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Nakshatra is in general, a star.<ref name=":1" /> In the Aitareya brahmana, the apparent path by which the grahas (ग्रहाः | planets), the Moon and the Sun move in the sky on the background of the stars is called a 'Royal Path'. The ancient seers divided this path into 27 divisions called nakshatras because it was observed that the moon came back to the same position in the zodiac once in about 27 days.<ref name=":2">Prabhakar Vyankatesh Holay, Vedic Astronomy, Nagpur: Shri Babasaheb Apte Smarak Samitee, [https://archive.org/details/VedangaJyotisha/page/n27/mode/2up Nakshatras (p.17)].</ref><ref name=":0">K.V.Sarma (1985), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.206186/page/n15/mode/2up Vedanga Jyotisa of Lagadha], New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy.</ref> Therefore, here, nakshatra refers to an asterism in the moon's path or lunar mansion.<ref name=":1" /> And each day was marked by the asterism or asterismal group (nakshatra) near which the moon was seen, resulting in calling the asterism as the day's nakshatra, from which the 27 asterismal segments of the zodiac came into use.<ref name=":0" />

Nakshatra is in general, a star.<ref name=":1" /> In the Aitareya brahmana, the apparent path by which the grahas (ग्रहाः | planets), the Moon and the Sun move in the sky on the background of the stars is called a 'Royal Path'. The ancient seers divided this path into 27 divisions called nakshatras because it was observed that the moon came back to the same position in the zodiac once in about 27 days.<ref name=":2">Prabhakar Vyankatesh Holay, Vedic Astronomy, Nagpur: Shri Babasaheb Apte Smarak Samitee, [https://archive.org/details/VedangaJyotisha/page/n27/mode/2up Nakshatras (p.17)].</ref><ref name=":0">K.V.Sarma (1985), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.206186/page/n15/mode/2up Vedanga Jyotisa of Lagadha], New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy.</ref> Therefore, here, nakshatra refers to an asterism in the moon's path or lunar mansion.<ref name=":1" /> And each day was marked by the asterism or asterismal group (nakshatra) near which the moon was seen, resulting in calling the asterism as the day's nakshatra, from which the 27 asterismal segments of the zodiac came into use.<ref name=":0" />

The meaning of the number 27 is easily explained when it is remembered that a periodic month occupies something between 27 and 28 days, more nearly the former number. Such a month as consisting of 27 days, 12 months making a year of 324 days, a Nakṣatra year, or with an intercalary month, a year of 351 days is recognized in the Latyayana Shrauta Sutras and Nidana Sutras.<blockquote>स षट्त्रिंशदूनो नाक्षत्रः सप्तविंशिनो हि मासाः ॥४॥ (Laty. Shra. Sutr. 4.8.4)<ref name=":4">Ananda Chandra Vedantavagisa (1872), Srautasutra of Latyayana with the commentary of Agniswami, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.284148/page/n451/mode/2up 4th Prapathaka, 8th Kandika.]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''sa ṣaṭtriṁśadūno nākṣatraḥ saptaviṁśino hi māsāḥ ॥4॥'' </blockquote>Commenting upon this Latyayana sutra, Shri Anandaswami says,<blockquote>स एवं क्रियमाणः संवत्सरः सावनात् संवत्सरात् षट् त्रिंशताहोभिः ऊनो भवति नाक्षत्रः नक्षत्रसम्मितः सप्तविंशिनो मासा भवन्ति तत्र सप्तविंशतिर्नक्षत्राणीति ॥४॥(Laty. Shra. Sutr. 4.8.4)<ref name=":4" /></blockquote><blockquote>''sa evaṁ kriyamāṇaḥ saṁvatsaraḥ sāvanāt saṁvatsarāt ṣaṭ triṁśatāhobhiḥ ūno bhavati nākṣatraḥ nakṣatrasammitaḥ saptaviṁśino māsā bhavanti tatra saptaviṁśatirnakṣatrāṇīti ॥4॥''</blockquote>The Nidana sutra (Prapathaka 5) describes the one-year yajna of the Sun and the one year yajna of the constellation. And while discussing the period for performing each constellation, it mentions that there are 27 constellations.<blockquote>तेषां नक्षत्रः प्रथमः, तस्य सप्तविंशिनो मासाः, सप्तविंशतिर्नक्षत्राणीति |<ref>K. N. Bhatnagar (1971), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.408135/page/n65/mode/2up Nidana-Sutra of Patanjali], Delhi: Meharchand Lachhmandas Oriental & Foreign Booksellers.</ref> (Prapathaka 5, Patala 5)</blockquote><blockquote>''teṣāṁ nakṣatraḥ prathamaḥ, tasya saptaviṁśino māsāḥ, saptaviṁśatirnakṣatrāṇīti |''  </blockquote>Also, this nakshatra system consisting of 27 nakshatras (or 28 including Abhijit), used to indicate days, was evolved long back. It is pointed out that Agrahayana, an old name for mrgashira nakshatra, meaning 'beginning of the year' suggests that the sun used to be in that asterism at the vernal equinox. While, the Rohini legends in the Rgveda point to a time in the late Rgveda period when the vernal equinox shifted to the Rohini asterism (from Mrgashira).<ref name=":3">S.Balachandra Rao (2000), Ancient Indian Astronomy, Delhi: B.R.Publishing Corporation.</ref> Therefore, the 27 nakshatras were utilised in the study of the position of the Sun and the Moon.<ref name=":5">K. S. Shukla, [https://www.insa.nic.in/writereaddata/UpLoadedFiles/IJHS/Vol04_1And2_11_KSShukla.pdf Astronomy in ancient and medieval India], Indian Journal of History of Science, Vol.4, Nos. 1-2 (1969), pp.99-106.</ref>

The meaning of the number 27 is easily explained when it is remembered that a periodic month occupies something between 27 and 28 days, more nearly the former number. Such a month as consisting of 27 days, 12 months making a year of 324 days, a Nakshatra year, or with an intercalary month, a year of 351 days is recognized in the Latyayana Shrauta Sutras and Nidana Sutras.<blockquote>स षट्त्रिंशदूनो नाक्षत्रः सप्तविंशिनो हि मासाः ॥४॥ (Laty. Shra. Sutr. 4.8.4)<ref name=":4">Ananda Chandra Vedantavagisa (1872), Srautasutra of Latyayana with the commentary of Agniswami, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.284148/page/n451/mode/2up 4th Prapathaka, 8th Kandika.]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''sa ṣaṭtriṁśadūno nākṣatraḥ saptaviṁśino hi māsāḥ ॥4॥'' </blockquote>Commenting upon this Latyayana sutra, Shri Anandaswami says,<blockquote>स एवं क्रियमाणः संवत्सरः सावनात् संवत्सरात् षट् त्रिंशताहोभिः ऊनो भवति नाक्षत्रः नक्षत्रसम्मितः सप्तविंशिनो मासा भवन्ति तत्र सप्तविंशतिर्नक्षत्राणीति ॥४॥(Laty. Shra. Sutr. 4.8.4)<ref name=":4" /></blockquote><blockquote>''sa evaṁ kriyamāṇaḥ saṁvatsaraḥ sāvanāt saṁvatsarāt ṣaṭ triṁśatāhobhiḥ ūno bhavati nākṣatraḥ nakṣatrasammitaḥ saptaviṁśino māsā bhavanti tatra saptaviṁśatirnakṣatrāṇīti ॥4॥''</blockquote>The Nidana sutra (Prapathaka 5) describes the one-year yajna of the Sun and the one year yajna of the constellation. And while discussing the period for performing each constellation, it mentions that there are 27 constellations.<blockquote>तेषां नक्षत्रः प्रथमः, तस्य सप्तविंशिनो मासाः, सप्तविंशतिर्नक्षत्राणीति |<ref>K. N. Bhatnagar (1971), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.408135/page/n65/mode/2up Nidana-Sutra of Patanjali], Delhi: Meharchand Lachhmandas Oriental & Foreign Booksellers.</ref> (Prapathaka 5, Patala 5)</blockquote><blockquote>''teṣāṁ nakṣatraḥ prathamaḥ, tasya saptaviṁśino māsāḥ, saptaviṁśatirnakṣatrāṇīti |''  </blockquote>Also, this nakshatra system consisting of 27 nakshatras (or 28 including Abhijit), used to indicate days, was evolved long back. It is pointed out that Agrahayana, an old name for mrgashira nakshatra, meaning 'beginning of the year' suggests that the sun used to be in that asterism at the vernal equinox. While, the Rohini legends in the Rgveda point to a time in the late Rgveda period when the vernal equinox shifted to the Rohini asterism (from Mrgashira).<ref name=":3">S.Balachandra Rao (2000), Ancient Indian Astronomy, Delhi: B.R.Publishing Corporation.</ref> Therefore, the 27 nakshatras were utilised in the study of the position of the Sun and the Moon.<ref name=":5">K. S. Shukla, [https://www.insa.nic.in/writereaddata/UpLoadedFiles/IJHS/Vol04_1And2_11_KSShukla.pdf Astronomy in ancient and medieval India], Indian Journal of History of Science, Vol.4, Nos. 1-2 (1969), pp.99-106.</ref>

== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==

== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==

Shabda Sagara gives the etymology of the word nakshatra as न क्षीयते क्षरते वा । ''na kṣīyate kṣarate vā ।''<ref name=":1" />

Shabda Sagara gives the etymology of the word nakshatra as न क्षीयते क्षरते वा । ''na kṣīyate kṣarate vā ।''<ref name=":1" />

While the Shatapatha brahmana explains the etymology of the word nakshatra with an anecdote in the context of discussing the right time for Agnyadhana. It says, the stars shone just like the Sun or the moon. However, the Sun, even as he was rising destroyed their power, virility and lustre. And hence, the deities said, "These are not powers any more." That is the powerlessness (nakshatratva) of the stars. <blockquote>तेजः प्रलुलोप तद्धैषामादधे ते ह देवा उचुर्न वा इमानि क्षत्राण्यभूवन्निति तन्नक्षत्राणां नक्षत्रत्वमा... ॥१२॥<ref>C. R. Swaminathan (1994), Kanvasatapathabrahmanam, [http://ignca.nic.in/eBooks/KANVASATAPATHABRAHMAAAM_Vol_I.pdf Volume I], New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre For The Arts and Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''tejaḥ pralulopa taddhaiṣāmādadhe te ha devā ucurna vā imāni kṣatrāṇyabhūvanniti tannakṣatrāṇāṁ nakṣatratvamā... ॥12॥'' </blockquote>Nirukta mentions Rksha and Strbhi as synonyms of nakshatra. And further states that Nakshatra (star) is derived from the root naksh, meaning 'to go'.<ref>Lakshman Sarup (1967), [http://shastradeepika.org/Resources/Vyakarana/Nighantu_Nirukta_Yaska.pdf The Nighantu and The Nirukta], Motilal Banarsidass.  </ref> <blockquote>ऋक्षाः स्तृभिः इति नक्षत्राणाम् । इति अपि निगमौ भवतः । नक्षत्राणि नक्षतेः गतिकर्मणः । इति अपि निगमः भवति । ३.२० ।<ref>Nirukta, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''r̥kṣāḥ str̥bhiḥ iti nakṣatrāṇām । iti api nigamau bhavataḥ । nakṣatrāṇi nakṣateḥ gatikarmaṇaḥ । iti api nigamaḥ bhavati । 3.20 ।''</blockquote>While the Taittiriya brahmana says, <blockquote>अमुꣳ स लोकं नक्षते । तन्नक्षत्राणां नक्षत्रत्वम् ५<ref>Taittiriya brahmana, Kanda 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AB Prapathaka 5].</ref> ''amuꣳ sa lokaṁ nakṣate । tannakṣatrāṇāṁ nakṣatratvam 5''</blockquote>According to Amarakosha, there are 6 words for a star -Nakshatra, Rksha, Bha, Tara, Taraka and Udu. While, the word Dakshayani is always used in plural as suggestive collectively of the 27 stars namely, Ashvini and others.<ref name=":7">Manna Lal Abhimanyu (1994), [https://archive.org/details/AmaraKosha/page/n27/mode/2up The Amara-kosha of Shri Amara Sinha], Benaras: Master Khelarilal & Sons.</ref><blockquote>नक्षत्रमृक्षं भं तारा तारकाप्युडु वा स्त्रियाम् दाक्षायिण्योऽश्विनीत्यादि तारा ... (Digvarga)<ref name=":8">Amarakosha, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Kanda 1].</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>''nakṣatramr̥kṣaṁ bhaṁ tārā tārakāpyuḍu vā striyām dākṣāyiṇyo'śvinītyādi tārā ...''</blockquote>In fact, the Amarakosha also enlists the alternative names for a few nakshatras as follows<ref name=":7" />:

While the Shatapatha brahmana explains the etymology of the word nakshatra with an anecdote in the context of discussing the right time for Agnyadhana. It says, the stars shone just like the Sun or the moon. However, the Sun, even as he was rising destroyed their power, virility and lustre. And hence, the deities said, "These are not powers any more." That is the powerlessness (nakshatratva) of the stars. <blockquote>तेजः प्रलुलोप तद्धैषामादधे ते ह देवा उचुर्न वा इमानि क्षत्राण्यभूवन्निति तन्नक्षत्राणां नक्षत्रत्वमा... ॥१२॥<ref>C. R. Swaminathan (1994), Kanvasatapathabrahmanam, [http://ignca.nic.in/eBooks/KANVASATAPATHABRAHMAAAM_Vol_I.pdf Volume I], New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre For The Arts and Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''tejaḥ pralulopa taddhaiṣāmādadhe te ha devā ucurna vā imāni kṣatrāṇyabhūvanniti tannakṣatrāṇāṁ nakṣatratvamā... ॥12॥'' </blockquote>Nirukta mentions Rksha and Strbhi as synonyms of nakshatra. And further states that Nakshatra (star) is derived from the root naksh, meaning 'to go'.<ref>Lakshman Sarup (1967), [http://shastradeepika.org/Resources/Vyakarana/Nighantu_Nirukta_Yaska.pdf The Nighantu and The Nirukta], Motilal Banarsidass.  </ref> <blockquote>ऋक्षाः स्तृभिः इति नक्षत्राणाम् । इति अपि निगमौ भवतः । नक्षत्राणि नक्षतेः गतिकर्मणः । इति अपि निगमः भवति । ३.२० ।<ref>Nirukta, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''r̥kṣāḥ str̥bhiḥ iti nakṣatrāṇām । iti api nigamau bhavataḥ । nakṣatrāṇi nakṣateḥ gatikarmaṇaḥ । iti api nigamaḥ bhavati । 3.20 ।''</blockquote>While the Taittiriya brahmana says, <blockquote>अमुꣳ स लोकं नक्षते । तन्नक्षत्राणां नक्षत्रत्वम् ५<ref>Taittiriya brahmana, Kanda 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AB Prapathaka 5].</ref> ''amuꣳ sa lokaṁ nakṣate । tannakṣatrāṇāṁ nakṣatratvam 5''</blockquote>According to Amarakosha, there are 6 words for a star - Nakshatra, Rksha, Bha, Tara, Taraka and Udu. While, the word Dakshayani is always used in plural as suggestive collectively of the 27 stars namely, Ashvini and others.<ref name=":7">Manna Lal Abhimanyu (1994), [https://archive.org/details/AmaraKosha/page/n27/mode/2up The Amara-kosha of Shri Amara Sinha], Benaras: Master Khelarilal & Sons.</ref><blockquote>नक्षत्रमृक्षं भं तारा तारकाप्युडु वा स्त्रियाम् दाक्षायिण्योऽश्विनीत्यादि तारा ... (Digvarga)<ref name=":8">Amarakosha, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Kanda 1].</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>''nakṣatramr̥kṣaṁ bhaṁ tārā tārakāpyuḍu vā striyām dākṣāyiṇyo'śvinītyādi tārā ...''</blockquote>In fact, the Amarakosha also enlists the alternative names for a few nakshatras as follows<ref name=":7" />:

* Ashvini is also called Ashvayuk  

* Ashvini is also called Ashvayuk  

* Vishakha is also called Radha

* Vishakha is also called Radha