Nakshatra

In the Atharvaveda (Shaunakiya recension, hymn 19.7) a list of 28 stars or asterisms is given, many of them corresponding to the later nakshatras:[3]

This 27-day time cycle has been taken to mean a particular group of stars. The relationship to the stars really has to do with the periodicity with which the Moon travels over time and through space past the field of the specific stars called nakshatras. Hence, the stars are more like numbers on a clock through which the hands of time pass (the moon). This concept is also described by Dr. Jessie Mercay in her research on Surya Siddhanta.[4]

In Hindu astronomy, there was an older tradition of 28 Nakshatras which were used as celestial markers in the heavens. When these were mapped into equal divisions of the ecliptic, a division of 27 portions was adopted since that resulted in a cleaner definition of each portion (i.e. segment) subtending 13° 20′ (as opposed to 12° ​51 ³⁄₇′ in the case of 28 segments). In the process, the Nakshatra Abhijit was left out without a portion.[5]^:179 However the Abhijit nakshatra becomes important while deciding on the timing of an auspicious event. The Surya Siddhantha concisely specifies the coordinates of the twenty seven Nakshatras.[5]^:211

It is noted above that with the older tradition of 28 Nakshatras each equal segment would subtend 12.85 degrees or 12° 51′. But the 28 Nakshatra were chosen at a time when the Vedic month was recognised as having exactly 30 days. In India and China the original 28 lunar mansions were not equal. Weixing Nui provides a list of the extent of the original 28 Nakshatras expressed in Muhurtas (with one Muhurta = 48 minutes of arc). Hindu texts note there were 16 Nakshatras of 30 Muhurtas, 6 of 45 Muhurtas, 5 of 15 Muhurtas and one of 6 Muhurtas.

The 28 mansions of the 360° lunar zodiac total 831 Muhurtas or 27.7 days. This is sometimes described as an inaccurate estimate of our modern sidereal period of 27.3 days, but using the ancient Indian calendar with Vedic months of 30 days and a daily movement of the Moon of 13 degrees, this early designation of a sidereal month of 831 Muhurtas or 27.7 days is very precise.[lower-alpha 1][6] Later some Indian savants dropped the Nakshatra named Abhijit to reduce the number of divisions to 27, but the Chinese retained all of their original 28 lunar mansions. These were grouped into four equal quarters which would have been fundamentally disrupted if it had been decided to reduce the number of divisions to 27.

Irrespective of the reason why ancient early Indian astronomers followed a Vedic calendar of exactly 12 months of 30 days it was this calendar and not a modern calendar of 365 days that they used for the astronomical calculations for the number of days taken for the Moon to complete one sidereal cycle of 360°. This is why initially they named 28 Nakshatras on their lunar zodiac.[7]

The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, per Basham (1954).[8]

No.	Name	Associated stars	Description	Image
1	Ashwini	β and γ Arietis	Astrological Mate: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol: Horse’s head Rigvedic name: Ashwins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods Indian zodiac: 0° – 13°20′ Mesha Western zodiac: 26° Aries – 9°20′ Taurus
2	Bharani "the bearer"	35, 39, and 41 Arietis	Astrological Mate: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction Rigvedic name: 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	Astrological Mate: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Knife or spear Rigvedic name: Agni, god of fire Indian zodiac: 26°40′ Mesha – 10° Vrishabha Western zodiac: 22° 40′ Taurus – 6° Gemini
4	Rohini "the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī	Aldebaran	Astrological Mate: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree Rigvedic name: Prajapati, the Creator Indian zodiac: 10° – 23°20′ Vrishabha Western zodiac: 6° – 19°20′ Gemini
5	Mrigashīra "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī	λ, φ Orionis	Astrological Mate: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Deer’s head Rigvedic name: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god Indian zodiac: 23° 20′ Vrishabha – 6° 40′ Mithuna Western zodiac: 19° 20′ Gemini – 2° 40′ Cancer
6	Ardra "the moist one"	Alhena	Astrological Mate: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head Rigvedic name: Rudra, the storm god Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ – 20° Mithuna Western zodiac: 2° 40′ – 16° Cancer
7	Punarvasu (dual) "the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"	Castor and Pollux	Astrological Mate: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Bow and quiver Rigvedic name: Aditi, mother of the gods Indian zodiac: 20° Mithuna – 3°20′ Karka Western zodiac: 16° – 29°20′ Cancer
8	Pushya/Tishya "the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya	γ, δ and θ Cancri	Astrological Mate: Shani (Saturn) Symbol: Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle Rigvedic name: Bṛhaspati, priest of the gods Indian zodiac: 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Karka Western zodiac: 29° 20′ Cancer – 12° 40′ Leo
9	Ashleshā "the embrace"	δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae	Astrological Mate: Budha (Mercury) Symbol: Serpent Rigvedic name: Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes Indian zodiac: 16° 40′ – 30° Karka Western zodiac: 12° 40′ – 26° Leo
10	Maghā "the bountiful"	Regulus	Astrological Mate: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol: Royal Throne Rigvedic name: 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	Astrological Mate: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree Rigvedic name: Aryaman, god of patronage and favours Indian zodiac: 13° 20′ – 26°40′ Simha Western zodiac: 9° 20′ – 22°40′ Virgo
12	Uttara Phalgunī "second reddish one"	Denebola	Astrological Mate: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock Rigvedic name: Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity 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	Astrological Mate: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Hand or fist Rigvedic name: Savitr, 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	Astrological Mate: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl Rigvedic name: Tvastar, Vishwakarma 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	Astrological Mate: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral Rigvedic name: Vayu, the Wind god Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ – 20° Tula Western zodiac: 2° 40′ – 16° Scorpio
16	Visakha "forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift"	α, β, γ and ι Librae	Astrological Mate: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol: Triumphal arch, potter's wheel Rigvedic name: 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	Astrological Mate: Shani (Saturn) Symbol: Triumphal archway, lotus Rigvedic name: Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership Indian zodiac: 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Vrishchika Western zodiac: 29° 20′ Scorpio – 12° 40′ Sagittarius
18	Jyeshtha "the eldest, most excellent"	α, σ, and τ Scorpionis	Astrological Mate: Budha (Mercury) Symbol: circular amulet, umbrella, earring Rigvedic name: Indra, chief of the gods Indian zodiac: 16° 40′ – 30° Vrishchika Western zodiac: 12° 40′ – 26° Sagittarius
19	Mula "the root"	ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis	Astrological Mate: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol: Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad Rigvedic name: Nirrti, peak of material achievement and the beginning of the spiritual impulse Indian zodiac: 0° – 13° 20′ Dhanus Western zodiac: 26° Sagittarius – 9° 20′ Capricorn
20	Purva Ashadha "first of the aṣāḍhā", aṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation	δ and ε Sagittarii	Astrological Mate: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket Rigvedic name: 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	Astrological Mate: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Elephant tusk, small bed Rigvedic name: Visvedevas, universal gods Indian zodiac: 26° 40′ Dhanus – 10° Makara Western zodiac: 22° 40′ Capricorn – 6° Aquarius
22	Abhijit	ζ and σ Lyrae	Astrological Mate: Brahma Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ Makara – 10° 53′ Makara
23	Shravana	α, β and γ Aquilae	Astrological Mate: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Ear or Three Footprints Rigvedic name: Vishnu, preserver of universe Indian zodiac: 10° – 23° 20′ Makara Western zodiac: 6° – 19° 20′ Aquarius
24	Dhanishta "most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest"	α to δ Delphini	Astrological Mate: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Drum or flute Rigvedic name: Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance Indian zodiac: 23° 20′ Makara – 6° 40′ Kumbha Western zodiac 19° 20′ Aquarius – 2° 40′ Pisces
25	Shatabhisha "Comprising a hundred physicians"	Sadachbia	Astrological Mate: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars Rigvedic name: Varuna, god of celestial waters Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ – 20° Kumbha Western zodiac: 2° 40′ – 16° Pisces
26	Purva Bhadrapada "the first of the blessed feet"	α and β Pegasi	Astrological Mate: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol: Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces Rigvedic name: Ajaikapada, an ancient fire dragon Indian zodiac: 20° Kumbha – 3° 20′ Meena Western zodiac: 16° – 29° 20′ Pisces
27	Uttara Bhadrapada "the second of the blessed feet"	γ Pegasi and α Andromedae	Astrological Mate: Shani (Saturn) Symbol: Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water Rigvedic name: Ahir Budhyana, serpent or dragon of the deep Indian zodiac: 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Meena Western zodiac: 29° 20′ Pisces – 12° 40′ Aries
28	Revati "prosperous"	ζ Piscium	Astrological Mate: Budha (Mercury) Symbol: Fish or a pair of fish, drum Rigvedic name: Pushan, nourisher, the protective deity Indian zodiac: 16° 40′ – 30° Meena Western zodiac: 12° 40′ – 26° Aries

Each of 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, representing all the elements (ansh) of Vishnu:

• Atmakaraka
• Navagraha
• Panchangam
• Gandanta
• Chinese constellations
• Twenty-eight mansions
• Decans (Egyptian)
• Saptarishi