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27 Nakshatras – Characteristics
The Jyotish teachings of the Rig Veda tell us of the Nakshatras, or constellations which are said to represent human consciousness. There are 27 sections/Nakshatras (also known as Lunar Mansions) which correspond to the moon’s movement around the Earth in one day. The Nakshatras are the foundation of Hindu/Vedic astrology.
Akin to astronomy where a constellation represents a cluster of stars, the Nakshatras also correspond to specific groups of stars. For example, the first Nakshatra known as ‘Ashwini’ is made up of three stars and resembles a horse (the word Ashwini is obtained from the Sanskrit word Ashwa meaning horse).
In Jyotish, it is said that the cosmos provides a constantly changing backdrop through which consciousness revolves. The Nakshatras are the images that appear on the backdrop. In the case of Ashwini, the backdrop is the horse constellation.
Meaning of Nakshatras
The characteristics of each of the Nakshatras merit individual discussion, as do planetary influences, life purpose, and deities, for this basic introduction it is sufficient to summarize the Nakshatra’s key attributes as indicated in the following table:
| NAKSHATRA | PLANET | PURPOSE | ANIMAL | DEITY |
| 1. Ashwini – Twin Horses | Ketu | Dharma | Horse | Kumar |
| 2. Bharani – Bearer-woman | Venus | Arth | Elephant | Yama |
| 3. Krittika – Cutting woman | Sun | Kaam | Goat | Agni |
| 4. Rohini – Red woman | Moon | Moksha | Serpent | Brahma |
| 5. Mrigasira – Head of a deer | Mars | Moksha | Serpent | Soma |
| 6. Ardra – Moist One | Ranu | Kaam | Dog | Rudra |
| 7. Punarvasu – Return of the Light | Jupiter | Arth | Cat | Aditi |
| 8. Pushya – Nourishing | Saturn | Dharma | Goat | Brihaspati |
| 9. Ashlesha – The embracer | Mercury | Dharma | Cat | Ahi |
| 10. Magha – The great one | Ketu | Artha | Rat | Pitragana |
| 11. Purva Phalguni – Former reddish one | Venus | Kaam | Rat | Bhagya |
| 12. Uttara Phalguni – Latter reddish one | Sun | Moksha | Cow | Surya |
| 13. Hasta – The hand | Moon | Moksha | Buffalo | Savita |
| 14. Chitra – The bright one | Mars | Kaam | Tiger | Vishwakarma |
| 15. Swati – Sword or Independence | Ranu | Arth | Buffalo | Pawan |
| 16. Vishakha – Fork-shaped (having branches) | Jupiter | Dharma | Tiger | Satragni |
| 17. Anuradha – Disciple of divine spark | Saturn | Dharma | Tiger | Mitra |
| 18. Jyestha – The eldest | Mercury | Arth | Deer | Indra |
| 19. Moola – The Root | Ketu | Kaam | Dog | Niriti |
| 20. Purva Ashadha – The Undefeated | Venus | Moksha | Monkey | Toya |
| 21. Uttara Ashadha – later Undefeated | Sun | Moksha | Mongoose | Vishwadeva |
| 22. Sravana – Hearing | Moon | Arth | Monkey | Hari |
| 23. Dhanishta – The richest one | Mars | Dharma | Lion | Vasu |
| 24. Shatabhisha – Hundred healers | Ranu | Dharma | Horse | Varuna |
| 25. Purva Bhadrapada – Former happy feet | Jupiter | Arth | Lion | Ajapada |
| 26. Uttara Bhadrapada – Latter happy feet | Saturn | Kaam | Cow | Abhihbadhnu |
| 27. Revati – The wealthy | Mercury | Moksha | Elephant | Pushan |