List of Nakshatras

The classical list of 27 nakshatras ("lunar mansion") is first found in the Vedanga Jyotisha, a text dated to the final centuries BCE. The nakshatra system predates the influence of Hellenistic astronomy on vedic tradition, which became prevalent from about the 2nd century CE.

In Hindu astrology, there are various systems of enumerating 27 or 28 nakshatras. Although there are 28 days to a sidereal month, by custom only 27 days are used, the last 28th day being considered unlucky. The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, following Basham.^[1]

No.	Name	Associated stars	Description	Image
1	Ashvini "wife of the Ashvins"	β and γ Arietis	Lord: 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' Mesha Western zodiac 26° Aries - 9°20' Taurus
2; 7	Bharani "the bearer"	35, 39, and 41 Arietis	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction Deity: Yama, god of death or Dharma Indian zodiac: 13° 20' - 26°40' Mesha Western zodiac 9° 20' - 22° 40' Taurus
3	Krittika an old name of the Pleiades; personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva.	Pleiades	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Knife or spear Deity : Agni, god of fire Indian zodiac: 26°40' Mesha - 10° Vrishabha Western zodiac 22° 40' Taurus - 6° Gemini
4; 9	Rohini "the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī	Aldebaran	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree Deity : Brahma or Prajapati, the Creator Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Vrishabha Western zodiac 6° - 19°20' Gemini
5; 3	Mrigashīrsha "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī	λ, φ Orionis	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Deer's head Deity: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god Indian zodiac: 23° 20' Vrishabha - 6° 40' Mithuna Western zodiac: 19°20' Gemini - 2°40' Cancer
6; 4	Ardra "the moist one"	Betelgeuse	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
7; 5	Punarvasu (dual) "the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"	Castor and Pollux	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Bow and quiver Deity : Aditi, mother of the gods Indian zodiac: 20° Mithuna - 3°20' Karka Western zodiac 16° - 29°20' Cancer
8; 6	Pushya "the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya	γ, δ and θ Cancri	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle Deity : Bṛhaspati, priest of the gods Indian zodiac: 3°20' -16°40' Karka Western zodiac 29°20' Cancer - 12°40' Leo
9; 7	Āshleshā "the embrace"	δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol: Serpent Deity : Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Karka Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Leo
10; 15	Maghā "the bountiful"	Regulus	Lord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Royal Throne Deity : Pitrs, 'The Fathers', family ancestors Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Simha Western zodiac 26° Leo - 9°20' Virgo
11	Pūrva Phalgunī "first reddish one"	δ and θ Leonis	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol : Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree Deity : Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity Indian zodiac: 13°20' - 26°40' Simha Western zodiac 9°20' - 22°40' Virgo
12	Uttara Phalgunī "second reddish one"	Denebola	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock Deity : Aryaman, god of patronage and favours Indian zodiac: 26°40' Simha- 10° Kanya Western zodiac 22°40' Virgo - 6° Libra
13	Hasta "the hand"	α, β, γ, δ and ε Corvi	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Hand or fist Deity : Saviti or Surya, the Sun god Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Kanya Western zodiac 6° - 19°20' Libra
14	Chitra "the bright one", a name of Spica	Spica	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl Deity : Tvastar or Vishvakarman, the celestial architect Indian zodiac: 23°20' Kanya - 6°40' Tula Western zodiac: 19°20' Libra - 2°40' Scorpio
15	Swāti "Su-Ati (sanskrit) Very good" name of Arcturus	Arcturus	Lord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral Deity : Vayu, the Wind god Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Tula Western zodiac 2°40' - 16° Scorpio
16; 14	Vishakha "forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift"	α, β, γ and ι Librae	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Triumphal arch, potter's wheel Deity : Indra, chief of the gods; Agni, god of Fire Indian zodiac: 20° Tula - 3°20' Vrishchika Western zodiac 16° - 29°20' Scorpio
17	Anuradha "following rādhā"	β, δ and π Scorpionis	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Triumphal archway, lotus Deity : Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Vrishchika Western zodiac 29°20' Scorpio - 12°40' Sagittarius
18; 16	Jyeshtha "the eldest, most excellent"	α, σ, and τ Scorpionis	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : circular amulet, umbrella, earring Deity : Indra, chief of the gods Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Vrishchika Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Sagittarius
19; 17	Mula "the root"	ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis	Lord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad Deity : Nirrti, goddess of dissolution and destruction Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Dhanus Western zodiac 26° Sagittarius - 9°20' Capricorn
20; 18	Purva Ashadha "first of the aṣāḍhā", aṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation	δ and ε Sagittarii	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket Deity : Apah, god of Water Indian zodiac: 13°20' - 26°40' Dhanus Western zodiac 9°20' - 22°40' Capricorn
21	Uttara Ashadha "second of the aṣāḍhā"	ζ and σ Sagittarii	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol : Elephant tusk, small bed Deity : Visvedevas, universal gods Indian zodiac: 26°40' Dhanus - 10° Makara Western zodiac 22°40' Capricorn - 6° Aquarius
22; 20	Abhijit "victorious"[2]	α, ε and ζ Lyrae - Vega	Lord: Brahma (creator) Indian zodiac: 06° 40' Dhanus - 10° 53' 40 Makara
23; 20	Sravana	α, β and γ Aquilae	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol : Ear or Three Footprints Deity : Vishnu, preserver of universe Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Makara Western zodiac 6° - 19°20' Aquarius
24; 21; 23	Dhanishta "most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest"	α to δ Delphini	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol : Drum or flute Deity : Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance Indian zodiac: 23°20' Makara - 6°40' Kumbha Western zodiac 19°20' Aquarius - 2°40' Pisces
24; 22	Shatabhisha "requiring a hundred physicians"	γ Aquarii	Lord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol : Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars Deity : Varuna, god of cosmic waters, sky and earth Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Kumbha ; Western zodiac 2°40' - 16° Pisces
25; 3	Purva Bhadrapada "the first of the blessed feet"	α and β Pegasi	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 - 3°20' Meena ; Western zodiac 16° - 29°20' Pisces
26; 4	Uttara Bhādrapadā "the second of the blessed feet"	γ Pegasi and α Andromedae	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: 3°20' - 16°40' Meena ; Western zodiac 29°20' Pisces - 12°40' Aries
27; 5	Revati "prosperous"	ζ Piscium	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : Fish or a pair of fish, drum Deity : Pushan, nourisher, the protective deity Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Meena Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Aries

Padas (quarters)

The 27 Nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the ecliptic each. Each Nakshatra is also divided into quarters or padas of 3°20’, 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:

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.

References