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
"
Why thus longing, thus forever sighing
For the far off, unattained, and dim,
While the beautiful, all round thee lying,
Offers up its low perpetual hymn?
Wouldst thou listen to its gentle teaching, All thy restless yearnings it would still; Leaf and flower and laden bee are preaching.
Thine own sphere, though humble, first to fill.
Poor indeed thou must be, if around thee
Thou no ray of light and joy canst throw,
If no silken cord of love hath bound thee.
To some little world through weal and woe;
If no dear eyes thy fond love can brighten, — No fond voices answer to thine own;
If no brother's sorrow thou canst lighten
By daily sympathy and gentle tone.
Not by deeds that win the crowd's applauses, Not by works that gain thee world-renown,
Not by martyrdom or vaunted crosses, Canst thou win and wear the immortal crown.
Daily struggling, though unloved and lonely,
Every day a rich reward will give;
Thou wilt find, by hearty striving only,
And truly loving, thou canst truly live.
Dost thou revel in the rosy morning,
When all nature hails the Lord of light,
And his smile, the mountain-tops adorning,
Robes yon fragrant fields in radiance bright?
Other hands may grasp the field and forest,
Proud proprietors in pomp may shine;
But with fervent love if thou adorest, Thou art wealthier,—all the world is thine.
Yet if through earth's wide domains thou rovest,
Sighing that they are not thine alone.
Not those fair fields, but thyself thou lovest,
And their beauty and thy wealth are gone.
Nature wears the color of the spirit;
Sweetly to her worshipper she sings;
All the glow, the grace she doth inherit,
Round her trusting child she fondly flings.
"Why thus longing | Harriet Winslow Sewall