SafekipediaNakshatra is a lovely idea from old Hindu astrology and Buddhist astrology. It talks about special groups of stars, called lunar mansions, that help us see the beauty of the night sky. There are 27 main nakshatras (sometimes 28), each with its own name. These names are linked to bright stars or groups of stars called asterisms. People have used nakshatras for thousands of years to understand time, seasons, and even personality.
Each nakshatra is like a tiny part of the sky. Together, they make up the ecliptic, the path the Sun follows. They are very important for finding lucky days and times in many places, especially in India. Nakshatras are one of the five main parts of a Pañcāṅga. This is an old calendar that tells us about the Moon and the days of the week.
The idea of nakshatras comes from ancient books like the Vedas and stories from the Mahabharata. In these stories, the nakshatras are sometimes shown as girls — the daughters of a wise man named Daksha and the wives of Chandra, the Moon god. These tales help explain how the Moon changes and affects the world. Today, many people still use nakshatras to plan big events and learn about nature's patterns.
In the Atharvaveda
The Atharvaveda talks about 27 important stars or groups of stars, many linked to the nakshatras. These stars include Ashwini, Bharani, Kṛttikā (the Pleiades), Rohinī (Aldebaran), and others.
These 27 stars make a cycle, like numbers on a clock, that the Moon moves through. This helps us understand how the Moon moves in the sky over a month.
List of Nakshatras
In Hindu astronomy, there are 28 Nakshatras. These are special star patterns used as markers in the sky. They help track the movement of the Moon.
Later, this system was changed to use 27 equal parts of the sky. Each part covers 13° 20′. This made it easier to define each part clearly. Even though the Nakshatra named Abhijit was left out, it is still important for deciding the best time for special events.
The original 28 Nakshatras were linked to a calendar that had exactly 30 days in each month. This calendar helped ancient Indian astronomers calculate how long it took the Moon to travel around the sky. Though some Indian scholars later used only 27 Nakshatras, the Chinese kept all 28 of their lunar mansions. These Nakshatras were grouped into four equal parts of the sky.
| No. | Name | Associated stars | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aśvinī "The Horsemen" | β and γ Arietis | ||
| 2 | Bharaṇī "The Bearer" | 35, 39, and 41 Arietis | ||
| 3 | Kṛttikā "To Cut" | Pleiades | ||
| 4 | Rohiṇi "Radiant Maiden" | Aldebaran | Indian zodiac: 10° – 23°20′ Taurus Tropical zodiac: 6° – 19°20′ Gemini | |
| 5 | Mṛgaśiras "The Deer's Head" | λ, φ Orionis | ||
| 6 | Ārdrā "The Moist One" | Betelgeuse | ||
| 7 | Punarvasu "Return Of The Light" | Castor and Pollux | ||
| 8 | Puṣya "The Nourisher" | γ, δ and θ Cancri | ||
| 9 | Āśleṣā "The Embrace" | δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae | ||
| 10 | Maghā "The Mighty" | Regulus | ||
| 11 | Pūrvaphalgunī "The Former Reddish One" | δ and θ Leonis | Symbol: Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree Deity: Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity. NOTE: Ancient texts interchange the deities of the Phalguni nakshatras. In some, such as Taittiriya Brahmana, Aryaman rules Purva Phalgunī. Indian zodiac: 13° 20′ – 26°40′ Leo Tropical zodiac: 9° 20′ – 22°40′ Virgo | |
| 12 | Uttaraphalgunī "The Latter Reddish One" | Denebola | Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock Deity: Aryaman, god of patronage and favours. NOTE: Ancient texts interchange the deities of the Phalguni nakshatras. In some, such as Taittiriya Brahmana, Bhaga rules Uttara Phalgunī. Indian zodiac: 26° 40′ Leo - 10° Virgo Tropical zodiac: 22° 40′ Virgo – 6° Libra | |
| 13 | Hasta "The Hand" | α, β, γ, δ and ε Corvi | ||
| 14 | Citrā "The Bright One" | Spica | Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl Deity: Tvastar/Vishwakarma, artisan god Indian zodiac: 23° 20′ Virgo – 6° 40′ Libra Tropical zodiac: 19° 20′ Libra – 2° 40′ Scorpio | |
| 15 | Svātī "The Independent One" | Arcturus | ||
| 16 | Viśākhā "Branching Out" | α, β, γ and ι Librae | ||
| 17 | Anurādhā "Following Radha" | β, δ and π Scorpionis | ||
| 18 | Jyeṣṭhā "The Eldest" | α, σ, and τ Scorpionis | ||
| 19 | Mūla "The Root" | ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis | Astrological leader: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol: Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad Deity: 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′ Sagittarius Tropical zodiac: 26° Sagittarius – 9° 20′ Capricorn | |
| 20 | Pūrvāṣāḍha "The Former Unconquered" | δ and ε Sagittarii | ||
| 21 | Uttarāṣāḍha "The Latter Unconquered" | ζ and σ Sagittarii | Symbol: Elephant tusk, small bed Deity: Visvedevas, the most comprehensive gathering of the gods, a classification in which no deity is stated to be omitted Indian zodiac: 26° 40′ Sagittarius– 10° Capricorn Tropical zodiac: 22° 40′ Capricorn – 6° Aquarius | |
| * | Abhijit "The Invincible" | ζ and σ Lyrae | Astrological leader and Deity: Brahma Indian zodiac: 6° 40′ – 10° 53′ Capricorn Tropical zodiac: 2° 40′ – 6° 53′ Aquarius | |
| 22 | Śravaṇa "To Hear" | α, β and γ Aquilae | ||
| 23 | Dhaniṣṭhā "Wealthiest" | α, β, γ and δ Delphini | ||
| 24 | Śatabhiṣaj "A Hundred Physicians" | λ Aquarii | ||
| 25 | Pūrvabhādrapada "The Former Blessed Feet" | α and β Pegasi | Symbol: Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces Deity: Ajaikapada, one-footed aspect of Shiva Indian zodiac: 20° Aquarius – 3° 20′ Pisces Tropical zodiac: 16° – 29° 20′ Pisces | |
| 26 | Uttarabhādrapada "The Latter Blessed Feet" | γ Pegasi and α Andromedae | Symbol: Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water Deity: Ahirbudhnya, serpent or dragon of the deep Indian zodiac: 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Pisces Tropical zodiac: 29° 20′ Pisces – 12° 40′ Aries | |
| 27 | Revatī "Prosperous" | ζ Piscium | Symbol: Fish or a pair of fish, drum Deity: Pushan, nourisher, and the psychopomp deity Indian zodiac: 16° 40′ – 30° Pisces Tropical zodiac: 12° 40′ – 26° Aries |
Padas (quarters)
Each of the 27 Nakshatras covers a special part of the sky called the ecliptic. These areas are split into four smaller parts, called padas. Each pada is a small piece of the sky. In some traditions, these padas help give names to children. The 27 Nakshatras with their 4 padas each make 108 little parts. This number matches the beads used in a special string called a japa mala. These beads are linked to the elements connected to the god Vishnu.
| # | Name | Pada 1 | Pada 2 | Pada 3 | Pada 4 | Vimsottari Lord | Ruling Deity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aśvini (अश्विनी) | चु Chu | चे Che | चो Cho | ला La | Ketu | Aswini Kumara |
| 2 | Bharaṇī (भरणी) | ली Li | लू Lu | ले Le | लो Lo | Venus | Yama |
| 3 | Kṛttikā (कृत्तिका) | अ A | ई I | उ U | ए E | Sun | Agni |
| 4 | Rohiṇī (रोहिणी) | ओ O | वा Va/Ba | वी Vi/Bi | वु Vu/Bu | Moon | Brahma |
| 5 | Mṛgaśīrṣā (मृगशीर्षा) | वे Ve/Be | वो Vo/Bo | का Ka | की Ke | Mars | Moon |
| 6 | Ārdrā (आर्द्रा) | कु Ku | घ Gha | ङ Ng/Na | छ Chha | Rahu | Shiva |
| 7 | Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु) | के Ke | को Ko | हा Ha | ही Hi | Jupiter | Aditi |
| 8 | Puṣya (पुष्य) | हु Hu | हे He | हो Ho | ड Da | Saturn | Brihaspati |
| 9 | Āśleṣā (आश्लेषा) | डी Di | डू Du | डे De | डो Do | Mercury | Rahu |
| 10 | Maghā (मघा) | मा Ma | मी Mi | मू Mu | मे Me | Ketu | Pitr |
| 11 | Pūrva or Pūrva Phālgunī (पूर्व फाल्गुनी) | नो Mo | टा Ta | टी Ti | टू Tu | Venus | Bhaga |
| 12 | Uttara or Uttara Phālgunī (उत्तर फाल्गुनी) | टे Te | टो To | पा Pa | पी Pi | Sun | Sun |
| 13 | Hasta (हस्त) | पू Pu | ष Sha | ण Na | ठ Tha | Moon | Savitr |
| 14 | Chitrā (चित्रा) | पे Pe | पो Po | रा Ra | री Ri | Mars | Vishwakarma |
| 15 | Svāti (स्वाति) | रू Ru | रे Re | रो Ro | ता Ta | Rahu | Vaayu |
| 16 | Vishākhā (विशाखा) | ती Ti | तू Tu | ते Te | तो To | Jupiter | Indra Agni |
| 17 | Anurādhā (अनुराधा) | ना Na | नी Ni | नू Nu | ने Ne | Saturn | Mitra |
| 18 | Jyeṣṭhā (ज्येष्ठा) | नो No | या Ya | यी Yi | यू Yu | Mercury | Indra |
| 19 | Mūla (मूल) | ये Ye | यो Yo | भा Bha | भी Bhi | Ketu | Varuna, Nirriti |
| 20 | Pūrva Aṣāḍhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा) | भू Bhu | धा Dha | फा Bha/Pha | ढा Dha | Venus | Apah |
| 21 | Uttara Aṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढ़ा) | भे Bhe | भो Bho | जा Ja | जी Ji | Sun | Brahma |
| 22 | Śrāvaṇa (श्रवण) | खी Ju/Khi | खू Je/Khu | खे Jo/Khe | खो Gha/Kho | Moon | Vishnu |
| 23 | Śrāviṣṭhā (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhaniṣṭhā (धनिष्ठा) | गा Ga | गी Gi | गु Gu | गे Ge | Mars | Vasu |
| 24 | Śatabhiṣā (शतभिषा) | गो Go | सा Sa | सी Si | सू Su | Rahu | Varuna |
| 25 | Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्वभाद्रपदा) | से Se | सो So | दा Da | दी Di | Jupiter | Aja Ek Pada |
| 26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तरभाद्रपदा) | दू Du | थ Tha | झ Jha | त्र Da/Tra | Saturn | Ahirbudhnya |
| 27 | Revati (रेवती) | दे De | दो Do | च Cha | ची Chi | Mercury | Pooshan |
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