Nakshatra

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A nakshatra (Devanagari: नक्षत्र) or lunar mansion is one of the 27 or 28 divisions of the sky, identified by the prominent star(s) in them, that the Moon passes through during its monthly cycle, as used in Hindu astronomy and astrology. Therefore, each represents a division of the ecliptic similar to the zodiac. The mansion associated with a given date corresponds to the constellation which the Moon is passing through at that time. Nakshatra computation appears to have been well known at the time of the Rig Veda (2nd millennium BC). In RV 10.55.3., 34 lights are described, probably the 27 nakshatras and seven Grahas (sun, moon and five planets).^[1] The Taittiriya Samhita says that they are connected with the path of the moon.^[2]

The starting point for this division is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the star Spica called Chitrā in Sanskrit. (Other slightly-different definitions exist.) It is called Meshādi or the "start of Aries". The ecliptic is divided into the nakshatras eastwards starting from this point.

The 27 Nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the ecliptic each. Each Nakshatra is divided into quarters or padas of 3°20’. The nakshatras with their corresponding regions of sky are given below, following [Basham]'s Appendix: Astronomy.

Nakshatras
Ashvinī
Bharanī
Krittikā
Rohinī
Mrigashīrsha
Ārdrā
Punarvasu
Pushya
Āshleshā
Maghā
Pūrva Phalgunī
Uttara Phalgunī
Hasta
Chitrā
Svātī
Vishākhā
Anurādhā
Jyeshtha
Mūla
Pūrva Ashādhā
Uttara Ashādhā
Shravana
Shravishthā
Shatabhishā
Pūrva Bhādrapadā
Uttara Bhādrapadā
Revatī
Abhijit

#	Name	Lord	Western equivalent	Map	Location	Pada 1	Pada 2	Pada 3	Pada 4
1	Ashvinī (अश्विनि)	MSN (Ketu)	β and γ Arietis	Image:Aries constellation map.png	00AR00-13AR20	चु	चे	चो	ला
2	Bharanī (भरणी)	Venus (Shukra)	35, 39, and 41 Arietis	Image:Aries constellation map.png	13AR20-26AR40	ली	लू	ले	पो
3	Krittikā (क्रृत्तिका)	Sun (Ravi)	Pleiades	Image:Taurus constellation map.png	26AR40-10TA00	अ	ई	उ	ए
4	Rohini (रोहिणी)	Moon (Chandra)	Aldebaran	Image:Taurus constellation map.png	10TA00-23TA20	ओ	वा	वी	वु
5	Mrigashīrsha (म्रृगशीर्षा)	Mars(Mangal)	λ, φ Orionis	Image:Orion constellation map.png	23TA40-06GE40	वे	वो	का	की
6	Ārdrā (आर्द्रा)	MNN (Rahu)	Betelgeuse	Image:Orion constellation map.png	06GE40-20GE00	कु	घ	ङ	छ
7	Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु)	Jupiter (Guru)	Castor and Pollux	Image:Gemini constellation map.png	20GE00-03CA20	के	को	हा	ही
8	Pushya (पुष्य)	Saturn (Shani)	γ, δ and θ Cancri	Image:Cancer constellation map.png	03CA20-16CA40	हु	हे	हो	ड
9	Āshleshā (आश्लेषा)	Mercury (Budh)	δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae	Image:Hydra constellation map.png	16CA40-30CA500	डी	डू	डे	डो
10	Maghā (मघा)	MSN (Ketu)	Regulus	Image:Leo constellation map.png	00LE00-13LE20	मा	मी	मू	मे
11	Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī (पूर्व फाल्गुनी)	Venus (Shukra)	δ and θ Leonis	Image:Leo constellation map.png	13LE20-26LE40	नो	टा	टी	टू
12	Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī (उत्तर फाल्गुनी)	Sun (Surya)	Denebola	Image:Leo constellation map.png	26LE40-10VI00	टे	टो	पा	पी
13	Hasta (हस्त)	Moon (Chandra)	α, β, γ, δ and ε Corvi	Image:Corvus constellation map.png	10VI00-23VI20	पू	ष	ण	ठ
14	Chitrā (चित्रा)	Mars (Mangal)	Spica	Image:Virgo constellation map.png	23VI20-06LI40	पे	पो	रा	री
15	Svātī (स्वाति)	MNN (Rahu)	Arcturus	Image:Bootes constellation map.png	06LI40-20LI00	रू	रे	रो	ता
16	Vishākhā (विशाखा)	Jupiter (Guru)	α, β, γ and ι Librae	Image:Libra constellation map.png	20LI00-03SC20	ती	तू	ते	तो
17	Anurādhā (अनुराधा)	Saturn (Shani)	β, δ and π Scorpionis	Image:Scorpius constellation map.png	03SC20-16SC40	ना	नी	नू	ने
18	Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठा)	Mercury (Budh)	α, σ, and τ Scorpionis	Image:Scorpius constellation map.png	16SC40-30SC00	नो	या	यी	यू
19	Mūla (मूल)	MSN (Ketu)	ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis	Image:Scorpius constellation map.png	00SG00-13SG20	ये	यो	भा	भी
20	Pūrva Ashādhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा)	Venus (Shukra)	δ and ε Sagittarii	Image:Sagittarius constellation map.png	13SG20-26SG40	भू	धा	फा	ढा
21	Uttara Ashādhā (उत्तराषाढ़ा)	Sun (Surya)	ζ and σ Sagittarii	Image:Sagittarius constellation map.png	26SG40-10CP00	भे	भो	जा	जी
22	Shravana (श्रवण)	Moon (Chandra)	α, β and γ Aquilae	Image:Aquila constellation map.png	10CP00-23CP20	खी	खू	खे	खो
23	Shravishthā (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhanistā	Mars (Mangal)	α to δ Delphinus	Image:Delphinus constellation map.png	23CP20-06AQ40	गा	गी	गु	गे
24	Shatabhishā (शतभिषा)or Shatataraka	MNN (Rahu)	γ Aquarii	Image:Aquarius constellation map.png	06AQ40-20AQ00	गो	सा	सी	सू
25	Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्वभाद्रपदा)	Jupiter (Guru)	α and β Pegasi	Image:Pegasus constellation map.png	20AQ00-03PI20	से	सो	दा	दी
26	Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तरभाद्रपदा)	Saturn (Shani)	γ Pegasi and α Andromedae	Image:Andromeda constellation map.png	03PI20-16PI40	दू	थ	झ	ञ
27	Revatī (रेवती)	Mercury (Budh)	ζ Piscium	Image:Pisces constellation map.png	16PI40-30PI00	दे	दो	च	ची

An additional 28th intercalary nakshatra, Abhijit (अभिजित)(α, ε and ζ Lyrae - Vega - between Uttarasharha and Sravana), is required to compensate for the sidereal month being eight hours more than 27 days. Unlike the 13°20' range of the 27 proper nakshatras, Abhijit spans 4°14' to reflect the extra span of 7¾ hours.

The list of Nakshatras is found in the Vedic texts (AV 19.7; Taittiriya Samhita) and also in the Shatapatha Brahmana. The first astronomy text that lists them is the Vedanga Jyotisha of Lagadha.

Contents 1 Traditional Hindu Names 2 Notes 3 External links 4 See also

Traditional Hindu Names

Hindu astrologers (see Jyotisha) teach that when a Hindu child is born, they should be given an auspicious first name which will correspond to the child's Nakshatra. Each birthstar has corresponding Sanskrit sounds which would belong at the beginning of such a name. These are available under each Nakshatra, listed above.

Notes

1. ^ Subhash Kak. Astronomical Code of the Rigveda. 1994:15
2. ^ Subhash Kak. Astronomical Code of the Rigveda. 1994:15

Some authors who have written books on the Nakshatras include:

• Dennis Harness
• Camilla Sutton
• Valerie Roebuck
• Bepin Behari
• K.T. Shubhakaran
• Bill Levacy
• Jim Kelleher

Wikipedia information about Nakshatra This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Nakshatra". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.