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In Ancient Indian astronomy, there are 27 nakshatras , or sectors along the ecliptic. A list of them is first found in the Vedanga Jyotisha, a text dated to the final centuries BCE. The Nakṣatra system predates the influence of Hellenistic astronomy on Vedic tradition, which became prevalent from about the 2nd century CE. There are various systems of enumerating the Nakṣatra-s; although there are 27-28 days to a sidereal month, by custom only 27 days are used. The following list gives the corresponding regions of sky. Months in the modern Indian national calendar -- despite still carrying names that derive from the nakshatras -- do not signify any material correlation. It stands to reason that during the original naming of these months -- whenever that happened -- they were indeed based on the nakshatras that coincided with them in some manner. The modern Indian national calendar is a solar calendar, much like the Gregorian calendar wherein solstices and equinoxes fall on the same date(s) every year.

Nakshatras

No.	Name	Associated stars	Description	Image
1	Ashvini - अश्विनी "physician to the Gods"	β "Sheratan" and γ "Mesarthim" Arietis	Lord: Ketu (South lunar node) Symbol : Horse's head Deity : Ashvins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Mesha Western zodiac 23°46 Aries - 7°06' Taurus
2	Bharani - भरणी "the bearer"	35, 39 "Lilii Borea", and 41 Arietis	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction Deity: Yama, god of death or Dharma Indian zodiac: 13° 20' - 26°40' Mesha Western zodiac 7°06' - 20°26' Taurus
3	Krittika - कृत्तिका an old name of the Pleiades; personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva.	Pleiades	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Knife or spear Deity : Agni, god of fire Indian zodiac: 26°40' Mesha - 10° Vrishabha Western zodiac 20°26' Taurus - 3°46’ Gemini
4	Rohini - रोहिणी "the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī	Aldebaran	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree Deity : Brahma or Prajapati, the Creator Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Vrishabha Western zodiac 3°46 - 17°06' Gemini
5	Mrigashira - मृगशिर "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī	λ "Meissa", φ Orionis	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Deer's head Deity: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god Indian zodiac: 23° 20' Vrishabha - 6° 40' Mithuna Western zodiac: 17°06' Gemini - 0°26' Cancer
6	Ardra - आर्द्रा "the storm god"	Betelgeuse	Lord: Rahu (North lunar node) Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head Deity : Rudra, the storm god Indian zodiac: 6° 40' - 20° Mithuna Western zodiac: 0°26' - 13°46 Cancer
7	Punarvasu - पुनर्वसु (dual) "the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"	Castor and Pollux	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Bow and quiver Deity : Aditi, mother of the gods Indian zodiac: 20° Mithuna - 3°20' Karka Western zodiac 13°46 - 27°06' Cancer
8	Pushya - पुष्य "the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya	γ "Asellus Borealis", δ "Asellus Australis" and θ Cancri	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle Deity : Bṛhaspati, priest of the gods Indian zodiac: 3°20' -16°40' Karka Western zodiac 27°06' Cancer - 10°26' Leo
9	Āshleshā - आश्ळेषा/आश्लेषा "the embrace"	δ, ε "Āshleshā Nakshatra", η, ρ, and σ "Minchir" Hydrae	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol: Serpent Deity : Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Karka Western zodiac 10°26' - 23°46 Leo
10	Maghā - मघा "the bountiful"	Regulus	Lord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Royal Throne Deity : Pitrs, 'The Fathers', family ancestors Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Simha Western zodiac 23°46 Leo - 7°06' Virgo
11	Pūrva Phalgunī - पूर्व फाल्गुनी "first reddish one"	δ "Zosma" and θ "Chertan" Leonis	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol : Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree Deity : Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity Indian zodiac: 13°20' - 26°40' Simha Western zodiac 7°06' - 20°26' Virgo
12	Uttara Phalgunī - उत्तर फाल्गुनी "second reddish one"	Denebola	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock Deity : Aryaman, god of patronage and favours Indian zodiac: 26°40' Simha- 10° Kanya Western zodiac 20°26' Virgo - 3°46 Libra
13	Hasta - हस्त "the hand"	α "Alchiba", β "Kraz", γ, δ "Algorab" and ε "Minkar" Corvi	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol: Hand or fist Deity : Savitri or Surya, the Sun god Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Kanya Western zodiac 3°46 - 17°06' Libra
14	Chitra - चित्रा "the bright one", a name of Spica	Spica	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl Deity : Tvastar or Vishvakarman, the celestial architect Indian zodiac: 23°20' Kanya - 6°40' Tula Western zodiac: 17°06' Libra - 0°26' Scorpio
15	Svati - स्वाति "Su-Ati (Sanskrit) Very good" name of Arcturus	Arcturus	Lord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral Deity : Vayu, the Wind god Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Tula Western zodiac 0°26' - 13°46 Scorpio
16	Vishakha - विशाखा "forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift"	α "Zubenelgenubi", β "Zubeneschamali", γ and ι Librae	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Triumphal arch, potter's wheel Deity : Indra, chief of the gods; Agni, god of Fire Indian zodiac: 20° Tula - 3°20' Vrishchika Western zodiac 13°46 - 27°06' Scorpio
17	Anuradha - अनुराधा "following rādhā"	β "Acrab", δ "Dschubba" and π "Fang" Scorpionis	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Triumphal archway, lotus Deity : Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Vrishchika Western zodiac 27°06' Scorpio - 10°26' Sagittarius
18	Jyeshtha - ज्येष्ठा "the eldest, most excellent"	α "Antares", σ, and τ "Paikauhale" Scorpionis	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : circular amulet, umbrella, earring Deity : Indra, chief of the gods Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Vrishchika Western zodiac 10°26' - 23°46 Sagittarius
19	Mula - मूल "the root"	ε "Larawag", ζ, η, θ "Sargas", ι, κ, λ "Shaula", μ and ν "Jabbah" Scorpionis	Lord: Ketu (south lunar node) Symbol : Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad Deity : Nirrti, goddess of dissolution and destruction Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Dhanus Western zodiac 23°46 Sagittarius - 7°06' Capricorn
20	Purva Ashadha - पूर्व आषाढा "first of the āṣāḍhā", āṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation	δ "Kaus Media" and ε "Kaus Australis" Sagittarii	Lord: Shukra (Venus) Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket Deity : Apah, god of Water Indian zodiac: 13°20' - 26°40' Dhanus Western zodiac 7°06' - 20°26' Capricorn
21	Uttara Ashadha - उत्तर आषाढा "Later invincible"	ζ "Ascella" and σ "Nunki" Sagittarii	Lord: Surya (Sun) Symbol : Elephant tusk, small bed Deity : Visvedevas, universal gods Indian zodiac: 26°40' Dhanus - 10° Makara Western zodiac 20°26' Capricorn - 3°46 Aquarius
22	Shravana - श्रवण	α "Altair", β and γ Aquilae	Lord: Chandra (Moon) Symbol : Ear or Three Footprints Deity : Vishnu, preserver of universe Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Makara Western zodiac 3°46 - 17°06' Aquarius
23	Dhanishta - श्रविष्ठा/धनिष्ठा "most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest"	α "Sualocin" to δ Delphini	Lord: Mangala (Mars) Symbol : Drum or flute Deity : Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance Indian zodiac: 23°20' Makara - 6°40' Kumbha Western zodiac 17°06' Aquarius - 0°26' Pisces
24	Shatabhisha - शतभिष/शततारका "requiring a hundred physicians"	γ Aquarii "Sadachbia"	Lord: Rahu (north lunar node) Symbol : Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars Deity : Varuna, god of cosmic waters, sky and earth Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Kumbha ; Western zodiac 0°26' - 13°46 Pisces
25	Purva Bhadrapada - पूर्व भाद्रपदा/पूर्व प्रोष्ठपदा "the first of the blessed feet"	α "Markab" and β Pegasi	Lord: Guru (Jupiter) Symbol : Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces Deity : Ajaikapada, one-footed aspect of Shiva Indian zodiac: 20° Kumbha - 3°20' Meena ; Western zodiac 13°46 - 27°06' Pisces
26	Uttara Bhādrapadā - उत्तर भाद्रपदा/उत्तर प्रोष्ठपदा "the second of the blessed feet"	γ "Algenib" Pegasi and α "Alpheratz" Andromedae	Lord: Shani (Saturn) Symbol : Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water Deity : Ahirbudhnya, serpent or dragon of the deep Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Meena ; Western zodiac 27°06' Pisces - 10°26' Aries
27	Revati - रेवती "prosperous"	ζ Piscium "Revati"	Lord: Budh (Mercury) Symbol : Fish or a pair of fish, drum Deity : Pushan, nourisher, the protective deity Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Meena Western zodiac 10°26' - 23°46 Aries
28	Abhijit - अभिजित "Invincible"	Lyra	Lord: vishnu (preserver) Symbol : shaligram, lotus delight in : Swathi (15th Nakshatra) Indian zodiac: 06°40' - 10°53'20 Makara Western zodiac

Padas (quarters)

The 27 Nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the ecliptic each. Each Nakshatra is also divided into quarters or padas of 3°20’, and the below table lists the appropriate starting sound to name the child. The 27 nakshatras, each with 4 padas, give 108, which is the number of beads in a Japa mala, indicating all the elements (ansh) of Vishnu:

Names in Indian and Asian languages

The names of nakshatras in other languages are adapted from the Sanskrit variation (apabhramsa) through Pali or Prakrit. The variations evolved for easier pronunciation in popular usage.

References

1. Basham, Arthur Llewellyn (1954). "Appendix II: Astronomy". The Wonder That Was India. Sidgwick and Jackson. p. 490.

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