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. The Surya Siddhantha concisely specifies the coordinates of the twenty seven Nakshatras
The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, following Basham.
No. |
Name |
Associated stars |
Description |
Image |
1 |
Ashvini
"wife of the Ashvins" |
β and γ Arietis |
- Lord: Ketu (South lunar node)
- Symbol : Horse's head
- Deity : Ashvins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods
- Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Mesha
- Western zodiac 26° Aries - 9°20' Taurus
|
|
2; 7 |
Bharani
"the bearer" |
35, 39, and 41 Arietis |
- Lord: Shukra (Venus)
- Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction
- Deity: 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 |
- Lord: Surya (Sun)
- Symbol: Knife or spear
- Deity : Agni, god of fire
- Indian zodiac: 26°40' Mesha - 10° Vrishabha
- Western zodiac 22° 40' Taurus - 6° Gemini
|
|
4; 9 |
Rohini
"the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī |
Aldebaran |
- Lord: Chandra (Moon)
- Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree
- Deity : Brahma or Prajapati, the Creator
- Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Vrishabha
- Western zodiac 6° - 19°20' Gemini
|
|
5; 3 |
Mrigashīrsha
"the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī |
λ, φ Orionis |
- Lord: Mangala (Mars)
- Symbol: Deer's head
- Deity: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god
- Indian zodiac: 23° 20' Vrishabha - 6° 40' Mithuna
- Western zodiac: 19°20' Gemini - 2°40' Cancer
|
|
6; 4 |
Ardra
"the moist one" |
Betelgeuse |
- Lord: Rahu (North lunar node)
- Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head
- Deity : Rudra, the storm god
- Indian zodiac: 6° 40' - 20° Mithuna
- Western zodiac: 2° 40' - 16° Cancer
|
|
7; 5 |
Punarvasu (dual)
"the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots" |
Castor and Pollux |
- Lord: Guru (Jupiter)
- Symbol : Bow and quiver
- Deity : Aditi, mother of the gods
- Indian zodiac: 20° Mithuna - 3°20' Karka
- Western zodiac 16° - 29°20' Cancer
|
|
8; 6 |
Pushya
"the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya |
γ, δ and θ Cancri |
- Lord: Shani (Saturn)
- Symbol : Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle
- Deity : Bṛhaspati, priest of the gods
- Indian zodiac: 3°20' -16°40' Karka
- Western zodiac 29°20' Cancer - 12°40' Leo
|
|
9; 7 |
Āshleshā
"the embrace" |
δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae |
- Lord: Budh (Mercury)
- Symbol: Serpent
- Deity : Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes
- Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Karka
- Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Leo
|
|
10; 15 |
Maghā
"the bountiful" |
Regulus |
- Lord: Ketu (south lunar node)
- Symbol : Royal Throne
- Deity : 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 |
- Lord: Shukra (Venus)
- Symbol : Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree
- Deity : Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity
- Indian zodiac: 13°20' - 26°40' Simha
- Western zodiac 9°20' - 22°40' Virgo
|
|
12 |
Uttara Phalgunī
"second reddish one" |
Denebola |
- Lord: Surya (Sun)
- Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock
- Deity : Aryaman, god of patronage and favours
- 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 |
- Lord: Chandra (Moon)
- Symbol: Hand or fist
- Deity : Saviti or Surya, 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 |
- Lord: Mangala (Mars)
- Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl
- Deity : Tvastar or Vishvakarman, the celestial architect
- Indian zodiac: 23°20' Kanya - 6°40' Tula
- Western zodiac: 19°20' Libra - 2°40' Scorpio
|
|
15 |
Svāti
"Su-Ati (sanskrit) Very good" name of Arcturus |
Arcturus |
- Lord: Rahu (north lunar node)
- Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral
- Deity : Vayu, the Wind god
- Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Tula
- Western zodiac 2°40' - 16° Scorpio
|
|
16; 14 |
Visakha
"forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift" |
α, β, γ and ι Librae |
- Lord: Guru (Jupiter)
- Symbol : Triumphal arch, potter's wheel
- Deity : 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 |
- Lord: Shani (Saturn)
- Symbol : Triumphal archway, lotus
- Deity : Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership
- Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Vrishchika
- Western zodiac 29°20' Scorpio - 12°40' Sagittarius
|
|
18; 16 |
Jyeshtha
"the eldest, most excellent" |
α, σ, and τ Scorpionis |
- Lord: Budh (Mercury)
- Symbol : circular amulet, umbrella, earring
- Deity : Indra, chief of the gods
- Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Vrishchika
- Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Sagittarius
|
|
19; 17 |
Mula
"the root" |
ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis |
- Lord: Ketu (south lunar node)
- Symbol : Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad
- Deity : Nirrti, goddess of dissolution and destruction
- Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Dhanus
- Western zodiac 26° Sagittarius - 9°20' Capricorn
|
|
20; 18 |
Purva Ashadha
"first of the aṣāḍhā", aṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation |
δ and ε Sagittarii |
- Lord: Shukra (Venus)
- Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket
- Deity : 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 |
- Lord: Surya (Sun)
- Symbol : Elephant tusk, small bed
- Deity : Visvedevas, universal gods
- Indian zodiac: 26°40' Dhanus - 10° Makara
- Western zodiac 22°40' Capricorn - 6° Aquarius
|
|
22; 20 |
Abhijit
"victorious" |
α, ε and ζ Lyrae - Vega |
Lord: Brahma |
|
23; 20 |
Sravana
|
α, β and γ Aquilae |
- Lord: Chandra (Moon)
- Symbol : Ear or Three Footprints
- Deity : Vishnu, preserver of universe
- Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Makara
- Western zodiac 6° - 19°20' Aquarius
|
|
24; 21; 23 |
Dhanishta
"most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest" |
α to δ Delphini |
- Lord: Mangala (Mars)
- Symbol : Drum or flute
- Deity : Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance
- Indian zodiac: 23°20' Makara - 6°40' Kumbha
- Western zodiac 19°20' Aquarius - 2°40' Pisces
|
|
24; 22 |
Shatabhisha
"requiring a hundred physicians" |
γ Aquarii |
- Lord: Rahu (north lunar node)
- Symbol : Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars
- Deity : Varuna, god of cosmic waters, sky and earth
- Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Kumbha ; Western zodiac 2°40' - 16° Pisces
|
|
25; 3 |
Purva Bhadrapada
"the first of the blessed feet" |
α and β Pegasi |
- Lord: Guru (Jupiter)
- Symbol : Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces
- Deity : Ajikapada, an ancient fire dragon
- Indian zodiac: 20° Kumbha - 3°20' Meena ; Western zodiac 16° - 29°20' Pisces
|
|
26; 4 |
Uttara Bhādrapadā
"the second of the blessed feet" |
γ Pegasi and α Andromedae |
- Lord: Shani (Saturn)
- Symbol : Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water
- Deity : Ahir Budhyana, serpent or dragon of the deep
- Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Meena ; Western zodiac 29°20' Pisces - 12°40' Aries
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|
27; 5 |
Revati
"prosperous" |
ζ Piscium |
- Lord: Budh (Mercury)
- Symbol : Fish or a pair of fish, drum
- Deity : Pushan, nourisher, the protective deity
- Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Meena
- Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Aries
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