Nakshatras - An introduction
Nakshatras are star asterisms or Moon stations used in Astrology to track the Moon’s journey across the sky and the horoscope.
Vedic Astrology makes use of Nakshatras in various ways, including calculating predictions periods for coming years.
There are 27 Nakshatras that are used, each of them like mini-constellations spread through the 12 of the Zodiac constellations.
In order to make calculations easier, each Nakshatra is made up of 13 degrees and 20 minutes out of charts 360 degrees.
We calculate the nakshatra predominantly by the Moon, meaning that you will have a nakshatra that denotes the placement of the moon in your chart.
The moon changes its position everyday, and with each changing tithi, or astrological equivalent of the day, the nakshatra changes, allowing you to easily track your own internal influences in your natal or birth chart easily by tracking the moon.
Just as with the zodiac, each nakshatra is also ruled by a certain planet and has certain predisposition and attributes that affect our day to day lives.
Knowing the moon-sign as your nakshatra enables you to easily navigate timings and patterns traceable through each day’s changing astrology.
The names of the nakshatras and their order are as follows, and your nakshatra is always calculated from the position of your Moon in the natal chart.
- 1. Asvini
- 2. Bharani
- 3. Kritika
- 4. Rohini
- 5. Mrigashira
- 6. Arda
- 7. Punarvasu
- 8. Pushya
- 9. Ashlesha
- 10. Hasta
- 11. Purva Phalguni
- 12. Uttar Phalguni
- 13. Magha
- 14. Swati
- 15. Chitra
- 16. Visakha
- 17. Anuradha
- 18. Jyeshta
- 19. Mula
- 20. Purva Ashadha
- 21. Uttar Ashadha
- 22. Shravana
- 23. Dhanishta
- 24. Shatabhisha
- 25. Purva Bhadrapa
- 26. Uttar Bhadrapa
- 27. Revati
The 27 Nakshatras
Apart from these, the olden era nakshatra Abhijit is used to calculate Muhurata, or propitious and fortunate time of events in astrology.
The day's Nakshatra and planets
A coat of quotes and passing poetry
"From the Bhagavata Gita :
"Then, filled with wonder, with hairs standing on end, he, Dhananjaya, (Arjuna), bowing down with his head to the Lord, said with folded hands.Arjuna said: O God, I see in Your body all the gods as also hosts of (various) classes of beings; Brahma the ruler, sitting on a lotus seat, and all the heavenly sages and serpents.I see You as possessed of numerous arms, bellies, mouths and eyes; as having infinite forms all around. O Lord of the Universe, O Cosmic Person, I see not Your limit nor the middle, nor again the beginning!I see You as wearing a crown, wielding a mace, and holding a disc; a mass of brilliance glowing all around, difficult to look at from all sides, possessed of the radiance of the blazing fire, and immeasurable as the sun.You are the Immutable, the supreme One to be known; You are the most perfect repository of this Universe. You are the Imperishable, the Protector of the ever-existing religion; You are the eternal Person. This is my belief.I see You as without beginning, middle and end, possessed of infinite valour, having innumerable arms, having the sun and the moon as eyes, having a mouth like a blazing fire, and heating up this Universe by Your own brilliance.Those very groups of gods enter into You; struck with fear, some extol (You) with joined palms. Groups of great sages and perfected beings praise You with elaborate hymns, saying 'May it be!’" - Chapter 11, Bhagavada Gita.Scene from the Bhagavada Gita as Krishna, the charioteer shows his god-form to the archer hero Arjuna at the field of battle.The Bhagavada Gita is one of the holy books of the Hindu pantheon in India. And this painting and poetry are a scene from the epic battle Mahabharata as Krishna takes on his all powerful form, known as Virat Swaroop."
Virata Swaroop | Bhagavada Gita