27 NAKSHATRAS or Lunar Mansions
LUNAR
MANSION
(NAKSHATRA)

SYMBOL
DEITY
MAIN IDEAS
BACKGROUND DETAIL

1) ASVINI
Star of Transport

 
ASVINI KUMAR
Sun's
Charioteers
Power that sets things in motion
Journey from Darkness to Light, Miraculous healingTransportation
2) BHARANI
Star of Restraint
OSS
MOUTH
(Mouth of womb)
YAMA
Lord of
Death
JUSTICE, DISCIPLINE, Truth, Power to withstand onslaught of great force
Forbearance, EnduranceMaker of Saints

3) KRITTIKA
Star of Fire

 

  AGNI
Lord of Fire
BURNER OF IMPURITIES Military strategist, Monumental Deeds, BRILLIANCE Encyclopaedic exposition of all branches of learning

In Depth

4) ROHINI
Star of Ascent

 

  BRAHMA
(Prajapati-
the creator)
SENSUAL EXCESS, Fulfilment of desires, Love of finery & comfort, Power of manifestation, creativity

In Depth

5) MRIGASIRA
Searching Star

 

  MOON

Search or Hunt, Erotic affair
Radiant beauty, feminine attributes, maternal instincts
cruelty

6) ARUDRA
Oppressing Star


 

RUDRA
The Destroyer

Rudra = redemption of sin by dissolving abberated manifestion back into underlying unmanifest reality. Tenderness born of great suffering. Surcharged with water (emotion).
Water retention: Fat

7)PUNARVASU
Star of Renewal

 

Quiver of arrows

ADITI
mother of the Gods
Perennial well spring of energy and intelligence. Infinite renewal. Life orchestrating circumstances that inculcate this habit/skill of constantly curving back to tap the inner reservoir.
Renewal of dwelling/riches
Reform or remake in original image

8) PUSHYA
Flourishing Star

 

 cows udder Jupiter (Brihaspati preceptor/ priest/pandit
to the Gods)
Blossoming, blooming, nurturing, nourishing (heart of Cancer)
Love of ritual worship
Most auspicious
 
In Depth

9) ASLESHA
Clinging Star

 

  SERPENT The ability to go where others cannot go (knowledge of hidden things) Tortuous path
Snake attributes: clinging, secretive, venomous, biting, sexual, uniting in secret
In Depth

10 MAGHA
Glorious One

  Pitri Manes
(Departed Ancestors)
Noble incentives. Patriarch
Nourishing and terrible (thunder cloud). Kingliness of Leo (largess, pomp etc.)
In Depth

11 PURVA PHALGUNI
Star of fortune

  Shiva
Lingam
(Shiva's procreative organ)
LORD SHIVA (mahadeva)  At once the source of all material affluence while immovabley grounded in transcendental non-material reality. Gift of through participations in sensory / material realm without becoming slave to passion. Tantra. Awareness = "lamp at the door" lights inner and outer simultaneously

12 UTTARA PHALGUNI
Star of Patron

 

  ARYAMAN
 Patron = one approached for financial help or relief in sickness. Bestows popularity. The sincere impulse to help others.
In Depth

13 HASTA
Clutching Hand

 

 (Clenched fist) ADITYA (SUN)  POWER TO RULE/CONTROL OTHERS for higher purpose
Determination or resolution to bring people/circumstances under one's control. Martialling of disparate forces or energy
In Depth

14 CHITRA
Star of Wonder

  Twashtri
(divine archtitect or fabricator)
Artistic beauty, dazzling, fashioned/manufactured. Will to undergo trials necessary to attain goal of perfection (diamond/lathe) In Virgo may be engineering skill. Libra = artist
In Depth
15. SWATI
Self Going Star
sprout blowing in the wind  Pawana
Lord of Wind
 Restless, independent, freedom loving, coming & going according to own will. Self establishing, self supporting. Purifying. Knowledge of akasha (ether). Windy diseases

16 VISAKHA
Star of Purpose

 

  Indra - king of gods and Agni - lord of fire   Achievement of purpose irrespective of means employed. End justifies means. Pursuit of self interest. Associating with others solely to achieve end in view. Variety of enterprise. Obedience to religious injunction.
In Depth

17 ANURADHA
Calling to Action

 

  MITRA - true friend Friendship, love, affection, camaraderie. Associating with others for a common end – emphasis on association VS outcome (compare 16)
In Depth

18 JYESHTA
The Chief Star

 

  INDRA - king of gods First, pre-eminent, most excellent, eldest, senior most.Supremacy, power, dominion(afflicted = sorrow, poverty)
In Depth

19 MULA
The Root Star

 Bound Roots Nirriti – goddess of death or misfortune Stripping externals; opposed to worldly prosperity. pennetrating to fundamentals, essentials re: all branches of learning – philosophers, scientists etc., Basic in nature: bound, finite, limited. TRADITION
In Depth
20 PURVA ASHADHA

HAND FAN

VARUNA Lord of waters  Protection of dependent, kindness, compassion. Firmness in danger, courage never to yield, to prevail, victory. Forbearance ability to endure. To spread over/cover like water.

21. UTTARA ASHADHA

 

  Ganadevata – lord of class/division
Universal social appealPenetration/intention VS extensiveness (compare 20). To become one with, absorbed into, settle into
In Depth

22 SRAVANA
Star of learning

  HARI [Vishnu] Sravana = to hear (learning = listening). One who is listened to with respect by others. Love of scholarship, all branches of learning.Aural transmission. Inner listening/meditation. Fringe dweller.Saraswati’s birth star.
In Depth

23 DHANISTHA
Star of Symphony

 

  8
VASUS (BHISHMA)
Higher altruistic (artistic, musical) orientation precludes carnality. Delayed/unhappy romance (more in Capricorn). Temperamental incompatibility. Giver of what is highly valued. Singing, sonorous, melodious
In Depth
24 SATABHISHA
The Veiling Star
  VARUNA
Lord of
Waters
Protect, shield, conceal, obstruct(affliction often = child abuse)Healing that which is protected Physician, watery ailments Oceans, rivers & waters
In Depth

25 PURVA BHADRA
Scorching Pair

 

Two faced man

 

RUDRA
The destroyer
PURGATORIAL FIRE, contrition, atonement.
Scorching, paining, consuming desire, unsatisfied ambitionNo satisfaction(heart of K self abnegation)
In Depth

26 UTTARA BHADRA
Scorching Pair

 Death bed

RUDRA
The destroyer
Same as 25 but with power to endure & restrain.
Long journey. Journey towards spiritual plane – end of illusion (maya) cultivation of higher character qualities
In Depth

27 REVATI
Keeper of Flocks

  PUSHAN
Protector of wayfarers and belongings
Shepherd. Foster parent, incubator. Protector & nurturer of others on their journey.
Difficulty with own children, diseases of childhood
Progress in jumps
In Depth

 

27 Nakshatras at a glance ©2006 Astrosalon p/l
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