List of Nakshatras
The classical list of 27 nakshatras ("lunar mansion") is first found in the Vedanga Jyotisha, a text dated to the final centuries BCE. The nakshatra system predates the influence of Hellenistic astronomy on vedic tradition, which became prevalent from about the 2nd century CE.
In Hindu astrology, there are various systems of enumerating 27 or 28 nakshatras. Although there are 28 days to a sidereal month, by custom only 27 days are used, the last 28th day being considered unlucky. The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, following Basham.[1]
No. | Name | Associated stars | Description | Image |
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1 | Ashvini "wife of the Ashvins" |
β and γ Arietis |
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2; 7 | 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; 9 | Rohini "the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī |
Aldebaran |
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5; 3 | Mrigashīrsha "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī |
λ, φ Orionis | ||
6; 4 | Ardra "the moist one" |
Betelgeuse |
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7; 5 | Punarvasu (dual) "the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots" |
Castor and Pollux |
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8; 6 | Pushya "the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya |
γ, δ and θ Cancri | ||
9; 7 | Āshleshā "the embrace" |
δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae |
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10; 15 | 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; 14 | Vishakha "forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift" |
α, β, γ and ι Librae | ||
17 | Anuradha "following rādhā" |
β, δ and π Scorpionis |
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18; 16 | Jyeshtha "the eldest, most excellent" |
α, σ, and τ Scorpionis |
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19; 17 | Mula "the root" |
ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis |
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20; 18 | Purva Ashadha "first of the aṣāḍhā", aṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation |
δ and ε Sagittarii |
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21 | Uttara Ashadha "second of the aṣāḍhā" |
ζ and σ Sagittarii |
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22; 20 | Abhijit "victorious"[2] |
α, ε and ζ Lyrae - Vega | Lord: Brahma | |
23; 20 | Sravana |
α, β and γ Aquilae |
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24; 21; 23 | Dhanishta "most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest" |
α to δ Delphini |
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24; 22 | Shatabhisha "requiring a hundred physicians" |
γ Aquarii |
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25; 3 | Purva Bhadrapada "the first of the blessed feet" |
α and β Pegasi |
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26; 4 | Uttara Bhādrapadā "the second of the blessed feet" |
γ Pegasi and α Andromedae |
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27; 5 | Revati "prosperous" |
ζ Piscium |
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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 La |
2 | Bharani (भरणी) | ली Li | लू Lu | ले Le | लो Lo |
3 | Kritika (कृत्तिका) | अ A | ई I | उ U | ए E |
4 | Rohini(रोहिणी) | ओ O | वा Va/Ba | वी Vi/Bi | वु Vu/Bu |
5 | Mrigashīrsha(म्रृगशीर्षा) | वे Ve/Be | वो Vo/Bo | का Ka | की Ke |
6 | Ārdrā (आर्द्रा) | कु Ku | घ Gha | ङ Ng/Na | छ Chha |
7 | Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु) | के Ke | को Ko | हा Ha | ही Hi |
8 | Pushya (पुष्य) | हु Hu | हे He | हो Ho | ड Da |
9 | Āshleshā (आश्लेषा) | डी Di | डू Du | डे De | डो Do |
10 | Maghā (मघा) | मा Ma | मी Mi | मू Mu | मे Me |
11 | Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī (पूर्व फाल्गुनी) | नो Mo | टा Ta | टी Ti | टू Tu |
12 | Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī (उत्तर फाल्गुनी) | टे Te | टो To | पा Pa | पी Pi |
13 | Hasta (हस्त) | पू Pu | ष Sha | ण Na | ठ Tha |
14 | Chitra (चित्रा) | पे Pe | पो Po | रा Ra | री Ri |
15 | Svātī (स्वाति) | रू Ru | रे Re | रो Ro | ता Tha |
16 | Viśākhā (विशाखा) | ती Ti | तू Tu | ते Te | तो To |
17 | Anurādhā (अनुराधा) | ना Na | नी Ni | नू Nu | ने Ne |
18 | Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठा) | नो No | या Ya | यी Yi | यू Yu |
19 | Mula (मूल) | ये Ye | यो Yo | भा Bha | भी Bhi |
20 | Pūrva Ashādhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा) | भू Bhu | धा Dha | फा Bha/Pha | ढा Dha |
21 | Uttara Aṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढ़ा) | भे Bhe | भो Bho | जा Ja | जी Ji |
22 | Śrāvaṇa (श्रावण) | खी Ju/Khi | खू Je/Khu | खे Jo/Khe | खो Gha/Kho |
23 | Śrāviṣṭha (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhanishta | गा Ga | गी Gi | गु Gu | गे Ge |
24 | Shatabhisha (शतभिषा)or Śatataraka | गो Go | सा Sa | सी Si | सू Su |
25 | Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्वभाद्रपदा) | से Se | सो So | दा Da | दी Di |
26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तरभाद्रपदा) | दू Du | थ Tha | झ Jha | ञ Da/Tra |
27 | Revati (रेवती) | दे De | दो Do | च Cha | ची Chi |
Names in modern 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 | Tamil தமிழ் | Sinhala සිoහල | Telugu తెలుగు | Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ | Malayalam മലയാളം | Mongolian | Chinese 宿 |
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1 | Ashvinī अश्विनी | Aswini அஸ்வினி | Aswida අස්විද | Ashwini అశ్విని | Ashwini ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ | Ashvati അശ്വതി | Шийдэм | 婁 |
2 | Bharanī भरणी | Baraṇi பரணி | Berana බෙරණ | Bharani భరణి | Bharani ಭರಣಿ | Bharaṇi ഭരണി | Гоё хүүхэн | 胃 |
3 | Krittikā कृत्तिका | Kārthikai கார்த்திகை | Kethi කැති | Kritika కృత్తిక | Kritika ಕೃತಿಕ | Kārttika കാർത്തിക | Нэг эхт зургаан хөвгүүн | 昴 |
4 | Rohini रोहिणी | Rōhiṇi ரோகிணி | Rehena රෙහෙණ | Rohini రోహిణి | Rohini ರೋಹಿಣಿ | Rōhiṇi രോഹിണി | Чөлөөт эх | 畢 |
5 | Mrigashīrsha म्रृगशीर्षा | Mirugasīridam மிருகசீரிடம் | Muwasirasa මුවසිරස | Mrigasiraa మ్రిగాశిర | Mrigashira ಮೃಗಶಿರ | Makayiram മകയിരം | Гөрөөсөн толгой | 觜 |
6 | Ārdrā आद्रा | Thiruvādhirai திருவாதிரை | Ada අද | Arudra ఆర్ద్ర | Ardra ಆರ್ದ್ರ | Ātira or Tiruvātira ആതിര (തിരുവാതിര) | Хэрцгий охин | 參 |
7 | Punarvasu पुनर्वसु | Punarpoosam புனர்பூசம் | Punavasa පුනාවස | Punarvasu పునర్వసు | Punarvasu ಪುನರ್ವಸು | Puṇartam പുണർതം | Өглөгт охин | 井 |
8 | Pushya पुष्य | Poosam பூசம் | Pusha පුෂ | Pushya పుష్య | Pushyami ಪುಷ್ಯ | Pūyam പൂയം | Найралт эх | 鬼 |
9 | Āshleshā आश्ळेषा / आश्लेषा | Ayilyam ஆயில்யம் | Aslisa අස්ලිස | Ashlesha ఆశ్లేష | Ashlesha ಆಶ್ಲೇಷ | Āyilyam ആയില്യം | Үнэг | 柳 |
10 | Maghā मघा | Magam மகம் | Maa මා | Maghaa మాఘ | Magha ಮಾಘ | Makam മകം | Их морь | 星 |
11 | Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī पूर्व फाल्गुनी | Pooram பூரம் | Puwapal පුවපල් | Pubba పూర్వ ఫల్గుని | Poorva ಪೂರ್ವ | Pūram പൂരം | Бага морь | 張 |
12 | Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī उत्तर फाल्गुनी | Uthiram உத்திரம் | Uttrapal උත්රපල් | Uttara ఉత్తర ఫల్గుని | Uttara ಉತ್ತರ | Utram ഉത്രം | Харцага | 翼 |
13 | Hasta हस्त | Astham அஸ்தம் | Hatha හත | Hasta హస్త | Hastaa ಹಸ್ತ | Attam അത്തം | Тугчин | 軫 |
14 | Chitrā चित्रा | Chithirai சித்திரை | Sitha සිත | Chittaa చిత్ర | Chitra ಚಿತ್ರ | Chittira ചിത്തിര (ചിത്ര) | Тэргүүн дагуул | 角 |
15 | Svātī स्वाती | Swathi சுவாதி | Saa සා | Swaati స్వాతి | Swathi ಸ್ವಾತಿ | Chōti ചോതി | Салхины эх | 亢 |
16 | Vishākhā विशाखा | Visakam விசாகம் | Wisa විසා | Vishaakha విశాఖ | Vishakha ವಿಶಾಖ | Vishākham വിശാഖം | Эрхтний тэнгэрт | 氐 |
17 | Anurādhā अनुराधा | Anusham அனுஷம் | Anura අනුර | Anuraadha అనురాధ | Anuradha ಅನುರಾಧಾ | Anizham അനിഴം | Гар од | 房 |
18 | Jyeshtha ज्येष्ठा | Kettai கேட்டை | Deta දෙට | Jyesthaa జఎస్త | Jyestha ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ | Kēṭṭa (Trikkēṭṭa) കേട്ട (തൃക്കേട്ട) | Хонгорцог | 心 |
19 | Mūla मूल | Mūlam மூலம் | Moola මුල | Moolaa మూల | Moola ಮೂಲ | Mūlam മൂലം | Онгоц | 尾 |
20 | Pūrva Ashādhā पूर्वाषाढा | Pūradam பூராடம் | Puwasala පුවසල | Poorvashaadha పూర్వశాధ | Poorvashadha ಪುರ್ವಾಷಾಡ | Pūrāṭam പൂരാടം | Суулга | 箕 |
21 | Uttara Ashādhā उत्तराषाढा | Uthirādam உத்திராடம் | Uttrasala උත්රසල | Uttarashaadha ఉత్తరాశాధ | Uttarashadha ಉತ್ತರಾಷಾಡ | Utrāṭam ഉത്രാടം | Элдэв тэнгэртэн | 斗 |
22 | Shravana श्रवण | Tiruvōnam திருவோணம் | Suvana සුවණ | Shravana శ్రావణ | Shravana ಶ್ರವಣ | Tiruvōnam ഓണം (തിരുവോണം) | Булаагч/Яруу эгшигт | 女 |
23 | Shravishthā or Dhanishta श्रविष्ठा or धनिष्ठा | Aviṭṭam அவிட்டம் | Denata දෙණට | Dhanishta ధనిష్ఠ | Dhanishta ಧನಿಷ್ಠ | Aviṭṭam അവിട്ടം | Тооно | 虛 |
24 | Shatabhishā or Shatataraka शतभिषक् / शततारका | Sadayam சதயம் | Siyawasa සියාවස | Shatabhisha శతభిష | Shatabhisha ಶಥಭಿಷ | Chatayam ചതയം | Чөдөр | 危 |
25 | Pūrva Bhādrapadā पूर्वभाद्रपदा / पूर्वप्रोष्ठपदा | Pūraṭṭādhi பூரட்டாதி | Puvaputupa පුවපුටුප | Poorvabhadraa పూర్వ భాద్రపద | Poorva Bhadrapada ಪೂರ್ವ ಭಾದ್ರಪದ | Pūraṭṭāti പൂരുരുട്ടാതി | Шувуун хошуут | 室 |
26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā उत्तरभाद्रपदा / उत्तरप्रोष्ठपदा | Uttṛṭṭādhi உத்திரட்டாதி | Uttraputupa උත්රපුටුප | Uttaraa bhadra ఉత్తర భాద్రపద | Uttara Bhadrapada ಉತ್ತರ ಭಾದ್ರಪದ | Uttṛṭṭāti ഉത്രട്ടാതി | Могой хүлэгч | 壁 |
27 | Revati रेवती | Rēvathi ரேவதி | Revathi රේවතී | Revati రేవతి | Revati ರೇವತಿ | Rēvati രേവതി | Дэлгэрүүлэгч | 奎 |
References
- ↑ Arthur Llewellyn Basham, Indian Astronomy Appendix: Astronomy.
- ↑ 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.