{{Short description|Lunar mansion in Hindu astronomy}} {{redirect|Nakshatram|the 2017 film|Nakshatram (film)}} {{hatnote group| {{for multi|the Indian actress|Nakshatra (actress)|the 2010 film|Nakshatra (film)}} }} {{Nakshatras}} '''Nakshatra''' ({{langx|sa| नक्षत्रम्|translit=Nakṣatram}}) is the term for Lunar mansion in Hindu astrology and Buddhist astrology. A nakshatra is one of the 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to a prominent star or asterisms in or near the respective sectors. In essence (in Western astronomical terms), a nakshatra simply is a constellation. Every nakshatra is divided into four ''padas'' ({{lit}} "steps").
The starting point for the nakshatras according to the ''Vedas'' is "Krittika" (it has been argued, because the Pleiades may have started the year at the time the ''Vedas'' were compiled, presumably at the vernal equinox), but, in more recent compilations, the start of the nakshatras list is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite the star Spica, called ''Chitrā'' in Sanskrit. This translates to Ashwinī, a part of the modern constellation of Aries. These compilations, therefore, may have been compiled during the centuries when the sun was passing through Aries at the time of the vernal equinox. This version may have been called ''Meshādi'' or the "start of Aries".<ref> {{cite book |first=Vashisht |last=Vaid |year=2012 |title=The Radiant Words of Love & Wisdom }} </ref>{{full citation|date=December 2022|reason=page, publisher, publication place}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vedic Astronomy |url=https://www.vedicastronomy.net/stars_appendix.htm |access-date=2025-10-04 |website=www.vedicastronomy.net}}</ref>
The first astronomical text that lists them is the ''Vedanga Jyotisha''.<ref> {{cite web |title=Nakshatras and Upanakshatras |date=June 13, 2012 |website=vedanet.com |publisher=American Institute of Vedic Studies |url=https://vedanet.com/2012/06/13/nakshatras-and-upanakshatras/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322154946/https://vedanet.com/2012/06/13/nakshatras-and-upanakshatras/ |archive-date=March 22, 2015 }} </ref>{{better source needed|date=June 2018}}
In classical Hindu scriptures (''Mahabharata, Harivamsa''), the creation of the asterisms is attributed to Daksha.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moor |first=Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kJDAAAAYAAJ&dq=Daksha+Nakshatra&pg=PA291 |title=The Hindu Pantheon |date=1810 |publisher=J. Johnson |pages=291 |language=en}}</ref> The Nakshatras are personified as daughters of Daksha and as wives of Chandra, the god of the Moon. When Chandra neglected his 26 other wives in favour of Rohini, his father-in-law cursed him with leprosy and proclaimed that the Moon would wax and wane each month.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Coulter |first1=Charles Russell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QEJUEAAAQBAJ&dq=Chandra+Daksha&pg=PA437 |title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities |last2=Turner |first2=Patricia |date=2021-12-06 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-9179-7 |pages=437 |language=en}}</ref> The Nakshatras are also alternatively described as the daughters of Kashyapa.
'''''Nakshatra''''' is one of the five elements of a ''Pañcāṅga''. The other four elements are:
* Tithi * Nityayoga * Karana * Vāra
==In the Atharvaveda== thumb|300px|Nakshatras in a circle
In the Atharvaveda (Shaunakiya recension, hymn 19.7) a list of 27 stars or asterisms is given, many of them corresponding to the later nakshatras:<ref name="griffithveda"> {{cite book |translator=Griffith, R.T.H. |translator-link=Ralph T. H. Griffith |year=1895 |title=Hymns of the Atharva Veda }} :Original text via <br /> {{cite web |title=Gretil |publisher=University of Goettingen |url=http://fiindolo.sub.uni-goettingen.de/gretil.htm#Veda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202232942/http://fiindolo.sub.uni-goettingen.de/gretil.htm |archive-date=2012-02-02 }} :from <br /> {{cite book |editor-first=Chatia |editor-last=Orlandi |year=1991 |title=Gli inni dell Atharvaveda (Saunaka) |type=trasliteration |place=Pisa, IT }} :collated with the edition of {{cite book |editor1=Roth, R. |editor2=Whitney, W.D. |year=1856 |title=Atharva Veda Sanhita |place=Berlin, DE }} </ref>{{efn| From Griffith (1895) ''Hymns of the Atharva Veda'':<ref name=griffithveda/> <poem> 1   citrā́ṇi sākáṃ diví rocanā́ni sarīsr̥pā́ṇi bhúvane javā́ni :: turmíśaṃ sumatím ichámāno áhāni gīrbhíḥ saparyāmi nā́kam
2   suhávam agne kŕ̥ttikā róhiṇī cā́stu bhadráṃ mr̥gáśiraḥ śám ārdrā́ :: púnarvasū sūnŕ̥tā cā́ru púṣyo bhānúr āśleṣā́ áyanaṃ maghā́ me
3   púṇyaṃ pū́rvā phálgunyau cā́tra hástaś citrā́ śivā́ svātí sukhó me astu :: rā́dhe viśā́khe suhávānurādhā́ jyéṣṭhā sunákṣatram áriṣṭa mū́lam
4   ánnaṃ pū́rvā rāsatāṃ me aṣādhā́ ū́rjaṃ devy úttarā ā́ vahantu :: abhijín me rāsatāṃ púṇyam evá śrávaṇaḥ śráviṣṭhāḥ kurvatāṃ supuṣṭím
5   ā́ me mahác chatábhiṣag várīya ā́ me dvayā́ próṣṭhapadā suśárma :: ā́ revátī cāśvayújau bhágaṃ ma ā́ me rayíṃ bháraṇya ā́ vahantu<ref name=griffithveda/> </poem> }}{{columns-list|colwidth=18em| # Ashwini (Sheratan and Mesarthim) # Bharani (41 Arietis) # Kṛttikā (the Pleiades) # Rohinī (Aldebaran) # Mrigashīrsha # Ārdrā (Betelgeuse) # Punarvasu (Castor and Pollux) # Pushya # Asleshā (ε Hydrae) # Maghā (Regulus) # Purva Phalguni (Zosma) # Uttara Phalguni (Denebola) # Hasta # Chitrā (Spica) # Svāti (Arcturus) # Vishākhā # Anurādhā # Jyeshthā # Mūla # Purva Ashadha # Uttara Ashadha # Shravana # Dhanishta # Shatabhisha (λ Aquarii) # Purva Bhadrapada (Markab and Scheat) # Uttara Bhadrapada (Algenib and Alpheratz) # Revati (ζ Piscium) }}
This 27-day cycle has been taken to mean a particular group of stars. This has to do with the periodicity with which the Moon travels past the specific star fields called nakshatras. Hence, the stars are more like numbers on a clock, through which the hands of time (the moon) pass. This concept is described by J. Mercay (2012) in connection with ''Surya Siddhanta''.<ref name="mercay"> {{cite book |author=Mercay, Jessie |year=2012 |title=Fundamentals of Mamuni Mayans Vaastu Shastras: Building architecture of Sthapatya Veda and traditional Indian architecture <!-- Mercay, 2006 – 2012 --> |publisher=AUM Science and Technology publishers }} </ref>
==List of Nakshatras== thumb|300px|Positions of the Nakshatras on the celestial sphere {{See also|List of Nakshatras}} {{See also|Astronomical basis of the Hindu calendar#nakshatra}} 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 clearer definition of each portion (i.e. segment) subtending 13° 20′ (as opposed to 12° {{frac|51|3|7}}′ in the case of 28 segments). In the process, the Nakshatra Abhijit was left out without a portion.<ref name=SS> {{cite book |first=Ebenezer |last=Burgess |year=1858 |title=Translation of the Surya Siddhantha, a Textbook of Hindu Astronomy |publisher=The American Oriental Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jpE7AAAAcAAJ }} </ref>{{rp|p=179}} However, the Abhijit nakshatra becomes important while deciding on the timing of an auspicious event. The Surya Siddhantha concisely specifies the coordinates of the twenty-seven Nakshatras.<ref name=SS/>{{rp|p=211}}
It is noted above that with the older tradition of 28 Nakshatras each equal segment would subtend 12.85 degrees or 12° 51′. But the 28 Nakshatra were chosen at a time when the Vedic month was recognised as having exactly 30 days. In India and China the original 28 lunar mansions were not equal. Weixing Nui provides a list of the extent of the original 28 Nakshatras expressed in ''Muhurtas'' (with one Muhurta = 48 minutes of arc). Hindu texts note there were 16 Nakshatras of 30 Muhurtas, 6 of 45 Muhurtas, 5 of 15 Muhurtas and one of 6 Muhurtas.
The 28 mansions of the 360° lunar zodiac total 831 Muhurtas or 27.7 days. This is sometimes described as an inaccurate estimate of our modern sidereal period of 27.3 days, but using the ancient Indian calendar with Vedic months of 30 days and a daily movement of the Moon of 13 degrees, this early designation of a sidereal month of 831 Muhurtas or 27.7 days is very precise.{{efn| The exact figure should be nearer 27.692308 days but 27.7 is near enough. }}<ref> {{cite book |first1=Nui |last1=Weixing |first2=Jiang |last2=Xiaoyuan |title=Astronomy in the Sutras translated into Chinese }} </ref>{{full citation needed|date=January 2019}} Later some Indian savants dropped the Nakshatra named Abhijit to reduce the number of divisions to 27, but the Chinese retained all of their original 28 lunar mansions. These were grouped into four equal quarters which would have been fundamentally disrupted if it had been decided to reduce the number of divisions to 27.
Irrespective of the reason why ancient early Indian astronomers followed a Vedic calendar of exactly 12 months of 30 days it was this calendar and not a modern calendar of 365 days that they used for the astronomical calculations for the number of days taken for the Moon to complete one sidereal cycle of 360°. This is why initially they named 28 Nakshatras on their lunar zodiac.<ref> {{cite journal |author=Jones, H. |date=September 2018 |title=The Origin of the 28 Naksatras in Early Indian Astronomy and Astrology |journal=Indian Journal of History of Science |volume=53 |issue=3 |pages=317–324 |doi=10.16943/ijhs/2018/v53i3/49463 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2018InJHS..53..317J }} </ref>
The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, per Basham (1954).<ref> {{cite book |first=Arthur Llewellyn |last=Basham |year=1954 |title=The Wonder that was India |section=Appendix II: Astronomy |publisher=Rupa |place=Calcutta, IN |page=[https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12501/page/n514 490] |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12501 }} </ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="0" |- !No.!! Name<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-04 |title=Nakshatra Names |url=https://palmastrogems.com/27-nakshatra-names-by-list/ |access-date=2025-10-04 |language=en-US}}</ref>!!Associated stars!!Description!! Image |- | 1 ||'''Aśvinī'''<br/>"The Horsemen" ||β and γ Arietis || *''Astrological leader'': 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′ Aries *''Tropical zodiac'': 26° Aries – 9°20′ Taurus ||100px |- | 2 ||'''Bharaṇī'''<br/>"The Bearer" ||35, 39, and 41 Arietis || *''Astrological leader'': Shukra (Venus) *''Symbol'': Yoni, the female organ of reproduction *''Deity'': Yama, god of death and Dharma *''Indian zodiac'': 13° 20′ – 26°40′ Aries *''Tropical zodiac'': 9° 20′ – 22° 40′ Taurus ||100px |- | 3 ||'''Kṛttikā'''<br/>"To Cut" ||Pleiades || *''Astrological leader'': Surya (Sun) *''Symbol'': Knife or spear *''Deity'': Agni, god of fire *''Indian zodiac'': 26°40′ Aries – 10° Taurus *''Tropical zodiac'': 22° 40′ Taurus – 6° Gemini ||100px |- | 4 ||'''Rohiṇi'''<br>"Radiant Maiden" ||Aldebaran || *''Astrological leader'': Chandra (Moon) *''Symbol'': Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree *''Deity'': Prajapati, rigvedic form of Brahma - the Creator *''Indian zodiac'': 10° – 23°20′ Taurus *''Tropical zodiac'': 6° – 19°20′ Gemini ||100px |- | 5 ||'''Mṛgaśiras'''<br/>"The Deer's Head" ||λ, φ Orionis || *''Astrological leader'': Mangala (Mars) *''Symbol'': Deer's head *''Deity'': Soma, the moon god *''Indian zodiac'': 23° 20′ Taurus – 6° 40′ Gemini *''Tropical zodiac'': 19° 20′ Gemini – 2° 40′ Cancer ||100px |- | 6 ||'''Ārdrā'''<br/>"The Moist One" ||Betelgeuse || *''Astrological leader'': Rahu (North lunar node) *''Symbol'': Teardrop, diamond, a human head *''Deity'': Rudra, rigvedic fierce form of Shiva *''Indian zodiac'': 6° 40′ – 20° Gemini *''Tropical zodiac'': 2° 40′ – 16° Cancer ||100px |- | 7 ||'''Punarvasu'''<br/>"Return Of The Light" ||Castor and Pollux || *''Astrological leader'': Guru (Jupiter) *''Symbol'' : Bow and quiver *''Deity'': Aditi, goddess representing the infinity and the mother of Adityas *''Indian zodiac'': 20° Gemini – 3°20′ Cancer *''Tropical zodiac'': 16° – 29°20′ Cancer ||100px |- | 8 ||'''Puṣya'''<br/>"The Nourisher" ||γ, δ and θ Cancri || *''Astrological leader'': Shani (Saturn) *''Symbol'': Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle *''Deity'': Bṛhaspati, counsellor of the gods *''Indian zodiac'': 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Cancer *''Tropical zodiac'': 29° 20′ Cancer – 12° 40′ Leo ||100px |- | 9 ||'''Āśleṣā'''<br/>"The Embrace" ||δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae || *''Astrological leader'': Budha (Mercury) *''Symbol'': Serpent *''Deity'': Nagas, divine race of half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the Patala *''Indian zodiac'': 16° 40′ – 30° Cancer *''Tropical zodiac'': 12° 40′ – 26° Leo ||100px |- | 10 ||'''Maghā'''<br/>"The Mighty" ||Regulus || *''Astrological leader'': Ketu (South lunar node) *''Symbol'': Royal Throne *''Deity'': Pitrs, 'The Fathers', family ancestors *''Indian zodiac'': 0° – 13° 20′ Leo *''Tropical zodiac'': 26° Leo – 9° 20′ Virgo ||100px |- | 11 ||'''Pūrvaphalgunī'''<br>"The Former Reddish One" ||δ and θ Leonis || *''Astrological leader'': Shukra (Venus) *''Symbol'': Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree *''Deity'': Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity.{{ small | NOTE: Ancient texts interchange the deities of the Phalguni nakshatras. In some, such as ''Taittiriya Brahmana'', Aryaman rules Purva Phalgunī. }} *''Indian zodiac'': 13° 20′ – 26°40′ Leo *''Tropical zodiac'': 9° 20′ – 22°40′ Virgo || 100px |- | 12 ||'''Uttaraphalgunī'''<br/>"The Latter Reddish One" ||Denebola || *''Astrological leader'': Surya (Sun) *''Symbol'': Four legs of bed, hammock *''Deity'': Aryaman, god of patronage and favours.{{ small | NOTE: Ancient texts interchange the deities of the Phalguni nakshatras. In some, such as ''Taittiriya Brahmana'', Bhaga rules Uttara Phalgunī. }} *''Indian zodiac'': 26° 40′ Leo - 10° Virgo *''Tropical zodiac'': 22° 40′ Virgo – 6° Libra || 100px |- | 13 ||'''Hasta'''<br/>"The Hand" ||α, β, γ, δ and ε Corvi || *''Astrological leader'': Chandra (Moon) *''Symbol'': Hand or fist *''Deity'': Savitr, the sun god *''Indian zodiac'': 10° – 23° 20′ Virgo *''Tropical zodiac'': 6° – 19° 20′ Libra ||100px |- | 14 ||'''Citrā'''<br/>"The Bright One" ||Spica || *''Astrological leader'': Mangala (Mars) *''Symbol'': Bright jewel or pearl *''Deity'': Tvastar/Vishwakarma, artisan god *''Indian zodiac'': 23° 20′ Virgo – 6° 40′ Libra *''Tropical zodiac'': 19° 20′ Libra – 2° 40′ Scorpio || 100px |- | 15 ||'''Svātī'''<br/>"The Independent One" ||Arcturus || *''Astrological leader'': Rahu (North lunar node) *''Symbol'': Shoot of plant, coral *''Deity'': Vayu, the wind god *''Indian zodiac'': 6° 40′ – 20° Libra *''Tropical zodiac'': 2° 40′ – 16° Scorpio || 100px |- | 16 ||'''Viśākhā'''<br/>"Branching Out" || α, β, γ and ι Librae || *''Astrological leader'': Guru (Jupiter) *''Symbol'': Triumphal arch, potter's wheel *''Deity'': Indra, king of the devas and god of thunder, storms, and lightning, and Agni, god of Fire - representing the duality of water and fire *''Indian zodiac'': 20° Libra – 3° 20′ Scorpio *''Tropical zodiac'': 16° – 29° 20′ Scorpio ||100px |- | 17 ||'''Anurādhā'''<br/> "Following ''Radha''" || β, δ and π Scorpionis || *''Astrological leader'': Shani (Saturn) *''Symbol'': Triumphal archway, lotus, bamboo *''Deity'': Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership *''Indian zodiac'': 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Scorpio *''Tropical zodiac'': 29° 20′ Scorpio – 12° 40′ Sagittarius || 100px |- | 18 ||'''Jyeṣṭhā'''<br/> "The Eldest" || α, σ, and τ Scorpionis || *''Astrological leader'': Budha (Mercury) *''Symbol'': circular amulet, umbrella, earring *''Deity'': Indra, king of the devas *''Indian zodiac'': 16° 40′ – 30° Scorpio *''Tropical zodiac'': 12° 40′ – 26° Sagittarius || 100px |- | 19 ||'''Mūla'''<br/>"The Root" || ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis || *''Astrological leader'': Ketu (South lunar node) *''Symbol'': Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad *''Deity'': Nirrti, goddess personifying death, decay, sorrow, as well as the peak of material achievement and the beginning of the spiritual impulse *''Indian zodiac'': 0° – 13° 20′ Sagittarius *''Tropical zodiac'': 26° Sagittarius – 9° 20′ Capricorn || 100px |- | 20 ||'''Pūrvāṣāḍha'''<br/>"The Former Unconquered" ||δ and ε Sagittarii || *''Astrological leader'': Shukra (Venus) *''Symbol'': Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket *''Deity'': Apah, god of Water *''Indian zodiac'': 13° 20′ – 26° 40′ Sagittarius *''Tropical zodiac'': 9° 20′ – 22° 40′ Capricorn || 100px |- | 21 ||'''Uttarāṣāḍha'''<br/>"The Latter Unconquered" ||ζ and σ Sagittarii || *''Astrological leader'': Surya (Sun) *''Symbol'': Elephant tusk, small bed *''Deity'': Visvedevas, the most comprehensive gathering of the gods, a classification in which no deity is stated to be omitted *''Indian zodiac'': 26° 40′ Sagittarius– 10° Capricorn *''Tropical zodiac'': 22° 40′ Capricorn – 6° Aquarius || 100px |- | *{{refn|group=note| Abhijit is the 22nd lunar mansion in the Indian system of 28 nakshatras. According to traditional beliefs, it is not necessarily a separate nakshatra per se, but rather a division within the sidereal Capricorn sign, spanning from the fourth pada of Uttara Ashadha to the first pada of Shravana.}} ||'''Abhijit'''<br/>"The Invincible" ||ζ and σ Lyrae || *''Astrological leader and Deity'': Brahma *''Indian zodiac'': 6° 40′ – 10° 53′ Capricorn *''Tropical zodiac'': 2° 40′ – 6° 53′ Aquarius || 100px |- | 22 ||'''Śravaṇa'''<br/> "To Hear" ||α, β and γ Aquilae || *''Astrological leader'': Chandra (Moon) *''Symbol'': Ear or Three Footprints *''Deity'': Vishnu, preserver of universe *''Indian zodiac'': 10° – 23° 20′ Capricorn *''Tropical zodiac'': 6° – 19° 20′ Aquarius || 100px |- | 23 ||'''Dhaniṣṭhā''' <br/>"Wealthiest" ||α, β, γ and δ Delphini || *''Astrological leader'': Mangala (Mars) *''Symbol'': Drum or flute *''Deity'': Vasus, group of eight deities associated with fire and light signifying earthly abundance *''Indian zodiac'': 23° 20′ Capricorn – 6° 40′ Aquarius *''Tropical zodiac'': 19° 20′ Aquarius – 2° 40′ Pisces || 100px |- | 24 ||'''Śatabhiṣaj'''<br/>"A Hundred Physicians" || λ Aquarii<ref name="ASE-Satabhisa">{{cite web |title=Shatabhisha |url=https://ase.exopla.net/index.php/Satabhisa |website=All Skies Encyclopaedia |publisher=IAU Working Group on Star Names |access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref> || *''Astrological leader'': Rahu (North lunar node) *''Symbol'': Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars *''Deity'': Varuna, god of celestial waters *''Indian zodiac'': 6° 40′ – 20° Aquarius *''Tropical zodiac'': 2° 40′ – 16° Pisces || 100px |- | 25 ||'''Pūrvabhādrapada'''<br/>"The Former Blessed Feet" || α and β Pegasi || *''Astrological leader'': Guru (Jupiter) *''Symbol'': Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces *''Deity'': Ajaikapada, one-footed aspect of Shiva *''Indian zodiac'': 20° Aquarius – 3° 20′ Pisces *''Tropical zodiac'': 16° – 29° 20′ Pisces || 100px |- | 26 ||'''Uttarabhādrapada'''<br/>"The Latter Blessed Feet" || γ Pegasi and α Andromedae || *''Astrological leader'': Shani (Saturn) *''Symbol'': Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water *''Deity'': Ahirbudhnya, serpent or dragon of the deep *''Indian zodiac'': 3° 20′ – 16° 40′ Pisces *''Tropical zodiac'': 29° 20′ Pisces – 12° 40′ Aries || 100px |- | 27 ||'''Revatī'''<br/> "Prosperous" || ζ Piscium || *''Astrological leader'': Budha (Mercury) *''Symbol'': Fish or a pair of fish, drum *''Deity'': Pushan, nourisher, and the psychopomp deity *''Indian zodiac'': 16° 40′ – 30° Pisces *''Tropical zodiac'': 12° 40′ – 26° Aries || 100px |}
=={{visible anchor|Padas}} (quarters)== {{Contains special characters|Indic}} {{unreferenced section|date=June 2018}} Each of the 27 Nakshatras cover 13° 20’ of the ecliptic. Each Nakshatra is also divided into quarters or ''padas'' of 3° 20’, and the table below lists the appropriate starting sound to name the child. The 27 nakshatras, each with 4 padas, give 108, which is the number of beads in a japa mala, representing all the elements (ansh) of Vishnu:
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="0" |- !#!! Name !! Pada 1 !! Pada 2 !! Pada 3 !! Pada 4 !! Vimsottari Lord !! Ruling Deity |- | 1|| Aśvini (अश्विनी)|| चु Chu || चे Che || चो Cho || ला La || Ketu || Aswini Kumara |- | 2|| Bharaṇī (भरणी)|| ली Li || लू Lu || ले Le || लो Lo || Venus || Yama |- | 3 || Kṛttikā (कृत्तिका)|| अ A || ई I || उ U || ए E || Sun || Agni |- | 4 || Rohiṇī (रोहिणी) || ओ O || वा Va/Ba || वी Vi/Bi || वु Vu/Bu || Moon || Brahma |- | 5 || Mṛgaśīrṣā (मृगशीर्षा)|| वे Ve/Be || वो Vo/Bo || का Ka || की Ke || Mars || Moon |- | 6 || Ārdrā (आर्द्रा)|| कु Ku || घ Gha || ङ Ng/Na || छ Chha || Rahu || Shiva |- | 7 || Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु)|| के Ke || को Ko || हा Ha || ही Hi || Jupiter || Aditi |- | 8 || Puṣya (पुष्य) || हु Hu || हे He || हो Ho || ड Da || Saturn || Brihaspati |- | 9 || Āśleṣā (आश्लेषा)|| डी Di || डू Du || डे De || डो Do || Mercury || Rahu |- | 10 || Maghā (मघा)|| मा Ma || मी Mi || मू Mu || मे Me || Ketu || Pitr |- | 11 || Pūrva or Pūrva Phālgunī (पूर्व फाल्गुनी) || नो No || टा Ta || टी Ti || टू Tu || Venus || Bhaga |- | 12 || Uttara or Uttara Phālgunī (उत्तर फाल्गुनी)|| टे Te || टो To || पा Pa || पी Pi || Sun || Sun |- | 13 || Hasta (हस्त)|| पू Pu || ष Sha || ण Na || ठ Tha || Moon || Savitr |- | 14 || Chitrā (चित्रा)|| पे Pe || पो Po || रा Ra || री Ri || Mars || Vishwakarma |- | 15 || Svāti (स्वाति) || रू Ru || रे Re || रो Ro || ता Ta || Rahu || Vayu |- | 16 || Vishākhā (विशाखा)|| ती Ti || तू Tu || ते Te || तो To || Jupiter || Indra Agni |- | 17 || Anurādhā (अनुराधा)|| ना Na || नी Ni || नू Nu || ने Ne || Saturn || Mitra |- | 18 || Jyeṣṭhā (ज्येष्ठा)|| नो No || या Ya || यी Yi || यू Yu || Mercury || Indra |- | 19 || Mūla (मूल)|| ये Ye || यो Yo || भा Bha || भी Bhi || Ketu || Varuna, Nirriti |- | 20 || Pūrva Aṣāḍhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा)|| भू Bhu || धा Dha || फा Bha/Pha || ढा Dha || Venus || Apah |- | 21 || Uttara Aṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढ़ा)|| भे Bhe || भो Bho || जा Ja || जी Ji || Sun || Brahma |- | 22 || Śrāvaṇa (श्रवण)|| खी Ju/Khi || खू Je/Khu || खे Jo/Khe || खो Gha/Kho || Moon || Vishnu |- | 23 || Śrāviṣṭhā (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhaniṣṭhā (धनिष्ठा)|| गा Ga || गी Gi || गु Gu || गे Ge || Mars || Vasu |- | 24 || Śatabhiṣā (शतभिषा) || गो Go || सा Sa || सी Si || सू Su || Rahu || Varuna |- | 25 || Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्वभाद्रपदा)|| से Se || सो So || दा Da || दी Di || Jupiter || Aja Ek Pada |- | 26 || Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तरभाद्रपदा)|| दू Du || थ Tha || झ Jha || त्र Da/Tra || Saturn || Ahirbudhnya |- | 27 || Revati (रेवती)|| दे De || दो Do || च Cha || ची Chi || Mercury || Pooshan |}
==See also==
* Astronomical basis of the Hindu calendar * List of Natchathara temples * Navagraha * Panchangam * Asterism
==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}} {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|25em}}
== External links == * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rss4M6Z6koo&list=PLYNax2xNHwV2r5_Ca4JeJM2zFhvwTHRry&index=2 Ahargana - The Astronomy of the Hindu Calendar: Nakshatra] Explains Nakshatras by means of astronomical simulations created using Stellarium. * [https://astroaanmeegam.org/zodiac-nakshatra-calculator/ Free Nakshatra and Zodiac Sign Calculator] Find your Nakshatra and Zodiac Sign based on you date of birth and time. This tool offers until 2030.
{{Jyotish Vidya|Dhanishta = Dhanishtha}} {{Indian astronomy}} {{Portal bar|India|Society|Astronomy|Stars|Spaceflight|Outer space|Solar System|Science}} Category:Nakshatra + Category:Celestial goddesses