Nakshatras (नक्षत्राणि)

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नक्षत्राणामहं शशी Bg.1.21.

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.

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.

the sun and the Nakṣatras are mentioned together in 8) Av. vi. 10, 3; Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, xxiii. 43; Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa, x. 1, 1; Taittirīya Āraṇyaka, iv. 10, 12.

the sun, the moon, and the Nakṣatras in 9) Av. vi. 128, 3; xv. 6, 2; Taittirīya Saṃhitā, i. 8, 13, 3; Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, xxii. 29, etc.

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.

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,

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).

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. 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.

The Names of the Nakṣatras.

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) Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, x. 5, 4, 5. 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 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.

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

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.

Shabda Sagara:

1. A star in general.
2. An asterism in the moon's path or lunar mansion, of which twenty-eight, distinct in name, figure, and number of stars, are enumerated; the Poura4nic and popular enumeration of those constellations is twenty-seven; Abhijit, the twenty-eighth, being considered as formed of portions of the two contiguous asterisms, and not distinct from them 2.

न क्षीयते क्षरते वा ।

Amarakosha

1।3।21।1।1

नक्षत्रमृक्षं भं तारा तारकाप्युडु वा स्त्रियाम्. दाक्षायिण्योऽश्विनीत्यादि तारा अश्वयुगश्विनी॥

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 nakshatra system consisting of 27 nakshatras (or 28 including Abhijit) was evolved long back and was used to indicate days. 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.

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).