Unique
to Vedic astrology, the Nakshatras, or lunar constellations, are directly
connected to the Moon and her myriad of expressions.
The Moon changes signs (houses) roughly every 2.3
days, taking 28 days to move through the 12 signs of the zodiac. This gives two
weeks for a waxing (bright half) Moon and two weeks for a waning (dark half)
Moon.
1.
Each day the moon rises at a
different time and therefore with a different backdrop of the stars.
2.
For moon to return to the same backdrop
of the sky and stars it takes 27 days.
3.
So they decided to divide the 360
degree sphere (the path of the moon from a starting point to back there) into
27 sections
4.
So to mark each section they looked
for the brightest star in each section and name them.
The Moon is connected to our intuition, intelligence
and the nature of the mind and emotions. These “Moon parts” within us are
ever-changing, fickle, and correlate to the endless movement and change of the
Moon. Whereas the movement of the Sun is linked to the 12 signs of the zodiac,
the movement of the Moon is connected to the 27 nakshatras.
The Moon is the lord of all the nakshatras, where
the Sun is the lord of all the rasis (signs). (The sun returns to the same
place in the sky after 12 months/365 days. Again to mark it the key stars/constellations
are named – so it would be the impact of the stars ‘through’ the Sun.
In the Vedic system of astrology, there are 27
nakshatras (though some texts refer to 28 for specific spiritual purposes)
which easily divides the 360 degrees of entire zodiac into roughly 13.2 degrees
of arc per nakshatra.
Nakshatras are pranic (sanskrit for
life force) in their nature and show the direction of nature’s pranic flow
at any given time. The nakshatras tell us where the prana is being directed, how
its tendencies might manifest, and where Nature is giving her support for
expression. They can be seen as natural forces (through the weather,
seasons etc), as mental/emotional tendencies (how the internal landscape is
functioning) or as cosmic archetypes that offer their guidance through
elaborate, ancient myths and stories.
This is a unique part of Vedic astrology and a tool
that is used for specifically and accurately making predictions, as well as to
understand how an individual’s karma will manifest in and around them.
The nakshatras are one of my favorite
parts of Vedic astrology because of their connection to the Moon and nature as
well as mind and emotions. They give us a heightened sense of lunar
intelligence and share her mysteries with us very intimately.
Each nakshatra is ruled by a deity (a personified manifestation of its pranic
existence), has at least one symbol, and also has a ruling planet as well.
These connections help to further explain what the nakshatra can offer us at
any given time and how it will effect us.
The most important nakshatra of the natal chart is
one’s Moon nakshatra which represents our mind, intuition and emotional self.
The deity will express the quality of a person’s thinking and explain their
internal processing, while the symbol and planetary rulership further refines
its potential.
Below is a basic understanding of each nakshatra.
Look for your natal Moon nakshatra in your Jyotish chart and find it on the
list below.
Asvini: Ruled by the Asvin twins, Sasra and Satya,
known as the doctors of the gods. Healing, rejuvenation, Ayurveda and the
creative as well as the healing arts are exemplified here. Symbol: Horse head.
Bharani: Ruled by the deity Yama, lord of death,
called the “king of dharma”. He brings self-control and restraint as well as
death and transformation. Symbol: Yoni
(Vagina).
Krittika: Ruled by the fire of life, Agni, a sacred
fire god who o ffers purification, burning, clarification and digestion. Agni’s
fire brings brightness, sharpness and quickness. Symbols: Axe, scalpel, flame.
Rohini: Ruled by Lord Brahma, the god of creation who
created the universe from his navel. Sometimes he is called Prajapati, lord of
progeny. Creativity and culture are exemplified here. Symbol: Ox cart.
Mrigashirsha: Ruled by Soma which is the Vedic name for the
Moon, lord of all the nakshatras. Friendliness, a fickle nature, creativity,
comforts as well as growth, ojas, and procreative power are here. Symbol: Deer head with antlers.
Ardra: Ruled by the storm god, Rudra, born of the
creator’s rage. He brings destruction, emotional upheaval, storms and natural
disasters, as well as sickness. Rudra has immense strength. Symbol: Teardrop and perspiration.
Punarvasu: Ruled by Aditi, the mother of all goodness,
the eternal Ma. She gives abundance, unity consciousness, compassion and
unboundedness, as well as protection and guidance, learning and expansion.
Symbol: Quiver of arrows.
Pushya: Ruled by Brihaspati, or priest to the gods,
also known as the devaguru Jupiter. Wisdom, awareness, ritual, overcoming
negative thoughts and behaviors are exemplified here. Symbol: Milk giving cow udder.
Ashlesha: Ruled by Sarpa, the serpent god who is
represented by Rahu (north lunar node). Deception, overconfidence, extremes,
cheating, intense research and study, as well as healing and transcendence
manifest here. Symbol: Coiled serpent.
Magha: Ruled by Pitr, who is connected to the
ancestors as well as father and the paternal lineage. Strong masculine energy
is here, with a sense of duty and a need for ancestral connection as well as
authority. Symbol: Throne room.
Purva Phalguni: Ruled by Bhaga who is connected to resources,
wealth and luck. He presides over love and relationship, affection and sexual
passion. Symbol: Back legs of a bed.
Uttara Phalguni: Ruled by Aryaman who offers health, bodily
strength and sustenance. He presides over marriage, family and children, and is
considered chief of the ancestors. Symbol: Front
legs of a bed.
Hasta: Ruled by Savitr, a form of the Sun at the
junction prior to dawn. He brings awareness, illumination, knowledge and
insight, as well as our “waking up” and realizing. Symbol: Hand or fist.
Chitra: Ruled by Vishvakarma, the divine architect
and chief of “construction” for the gods. Building and planning, construction
and artistic creation, karma yoga, ornamentation, reconstruction are a part of
Vishvakarma’s offerings. Symbol: Shining
jewel.
Swati: Ruled by Vayu, the wind god who is connected
to cosmic life force. He correlates to both the internal and external winds (or
prana) as well as strength, power and movement. Symbol: Sprout,
sword, coral.
Vishakha: Ruled by the dual gods, Indra and Agni, who
represent both political and spiritual power. They bring alliances and support
systems and exemplify “team work.” Symbol: Decorated
gateway.
Anuradha: Ruled by Mitra, a form of the Sun, connected
to friendship, companionship and allies. He is supportive and connected to fine
detail work. Symbol: Decorated gateway.
Jyeshtha: Ruled by Indra, king of the gods. Controlling
urges and the senses, as well strength, power and heroism are strong
here. Symbol: Talisman, an earring.
Mula: Ruled
by Nirrti, the wife of adharma (sin). She goes against Natural Law and brings
destruction and uprooting with her. Symbol: Bundle
of roots or lion’s tail.
Purva Ashadha: Ruled by Apas, the water goddess, connected
to emotions, purification, flowing and feelings, searching and
rejuvenation. Symbol: Tusk of an elephant,
fan.
Uttara Ashadha: Ruled by Vishvadeva, or the “all-gods”, which
are essentially the Universal Principles or Laws of Nature, personified.
Dharma, nobility and good character are offered here. Symbol: Tusk
of an elephant, planks of a bed.
Sravana: Ruled by Vishnu, the all-pervasive god
connected to akasha (space), existing everywhere. He brings expansion, wisdom
and open-mindedness. Symbol: Three
footprints, trident, ear.
Dhanishta: Ruled by Vasu, who brings wealth, shining,
fame and wealth. There is a connection to light, jyotish, and creativity
here. Symbol: Drum.
Shatabhisha: Ruled by Varuna, the guardian of Natural Law,
or universal principles. He sees everything and brings his discrimination and
judgment with him, while offering punishment and repentance. Symbol: Empty circle or a charm.
Purva Bhadrapada: Ruled by Ajaikapada, which is connected to
lord of the dance, Lord Shiva. Dark tantra or ritual and purification can arise
here, as well as tapas and penance. Symbol: Front
of a funeral cot, two faced man.
Uttara Bhadrapada: Ruled by Ahirbudhnya, or the naga, serpent
god who is connected to the deep nether regions, or our subconscious mind. Naga
is connected to Ketu (south lunar node) as well as unseen, hidden
territory. Symbol: Back legs of a funeral
cot.
Revati: Ruled by Pushan, the nourisher, who offers
guidance and protection on one’s path and brings nourishment and prosperity
with him. Symbol: Drum for keeping time
Nakshatra (Sanskrit:
नक्षत्र, IAST:
Nakṣatra) is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology and Indian Astronomy.
A nakshatra is one of 28 (sometimes also 27) sectors along the ecliptic. Their
names are related to a prominent star or asterisms in or near the respective
sectors.
The
starting point for the nakshatras according to Vedas is "Kritika" (it
has been argued because the Pleiades may have started the year at the time the
Vedas were compiled, presumably at the vernal equinox), but, in more recent
compilations, the start of the nakshatras list is the point on the ecliptic
directly opposite to the star Spica called Chitrā in Sanskrit,
which would be Ashvinī, an asterism that is part of the modern constellation
Aries, and these compilations therefore may have been compiled during the
centuries when the sun was passing through the area of the constellation Aries
at the time of the vernal equinox. This version may have been called Meshādi or
the "start of Aries".[1][better source needed]
In
the Atharvaveda (Shaunakiya recension, hymn 19.7) a list of 28 stars or
asterisms is given, many of them corresponding to the later nakshatras:[3]
Kṛitikā (the Pleiades)
Rohinī
(Aldebaran)
Mrigashīrsha
Ārdrā
(Betelgeuse)
Punarvasu
Pushya
Asleshā
Maghā
(Regulus)
Purva
phalguni
Uttara
phalguni (Denebola)
Hasta
Chitrā
(Spica)
Svāti
(Arcturus)
Vishākhā
Anurādhā
Jyeshthā
Mūla
Purva
ashadha
Uttara
ashadha
Shravana
Dhanishta
Satabhishak
(Sadachbia)
Purva
bhadrapada
Uttara
bhadrapada
Revati
Ashvini
Bharani
No comments:
Post a Comment