The Taurean sat and composed a song. It helmed all the other archetypes into a musical tether. And then hummed for itself another.
One would have thunk, if one was a Taurus, but for that, it fit the Aries. And perfectly allowed the spark into flame to be.
‘I would have to have to find myself’, the Aries returned to thought.
And then as they set out in manifest to that effect, the reflection fell onto the song, and Taurus skipped a beat instead to point to the Gemini.
The triangle of music looked squarely at the thought, and the Gemini felt itself another, both in what had already been. Music dwelled the emotion, and then the Cancer presented a wellspring.
But who would sing? Languages crooned into their own becomings, listening to themselves for themes that would even tame the Moon.
Leo roared to remind them of fire, and who can remind oneself but the one burning brightest.
Taking a moment to breathe and the rest remained. The earthy delight brought the Virgo out constructing the very means of flight.
The song intoned, the torus was three dimensional figure as a visual diaphragm, the Libra pipped and corrected the diagram to balance the diagonal logjams.
The content to emotion brought the momentum to a Scorpio in scores of quantums and asking water scrolls.
The point armed the Sagittarius, intuited to hold the flame, fired like a river onto its banks inspired in arrow. And the brow to furrow.
The Capricorn warmed like a mountain to song, and wound the thought like a string turned tight, tuned to the instrument’s might.
The Aquarius invited itself into reflection like the air hearing breath and breadth into quadrupled boons. And interpersonal swoons.
The Pisces felt it, sussed out the melodies multiplying and played for the moon and back into a corner attuned.
The corner turned, smiling zodiac to weather.
Whether to sing. Or find another in similar feather-strokes.
And the sky to sigh. To the stars and back, in storied twinkling histories.
Asvini Nakshatra. Nakshatras are star asterisms or Moon stations used in Astrology to track the Moon’s journey across the sky and the horoscope.
The first Lunar star asterism is Asvins, the horse healer gods. Asvini the star represents the consort of the twin healer horse-gods(also traditionally known as Usha, the goddess of autonomous self-endowed energy).
The Asvins are among the first gods, and are the only nakshatras to be mentioned (infact frequently lauded) in the Rig Vedas. In so they also contain in their respective beneficent treatises the duality of black and white, and both their healing forms (twin-horses representing eyes for duality).
Although in ancient times, this was the 26th in order, for us however Asvins open the Lunar mansions as the first asterism in the constellation Aries. The original greek name of Aswini is Kakkab gamma, and in the Arabic system is known as Al-Sheraton. The constellation looks like a Horse Head.
Astrologically, Aswini is ruled by Ketu, the Lunar South Node (or tail of the dragon’s tail in planetary system). This would be significant for anyone that makes further studies of astrological aphorisms embedded the Nakshatras.
“aśvinoraśvayujau grāmaḥ parastāt senā’ avastāt.”
– Taitteya Brahmana.
‘Through the Asvin’s path flow the celestials winds with their secrets and splendour of works, its place among the stars for that which is beyond, and its healing armies of remedies to hallow the lands below.’
P.s… Extra information. The Asvins are also invoked in one of the stages of the fire(during meditation and ritual) to open a pathway to the soul through the sky. In the 12 cycles of fires, they represent the Eight, offering healing beneficence invoked as sound. The horse is a very interesting animal to study for occult significance.
Does the prospect of luck really come from the stars? Twinkling in the night where the sun don’t shine, driving the nocturnal through all our influences derived of sway.
Or is just the tunings of astrology, taking away from the myths and secrets originally held sacrament to the stars. And handed over to the planets for their prospective narrative pre-productions instead.
But the predilections of fortuity and fruity considerations aside, there are several stars that in their personal history and influence have a direct claim on the concept of fortune. Whether for the knowledge they represent or just their lofty meaning of contemplate, these have all stood taller than the subjective measure of astrology’s optimistic considerations. And in that is their treasure of acquaintance. And better yet, affinity to fortuit.
Sadasūd – Fortunate star of fortune
So there’s a star in Aquarius called Sadalsūd, which means lucky star of luck, or fortunate star of fortune. I’m an Aquarius but it’s clearly not my star. I mean I have the fortune of smiles and the deep privilege of profound knowledge deigns me favour every now and then. But I’m as far from the riches of grandeur as maybe the sun is from the Earth, or at least Mercury or Venus. At least you see a speck of them every so often.
There are 3 other stars in Aquarius associated with the concept of luck, and another far-fetched notion of fortune in one of the stars of Capricorn.
Age of the Aquarius
Taking a total of 5 stars with the word luck in their meaning. These are of the conventional sense.
Of course, most names of astronomy are originally borrowed from the Arabic star systems and the ancients’ work in their culture.
Sadalsūd, or Saldalmasud, the fortunate star of fortune is the Beta, Aquarius. And its contemporary is the Aquarius’ Alpha star, Sadalmelik, the fortunate star of the king.
Lucky or Fortunate star of the king – Sadalmelik
Now you have stars, and you have star mansions, or mini-constellations otherwise called asterisms, where stars are clubbed together into tinier shapes within the larger constellations for the purpose of astrological fine-tuning and reading. These asterisms are then read predominantly from the context of the Moon, given how quickly it moves among the stars.
Anyway, Sadalsūd, tweaked into El Sa’ad el Sūd is one of those said asterisms along with another star, the Xi of Aquarius. Then you have the asterism Sa’ad elAkbir, comprising the stars Gamma, Eta and Zeta of Aquarius, which curiously means the fortunate star of tents. El Sa’ad el Sūd and El Sa’ad el Akbir are the 24rd and 25th Arabic star mansion in sequence respectively.
Many a fortunate star
Prior to these two, there is the asterism,El Sa’ad El Bulah, the lucky star of the swallower,made up of the stars Mu and Nu of Aquarius, the celestial water bearer.
There is an obscure little star also in this region in Mu, Pegasus, the constellation of flying horse. This star is Sadalbari, which means the ‘fortunate star of the excellent one’. Aspirational indeed.
Sadalbari – Fortunate star of the excellent one.
Rounding off this ‘fortunate’ series of stars is one of the asterisms in Capricorn, the 22nd called El Sadalsabih, the lucky star of slaughter, made of Alpha and Beta star of Capricorn, the constellation of the goat.
Naturally one cannot talk of fortunate stars or stars of personal significance without acknowledging the true north, or Polaris, the North Star.
Dhruva – The North Star – Polaris
Although most of the above mentioned stars are in the lower hemisphere, and well into the later half of Zodiac, astrologically their traditional position for the Zodiac stands around midheaven, or just above it. Noted of course, that this moves around us as the sky.
Polaris, meanwhile is a fixed star. And that means it does not move or change its position, relative to us or otherwise. In fact, it is the sun, with us in tow that moves around the Polaris, the north star. It is said in Indian scripture that our entire galaxy as well the universe is moving slowly (spread across eternity) towards the north star. In the Indian pantheon, the north star is Dhruva. In one of the slightly obscure legends from scripture, Dhruva is shown to holding up the sky as the floor of heaven to mark a new age. It was set upon the pre-ancient era when the Asuras, or the giants had taken over all three realms, the underworld, Earth and heaven. And the galaxy was ruled by the giant king Vali, also among the stars.
It is said that darkness covered the Earth, and the dwarf sun could not even stretch his feet (rays) to light the poles of the Earth. Sophocles of the Greeks has a dwarf appearing on Orion’s shoulders in similar grain. And in another mythology, at the time the leader of the starry sky was supposed to be the Sirius, called Tistrya by the Persians (Zend Avesta) and Lubdaka-Vishvamitra by the Indians. The Indian pantheon has him called the old Nakshatra Tishya, which means Archer.
But the end of the epoch arrived, the sun matured, and according to the Sanskrit scriptures, Vishnu in the form of a dwarf brahmana called Vamana devised recourse. He sequestered of the giant Asura king Vali a small ask that Vali obliged. And that was dominion over the distance of his three steps.
At the appointed hour, Vamana Vishnu changed form, growing larger and larger until he stood an unfathomable giant even to the greatest giant king time would see, as or until Vali. Vishnu, for his appropriation marked his three steps, the first for the underworld, the second of the Earth and sky. And with his third step, he stepped upon heaven, closing it on Vali and the rest of Earthly sentience. But as his foot stepped down, he wrent asunder heaven by pressing down his toe. And underneath his toenail, he created a crevice, letting in the waters from outside of this universe.
Dhruva – The fountainhead of stars.
Underneath Dhruva held up the sky, shouldering its weight to balance. And through him, the holy waters flowed, and onto the Milky Way for sanctification.
In time the Milky Way of the stars would fall upon the Earth as the river Ganga in another legend.
This step of Vishnu was called the Trita Parama pada, or the Vishnu Parama pada, the third and supreme step of Vishnu. And Vishnu as a solar god of the Sun, as his right decreed as an Aditya, handed over the heavens to Indra, and the sky to Surya-Mārtanda.
Dhruva-tara aka Polaris, can be seen exactly at the same spot every night. Which geographically if you’re at the line of equator, is directly overhead. I still have to arch my neck where I live, but well its always north as a direction, naturally.
According to scripture, Dhruva-tara serves as the holiest of holies as a star. Just the mere act of seeing it at night is sanctifying and healing, it is said the day’s sinfulnesses stand cleansed on the nights that one advents to see this star, the true north.
Sirius much
Naturally, Sirius also has its legacies fortunate to its history. To the ancients, naming the stars to shape was not merely regarded to shape of illusion to eyes. But rather they looked to the observable effects and remarked to the life around them; plants, animals of husbandry, hunter observations, just as to matters of sea-faring. This dog-star of a constellation housed the then star-king Tistrya, or the god Merodokh of the Babylonians. This ‘bright and scorching’ as its name translated, was the rain indicator, associated also with the phrase ‘dog-day afternoons’ for the thirst of it. This was also the original hunter in the stars of the Indian pantheon as Tishya, where Rudra, the shiva form marks his abode, its remain as the ‘sweat maker’ Nakshatra Arda, 6th of the Indian pantheon.
This star was called Kakkab Si-Sa among other things by the ancients Euphrateans, meaning star-king of the heavens and its great station.
Of course, in the Indian legends or otherwise, this star is connected to the giant of Orion in its rising and setting in the sky, abiding to its eternity of influence.
Another interesting facet about Sirius is in its nature as a double-star. While its star-double Sirius B is moving towards the Earth, the larger body Sirius A is moving away (from the Earth) with equal force. And the two of them share their orbit with each other. Its volume is also 500 times that of the Sun as a star.
Leo
Lion’s share of fortune
Leo as a constellation has always been associated with kings and king-making. Its primary star Regulus, also called Basilkos in greek, meaning king. This as a larger association is not a difficult make. For in the ancient era upon a different pole-star, called Thuban, Alpha Draconis, Regulus stood the highest star upon the solstitial colure. The solstitial colure is the line that cuts the elliptic on the path of the sun. The highest star upon it after the North Star, was naturally considered king of the stars at the time. As in the Indian Nakshatra systems as well, this was one of the stars associated with the Nakshatra Magha, the 10th, also called Aghạ in ancient eras.
The Babylonians called this the Ziqqurat.
So the only really fixed star is the North Star. All the other stars move, albeit slowly altering their native place of sky. And as all the stars were collectively dealt as fixed in the ancient systems for convenience of use, the planets came to be called on as wandering stars, and attributes appropriated to them that were the domain of the stars.
The original wandering star, however was quite a different one. The star Alcor in the Ursa Major is an intriguing one. It makes a perfect double to the sky with the star Epsilon of Ursa Major, otherwise called Mizar. The star Mizar has another smaller star in its direct orbit, and so its pairing with Alcor rends and lends it a perfect optically blue sight. Mizar is also one of the chief stars that comprise the Seven Sages of the Ursa Major, which as a constellation moves around Dhruva, or Polaris. It is, in fact the sun that follows the Ursa Major around Polaris. Where the sun marks the time in the day, the seven sages offer time of night by encircling the North Star through its nightly coursing. In the Indian pantheon, this wandering star Alcor is called Arundati, or the evening. And her consort is the Sage Vasishta of the Saptrishis. The pair of Arundati-Vasishta count as the stars of marriage in traditional marriage ceremonies. On the night of their betrothal, the groom is supposed to locate the star Vasishta in its place in the sky. And then carefully trace the star Arundati twinkling right beside it to his naked eye. Upon finding it, he has to direct his bride’s attention to it and ascertain that she too can see both Vasishta-Arundati twinkling right beside each in succession. Between the two of them, they constitute one of the heaven’s gates, and the doors of matrimony. The smaller tiny star next to Vasishta is called Sandhya, which means the morning, while Arundati refers to the evening. Sandhya as a form is shared with Arundati, in that Sandhya is the maiden who transforms into the devoted Arundati matrimonially.
Arundati, the wandering star of Ursa Major.
Arundati was originally part of the the Pleiades, who were collectively the consorts of the 7 sages, or saptrishis. And while 6 of them were made to shift their place in the sky when the constellations reshuffled, Arundati’s star remained, tethered as it was to Vasishta. Arundati then consorted all 7 of them as a constellation so their duties would not fall remiss. In so, she is looked upon as their collective feminine patronage. For her own part however, while always beside her other in Vasishta, she holds her own orbit in the sky, coming to be known as the wandering star.
The star that was Sandhya, in the meantime came to be regarded as a mythical creature for its place, called Kāmdhenū, the creative wish-fulfilling cow that was always in the keep of Sage Vasishta in his musing ancient myths.
Pleiades
The rest of the Saptrishi consorts or the Pleiades were then moved as their place in the sky to the Zodiac constellation of Taurus right beside the star-cluster of the Hyades, which means hues in ancient tongue.
The Pleidies is the 3rd Arabic star mansion as El Thorreya.
In the Indian pantheon, they are called the Krittika Nakshatra. And it is the Krittikas that set in cycle the ancient moon calendar of the Nakshatras through the stars, which stands today as the 3rd Nakshatra in a sequence of 27.
The Krittika Nakshatra is also inhabited by a star cluster called the Matri-Mandala with the Pleiades being its brightest distinguishable stars.
The are 4 star clusters of note in the Indian pantheon of stars.
Matri Mandala or the constellation of the mothers.
The Matri-mandala figuring supreme of the star clusters, as with the Pleiades is regarded as the feminine principle. Where image enlivened consciousness, it was numbers that animated it to splendour. When vowels formed building blocks, alphabets propagated their application. In the numerical, Matri-mandala was the supreme producer’s womb.
What is remarkable is that while the Matri-mandala is several dozen un-spottable stars, the Krittika Nakshatra in its shape creates a fire flame, empowered of the inherent star cluster Matri-mandala. Naturally then, Krittika as an asterism is associated with Agni, the fire god.
The second star cluster of significance is the M 44 star cluster in the constellation Cancer. In the Indian pantheon, it is called the Madhu-chakra, the nectar or honey repository. It stands mounted on the back or shell of the crab, as if a luminous jewel being carried slowly to a star journey. In so, the chariot seen on the back of the crab became the grand Ratha, or the emperor’s chariot to divinity in Dasaratha, who was the reigning ruler in India at the time of the Ramayana epic.Seen in its rising in the sky as if guiding the sun on the horses of the previous Nakshatra the Asvins, the Madhu-chakra itself is signified in the eighth and fortuitous asterism, the Nakshatra Pushya. The other name for Pushya is Tishya, which belonged originally in another era to another star.
Star Clusters
The next star cluster of note is the constellation Crux, or the southern cross. In the Indian pantheon, this was called Trisanku mandala. This cluster contains several stars creating the optimal illusion of a perfect moon, making it impossible to tell any single star apart by the naked eye. In the ancient era, Trisanku was the sun god, possibly even served greater roles. Crux as a constellation in the sky naturally represents integrity. Interestingly, this star as a result of its optical illusion makes reflection of neighbouring stars, in colour.
The fourth star cluster of significance in the Indian Pantheon is the Nakshatra Shatabhishta, the 24th. This star cluster has 100 stars in it in the shape of a circle, and in the olden era stood for prowess over chance, marking the skill in telling its pieces apart. Then its influences became one of ritual and sacrifices, and finally it came to be looked upon as 100 physicians, in compensation of a 100 afflictions. It still astrologically has challenges to health represented in its synastry. This star cluster as with the first few of this article, are in the constellation Aquarius.
Bohenian Stars
Bohenian stars are a set of stars considered of deeper and magical significance among the Arab and Western medieval astrologers. The word Bohenian means root, and so their influences were looked upon as superseding other aspects of divination. 15 of these are considered of special import. Of them, so far we’ve covered Regulus and Sirius. Alcyone, the Eta of Taurus, indicative of the Pleiades, is another.
The Alpha star of Taurus, Alderberan, the eye of the bull, is yet another. Alderberan is the closest influence or in so home, of the Hyades as well. Now Alderberan literally means the follower of the Pleiades. And the Pleiades stand for colour. So the hues in Hyades naturally follow the trail of colour in the sky. In the Indian Pantheon, Alderberan constitutes the Nakshatra Rohini, the 4th in the lunar route, referred to, astrologically as the moon’s favourite. The star itself was is called Rohit.
In Arab star mansions, Alderberan is fourth as put forth.
Bully for you, saith fortune to fate.
Nishthya, the goddess or Arcturus.
The star Arcturus, the Alpha star Bootes is also a bohenian star. In the Indian pantheon, it is called Nishthya. This star is considered so bright and effervescent (can’t tell colour apart) that upon seeing it, the beauty captures the heart and stays with us. In the Purana scriptures, it is cited that Nishthya removes tamah, darkness from the soul. There are other considerable consciousness practices associated to Nishthya as goddess ritual or form. In the the lunar system, Arcturus is in the Nakshatra Swati, the 15th, which means the sword of light that cuts through darkness.
Bootes – The rein holder
The remaining ten Bohenian stars with their Indian names are as follows.
Other Bohenian stars
Algol, the Beta Perseus. Meaning the ghoul or the changeful. A variable star (changes its light in the sky). Called Mayawati in Indian astronomy.
Algorab, Delta Corvus. Another name for raven. Among other stars in the 14th Nakshatra Hasta, which is in the shape of a hand.
Alkaid, the Eta Ursa Major, the Saptrishi Marichi (Also known as the revolving star).
Alphecca, Alpha Corona Borealis. Also called Gemma, for gem, and Al Kāsā, the dervish’s dish.
Antares, Alpha constellation Scorpio. In the Indian pantheon, Angaraka as a star, and Jyeshta as a Nakshatra asterism, the 18th. It is the 18th Arabic star asterism as El Kalb, the heart.
Capella, Alpha Auriga. Brahma-Hridaya, or the heart of Brahma in the Indian charts.
Procyn, Alpha Canis Minor. Called Sārama in vedic legends and astronomy.
Spica, Alpha constellation Virgo. The ear of the corn, in Indian astronomy also known as Tara within the Nakshatra Chitra, the 15th. In the Arabic asterisms, Spica is in El Simak, the 14th.
Vega, Alpha Lyra. In Saraswati’s constellation of the Veena, Vega is called Nila–mani, and used to exist in ancient Nakshatra Abhijit among some of the constellation’s other stars. To today’s use of Indian astrology, its transitions to the sky are still utilised to calculate muhurata, the providential hours or days.
Two other stars of note that don’t appear in the Bohenian stars, or the ‘lucky’ series but are still worth mention would be the stars Alpheratz and Mira.
Alpheratz is the Alpha star of the constellation Andromeda. It is also in the constellation Pegasus, one of the only two stars to cross over into other recognised constellations, both of which are from Pegasus. Alpheratz is in the head of the chained woman of Andromeda, also the belly of the aerial horse. Its other name is Sirrah, which means navel. Along with Gamma Pegasus, Alpheratz also makes the 27th Arabic asterism El Farg El Mukhar, which means the joy succeeding. The star mansion prior to it in sequence was Alpha and Beta of Pegasus as the asterism El Farg El Mukdīm, the joy proceeding.
In the Indian pantheon, Alpheratz or Sirrah, with another makes the 26th Nakshatra Uttara Bhadrapa.
Star Poetry – Horace
Mira – The Cupid’s Star
And finally, Mira, the wondrous. To the greeks this star was also called Mara, and even to the ancients in their crafts has cupid inferences associated with it. In the Indian Pantheon, this is the cupid’s star as avatar. Omnicron Cetus, in the constellation of the celestial whale.
Mira, or Kamadeva, this star is also known as a Kāmārupa-tara, i.e ‘changing at its own pleasure’, in that it is a variable star. Over an interval of 331 days and 8 hours, it brightens and fades, maintaining maximum brightness for a period of 15 days, when it is the second-brightest in the sky. Then over 3 months, slowly it completely disappears from the sky. For 5 months thereafter, it cannot be seen, when it re-appears continuously increasing in brightness over the next three months. At its peak, it is the second brightest of night skies… briefly.
Indeed, the cupid’s star, whom might it charm in arrow?
Stars, when read to astrology for subjective influence alter to a querent’s tide and times. In that, what is opportune today turns contrived tomorrow.
But fortunate are those that have relevant knowledge recollected to them at its required time and application. Redeemed and astute to observation, starry or otherwise.
But hey, we can all use a bit of luck, if the stars be listening in akasha-vani (celestial grape-vine).
– 10 eternal pairings of Indian mythological characters in the stars.
Eternity is a strange notion, but one that the promise of affection always covets. Naturally, most romantic notions start in the stars, the becoming of the sun and the subsequent reflection of the moon. In that then springs the belief that no grandly loving entity would be denied its consort’s song.
To that inspiration and perspective, we turn into ancient Indian astronomy, and look at some of the oldest star couples in mythology, and the best known to be their respective lover’s love.
Agni – Swaha
Agni – Star Nath, Beta Taurus. The god of fire.
Swaha – Star Zeta Taurus. The holy word offered to the fire.
Agni, the god of fire is attributed several glories to creation and man, and in so, even predominates most of the hymns of the oldest known Indian scripture, the Rig Veda. Swaha, his consort is supposed to be the shape of the offering as the holy word offered to the flame in rituals.
There is a curious story associated to their union set in one of the lunar moon stations, the Nakshatra Krittika (the Krittikas are the Indian version of the Plieades).
Agni, when as a brash young god was besotted with the virtues of the wives of the 7 heavenly sages, the Saptrishis of the Ursa Major constellation. Agni, overwhelmed in unrequited love resolves to set himself ablaze in a forrest of stars and exist no more. Swaha, sister to the 7, herself harbours immense desire for Agni, and catches wind of his designs. She takes her plight to the great lord Shiva (Shiva’s consort Parvati is also Swaha’s sister to scripture). The lord Shiva blesses her and offers her with solution. Swaha, then approaches Agni and proposes that she transform and don herself in her sisters’ likeness in order to satiate his desires. And that her own desire in his acceptance stood sated. Agni, moved at the gesture and touched of its kindness, accepts. Their union commences, and she takes on the avatar of her sisters, one by one in shapeshifting glory. On her part, she is able to guise herself in the form of 6 of her sisters, but not the seventh, known as Arundati, whose sense of devotion is considered penultimate.
A son is born to them, who goes on to be called Skanda, eventually to marshal and lead the heavenly host of armies against darkness.
Incidentally, the Nakshatra or star asterism Krittika is in the shape of a fire flame, testament of Agni’s supernatural glories.
Vasishta – Arundati
Vasishta – Star Mizar, Epilson Ursa Major. One of the 7 sages.
Arundati – Star Alcor, Ursa Major.
The stars of Vasishta and Arundati mark one of heavenly gates in the stars of Indian religion. In fact their names are invoked still in traditional marriage ceremonies in many a part of India. And there is an interesting ritual about them as part of the husband’s beginnings as responsibilities to spouse.
Vasishta and Arundati form a double-star to the eye if seen in the Ursa Major constellation. As part of the ritual, the groom has to point out Vasishta in the sky, and trace Arundati as its twinkling twin. The groom then, upon successfully finding it has to point it out to his bride, enabling her as well to see Vasishta-Arundati twinkling in succession right beside each other in the sky.
Vasishta is one of the Saptrishis, otherwise known as the seven sages, and has several legends associated with him including pivotal arcs in the religious epic Ramayana. Astronomically, his star is a formerly known north pole star of ancient times.
Arundati’s star, Alcor is also called the wandering bird, and perfectly hides behind Vasishta’s star or Epilson Ursa Major. Only upon concentrated focus, a brighter blue emerges from her star, right beside her consort. According to mythology, Arundati was the only one of the Krittikas (Plieades) who did not move her place in the sky when reshuffling of stars happened, but chose instead to stay not just with Vasishta but all seven of the sages to provide anchoring in the sky. As power to her mythological character, Arundati is also associated with the phenomena of the evening, apart from just being a marriage star.
Soma – Saraswati
Soma – Star Castor, Alpha Gemini.
Saraswati – Constellation Lyra, also known as the Veena.
Soma and Saraswati’s love story is a strange one indeed. And one in which most of ancient creation legends of the Indian pantheon converge. Soma as a god becomes part of all the other gods, and Saraswati emerges as the creativity of the entire universe. According to another legend, at the time of the great war of the gods and demi-beings, the Gandharvas, or the celestial musicians kidnapped Soma, and ransomed him back to the gods only if Saraswati was given to them in turn. Saraswati then took another form called Vāc that stayed with the gods, while her former self in creativity merged with the music of the Gandharvas.
In the western pantheon, Castor represents the immortal twin in Gemini who gave up his immortality to his brother Pollux, and their story is considered a reflection of the sun and moon.
Saraswati is known as the goddess of creativity, and is considered one of the most important in the grandest scheme of things. She also had a river to her name that flowed through the Earth as well as the skies of the Milky Way galaxy.When her river dried up (in north-western India) is supposed to be the start of the dark ages of Kaliyuga which are said to exist today.
The Veena or the Lyra as an instrument of music and as a constellation are amongst the oldest known. Vega, the brightest star of the constellation would become the next north star of the Earth in a few thousand years.
Soma is also known as two other forms. The first being the entire Milky Way stream part of the stars in the namesake galaxy, also known as Soma-pavamana, the heavenly stream.
And the other is as the Moon, who is then consorted with 27 lunar moon stations called the Nakshatras. In another legend, the planet Mercury or Budh is born to Soma, in his moon-form of Chandrama.
Agastya – Lopamudra
Agastya – Canopus, Alpha Argo Navis.
Lopamudra – Rho, Dorado.
One of the most enigmatic couples in Ancient Indian history are the sage Agastya and Lopamudra. The star that is Agastya is also known as Māna, meaning the pilot as Canopus of the great ship of the heavens, Argo Navi, the largest constellation in the ancient era. Lopamudra as the star of its consorting accord is also known to be a vanishing star, that after shining brightly for a time disappears completely in intervals. Lopamudra is a rarity as a mythological figure in that she is also a philosopher, considered at par with her more fabled ancient male contemporaries. So much so, a large chunk of hymns in the Rigveda are attributed her authorship. Most of the content curiously is to do with a husband’s responsibilities and expectations from his wife. Nevertheless, she is supposed to have swayed the ancient rishis (sages) with her intellect, and influenced the earliest traditions of coupling.
Agastya for a considerable time in prehistoric eras was the south pole star. Among other achievements to his glory, once drank up the entire waters of the oceans on the Earth. In its consequence was also tasked with guarding the highest abode of the gods(and Indra) at Mount Meru from all mountainous, cloudy and giant threats.
Lopamudra’s disappearance from the sky periodically is linked to still other obscure legends of the Sage Agastya’s apprentices bringing her to him after and upon completion of specified tasks.
The Indian Sky.
Shiva – Parvati
Shiva – Body of the entire universe. Constellation Bootes.
Parvati – The one that becomes the goddess. Spica, Alpha Virgo.
The highest divinities of the Indian pantheon are Shiva and Parvati, which for consciousness become Shiva-Shakti, and for all others, they each transform and bless any manifest from their origin. The story illustrated here is of two of their forms, their relationships gleaned.
Bootes, in Indian astronomy is called Bhūtesā, or Siva-Bhūtesā, the god of the ghostly hosts. And in the western constellation of the rein-holder of the chariot, is also sometimes associated with a sword. Bootes is right beside the Virgo.
The star Spica, the Alpha Virgo is also known as Tara, or Sati. The shape of this star is an irregular Y. Curiously, the Nakshatra Chitra includes this star in a mini-asterism following the same shape. And then the entire Virgo constellation of 33 stars, three times over takes the same irregular Y shape.
This star Sati-tara is also associated with an ancient starburst that birthed the original Sanskrit alphabets of language and merged them with 51 of the oldest known constellations. According to their legend, in her oldest form, Sati was the daughter of a star-creator sage Daksha and was married to the great ascetic god Shiva. And when Shiva is insulted by her father and his party, Sati immolates and sacrifices herself to his honour. When Shiva learns of this, in grief and anger, begins the grandest dance of destruction of the universe, the Tandav, and his force of rage ripples asunder to recreate the heavens to eternity.
Shiva then secures a piece of Sati as Parvati and crowns her as a crescent moon above his brow as perpetual consort.
Varuna – (Akasha-ganga) Varuni
Varuna – Epilson, Ursa Minor.
Varuni – The Milky Way stream of stars.
Among the lesser known gods in the Indian pantheon is this pair. Varuna is supposed to be the god of the waters, and is an Aditya, one of sun’s divine brothers. Varuni, is the name invoked as his consort but traditionally Varuna is set to consort the entire Milky Way stream of stars as his place in the heavens.
The Milky Way stream of stars hangs like soft and shining sheet of thousands of twinkling stars stretching across almost the entirety of sky. The oldest keynotes of creations are set to be concealed in its folds. In its earliest name Via Lactea, it was known in the Indian pantheon as Chhayapath, or the shadow path, and as Somadhara.There are some marvellous legends of how waters from outside the known universe would be led into the Milky Way stream of the galaxy and eventually even down to Earth to replenish the oceans having been dried up to the Sage Agastya’s prowess. Most likely owing to his place in the sky, the star Varuna is accorded the consort of the Milky Way and to be the guiding force of emotion to the galaxy. In his place in the Ursa Minor, along with another star Kochab (Indra), Varuna stands as one of the guardians of the Pole protecting Dhruva, or Polaris the north star from any or every turmoil.
Saraswati – Brahma
Brahma – Auriga, the constellation.
Saraswati – Lyra, the constellation.
This is more a figurehead couple than consorts in the traditional sense. The creator of the universe, Brahma for his place in god hierarchies needs a pair, and for that purpose, the goddess of creativity is seen as paired with the god of creation. A similar grain of legends shows Brahma coupled with Sandhya (Arundati’s maiden avatar), when the great figure of Orion in the sky as Rudra shoots an arrow at Brahma-Sandhya causing several constellations of sky to break apart and stopping Brahma from expanding creation any further. Most likely these pairings are indicative of the earliest alignment of stars when a star-figure called Abhijit (represented as Brahma) was as the first known North Pole star, and Sandhya-Arundati were aligned underneath for balance.
The Saraswati river in ancient India also flowed right beside another early river called Brahma-putra (translating into son of Brahma) merging into each other.
Brahma is said to have had 5 heads enabling him to see all directions. According to yet another legend, one head is cut off, but he has a consort for each head. Sātarupa, Savitri, Saraswati, Gayatri and Brahmani are said to be the 5.
Eventually Brahma started to be looked at as the planet Brihaspati or Jupiter, consorted to star Tara (Spica, Alpha Virgo). But Soma, or the Moon whisked away Tara and their union led to the birth of Mercury called Budh in the Hindu pantheon. This according to yet another legend.
Vāsudeva – Radha
Vāsudeva Krishna – Star Altair, Alpha Aquila.
Radha – Nakshatra Visākha, stars Alpha and Beta of Libra.
No talk of couples in Hindu mythology can ever be complete without the mention of Krishna and Radha. By all virtue, the youngest god of the Indian pantheon, Krishna as a figure in the stars is actually a reworked version of a much more ancient god in the skies as Narayana. In fact Krishna, as a word meant dark, and his adopted mother Yashodhara’s name translates into bestower of resplendence or light. Originally Krishna was representative of a Sun-god, while the sun was yet coming into complete grace. It was then that one of the Nakshatras was known as Radha, otherwise known today as the Nakshatra Visakha. The asterism succeeding it is still called Anuradha to this day (translates into the one after Radha). Such is the figure of Krishna that he always has a peacock feather in his hair. The same peacock feather is represented as the bright colourful lights of the Ursa Major (One of its names in old languages is Chitra-Sikhandi, the peacock’s visage), with Krishna’s crown as the north star or the roof of the world.
In that manner, Krishna’s stories get spread over several stars and constellations that are connected to Vishnu (one of the principle gods), the one Krishna is referred to as the incarnation of. But to origin, Vāsudevais said to reflect this place in the sky. The name, changed in accent as Vasudeva, and was proffered to Krishna’s father on Earth, with Krishna-Vāsudeva left indicative as Krishna, son of Vasudeva.
Arjuna – Draupadi
Arjuna – Nakshatra Uttara-Phalguni and Purva Phalguni, Leo/Virgo.
Draupadi – Star Zavijara, Beta Virgo.
Amongst the last stars to be named in the skies of Indian astronomy are these, for all study after this era then turned to astrology and the latter was considered a fixed sky.
Arjuna was great hero of the epic ‘Mahabharat’, said to have taken place a few thousand years B.C. He is guided to the victory that becomes the nation, by an incarnated god-form as Krishna and is exceptional in his skill as an archer. Arjuna is also called Phalguna, and two Nakshatras are named after him, both said to the epitome of pairs. This trait of pairing well with others is also something Arjuna is excellent at, with Krishna, Draupadi, his various brothers and yet still others.
Draupadi, is the primary wife of Arjuna, and at his behest agrees to consort him as well as his 4 other brothers. She is seen as the perfect dutiful wife, whose honour and life often come to peril in Arjuna’s many adventures.
Her star is at the navel of the Virgo constellation, and in so is also called the Nabhi-tara. Draupad, her father (the world-tree) is also represented in the stars along with one other of Arjuna’s brothers from the Mahabharata.
Kapota – Kapoti
Kapoti – Constellation Lepus.
Kapota – Constellation Columba.
Although not mythological figures per se, this twining of constellations from the early skies is too precious to avoid mention.Both of these constellations comprise of 8 stars each, and are in similar configurations. Although in western context, Lepus is called the Hare, while Columba, the dove. In Indian astronomy, both are seen as the pairing of stellar doves.
Columba, of course is also called Noah’s dove.
Happy stargazing.
Eternal repair in pairs
Star light often pairs.
A coat of quotes and passing poetry
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Quote # 24
There is a courtesy of the heart; it is allied to love. From it springs the purest courtesy of outward behaviour.- UnknownNext
Pakshirājasya mandala – Pegasi – Equus – Feras al Thani – second (winged) horse.
Alpha – Markab (saddle).
Beta – Scheat – Sak (front leg).
Gamma – Algenib (flank) – Al Jannah (wing).
Epsilon – Enif (nose) – Enir.
Zeta – Homam (high-minded) – Homān – Oman – hero.
Eta – Matar (rain).
Theta – Baham (livestock).
Mu – Sadalbari (lucky star of the excellent one).
Also, Azalfafge, the hoof of the horse is in Cygnus, and Alpheratz, the belly of the horse is in Andromeda.
Other constellations in Pegasus
Nakshatra Purva-Bhādrapada or Prausthapada. The 25th nakshatra, 2 stars that look like a bell. Beta and Theta Pegasi. Deity – Aja Ekapād.
Nakshatra Uttara-Bhādrapada. The 26th nakshatra, also 2 stars that look like a bell. The stars are Delta Pegasus and a common star of two constellations Sirrah (Alpha Andromeda). Deity Ahi-budhnaya.
El Farg El Mukdīm – The joy preceding. Alpha and Beta of Pegasus. The 26th Arabic moon station of the stars.
El Farg Mukhar – The joy succeeding. Gamma Pegasus and Alpha Andromeda. The 27th Arabic star mansion.
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