List of Nakshatras
In Hindu astrology, there are 27 nakshatras ("lunar mansions"), 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 nakshatra 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 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 gives the corresponding regions of sky.[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 | 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 "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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Abhijit "victorious"[2] |
α, ε and ζ Lyrae - Vega | Lord: Brahma (creator)
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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 | Krittika (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 फल्गुनी) | मो Mo | टा Ta | टी Ti | टू Tu |
12 | Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī (उत्तर फल्गुनी) | 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 Āshādhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा) | भू Bhu | धा Dha | फा Bha/Pha | ढा Dha |
21 | Uttara Āṣāḍhā (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 regional 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 | Malayalam മലയാളം | Tamil தமிழ் | Sinhala සිoහල | Dhivehi ދިވެހި | Telugu తెలుగు | Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ | Bengali বাংলা | Mongolian | Chinese 宿 |
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1 | Ashvinī अश्विनी | Ashvati അശ്വതി | Aswini அஸ்வினி | Aswida අස්විද | A'sidha އައްސިދަ | Aswini అశ్విని | Ashwini ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ | Ashwini অশ্বিনী | Шийдэм | 婁 |
2 | Bharanī भरणी | Bharaṇi ഭരണി | Baraṇi பரணி | Berana බෙරණ | Burunu ބުރުނު | Bharani భరణి | Bharani ಭರಣಿ | Bharaṇi ভরনি | Гоё хүүхэн | 胃 |
3 | Krittikā कृत्तिका | Kārttika കാർത്തിക | Kārthikai கார்த்திகை | Kethi කැති | Kethi ކެތި | Kritika కృత్తిక | Kritika ಕೃತಿಕ | Krittika কৃত্তিকা | Нэг эхт зургаан хөвгүүн | 昴 |
4 | Rohini रोहिणी | Rōhiṇi രോഹിണി | Rōhiṇi ரோகிணி | Rehena රෙහෙණ | Roanu ރޯނު | Rohini రోహిణి | Rohini ರೋಹಿಣಿ | Rohiṇi রোহিনী | Чөлөөт эх | 畢 |
5 | Mrigashīrsha म्रृगशीर्षा | Makayiram മകയിരം | Mirugasīridam மிருகசீரிடம் | Muwasirasa මුවසිරස | Miyaheli މިޔަހެލި | Mrigasiraa మృగశిర | Mrigashira ಮೃಗಶಿರ | Mrigashira মৃগশিরা | Гөрөөсөн толгой | 觜 |
6 | Ārdrā आद्रा | Ātira or Tiruvātira ആതിര (തിരുവാതിര) | Thiruvādhirai திருவாதிரை | Ada අද | Adha އަދަ | Arudra ఆరుద్ర | Ardra ಆರ್ದ್ರ | Adra আদ্রা | Хэрцгий охин | 參 |
7 | Punarvasu पुनर्वसु | Puṇartam പുണർതം | Punarpoosam புனர்பூசம் | Punavasa පුනාවස | Funoas ފުނޯސް | Punarvasu పునర్వసు | Punarvasu ಪುನರ್ವಸು | Punarbasu পুনর্বসু | Өглөгт охин | 井 |
8 | Pushya पुष्य | Pūyam പൂയം | Poosam பூசம் | Pusha පුෂ | Fus ފުސް | Pushya పుష్య | Pushyami ಪುಷ್ಯ | Pushya পূষ্যা | Найралт эх | 鬼 |
9 | Āshleshā आश्ळेषा / आश्लेषा | Āyilyam ആയില്യം | Ayilyam ஆயில்யம் | Aslisa අස්ලිස | Ahuliha އަހުލިހަ | Ashlesha ఆశ్లేష | Ashlesha ಆಶ್ಲೇಷ | Ashlesha অশ্লেষা | Үнэг | 柳 |
10 | Maghā मघा | Makam മകം | Magam மகம் | Maa මා | Maa މާ | Maghaa మఘ | Magha ಮಘ | Magha মাঘা | Их морь | 星 |
11 | Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī पूर्व फल्गुनी | Pūram പൂരം | Pooram பூரம் | Puwapal පුවපල් | Fura ފުރަ | Pubba పూర్వ ఫల్గుని | Poorva ಪೂರ್ವ | Purba Phalguni পূর্ব ফাল্গুনী | Бага морь | 張 |
12 | Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī उत्तर फल्गुनी | Utram ഉത്രം | Uthiram உத்திரம் | Uttrapal උත්රපල් | Uthura އުތުރަ | Uttara ఉత్తర ఫల్గుని | Uttara ಉತ್ತರ | Uttar Phalguni উত্তর ফাল্গুনী | Харцага | 翼 |
13 | Hasta हस्त | Attam അത്തം | Astham அஸ்தம் | Hatha හත | Atha އަތަ | Hasta హస్త | Hastaa ಹಸ್ತ | Hasta হস্তা | Тугчин | 軫 |
14 | Chitrā चित्रा | Chittira ചിത്തിര (ചിത്ര) | Chithirai சித்திரை | Sitha සිත | Hitha ހިތަ | Chittaa చిత్త | Chitra ಚಿತ್ರ | Chitra চিত্রা | Тэргүүн дагуул | 角 |
15 | Svātī स्वाती | Chōti ചോതി | Swathi சுவாதி | Saa සා | Hey ހޭ | Swaati స్వాతి | Swathi ಸ್ವಾತಿ | Swati স্বাতী | Салхины эх | 亢 |
16 | Vishākhā विशाखा | Vishākham വിശാഖം | Visakam விசாகம் | Wisa විසා | Vihaa ވިހާ | Vishaakha విశాఖ | Vishakha ವಿಶಾಖ | Bishakha বিশাখা | Эрхтний тэнгэрт | 氐 |
17 | Anurādhā अनुराधा | Anizham അനിഴം | Anusham அனுஷம் | Anura අනුර | Nora ނޮރަ | Anuraadha అనురాధ | Anuradha ಅನುರಾಧಾ | Anuradha অনুরাধা | Гар од | 房 |
18 | Jyeshtha ज्येष्ठा | Kēṭṭa (Trikkēṭṭa) തൃക്കേട്ട | Kettai கேட்டை | Deta දෙට | Dhosha ދޮށަ | Jyesthaa జ్యేష్ఠ | Jyestha ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ | Jyestha জ্যেষ্ঠা | Хонгорцог | 心 |
19 | Mūla मूल | Mūlam മൂലം | Mūlam மூலம் | Moola මුල | Mula މުލަ | Moolaa మూల | Moola ಮೂಲ | Mula মূলা | Онгоц | 尾 |
20 | Pūrva Ashādhā पूर्वाषाढा | Pūrāṭam പൂരാടം | Pūradam பூராடம் | Puwasala පුවසල | Furahalha ފުރަހަޅަ | Poorvashaadha పూర్వాషాడ | Poorvashadha ಪುರ್ವಾಷಾಡ | Poorbashada পূর্বাষাঢ়া | Суулга | 箕 |
21 | Uttara Ashādhā उत्तराषाढा | Utrāṭam ഉത്രാടം | Uthirādam உத்திராடம் | Uttrasala උත්රසල | Uthurahalha އުތުރަހަޅަ | Uttarashaadha ఉత్తరాషాడ | Uttarashadha ಉತ್ತರಾಷಾಡ | Uttarashada]] উত্তরাষাঢ়া | Элдэв тэнгэртэн | 斗 |
22 | Shravana श्रवण | Tiruvōnam ഓണം (തിരുവോണം) | Tiruvōnam திருவோணம் | Suvana සුවණ | Huvan ހުވަން | Shravana శ్రవణ | Shravana ಶ್ರವಣ | Shraban শ্রবণ | Булаагч/Яруу эгшигт | 女 |
23 | Shravishthā or Dhanishta श्रविष्ठा or धनिष्ठा | Aviṭṭam അവിട്ടം | Aviṭṭam அவிட்டம் | Denata දෙණට | Dhinasha ދިނަށަ | Dhanishta ధనిష్ఠ | Dhanishta ಧನಿಷ್ಠ | Dhanishta ধন্নিষ্ঠা | Тооно | 虛 |
24 | Shatabhishā or Shatataraka शतभिषक् / शततारका | Chatayam ചതയം | Sadayam சதயம் | Siyawasa සියාවස | Hiyavihaa ހިޔަވިހާ | Shatabhisha శతభిష | Shatabhisha ಶಥಭಿಷ | Shatabhisha শতভীষা | Чөдөр | 危 |
25 | Pūrva Bhādrapadā पूर्वभाद्रपदा / पूर्वप्रोष्ठपदा | Pūraṭṭāti പൂരുരുട്ടാതി | Pūraṭṭādhi பூரட்டாதி | Puvaputupa පුවපුටුප | Furabadhuruva ފުރަބަދުރުވަ | Poorvabhadraa పూర్వ భాద్రపద | Poorva Bhadrapada ಪೂರ್ವ ಭಾದ್ರಪದ | Poorbabhadra পূর্বভাদ্রা | Шувуун хошуут | 室 |
26 | Uttara Bhādrapadā उत्तरभाद्रपदा / उत्तरप्रोष्ठपदा | Uttṛṭṭāti ഉത്രട്ടാതി | Uttṛṭṭādhi உத்திரட்டாதி | Uttraputupa උත්රපුටුප | Fasbadhuruva ފަސްބަދުރުވަ | Uttaraa bhadra ఉత్తర భాద్రపద | Uttara Bhadrapada ಉತ್ತರ ಭಾದ್ರಪದ | Uttarbabhadra উত্তরভাদ্রা | Могой хүлэгч | 壁 |
27 | Revati रेवती | Rēvati രേവതി | Rēvathi ரேவதி | Revathi රේවතී | Reyva ރޭވަ | Revati రేవతి | Revati ರೇವತಿ | Rebati রেবতী | Дэлгэрүүлэгч | 奎 |
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.