Nakṣatra: Lunar Houses of Sidereal Zodiac

Brhat Naksatra $7.53

God has decorated the heavens with constellations like pearls on dark steed. The light of the Sun hides them in the day, and all knowledge of them is divined in the darkens of the night’
…Maharishi Parasara, Rig-Veda

Although we will be giving some basic lessons on Nakṣatra, they cannot substitute the knowledge contained in this book. If you do not have your copy, get one now. It will help you to understand not only the basics of the nakṣatra, but also has many advanced concepts that will not be found in any other book on this subject. The entire teaching in this and other books follows the traditional style of learning through principles.

Memorize Nakṣatra Names

नक्षत्रनामानि। nakṣatranāmāni |
अश्विनी भरणी चैव कृत्तिका रोहिणी मृगः। आर्द्रा पुनर्वसुः पुष्प् अस्ततोऽश्लेषा मघा तथा॥
पूर्वाफाल्गुनिका तस्मादुत्तराफाल्गुनी ततः। हस्तश्चित्र तथा स्वाती विशाखा तदनन्तरम्॥
आनुराधा ततो ज्येष्ठा ततो मुलं निगद्यते। पूर्वाषाढोत्तराषाढस्त्वभिजिच्छवणस्तथा॥
धनिष्ठा शतताराख्यं पूर्वाभाद्रपदा ततः। उत्तराभाद्रपाच्चैव रेवत्येतानि भानि च॥
aśvinī bharaṇī caiva kṛttikā rohiṇī mṛgaḥ| ārdrā punarvasuḥ puṣp astato’śleṣā maghā tathā ||
pūrvāphālgunikā tasmāduttarāphālgunī tataḥ| hastaścitra tathā svātī viśākhā tadanantaram ||
ānurādhā tato jyeṣṭhā tato mulaṁ nigadyate | pūrvāṣāḍhottarāṣāḍhastvabhijicchavaṇastathā ||
dhaniṣṭhā śatatārākhyaṁ pūrvābhādrapadā tataḥ | uttarābhādrapāccaiva revatyetāni bhāni ca ||

Nakṣatra Names:

Bhū Loka: Aśvinī, Bharaṇī, Kṛttikā, Rohiṇī, Mṛgāśiras, Ārdrā, Punarvasu, Puṣyā, Aśleṣā

Bhuva Loka: Maghā, Pūrva Phālguṇī, Uttara Phālguṇī, Hastā, Chitrā, Svātī, Viśākhā, Anurādhā, Jyeṣṭha

Svarga Loka: Mūla, Pūrva Āsāḍha, Uttara Āsāḍha, {Abhijit}, Śravaṇa, Dhaniṣṭha, Satabhisāj, Pūrva Bhādrapada, Uttara Bhādrapada, Revatī

अभिजिद्भोगविचारः। abhijidbhogavicāraḥ |
वैश्वदेवान्त्यपादः स्याच्छुतेराद्याब्धिनाडिकाः।
अभिजिद्भमिति ग्राह्यमष्टाविंशतिभेषु सा॥२९॥
vaiśvadevāntyapādaḥ syācchuterādyābdhināḍikāḥ|
abhijidbhamiti grāhyamaṣṭāviṁśatibheṣu sā ||

Nakshatra Mandala defined including calculation of Abhijit 28th Nakshatra

Vedic Astrology is the science of study of time and space and its effect on the entire life and activities of earth which revolves the two principle luminaries viz., the Sun and the Moon. This ancient study of vedic astrology known as “Jyotish”. When transliterated, it is known as the study of Jyoti meaning light which comes naturally from the Sun.  this ancient science of Jyotish comprises of three major branches viz, (i) Hora Shastra – the study of time.  The word “Hora” has been derived from two words – “Aho” meaning day and “Ratra” meaning night; (ii) Ganita Shastra – the study of mathematical part of astrology and astronomy; and (iii) Gola Shastra – the study of astronomy, which included observation and analysis of stellar effects and the effects of the motion of planets in the solar system.
Before venturing into subdivisions, it is worth while to know the primary divisions. The first divisions was by means of the lunar mansions or Nakshetra’s (lit Na – synonym for Moon + Kshetra – Mansion) which finds mentions even in the Rig-Veda. The Moons transit of the sidereal (fixed) zodiac approximately takes 27 days and 7 ¾ hours, based on which the zodiac of 3600 was divided into 27 nakshetras, (each 130 20’ of arc) Each Nakshatra was identified with a star, (or star cluster) and derived its name from it. The 7 ¾ hour shortfall in a sidereal lunar transit was made up by a short-span intercalary (hypothetical) Nakshatra called Abhijit. The Sun, being the cause of all life and existence, was identified with Divinity and is the Atmakaraka and represents Parambrahman. Its transit through the lunar mansions was observed both in shape formed by stars within the constellation as well as in relation to the natural phenomena by the Vedic seers for determining their names, characteristics and identifying the form and mood of God. This became the basis of the nomenclature of the asterisms and the natural phenomena became the basis of symbolically representing the mood of God.
Another meanings comes from Naks+Ksatra…read Brhat Naksatra Book

Abhijit, the 28th Nakshatra

The span of Abhijit is determined proportionally as (7h 38min / 24 hrs) x 130 20’ = 40 14’ 13″. This span is from 2760 40’ to 2800 54″ 13″overlapping the 21st Nakshetra (Uttarasadha).
Abhijit (Lorded by Mahavisnu) indicates the direction in which the Sun (i.e. solar system) is precessing in the universe. Hence it represents the eye. (Chakshyur) of the zodiac. Aratus, a Greek Astronomer, opined that Hercules (derived from Hari-kulesa i.e. Vishnu) the celestial constellation was a stranger. Thus, Hercules is the Greek name for Abhijit. This Vishnu Gayatri teaches that the Sun which is the significator of the individual soul (Microcosm) has the universal goal of and is constantly moving towards Narayana (Mahavisnu), the Creator and the Universal Soul (Macrocosm).

Details of nomenclature, span, natural name (God) of nakshetras can be seen in any standard text. The predominant natural phenomena when the Sun transits sidereal Krittika (i.e. 260 40’ to 400) is the burning heat of Indian summer and the name of God identified with this constellation is Agni (Fire). Similarly, the storm God ‘ Rudra’ presides over Ardra constellation.

The observation and studies by our ancient astronomers (Gola Shastra-gynas) further revealed that even within this arc of 13 degrees 20′ each there used to be further constant changes prompting them to divide even this arc of 13 degrees 20′ into four quarters of 3 degrees 20′ each. These four quarters were then symbolized to represent specific characteristic features of the rulership of the Stars. I would like to deal with these characteristic features and influence of each planet when placed in a particular Asterism at the Rising Point (the precise point of the zodiac found rising at the exact time of birth which is fixed on the basis of the placement of Moon at the time of birth) in a running series covering all the 27 Nakshatras in the subsequent issues.

The rulership of each of these 13 degrees 20′ of the arc begin from zero degrees Aries to 13 degrees 20′ ruled by the first Star – Ashwini, and goes on till the end of Pisces (360 degrees of the zodiac) where the last arc of 13 degrees 20′ is ruled by the Star Revathi. The 27 Nakshatras and their rulership, together with the Lordship of planets (fixed on the basis of attributes), is detailed below in the table.

#	Name	Location	Ruler	Pada 1	Pada 2	Pada 3	Pada 4
1	Aśvinī (अश्विनी)	0 – 13°20′ Aries	Ketu	चु Chu	चे Che	चो Cho	ला La
2	Bharaṇī (भरणी)	13°20′ – 26°40′ Aries	Venus	ली Li	लू Lu	ले Le	पो Lo
3	Kṛttikā (कृत्तिका)	26°40′ Aries – 10°00′ Taurus	Sun	अ A	ई I	उ U	ए E
4	Rohiṇī (रोहिणी)	10°00′ – 23°20′ Taurus	Moon	ओ O	वा Va/Ba	वी Vi/Bi	वु Vu/Bu
5	Mṛgāśirṣa (म्रृगशीर्षा)	23°20′ Taurus – 6°40′ Gemini	Mars	वे Ve/Be	वो Vo/Bo	का Ka	की Ke
6	Ārdrā (आर्द्रा)	6°40′ – 20°00′ Gemini	Rahu	कु Ku	घ Gha	ङ Ng/Na	छ Chha
7	Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु)	20°00′ Gemini – 3°20′ Cancer	Jupiter	के Ke	को Ko	हा Ha	ही Hi
8	Pusya (पुष्य)	3°20′ – 16°20′ Cancer	Saturn	हु Hu	हे He	हो Ho	ड Da
9	Āshleshā (आश्लेषा)	16°40′ Cancer – 0°00′ Leo	Mercury	डी Di	डू Du	डे De	डो Do
10	Maghā (मघा)	0°00′ – 13°20′ Leo	Ketu	मा Ma	मी Mi	मू Mu	मे Me
11	Pūrva Phalgunī (पूर्व फाल्गुनी)	13°20′ – 26°40′ Leo	Venus	नो Mo	टा Ta	टी Ti	टू Tu
12	Uttara Phalgunī (उत्तर फाल्गुनी)	26°40′ Leo – 10°00′ Virgo	Sun	टे Te	टो To	पा Pa	पी Pi
13	Hastā (हस्त)	10°00′ – 23°20′ Virgo	Moon	पू Pu	ष Sha	ण Na	ठ Tha
14	Chitrā (चित्रा)	23°20′ Virgo – 6°40′ Libra	Mars	पे Pe	पो Po	रा Ra	री Ri
15	Svātī (स्वाती)	6°40′ – 20°00 Libra	Rahu	रू Ru	रे Re	रो Ro	ता Ta
16	Vishākhā (विशाखा)	20°00′ Libra – 3°20′ Scorpio	Jupiter	ती Ti	तू Tu	ते Te	तो To
17	Anurādhā (अनुराधा)	3°20′ – 16°40′ Scorpio	Saturn	ना Na	नी Ni	नू Nu	ने Ne
18	Jyeṣṭha (ज्येष्ठा)	16°40′ Scorpio – 0°00′ Sagittarius	Mercury	नो No	या Ya	यी Yi	यू Yu
19	Mūla (मूल)	0°00′ – 13°20′ Sagittarius	Ketu	ये Ye	यो Yo	भा Bha	भी Bhi
20	Pūrva Ashādhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा)	13°20′ – 26°40′ Sagittarius	Venus	भू Bhu	धा Dha	फा Bha/Pha	ढा Dha
21	Uttara Ashādhā (उत्तराषाढ़ा)	26°40′ Sagittarius – 10°00′ Capricorn	Sun	भे Bhe	भो Bho	जा Ja	जी Ji
22	Śravaṇa (श्रवण)	10°00′ – 23°20′ Capricorn	Moon	खी Ju/Khi	खू Je/Khu	खे Jo/Khe	खो Gha/Kho
23	Shravishthā (धनिष्ठा) or Dhaniṣṭha	23°20′ Capricorn – 6°40′ Aquarius	Mars	गा Ga	गी Gi	गु Gu	गे Ge
24	Śatabhiṣaj (शतभिषा)	6°40′ – 20°00′ Aquarius	Rahu	गो Go	सा Sa	सी Si	सू Su
25	Pūrva Bhādrapada (पूर्वभाद्रपदा)	20°00′ Aquarius – 3°20′ Pisces	Jupiter	से Se	सो So	दा Da	दी Di
26	Uttara Bhādrapada (उत्तरभाद्रपदा)	3°20′ – 16°40′ Pisces	Saturn	दू Du	थ Tha	झ Jha	ञ Da/Tra
27	Revatī (रेवती)	16°40′ – 30°00′ Pisces	Mercury	दे De	दो Do	च Cha	ची Chi

Lunar Calendar Concepts, Lunar month; Constellation Belt, Basis of the Nakṣatra, Nakṣatra Maṇḍala, Abhijit (an intercalary Nakṣatra), Nakṣatra Pada, The 27 Nakṣatra, Nakṣatra Puruṣa, Assignment, Nakṣatra Lordships, Navagraha, Nakṣatra Pada Tattva, Applications; Nakṣatra & Loka, Vimśottari daśā, Nakṣatra – Rāśi Map, Two vital equations
Note: Nakṣatra pada tattva including graha-tattva for nakṣatra pada has been revealed for the first time. This is copyright material. Please do not share without permission.

Nakṣatra Workshop

A nakṣatra workshop was organized at London by BAVA (British Association of Vedic Astrology) in 2009. This helps to understand the contents of the book Bṛhat Nakṣatra. It would be nice if you supported BAVA by taking a membership. The MP3 audio and PDF files in this folder are for your personal use. Please do not distribute them

Nakṣatra Workshop Files

Nakṣatra Workshop Audio

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