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=== ऋग्वेदसाहित्ये ॥ In the Rgvedic 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.<ref name=":5" />

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.<ref name=":5" />

 

Rgveda 5.54.13; 10.64.8; 10.85.13; 4.51.2; 4.51.4<ref name=":6">Kolachana, Aditya & Mahesh, Kaluva & Ramasubramanian, K.. (2019). Main characteristics and achievements of ancient Indian astronomy in historical perspective. 10.1007/978-981-13-7326-8_24. </ref>

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;

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;

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.  

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  

46) Shatapatha brahmana, 10.5.4.5 gives the names of the 27 nakshatras as well as those of the 27 upa-nakshatras.<ref name=":6" /> 

 

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.  

Taittirīya Saṃhitā. Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhita. Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā.  

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.  

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)<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>कृत्तिकाः प्रथमम् । विशाखे उत्तमम् । तानि देवनक्षत्राणि । अनूराधाः प्रथमम् । अपभरणीरुत्तमम् । तानि यमनक्षत्राणि ।<ref>Taittiriya Brahmana, Book 1, [http://www.sanskritweb.net/yajurveda/tb-1-05.pdf Chapter 5].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''kr̥ttikāḥ prathamam । viśākhe uttamam । tāni devanakṣatrāṇi । anūrādhāḥ prathamam । apabharaṇīruttamam । tāni yamanakṣatrāṇi ।''</blockquote>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)<blockquote>अग्निः प्रजापतिः सोमो रुद्रोऽदितिर्बृहस्पतिः । सर्पाश्च पितरश्चैव भगश्चैवार्यमापि च ॥२५॥</blockquote><blockquote>सविता त्वष्टाथ वायुश्चेन्द्राग्नी मित्र एव च । इन्द्रो निरॄतिरापो वै विश्वेदेवास्तथैव च ॥२६॥</blockquote><blockquote>विष्णुर्वसवो वरुणोऽज एकपात् तथैव च । अहिर्बुध्न्यस्तथा पूषा अश्विनौ यम एव च ॥२७॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''agniḥ prajāpatiḥ somo rudro'ditirbr̥haspatiḥ । sarpāśca pitaraścaiva bhagaścaivāryamāpi ca ॥25॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''savitā tvaṣṭātha vāyuścendrāgnī mitra eva ca । indro nirr̥̄tirāpo vai viśvedevāstathaiva ca ॥26॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''viṣṇurvasavo varuṇo'ja ekapāt tathaiva ca । ahirbudhnyastathā pūṣā aśvinau yama eva ca ॥27॥''</blockquote>

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)<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>कृत्तिकाः प्रथमम् । विशाखे उत्तमम् । तानि देवनक्षत्राणि । अनूराधाः प्रथमम् । अपभरणीरुत्तमम् । तानि यमनक्षत्राणि ।<ref>Taittiriya Brahmana, Book 1, [http://www.sanskritweb.net/yajurveda/tb-1-05.pdf Chapter 5].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''kr̥ttikāḥ prathamam । viśākhe uttamam । tāni devanakṣatrāṇi । anūrādhāḥ prathamam । apabharaṇīruttamam । tāni yamanakṣatrāṇi ।''</blockquote>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)<blockquote>अग्निः प्रजापतिः सोमो रुद्रोऽदितिर्बृहस्पतिः । सर्पाश्च पितरश्चैव भगश्चैवार्यमापि च ॥२५॥</blockquote><blockquote>सविता त्वष्टाथ वायुश्चेन्द्राग्नी मित्र एव च । इन्द्रो निरॄतिरापो वै विश्वेदेवास्तथैव च ॥२६॥</blockquote><blockquote>विष्णुर्वसवो वरुणोऽज एकपात् तथैव च । अहिर्बुध्न्यस्तथा पूषा अश्विनौ यम एव च ॥२७॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''agniḥ prajāpatiḥ somo rudro'ditirbr̥haspatiḥ । sarpāśca pitaraścaiva bhagaścaivāryamāpi ca ॥25॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''savitā tvaṣṭātha vāyuścendrāgnī mitra eva ca । indro nirr̥̄tirāpo vai viśvedevāstathaiva ca ॥26॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''viṣṇurvasavo varuṇo'ja ekapāt tathaiva ca । ahirbudhnyastathā pūṣā aśvinau yama eva ca ॥27॥''</blockquote>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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

== References ==

== References ==

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