttraputupa උත්රපුටුප | Fasbadhuruva ފަސްބަދުރުވަ | Uttaraa bhadra ఉత్తర భాద్రపద | Uttara Bhadrapada ಉತ್ತರ ಭಾದ್ರಪದ | Uttarbabhadra উত্তরভাদ্রপদ | Могой хүлэгч | 壁 | ཁྲུམས་སྨད། | |
27 | Revati रेवती | Revati ରେବତୀ | Rēvati രേവതി | Rēvathi ரேவதி | Revathi රේවතී | Reyva ރޭވަ | Revati రేవతి | Revati ರೇವತಿ | Rebati রেবতী | Дэлгэрүүлэгч | 奎 | ནམ་གྲུ། |
References
- Basham, Arthur Llewellyn (1954). "Appendix II: Astronomy". The Wonder That Was India. Sidgwick and Jackson. p. 490.
- 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.