Nakshatras – Complete Guide

Nakshatra in Hinduism refers to a group of stars. It’s a further division of clusters within a zodiac sign. However, there’s more to it in Hinduism than simply a cluster of stars. Each cluster has a story, meaning, and a certain significance, which can help decode a lot of facts about life.

Among the ancient sages, ‘Nakshatra’ served as the original language of the stars used to communicate with intangible spirits. In their quest to decipher life’s meaning, they sought out qualities beyond the zodiac, where gods and goddesses lived in a world free of sorrow and pain. Sages believed they could overcome daily turbulence in human life and mind if they understood the language of the stars and worked with their cosmic patterns. A nakshatra is a constellation of fixed stars which comprises 13° 20′ of the ecliptic, the number of degrees traveled by the Moon in a 24-hour day. Naksha means to get closer, while Tra means to preserve. Nakshatra means ‘to get closer’ and Tra means ‘to preserve’, so ‘Nakshatra’ also means ‘one that never decays’. Nakshatras are supposed to protect souls during their many human lives and bring divine knowledge to the world.

Contents: Nakshatras and the mind | Astrology | Myth of Nakshatras | 27 Nakshatras | List of Nakshatras | Nakshatras Padas | Nakshtaras and Souds | FAQs on Nakshatras

Nakshatras and the mind

A nakshatra represents the mind, representing higher and lower energies along with daily struggles for peace and calmness in the face of uncertainty and pressure. As well as being a part of the higher self, evolving consciousness, and being at one with the divine, they also represent the emotional chaos, unhappiness, and sorrow that the mind deals with on a daily basis. Nakshatras are associated with the karma that is stored in the mind, whose daily fluctuations prevent us from reaching self-realization. Nakshatras refer to two elements: the eternal and the ever-changing. By understanding this interaction, you will gain a deeper understanding of consciousness, karma, and happiness. The fixed stars represent constant stars, while the Moon/mind represents the ever-changing mind.

Nakshatras in astrology

There are in total 28 nakshatras in vedic astrology. Nakshatras are used for a variety of purposes especially in decoding a chart in astrology. The placement of planets in nakshatras is seen over nakshatras. In western astrology, placement of planets in zodiac signs in seen, which is often less accurate over placement of planets in nakshatras. A typical astrological chart will map out planets in 27 nakshatras (not 28. we’ll discuss this in this article below). The placement of a planet in a nakshatra indicates a certain nature. This is far more accurate than understanding placements over zodiac signs.

Myth of Nakshatras

There are twenty-eight daughters of Daksha Prajapati who became the wives of Soma, the Moon god. On the condition that he, Soma, would treat the daughters equally, Daksha Prajapati allowed Soma to marry his daughters. In time, Soma began showing a preference for Rohini and spending more time with her, which made the other wives jealous, so he cursed Soma and he began dying as a result.

When Soma realized his mistake, he asked Daksha to remove the curse. Daksha Prajapati explained that curses cannot be reversed once they have been given. He however mentioned to Soma that lord Shiva can help him. Soma went to lord shiva and lord Shiva also said that he can rid him of the cure. However, lord Shiva gave Soma a boon that upon dying (new moon night), he’ll be reborn. When the Moon transits the nakshatras, visiting the symbolic wives of Soma, it activates the different aspects of human minds, their soul desires, and their changing moods.

27 Nakshatras

Initially, the sky was not divided equally. Initially, the nakshatras were of varying lengths and their guiding stars possessed high importance. Eventually, the nakshatras were divided into 28 sections. The sages made the nakshatras equal in size by modifying them. A nakshatra equals the distance the Moon travels in one day, which is 13°20′. Their system was able to divide the sky into 27 sections, with the 28th nakshatra being shorter and intercalary (outside the nakshatra belt). Traditionally, nakshatras were named after their deities rather than by their names. This practice still persists, especially in Muhurta and Prashna. The nakshatras have three cycles of nine, and the planets always rule them in the same order. In this cycle, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury are the nine planets. As the Moon stays in one nakshatra for a day, the sky is divided into 27 sections.

28th Nakshatra

As part of the original nakshatra mandala, there is also a nakshatra called Abhijit. Abhijit measures 4°13′20′′ and lies between 6°40′ and 10°53′20′′ Capricorn and is considered the auspicious nakshatra. The Moon was such a powerful nakshatra that when it occupied an important activity, its success was unsurpassed. At the time of the Mahabharata, Krishna was aware that Duryodhana had planned to start a war with the Pandava brothers during the time when the Moon was in Abhijit. He knew the power of the Abhijit. At the time of Amavasya tithi (New Moon), the Moon was in Abhijit nakshatra, making this day extremely powerful for the success of Mahabharata.

When the Sun is in Capricorn, this combination is unbeatable for victory over enemies. Seeing that the Pandavas would lose if the Kaurava and Duryodhana started Mahabharata on this day, Lord Krishna removed the auspicious Abhijit nakshatra from the nakshatra mandala. As a result of being placed beyond the intercalary nakshatra belt, this nakshatra became an intercalary nakshatra. Along Uttara Ashadha, it remains 6°40′ to 10° and by Shravana, it remains 10° to 10° 53′20′′.

List of Nakshatras

The following table lists the 28 Nakshatras, their planetary ruler and placement in the zodiac.