Nakshatras (नक्षत्राणि)

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Nakshatras (Samskrit: नक्षत्राणि) refer to asterisms in the moon's path or lunar mansion, of which twenty-eight, distinct in name, figure, and number of stars, are enumerated. The Puranic and popular enumeration of these constellations is twenty-seven. Abhijit, the twenty-eighth, being considered as formed of portions of the two contiguous asterisms, and not distinct from them both.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

Nakshatra is in general, a star. In the Aitareya brahmana, the apparent path by which the 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. Therefore, here, nakshatra refers to an asterism in the moon's path or lunar mansion. 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.

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 is in fact recognized in the Latyayana Shrauta Sutras and Nidāna Sūtras 31) v. 11. 12. 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.

स षट्त्रिंशदूनो नाक्षत्रः सप्तविंशिनो हि मासाः ॥४॥ (Laty. Shra. Sutr. 4.8.4)

sa ṣaṭtriṁśadūno nākṣatraḥ saptaviṁśino hi māsāḥ ॥4॥

Commenting upon this Latyayana sutra, Shri Anandaswami says,

स एवं क्रियमाणः संवत्सरः सावनात् संवत्सरात् षट् त्रिंशताहोभिः ऊनो भवति नाक्षत्रः नक्षत्रसम्मितः सप्तविंशिनो मासा भवन्ति तत्र सप्तविंशतिर्नक्षत्राणीति ॥४॥(Laty. Shra. Sutr. 4.8.4)

sa evaṁ kriyamāṇaḥ saṁvatsaraḥ sāvanāt saṁvatsarāt ṣaṭ triṁśatāhobhiḥ ūno bhavati nākṣatraḥ nakṣatrasammitaḥ saptaviṁśino māsā bhavanti tatra saptaviṁśatirnakṣatrāṇīti ॥4॥

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). Therefore, the 27 nakshatras were utilised in the study of the position of the Sun and the Moon.

व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology

Shabda Sagara:

न क्षीयते क्षरते वा ।

The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 1) ii. 1, 2, 18. 19. Cf. a citation in Nirukta, iii. 20. resolves it into na-kṣatra, explaining it by a legend.

The Nirukta 2) Loc. cit., s.v. refers it to the root nakṣ, ‘obtain,’ following the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa. 3) i. 5, 2, 5.

Amarakosha

1।3।21।1।1

नक्षत्रमृक्षं भं तारा तारकाप्युडु वा स्त्रियाम्. दाक्षायिण्योऽश्विनीत्यादि तारा अश्वयुगश्विनी॥

वेदवाङ्मये नक्षत्रम् ॥ Nakshatra in the Vedic Literature

ऋग्वेदसाहित्ये ॥ In the Rgvedic Literature

Prof K. S. Shukla in his paper 'Astronomy in ancient and medieval India' mentions that the Rgveda divides the Sun's yearly path into 12 and 360 divisions. Similarly, the moon's path was divided into 27 parts and each part was called a nakshatra. The stars lying near the moon's path were also divided into 27 (or sometimes 28) groups and each of them was called a nakshatra (asterism). The names of some of these nakshatras namely, Tishya (Pushya), Agha (Magha), Arjuni (Phalguni), Chitra and Revati are mentioned in the Rgveda.

Rgveda 5.54.13; 10.64.8; 10.85.13; 4.51.2; 4.51.4

In the sense of ‘star’ - passages in which Nakṣatra occurs in the Rigveda. 7) See i. 50, 2; vii. 86, 1; x. 68, 11; 111, 7;

Meaning the sun itself, vi. 67, 6 (as masculine); vii. 81, 2; x. 88, 13.

The sun is allied with them, iii. 54, 19.

other references to the Nakṣatras as 27 in the Rigveda, 17) i. 162, 18 (the 34 ribs of the horse = moon, sun, 5 planets, 27 Nakṣatras); x. 55, 3 (34 lights).

यजुर्वेदसाहित्ये ॥ In the Yajurvedic Literature

The Taittiriya Samhita of the Krishna Yajurveda mentions the names of the 27 nakshatras.

the sun and the Nakṣatras are mentioned together in Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, xxiii. 43; Taittirīya Āraṇyaka, iv. 10, 12.

the sun, the moon, and the Nakṣatras in Taittirīya Saṃhitā, i. 8, 13, 3; Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, xxii. 29, etc.

the moon and the Nakṣatras, Taittirīya Saṃhitā, iii. 4, 5, 1; Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā, xxxv. 15; xxxvii. 12; Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, xxx. 21; xxxix. 2, etc.

the Nakṣatras alone; 11) Taittirīya Saṃhitā, i. 2, 2, 2; ii 6, 2, 6, etc; Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, xxx. 21 etc.; Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā, Aśvamedha, v. 5,

सामवेदसाहित्ये ॥ In the Samavedic Literature

the sun and the Nakṣatras are mentioned together in Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa, x. 1, 1;

अथर्ववेदसाहित्ये ॥ In the Atharvavedic Literature

the sun and the Nakṣatras are mentioned together in 8) Av. vi. 10, 3;

the sun, the moon, and the Nakṣatras in 9) Av. vi. 128, 3; xv. 6, 2;

the moon and the Nakṣatras, 10) Av. v. 24, 10; vi. 86, 2; Taittirīya Saṃhitā, iii. 4, 5, 1; Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā, xxxv. 15; xxxvii. 12; Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, xxx. 21; xxxix. 2, etc.

चन्द्रेण सह विवाहः ॥ Marriage with Chandra

In several passages of the later Saṃhitās the connection of the moon and the Nakṣatras is conceived of as a marriage union. Thus in the Kāṭhaka 19) xi. 3 and Taittirīya Saṃhitās 20) ii. 3, 5, 1-3. Cf. also iii. 4, 7. 1; Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā, xviii. 14; Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, xviii. 40; Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, ix. 4, 1, 9; Ṣaḍviṃśa Brāhmaṇa, iii. 12.

The dwelling of the moon in a Nakṣatra is mentioned, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, x. 5, 4, 17; Nirukta, v. 21; a Mantra in Kauśika Sūtra, 135; Taittirīya Āraṇyaka, i. 11, 6; v. 12, 1, etc.

it is expressly stated that Soma was wedded to the mansions, but dwelt only with Rohiṇī; the others being angry, he had ultimately to undertake to live with them all equally. the later system of the Siddhāntas, and Tilak, Orion, 33 et seq. hence deduced that the Nakṣatras were regarded as of equal extent.

नक्षत्राणामहं शशी Bg.1.21.

नक्षत्राणां सङ्ख्या ॥ Number of Nakshatras

it is expressly stated that Soma was wedded to the mansions, but dwelt only with Rohiṇī; the others being angry, he had ultimately to undertake to live with them all equally. the later system of the Siddhāntas, and Tilak, Orion, 33 et seq. hence deduced that the Nakṣatras were regarded as of equal extent.

The number of the mansions is not stated as 27 in the story told in the two Saṃhitās: the Taittīriya has 33, and the Kāṭhaka no number; but 27 appears as their number in the list which is found in the Taittirīya Saṃhitā 22) iv. 4, 10, 1-3. and elsewhere. 23) Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā, xxxix. 13, but Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhitā, ii. 13, 20, has 28; Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa, i. 5, 1, 1-5, in lists of Nakṣatras.

See also Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, ix, 7; Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, x. 5, 4, 5; Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa, xxiii, 23; Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇa, v. 1; Sāṅkhāyana Āraṇyaka, ii. 16; Taittirīya Saṃhitā, vii. 1, 2, 2; Śāṅkhāyana Śrauta Sūtra, xiv. 78, etc.

in one passage of the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 24) i. 5, 2, 3. Abhijit is practically marked as a new comer, though in a later book, 25) iii. 1, 2, 6. in the Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhitā, 26) ii. 13, 20. and in the Atharvaveda list, 27) xix. 7, 1; 8, 1 = Nakṣatrakalpa, 10. 26. So in Śāṅkhāyana Gṛhya Sūtra, i. 26. it has found acceptance. It is perfectly possible that 28 is the earlier number, and that Abhijit dropped out because it was faint, or too far north, or because 27 was a more mystic (3×3×3) number:

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 is in fact recognized in the Lāṭyāyana 30) iv. 8, 1 et seq. and Nidāna Sūtras 31) v. 11. 12. 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.

In the ceremony of the Agnicayana, or ‘piling of the firealtar,’ the bricks are assumed to be equal in number to the Nakṣatras. The bricks number 756, and they are equated to 27 Nakṣatras multiplied by 27 secondary Nakṣatras, reckoned as 720 (instead of 729), with the addition of 36 days, the length of an intercalary month.

नक्षत्रनामावलिः ॥ Names of the Nakshatras

With reference to possible times for the ceremony of the Agnyādhāna, or ‘laying of the sacred fires,’ the Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā, 38) viii. 1. the Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhitā, 39) i. 6, 9. and the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 40) i. 1, 2, 1-6. mention the Nakṣatras called Kṛttikās, Rohiṇī, Phalgunyas, Hasta;

The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 42) ii. 1, 2, 1. adds Mṛgaśīrṣa and Citrā as possibilities.

Punarvasū is recommended by all authorities 43) Taittirīya Saṃhitā, i. 5, 1, 4; Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhitā, i. 7, 2; Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā, viii. 15; Satapatha Brāhmaṇa, ii. 1, 2, 10; Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇa, i. 3. as suitable for the Punarādheya, ‘relaying of the sacred fires,’ which takes place if the first fire has failed to effect the aim of its existence, the prosperity of the yajamana. 44) The Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā, 45) viii. 15; Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhitā. i. 7, 2. however, allows Anurādhās also.

In the ceremony of the Agnicayana, or ‘piling of the firealtar,’ the bricks are assumed to be equal in number to the Nakṣatras. The bricks number 756, and they are equated to 27 Nakṣatras multiplied by 27 secondary Nakṣatras, reckoned as 720 (instead of 729), with the addition of 36 days, the length of an intercalary month.

46) Shatapatha brahmana, 10.5.4.5 gives the names of the 27 nakshatras as well as those of the 27 upa-nakshatras.

see Shamasastry, Gavam ayana, 122 et seq. But in connection with this ceremony the Yajurveda Saṃhitās 47) Taittiriya Samhitā, iv. 4, 10. 1-3; Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhitā, i. 13, 20; Kātnaka Saṃhitā, xxxix. 13. enumerate the 27 Nakṣatras, and these lists

Taittirīya Saṃhitā. Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhita. Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā.

1. Kṛttikās (fem. plur.) ... Kṛttikās ... ... ... Kṛttikās

2. Rohiṇī ... ... ... Rohiṇī ... ... ... Rohiṇī

3. Mṛgaśīrṣa (neut.) ... Invagā ... ... ... Invakā

4. Ārdrā ... ... ... Bāhu ... ... ... Bāhu

5. Punarvasū (dual) ... Punarvasu (sing.) ... ... Punarvasu

6. Tiṣya ... ... ... Tiṣya ... ... ... Tiṣya

7. Āśreṣās (fem. plur.) ... Āśleṣās(plur.; Pada Aśleṣā) Āśleṣās (or Aśleṣās)

8. Maghās (fem. plur.) ... Maghās ... ... ... Maghās

9. Phalgunī (fem. dual) ... Phalgunīs (plur.) ... ... Phalgunis

10. Phalgunī (fem. dual) ...Phalgunīs (plur.) ... ... Uttarāḥa Phalgunīs

11. Hasta ... ... ... Hasta ... ... ... Hastau (dual)

12. Citrā ... ... ... Citrā ... ... ... Citrā

13. Svātī ... ... ... Niṣṭya (neut.) ... ... Niṣṭyā

14. Viśākhe (fem. dual) ... Viśākha (neut. sing.) ... Viśākhā (fem. sing.)

15. Anūrādhās (plur.) ... Anūrādhā (Pada Anu-Anūrādhās (masc. rādhā) Anūrādhās (masc. plur.)

16. Rohiṇī ... ... ... Jyeṣṭhā ... ... ... Jyeṣṭhā

17. Vicṛtau ... ... ... Mūla (neut.) ... ... Mūla

18. Aṣāḍhās (fem. plur.) ... Aṣāḍhās ... ... ... Aṣāḍhās

19. Aṣāḍhās (fem. plur.) ... Aṣāḍhās ... ... ...Uttarā Aṣāḍhās

20. Abhijit ... ... ...

21. Śroṇā ... ... ... Śroṇā ... ... ... Aśvattha

22. Śraviṣṭhās (plur.) ... Śraviṣṭhās ... ... ... Śraviṣṭhās

23. Śatabhiṣaj ... ... Śatabhiṣaj ... ... ... Śatabhiṣaj

24. Proṣṭhapadās (masc. plur.) Proṣṭhapadās ... ... Proṣṭhapadās

25. Proṣṭhapadās(masc. plur.) Proṣṭhapadās ... ... Uttare Proṣṭhapadās

26. Revatī ... ... ... Revatī ... ... ... Revatī

27. Aśvayujau (dual) ... Aśvayujau ... ... ... Aśvayujau

28. Apabharaṇīs (fem. plur.) Bharaṇīs ... ... ... Apabharaṇīs

The Taittirīya Brahmaṇa 49) i. 5, 1 has a list of the Nakṣatras which agrees generally with the list of the Saṃhitās. It runs as follows: Kṛttikās, Rohiṇī, Invakās, Bāhū (dual), Tiṣya, Āśleṣās, Maghās, Pūrve Phalgunī, Uttare Phalgunī, Hasta, Citrā, Niṣṭyā, Viśākhe, Anūrādhās, Rohiṇī, Mūlabarhaṇī, Pūrvā Aṣāḍhās, Uttarā Aṣāḍhās, Śroṇā, Śraviṣṭhās, Śatabhiṣaj, Pūrve Proṣṭhapadās, Uttare Proṣṭhapadās, Revatī, Aśvayujau, Apabharaṇīs.

The seven stars of the Kṛttikās are named as Ambā, Dulā, Nitatnī, Abhrayantī, Meghayantī, Varṣayantī, Cupuṇīkā, names found also in the Taittirīya 51) iv. 4, 5, 1. and Kāṭhaka Saṃhitās. 52) xl. 4.

The nineteenth book of the Atharvaveda contains a list 61) xix. 7, 1 et seq. The number is given as 28 in xix. 7, 1

The list of nakshatras with English names of important stars in each nakshatra are as follows:

• Ashvini (Alpha Aritis)

• Bharani (41 Aritis)

• Krttika (Eta Tauri)

• Rohini (Alpha Tauri)

• Mrgashirsha (Lamda Orinis)

• Ardra (Gama Geminorium)

• Punarvasu (Bita Geminorium)

• Pushya (Delta Cancri)

• Ashlesha (Zita Hydree)

• Magha (Alpha Leonis)

• Purva Phalguni (Thita Leonis)

• Uttara Phalguni (Beta Leonis)

• Hasta (Delta Curri)

• Chitra (Alpha Verginis)

• Swati (Alpha Bootes)

• Vishakha (Libra)

• Anuradha (Bita Scorphi)

• Jyeshtha (Alpha Scorpi)

• Mula (Lamda Scorphi)

• Purvashadha (Epsilon Sagattari)

• Uttarashadha (Pai Sagattari)

• Shravana (Alpha Aquili)

• Shravishtha (Alpha Delfhini)

• Shatabhishaj (Lamda Aquari)

• Purva Bhadrapada (Alpha Pegasi)

• Uttara Bhadrapada (Gama Pegasi)

• Revati (Zita Pesium)

नक्षत्रदेवताः ॥ Presiding Deities

In the Vedas the asterisms are considered to be the abodes of the deities or the visible forms of pious persons after death, Sāyaṇa on Ṛg-veda I. 50, 2

later as wives of the moon and daughters of दक्ष MBh. Hariv.

the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa divides the Nakṣatras into two sets, the Deva Nakṣatras and the Yama Nakṣatras, being 1-14 and 15-27 (with the omission of Abhijit) respectively.

Vedanga Jyotisha of Lagadha.

It was observed that the moon came back to the same position in the zodiac once in about 27 days and that each day was marked by the asterism or asterismal group (nakshatra) near which the moon was seen, resulting in calling the asterism ad the day's nakshatra, from which the 27 asterismal segments of the zodiac came into use.

The names of these with their presiding deities are enumerated in the Yajurveda, beginning with Krttika, where the spring equinox was situated at that period. The thirteen and a half nakshatras ending with Vishakha, situated in the northern hemisphere, were called devanakshatras, while the thirteen and a half others ending with Bharani were called yamanakshatras as seen in the following passage of the Taittiriya brahmana (1.5.2.7)

कृत्तिकाः प्रथमम् । विशाखे उत्तमम् । तानि देवनक्षत्राणि । अनूराधाः प्रथमम् । अपभरणीरुत्तमम् । तानि यमनक्षत्राणि ।

kr̥ttikāḥ prathamam । viśākhe uttamam । tāni devanakṣatrāṇi । anūrādhāḥ prathamam । apabharaṇīruttamam । tāni yamanakṣatrāṇi ।

The presiding deities of the asterisms (beginning from krttika) are, respectively: Agni, Prajapati, Soma, Rudra, Aditi, Brhaspati, Serpents, Pitrs (Manes), Bhaga, Aryaman, Savita, Tvasta, Vayu, Indragni, Mitra, Indra, Nirrti, Waters, Vishvedevas, Vishnu, Vasus, Varuna, Ajaekapada, Ahirbudhnya, Pushan, Ashvinas and Yama. (R-VJ 25-28; Y-VY 32-35)

अग्निः प्रजापतिः सोमो रुद्रोऽदितिर्बृहस्पतिः । सर्पाश्च पितरश्चैव भगश्चैवार्यमापि च ॥२५॥

सविता त्वष्टाथ वायुश्चेन्द्राग्नी मित्र एव च । इन्द्रो निरॄतिरापो वै विश्वेदेवास्तथैव च ॥२६॥

विष्णुर्वसवो वरुणोऽज एकपात् तथैव च । अहिर्बुध्न्यस्तथा पूषा अश्विनौ यम एव च ॥२७॥

agniḥ prajāpatiḥ somo rudro'ditirbr̥haspatiḥ । sarpāśca pitaraścaiva bhagaścaivāryamāpi ca ॥25॥

savitā tvaṣṭātha vāyuścendrāgnī mitra eva ca । indro nirr̥̄tirāpo vai viśvedevāstathaiva ca ॥26॥

viṣṇurvasavo varuṇo'ja ekapāt tathaiva ca । ahirbudhnyastathā pūṣā aśvinau yama eva ca ॥27॥

The Taittiriya Samhita (4.4.10.1-3) and the Taittiriya brahmana (1.5.1; 3.1.1-2; 3.1.4-5) give the names of the 28 nakshatras along with those of the deities supposed to preside over them.

Also see, Atharva-samhita 19.7.2-5; Kathaka-samhita 39.13; Maitrayani-samhita 2.13.20

Constellations other than Nakshatras

Apart from the 28 nakshatras, some other constellations have also been noted in the Vedic literature. The Rgveda (1.24.10; 10.14.11; 10.63.10) mentions

• the Rkshas or Bears (the Great Bear and the Little Bear)
• the two divine Dogs (Canis Major and Canis Minor)
• the heavenly Boat (Argo Navis)

The Great Bear was also known as Saptarshi (the constellation of the seven sages) and was mentioned by this name in Shatapatha brahmana (2.1.2.4) and the Tandya brahmana (1.5.5)

The golden Boat (Argo Navis) is mentioned in the Atharvaveda also. (5.4.4; 6.95.2)

While the Aitareya-brahmana (13.9) mentions the constellation of Mrga or Deer (Orion) anf the star Mrgavyadha (Sirius), and narrates an interesting story regarding them.

Meteors and Comets

Ulka (meteors) and Dhumaketu (comets) have been mentioned in the Atharvaveda. (19.9.8-9, 19.9.10)