In Indian vedic astronomy, there are 27 nakshatras, or sectors along the ecliptic. A list of them 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. There are various systems of enumerating the nakshatras; although there are 27–28 days to a sidereal month, by custom only 27 days are used. The following list gives the corresponding regions of sky. Months in the modern Indian national calendar, which is based on the traditional "nirayana" sidereal calendar, are named after twelve of the nakshatras, but do not coincide with the times when the sun is passing through these nakshatras - in fact, they are close to the opposite. It is possible that during the original naming of these months—whenever that happened—they were based on the position of the Full Moon (opposite the Sun). The modern Indian national calendar is a solar calendar, much like the Gregorian calendar, wherein solstices and equinoxes fall on the same date(s) every year.
+ Nakshatras No. Name Associated starsDescription Image 1Ashvini -"physician to the Gods"β "Sheratan" and γ "Mesarthim" ArietisLord: 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 23°46 Aries – 7°06' Taurus 2Bharani – "the bearer"35, 39 "Lilii Borea", and 41 ArietisLord: 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 7°06' – 20°26' Taurus 3Krittika – an old name of the Pleiades; personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva.PleiadesLord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Knife or spear Deity : Agni, god of fire Indian zodiac: 26°40' Mesha – 10° Vrishabha Western zodiac 20°26' Taurus – 3°46’ Gemini 4Rohini – "the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmīAldebaranLord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree Deity : Brahma or Prajapati, the Creator Indian zodiac: 10° – 23°20' Vrishabha Western zodiac 3°46 – 17°06' Gemini 5Mrigashira – "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇīλ "Meissa", φ OrionisLord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Deer's head Deity: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god Indian zodiac: 23° 20' Vrishabha – 6° 40' Mithuna Western zodiac: 17°06' Gemini – 0°26' Cancer 6Ardra – "the storm god"BetelgeuseLord: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head Deity : Rudra, the storm god Indian zodiac: 6° 40' – 20° Mithuna Western zodiac: 0°26' – 13°46 Cancer 7Punarvasu – "the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"Castor and PolluxLord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Bow and quiver Deity : Aditi, mother of the gods Indian zodiac: 20° Mithuna – 3°20' Karka Western zodiac 13°46 – 27°06' Cancer 8Pushya – also known as sidhya or tiṣyaγ "Asellus Borealis", δ "Asellus Australis" and θ CancriLord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle Deity : Bṛhaspati, guru & priest of the gods Indian zodiac: 3°20' −16°40' Karka Western zodiac 27°06' Cancer – 10°26' Leo 9Āshleshā – "the embrace"δ, ε "Āshleshā Nakshatra", η, ρ, and σ "Minchir" HydraeLord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol: Serpent Deity : Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes Indian zodiac: 16°40' – 30° Karka Western zodiac 10°26' – 23°46 Leo 10Maghā -"the bountiful"RegulusLord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Royal Throne Deity : Pitrs, 'The Fathers', family ancestors Indian zodiac: 0° – 13°20' Simha Western zodiac 23°46 Leo – 7°06' Virgo 11Pūrva Phalgunī -"first reddish one"δ "Zosma" and θ "Chertan" LeonisLord: 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 7°06' – 20°26' Virgo 12Uttara Phalgunī -"second reddish one"DenebolaLord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock Deity : Aryaman, god of patronage and favours Indian zodiac: 26°40' Simha- 10° Kanya Western zodiac 20°26' Virgo – 3°46 Libra 13Hasta – "the hand"α "Alchiba", β "Kraz", γ, δ "Algorab" and ε "Minkar" CorviLord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Hand or fist Deity : Savitri or Surya, the Sun god Indian zodiac: 10° – 23°20' Kanya Western zodiac 3°46 – 17°06' Libra 14Chitra – "the bright one", a name of SpicaSpicaLord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl Deity : Tvastar or Vishvakarman, the celestial architect Indian zodiac: 23°20' Kanya – 6°40' Tula Western zodiac: 17°06' Libra – 0°26' Scorpio 15Svati -"Su-Ati (Sanskrit) Very good" name of ArcturusArcturusLord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral Deity : Vayu, the Wind god Indian zodiac: 6°40' – 20° Tula Western zodiac 0°26' – 13°46 Scorpio 16Vishakha -"forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift" α "Zubenelgenubi", β "Zubeneschamali", γ and ι LibraeLord: 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 13°46 – 27°06' Scorpio 17Anuradha -"following rādhā" β "Acrab", δ "Dschubba" and π "Fang" ScorpionisLord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Triumphal archway, lotus Deity : Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership Indian zodiac: 3°20' – 16°40' Vrishchika Western zodiac 27°06' Scorpio – 10°26' Sagittarius 18Jyeshtha – "the eldest, most excellent" α "Antares", σ, and τ "Paikauhale" ScorpionisLord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : circular amulet, umbrella, earring Deity : Indra, chief of the gods Indian zodiac: 16°40' – 30° Vrishchika Western zodiac 10°26' – 23°46 Sagittarius 19Mula – "the root" ε "Larawag", ζ, η, θ "Sargas", ι, κ, λ "Shaula", μ and ν "Jabbah" ScorpionisLord: 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 23°46 Sagittarius – 7°06' Capricorn 20Purva Ashadha – "first of the āṣāḍhā", āṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellationδ "Kaus Media" and ε "Kaus Australis" SagittariiLord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket Deity : Apah, god of Water Indian zodiac: 13°20' – 26°40' Dhanus Western zodiac 7°06' – 20°26' Capricorn 21Uttara Ashadha – "Later invincible"ζ "Ascella" and σ "Nunki" SagittariiLord: Surya (Sun) Symbol : Elephant tusk, small bed Deity : Visvedevas, universal gods Indian zodiac: 26°40' Dhanus – 10° Makara Western zodiac 20°26' Capricorn – 3°46 Aquarius 22Shravana –α "Altair", β and γ AquilaeLord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol : Ear or Three Footprints Deity : Vishnu, preserver of universe Indian zodiac: 10° – 23°20' Makara Western zodiac 3°46 – 17°06' Aquarius 23Dhanishta – "most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest" α "Sualocin" to δ DelphiniLord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol : Drum or flute Deity : Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance Indian zodiac: 23°20' Makara – 6°40' Kumbha Western zodiac 17°06' Aquarius – 0°26' Pisces 24 – "requiring a hundred physicians" γ Aquarii "Sadachbia"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 0°26' – 13°46 Pisces 25Purva Bhadrapada – "the first of the blessed feet" α "Markab" and β PegasiLord: 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° Kumbha – 3°20' Meena; Western zodiac 13°46 – 27°06' Pisces 26Uttara Bhādrapadā – "the second of the blessed feet" γ "Algenib" Pegasi and α "Alpheratz" AndromedaeLord: 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' Meena; Western zodiac 27°06' Pisces – 10°26' Aries 27Revati – "prosperous" ζ Piscium "Revati"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 10°26' – 23°46 Aries 28Abhijit – "Invincible" LyraLord: vishnu (preserver) Symbol : shaligram, lotus delight in : Swathi (15th Nakshatra) Indian zodiac: 06°40' – 10°53'20 Makara Western zodiac
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 Lord Brahma
# Name Pada 1 Pada 2 Pada 3 Pada 4 1 Ashwini (अश्विनि) चु Chu चे Che चो Cho ला La 2 Bharani (भरणी) ली Li लू Lu ले Le लो Lo 3 Krittika (कृत्तिका) अ A ई I उ U ए E 4 Rohini (रोहिणी) ओ O वा Vaa/Baa वी Vi/Bi वु Vu/Bu 5 Mrigashīrsha(मृगशीर्ष) वे Ve/Be वो Vo/Bo का Ka की Kii 6 Ārdrā (आर्द्रा) कु Ku घ Gha ङ Ng/Na छ Chha 7 Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु) के Ke को Ko हा Ha ही Hii 8 Pushya (पुष्य) हु Hu हे He हो Ho ड ḍa 9 Āshleshā (अश्लेषा) डी ḍi डू ḍu डे ḍe डो ḍo 10 Maghā (मघा) मा Ma मी Mi मू Mu मे Me 11 Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī (पूर्व फल्गुनी) मो Mo टा ṭa टी ṭii टू ṭuu 12 Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī (उत्तर फल्गुनी) टे ṭe टो ṭo पा Pa पी Pi 13 Hasta (हस्त) पू Pu ष Sha ण Na ठ ṭha 14 Chitra (चित्रा) पे Pe पो Po रा Ra री Ri 15 Svātī (स्वाति) रू Ru रे Re रो Ro ता Ta 16 Viśākhā (विशाखा) ती Ti तू Tu ते Te तो To 17 Anurādhā (अनुराधा) ना Na नी Ni नू Nu ने Ne 18 Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठा) नो No या Ya यी Yi यू Yu 19 Mula (मूल) ये Ye यो Yo भा Bha भी Bhi 20 Pūrva Āshādhā (पूर्व आषाढ़) भू Bhu धा Dha फा Bha/Pha ढा Da 21 Uttara Āṣāḍhā (उत्तर आषाढ़) भे Bhe भो Bho जा Ja जी Ji 22 Śrāvaṇa (श्रावण) खी Ju/Khii खू Je/Khu खे Jo/Khe खो Gha/Kho 23 Śrāviṣṭha (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhanishta गा Ga गी Gii गु Gu गे Ge 24 Shatabhisha (शतभिषा)or Śatataraka गो Go सा Sa सी Si सू Su 25 Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्व भाद्रपद) से Se सो So दा Da दी Di 26 Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तर भाद्रपद) दू Du थ Tha झ Jha ञ ña 27 Revati (रेवती) दे De दो Do च Cha ची Chi
Names in Indian and Asian 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.