ndu astrology, there are various systems of enumerating 27 or 28 nakshatras.

[clarification needed] The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, following Basham.[1] No. Name Associated stars

Description Lord: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol : Horse's head Deity : Ashvins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods Indian zodiac: 0 1320' Mesha Western zodiac 26 Aries - 920' Taurus Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction Deity: Yama, god of death or Dharma Indian zodiac: 13 20' 2640' Mesha Western zodiac 9 20' 22 40' Taurus Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Knife or spear Deity : Agni, god of fire Indian zodiac: 2640' Mesha - 10 Vrishabha Western zodiac 22 40' Taurus - 6 Gemini Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree Deity : Brahma or Prajapati, the Creator Indian zodiac: 10 2320' Vrishabha Western zodiac 6 1920' Gemini

Image

Ashvini "wife of the Ashvins"

and Arietis

2; 7

Bharani "the bearer"

35, 39, and 41 Arietis

Krittika an old name of the Pleiades; personified as Pleiades the nurses of Krttikeya, a son of Shiva.

Rohini "the red one", a name of 4; 9 Aldebaran Aldebaran. Also known as brhm

Mrigashrsha 5; 3 "the deer's head". Also known as grahya

, Orionis

Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Deer's head Deity: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god Indian zodiac: 23 20' Vrishabha - 6 40' Mithuna Western zodiac: 1920' Gemini - 240' Cancer Lord: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head Deity : Rudra, the storm god Indian zodiac: 6 40' 20 Mithuna Western zodiac: 2 40' 16 Cancer Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Bow and quiver Deity : Aditi, mother of the gods Indian zodiac: 20 Mithuna - 320' Karka Western zodiac 16 2920' Cancer Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle Deity : Bhaspati, priest of the gods Indian zodiac: 320' 1640' Karka Western zodiac 2920' Cancer - 1240' Leo Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol: Serpent Deity : Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes Indian zodiac: 1640' -

Ardra 6; 4 "the moist one"

Betelgeuse

Punarvasu (dual) "the two restorers of 7; 5 goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"

Castor and Pollux

Pushya , and 8; 6 "the nourisher", also Cancri known as sidhya or tiya

9; 7

shlesh "the embrace"

, , , , and Hydrae

30 Karka Western zodiac 1240' 26 Leo Lord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Royal Throne Deity : Pitrs, 'The Fathers', family ancestors Indian zodiac: 0 1320' Simha Western zodiac 26 Leo - 920' Virgo Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol : Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree Deity : Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity Indian zodiac: 1320' 2640' Simha Western zodiac 920' 2240' Virgo Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock Deity : Aryaman, god of patronage and favours Indian zodiac: 2640' Simha- 10 Kanya Western zodiac 2240' Virgo - 6 Libra Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Hand or fist Deity : Saviti or Surya, the Sun god Indian zodiac: 10 2320' Kanya Western zodiac 6 1920' Libra

10; Magh 15 "the bountiful"

Regulus

11

Prva Phalgun "first reddish one"

and Leonis

12

Uttara Phalgun "second reddish one"

Denebola

13

Hasta "the hand"

, , , and Corvi

14

Chitra "the bright one", a name Spica of Spica

Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl Deity : Tvastar or Vishvakarman, the celestial architect Indian zodiac: 2320' Kanya - 640' Tula Western zodiac: 1920' Libra - 240' Scorpio Lord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral Deity : Vayu, the Wind god Indian zodiac: 640' 20 Tula Western zodiac 240' 16 Scorpio Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Triumphal arch, potter's wheel Deity : Indra, chief of the gods; Agni, god of Fire Indian zodiac: 20 Tula - 320' Vrishchika Western zodiac 16 2920' Scorpio Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Triumphal archway, lotus Deity : Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership Indian zodiac: 320' 1640' Vrishchika Western zodiac 2920' Scorpio - 1240' Sagittarius

15

Svti "Su-Ati (sanskrit) Very Arcturus good" name of Arcturus

Visakha 16; "forked, having , , and 14 branches"; also known as Librae rdh "the gift"

17

Anuradha "following rdh"

, and Scorpionis

Jyeshtha 18; "the eldest, most 16 excellent"

, , and Scorpionis

Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : circular amulet, umbrella, earring Deity : Indra, chief of the gods Indian zodiac: 1640' 30 Vrishchika Western zodiac 1240' 26 Sagittarius Lord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad Deity : Nirrti, goddess of dissolution and destruction Indian zodiac: 0 1320' Dhanus Western zodiac 26 Sagittarius - 920' Capricorn Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket Deity : Apah, god of Water Indian zodiac: 1320' 2640' Dhanus Western zodiac 920' 2240' Capricorn Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol : Elephant tusk, small bed Deity : Visvedevas, universal gods Indian zodiac: 2640' Dhanus - 10 Makara Western zodiac 2240' Capricorn - 6 Aquarius

19; Mula 17 "the root"

, , , , , , , and Scorpionis

Purva Ashadha "first of the ah", 20; and a h "the invincible 18 Sagittarii one" being the name of a constellation

21

Uttara Ashadha "second of the ah"

and Sagittarii

22; Abhijit

, and Lyrae Lord: Brahma

20

"victorious"[2]

- Vega

23; Sravana 20

, and Aquilae

Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol : Ear or Three Footprints Deity : Vishnu, preserver of universe Indian zodiac: 10 2320' Makara Western zodiac 6 1920' Aquarius Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol : Drum or flute Deity : Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance Indian zodiac: 2320' Makara - 640' Kumbha Western zodiac 1920' Aquarius - 240' Pisces Lord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol : Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars Deity : Varuna, god of cosmic waters, sky and earth Indian zodiac: 640' 20 Kumbha ; Western zodiac 240' - 16 Pisces Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces Deity : Ajikapada, an ancient fire dragon Indian zodiac: 20 Kumbha - 320' Meena ; Western zodiac 16 2920' Pisces

24; Dhanishta 21; "most famous", also 23 Shravishth "swiftest"

to Delphini

Shatabhisha 24; "requiring a hundred 22 physicians"

Aquarii

Purva Bhadrapada 25; "the first of the blessed 3 feet"

and Pegasi

Uttara Bhdrapad 26; Pegasi and "the second of the blessed 4 Andromedae feet"

Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water Deity : Ahir Budhyana, serpent or dragon of the deep Indian zodiac: 320' 1640' Meena ; Western zodiac 2920' Pisces 1240' Aries Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : Fish or a pair of fish, drum Deity : Pushan, nourisher, the protective deity Indian zodiac: 1640' 30 Meena Western zodiac 1240' 26 Aries

27; Revati 5 "prosperous"

Piscium

Padas (quarters)
The 27 Nakshatras cover 1320 of the ecliptic each. Each Nakshatra is also divided into quarters or padas of 320, and the below table 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, indicating all the elements (ansh) of Vishnu: # 2 Bharani () 3 Kritika () 4 Rohini() 6 rdr () 5 Mrigashrsha( ) 7 Punarvasu () 8 Pushya () Name Pada 1 Chu Li A O Ku Ke Hu Pada 2 Che Lu I Pada 3 Cho Le U Pada 4 La Lo E Vu/Bu Ke Chha Hi Da

1 Ashwini ()

Va/Ba Vi/Bi Gha Ko He Ng/Na Ha Ho

Ve/Be Vo/Bo Ka

9 shlesh () 10 Magh () 11 Prva or Prva Phalgun ( ) 13 Hasta () 14 Chitra () 15 Svt () 16 Vikh () 17 Anurdh () 18 Jyeshtha () 19 Mula ( ) 20 Prva Ashdh () 21 Uttara Ah () 22 rvaa () 23 rviha () or Dhanishta 24 Shatabhisha ()or atataraka 25 Prva Bhdrapad ( ) 26 Uttara Bhdrapad () 27 Revati ( )

Di Ma Mo Pu Pe Ru Ti Na No Ye Bhu Bhe Ga Go Se Du De

Du Mi Ta To Sha Po Re Tu Ni Ya Yo Dha Bho Gi Sa So Tha Do

De Mu Ti Pa Na Ra Ro Te Nu Yi Bha Ja Gu Si Da Jha Cha

Do Me Tu Pi Tha Ri Ta To Ne Yu Bhi Ji Ge Su Di Da/Tra Chi

12 Uttara or Uttara Phalgun ( ) Te

Bha/Pha Dha

Ju/Khi Je/Khu Jo/Khe Gha/Kho

Names in modern languages

The names of nakshatras in other languages are adapted from the Sanskrit variation (apabhramsa) through Pali or Prakrit. The variations evolved for easier pronunciation in popular usage. Sanskrit Ashvin Bharan Tamil Aswini Barai Krthikai Telugu Ashwini Bharani Kritika Kannada Ashwini Bharani Kritika Malayalam Ashvati Bharai Krttika

# 1 2

Mongolian

3 Krittik

 4 5 Rohini

Rhii

Rohini

Rohini Mrigashira Ardra Punarvasu Pushyami Ashlesha Magha Poorva

Rhii Makayiram

Mrigashrsha Mirugasridam Mrigasiraa Arudra Thiruvdhirai Punarpoosam Poosam Ayilyam Magam Punarvasu Pushya Ashlesha Maghaa Pubba

rdr 6 7 8 Punarvasu Pushya

tira or Tiruvtira () Puartam Pyam yilyam Makam Pram

shlesh 9 / 10 Magh

Prva or Prva Pooram 11 Phalgun Uttara or Uttara Phalgun 12 13 Hasta Astham Chithirai Swathi Visakam Uthiram

Uttara Hasta Chittaa Swaati Vishaakha

Uttara Hastaa Chitra Swathi Vishakha

Utram

Attam Chittira () Chti Vishkham

Chitr 14 15 16 Svt Vishkh

17

Anurdh

Anusham Kettai Mlam Pradam Uthirdam

Anuraadha Jyesthaa Moolaa

Anuradha Jyestha Moola

Anizham Ka (Trikka) () Mlam

Jyeshtha 18 Mla

19

Prva 20 Ashdh Uttara 21 Ashdh Shravana 22

Poorvashaadha Poorvashadha Pram Uttarashaadha Uttarashadha Utram Shravana Dhanishta

Shravana Tiruvnam Dhanishta

Tiruvnam / () Aviam

Shravishth or Dhanishta Aviam 23 or Shatabhish or Shatataraka Sadayam 24 / Prva Bhdrapad Pradhi 25 /

Shatabhisha

Shatabhisha Chatayam

Poorva Poorvabhadraa Bhadrapada Prati

Uttara Uttara Bhdrapad Uttaraa bhadra Bhadrapada Uttti Uttdhi 26 / 27 Revati Rvathi Revati Revati Rvati

References