4. The beginning of a Hindu star list was summarized in my chapter Lunar Mansions:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Ashvini |
Bharani |
Krittikā |
Rohini |
Mrigashīrsha |
β and γ Arietis |
35, 19, and 41 Arietis |
45 Tauri |
α Tauri |
λ, φ¹, and φ² Orionis |
19º - 21º N |
27º - 29º N |
24º N |
16º N |
10º N |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
Ardra |
Punarvasu |
Pushya |
Āshleshā |
Maghā |
α Orionis |
α and β Gemini |
γ, δ and θ Cancri |
δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae |
α Leonis |
7º N |
28º - 32º N |
18º - 21º N |
3º - 6º N |
12º N |
I assume 19 Arietis is a 'misprint' for 39 Arietis (the 'right wing of the Fly').
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10 |
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Gb7-24 |
Gb7-25 (436) |
Gb7-26 |
Gb8-6 |
Gb8-7 (449) |
Gb8-8 |
1. Ashvini |
2. Bharani |
13 |
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9 |
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Gb8-22 |
Gb8-23 (465) |
Gb8-24 |
Ga1-3 |
Ga1-4 (477) |
Ga1-5 |
3. Krittika |
4. Rohini |
12 |
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2 |
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Ga1-18 |
Ga1-19 (492) |
Ga1-20 (21) |
Ga1-23 |
Ga1-24 |
Ga1-25 (26) |
5. Mrigashirsha |
6. Ardra |
22 |
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Ga2-18 |
Ga2-19 (50) |
Ga2-20 |
Ga2-21 (52) |
Ga2-22 |
Ga2-23 |
Moe |
7. Punarvasu |
10 |
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Ga3-5 |
Ga3-6 (66) |
Ga3-7 |
Ga3-8 (540) |
Ga3-9 |
Ga3-10 (**42) |
8. Pushya |
Pushya & Ashlesha |
9. Ashlesha |
18 |
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Ga4-5 (*153) |
Ga4-6 (90) |
Ga4-7 |
Moe |
10. Magha |
Then, in my chapter Denebola, the Phalguni pair was presented and later, in Musca Australis, also Hasta was added:
Purva Phalguni |
Uttara Phalguni |
Hasta |
δ and θ Leonis |
β Leonis |
α, β, γ, δ, ε Corvi |
12 |
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Ga4-20 (104) |
Ga4-21 (*77) |
Ga4-22 |
11. Purva Phalguni |
7 |
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Ga5-3 |
Ga5-4 |
Ga5-5 (*180) |
12. Uttara Phalguni |
3 |
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Ga5-9 (120) |
Ga5-10 |
Ga5-11 (*186) |
Ga5-12 |
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Ga5-13 |
Ga5-14 |
Ga5-15 |
Ga5-16 (**99) |
13. Hasta |
If there is a resemblance with the Chinese structure, then Hasta could be the last nakshatra in a first group of 13 lunar mansions.
... The word hasta means 'the hand', says Wikipedia. I imagine the 13th station should 'take care' of the descending 'person' at the horizon in the west. A reasonable task for a Raven.
... The manik, with the tzab, or serpent's rattles as prefix, runs across Madrid tz. 22 , the figures in the pictures all holding the rattle; it runs across the hunting scenes of Madrid tz. 61, 62, and finally appears in all four clauses of tz. 175, the so-called 'baptism' tzolkin. It seems impossible, with all this, to avoid assigning the value of grasping or receiving. But in the final confirmation, we have the direct evidence of the signs for East and West. For the East we have the glyph Ahau-Kin, the Lord Sun, the Lord of Day; for the West we have Manik-Kin, exactly corresponding to the term Chikin, the biting or eating of the Sun, seizing it in the mouth ...
Beyond the first 13 lunar stations we would then expect a second group with 7 stations. Sun could be represented by the first 13 nakshatras and Moon by the following 7 (as in the number of the week):
1. Ashvini |
2. Bharani |
3. Krittikā |
4. Rohini |
5. Mriga-shīrsha |
β and γ Arietis |
35, 19, and 41 Arietis |
M 45 Tauri |
α Tauri |
λ, φ¹, and φ² Orionis |
6. Ardra |
7. Punarvasu |
8. Pushya |
9. Āshleshā |
10. Maghā |
α Orionis |
α and β Gemini |
γ, δ and θ Cancri |
δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae |
α Leonis |
11. Purva Phalguni |
12. Uttara Phalguni |
13. Hasta |
14. Chitra |
15. Svāti |
δ and θ Leonis |
β Leonis |
α, β, γ, δ, ε Corvi |
α Virginis |
α Bootis |
16. Visakha |
17. Anuradha |
18. Jyeshtha |
19. Mula |
20. Purva Ashadha |
α, β, γ and ι Librae |
β, δ, and π Scorpii |
α, σ, and τ Scorpii |
ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, and μ Scorpii |
δ and ε Sagittarii |
To complete the structure would then follow a group with 8 nakshatras:
21. Uttara Ashadha |
22. Abhijit |
23. Sravana |
24. Dhanishta |
ζ and σ Sagittarii |
α, ε, and ζ Lyrae |
α, β, and γ Aquilae |
α - δ Delphini |
24. Shatabisha |
25. Purva Bhādrapadā |
26. Uttara Bhādrapadā |
27. Revati |
γ Aquarii |
α and β Pegasi |
γ Pegasi and α Andromedae |
ζ Piscium |
The colours above have been assigned mechanically from my idea that Mars should be at M 45 (The Pleiades). Remarkably the last nakshatra, Revati, has number 27 instead of number 28. This is due to 24 being used both for Dhanishta and for Shatabisha. Although Dhanishta can alternatively be numbered as 23, which only changes the question into why both Sravana and Dhanishta would share the same number. Indeed often a nakshatra has two alternative numbers, e.g. Bharani with not only number 2 but also number 7. Dhanishta is unique in having three alternatives, viz. 24, 23, and 21. This is not the place to try to explain why. The Hindu system is complicated, with not only numbers associated with stars but also with other phenomena. Each nakshatra has for instance one or more symbols:
1 |
Ashvini |
β and γ Arietis |
Horse's head |
2 |
Bharani |
35, 39, and 41 Arietis |
Yoni, the female organ of reproduction |
3 |
Krittikā |
M 45 Tauri |
Knife or spear |
4 |
Rohini |
α Tauri |
Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree |
5 |
Mrigashīrsha |
λ, φ¹, and φ² Orionis |
Deer's head |
6 |
Ardra |
α Orionis |
Teardrop, diamond, a human head |
7 |
Punarvasu |
α and β Gemini |
Bow and quiver |
8 |
Pushya |
γ, δ and θ Cancri |
Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle |
9 |
Āshleshā |
δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae |
Serpent |
10 |
Maghā |
α Leonis |
Royal Throne |
11 |
Purva Phalguni |
δ and θ Leonis |
Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree |
12 |
Uttara Phalguni |
β Leonis |
Four legs of bed, hammock |
13 |
Hasta |
α, β, γ, δ, ε Corvi |
Hand or fist |
14 |
Chitra |
α Virginis |
Bright jewel or pearl |
15 |
Svāti |
α Bootis |
Shoot of plant, coral |
16 |
Visakha |
α, β, γ and ι Librae |
Triumphal arch, potter's wheel |
17 |
Anuradha |
β, δ, and π Scorpii |
Triumphal archway, lotus |
18 |
Jyeshtha |
α, σ, and τ Scorpii |
Circular amulet, umbrella, earring |
19 |
Mula |
ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, and μ Scorpii |
Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad |
20 |
Purva Ashadha |
δ and ε Sagittarii |
Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket |
21 |
Uttara Ashadha |
ζ and σ Sagittarii |
Elephant tusk, small bed |
22 |
Abhijit |
α, ε, and ζ Lyrae |
- |
23 |
Sravana |
α, β, and γ Aquilae |
Ear or Three Footprints |
24 |
Dhanishta |
α - δ Delphini |
Drum or flute |
25 |
Shatabisha |
γ Aquarii |
Empty circle, 1000 flowers or stars |
26 |
Purva Bhādrapadā |
α and β Pegasi |
Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces |
27 |
Uttara Bhādrapadā |
γ Pegasi and α Andromedae |
Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water |
28 |
Revati |
ζ Piscium |
Fish or a pair of fish, drum |
Abhijit ('Victorious') is an exception. This nakshatra is ruled by Brahma.
The order between the nakshatra stations is according to time, with the exception of Abhijit, where its stars in Lyrae ought to have come in the center between the 4 Sagittarius stars in Purva Ashadha and Uttara Ashadha.
Mesarthim |
γ Arietis |
3.88 |
19º 03' N |
01h 51m |
28.2 |
Sheratan |
β Arietis |
2.64 |
20º 34' N |
01h 52m |
28.4 |
Head of the Fly |
35 Arietis |
4.65 |
27° 28' N |
02h 40m |
40.6 |
Right Wing |
39 Arietis |
4.52 |
29° 01' N |
02h 45m |
41.9 |
Bharani |
41 Arietis |
3.61 |
27° 02' N |
02h 47m |
42.4 |
Celaeno |
16 Tauri |
5.45 |
24º 08' N |
03h 42m |
56.3 |
Electra |
17 Tauri |
3.72 |
23º 57' N |
Taygeta |
19 Tauri |
4.30 |
24º 19' N |
Maia |
20 Tauri |
3.87 |
24º 13' N |
03h 43m |
56.6 |
Asterope |
21 Tauri |
5.76 |
24º 24' N |
Merope |
23 Tauri |
4.14 |
23º 48' N |
Alcyone |
η Tauri |
2.85 |
23º 57' N |
03h 45m |
57.1 |
Atlas |
27 Tauri |
3.62 |
23º 54' N |
03h 46m |
57.3 |
Pleione |
28 Tauri |
5.05 |
23º 59' N |
Aldebaran |
α Tauri |
0.87 |
16° 25′ N |
04h 33m |
69.2 |
Heka |
λ Orionis |
3.39 |
09° 54′ N |
05h 32m |
84.2 |
|
φ¹ Orionis |
4.39 |
09° 29′ N |
05h 32m |
84.1 |
|
φ² Orionis |
4.09 |
09° 17′ N |
05h 34m |
84.6 |
Betelgeuze |
α Orionis |
0.58 |
07° 24′ N |
05h 52m |
89.3 |
Castor |
α Gemini |
1.58 |
32° 00′ N |
07h 31m |
114.4 |
Pollux |
β Gemini |
1.16 |
28° 09′ N |
07h 42m |
117.2 |
|
θ Cancri |
5.33 |
18° 06′ N |
08h 29m |
129.2 |
Ascellus Borealis |
γ Cancri |
4.66 |
21° 39′ N |
08h 40m |
131.9 |
Ascellus Australis |
δ Cancri |
3.94 |
18° 20′ N |
08h 42m |
132.4 |
|
δ Hydrae |
4.14 |
05° 42′ N |
08h 35m |
130.6 |
Al Minhar al Shujā |
σ Hydrae |
4.45 |
03° 20′ N |
08h 36m |
130.9 |
|
η Hydrae |
4.30 |
03° 24′ N |
08h 40m |
132.0 |
|
ε Hydrae |
3.38 |
06° 25′ N |
08h 44m |
132.9 |
|
ρ Hydrae |
4.35 |
05° 50′ N |
08h 46m |
133.4 |
Regulus |
α Leonis |
1.36 |
12° 13′ N |
10h 06m |
153.7 |
Zosma |
δ Leonis |
2.56 |
20° 48′ N |
11h 11m |
170.2 |
Coxa |
θ Leonis |
3.33 |
15° 42′ N |
11h 12m |
170.4 |
Denebola |
β Leonis |
2.14 |
14° 51′ N |
11h 47m |
179.3 |
Alchita |
α Corvi |
4.02 |
24° 27′ S |
12h 06m |
184.1 |
Minkar |
ε Corvi |
3.02 |
22° 20′ S |
12h 08m |
184.7 |
Gienah |
γ Corvi |
-0.94 |
22° 37′ S |
12h 14m |
186.1 |
Algorab |
δ Corvi |
2.94 |
16° 14′ S |
12h 27m |
189.5 |
Kraz |
β Corvi |
2.65 |
23° 07′ S |
12h 32m |
190.7 |
Spica |
α Virginis |
0.98 |
10° 54′ S |
13h 23m |
203.7 |
Arcturus |
α Bootis |
-0.05 |
19° 27′ N |
14h 13m |
216.4 |
Zuben Elgenubi |
α Librae |
2.75 |
15° 50′ S |
14h 48m |
225.2 |
Zuben Elschemali |
β Librae |
2.61 |
09° 12′ S |
15h 14m |
231.8 |
Zuben Elakrab |
γ Librae |
3.91 |
14° 37′ S |
15h 33m |
236.7 |
|
ι Librae |
4.54 |
19° 47′ S |
15h 09m |
230.6 |
Vrischika |
π Scorpii |
2.89 |
26° 07′ S |
15h 55m |
242.3 |
Dschubba |
δ Scorpii |
2.29 |
22° 19′ S |
15h 57m |
242.7 |
Acrab |
β Scorpii |
2.56 |
19° 40′ S |
16h 03m |
244.3 |
|
σ Scorpii |
2.90 |
25° 36′ S |
16h 18m |
248.0 |
Antares |
α Scorpii |
1.06 |
26° 19′ S |
16h 26m |
250.1 |
|
τ Scorpii |
2.82 |
28° 13′ S |
16h 32m |
251.7 |
Wei |
ε Scorpii |
2.29 |
34° 18′ S |
16h 47m |
255.3 |
Denebakrab |
μ Scorpii |
3.00 |
38° 03′ S |
16h 48m |
255.7 |
Grafias |
ζ Scorpii |
3.62 |
42° 17′ S |
16h 51m |
256.4 |
|
η Scorpii |
3.32 |
43° 14′ S |
17h 09m |
260.9 |
Shaula |
λ Scorpii |
1.62 |
37° 04′ S |
17h 30m |
266.3 |
Sargas |
θ Scorpii |
1.86 |
43° 00′ S |
17h 34m |
267.3 |
Girtab |
κ Scorpii |
2.39 |
39° 02′ S |
17h 39m |
268.6 |
Apollyon |
ι Scorpii |
2.99 |
40° 08′ S |
17h 44m |
269.9 |
Kaus Medius |
δ Sagittarii |
2.72 |
29° 51′ S |
18h 18m |
278.5 |
Kaus Australis |
ε Sagittarii |
1.79 |
34° 25′ S |
18h 21m |
279.3 |
Ascella |
ζ Sagittarii |
2.60 |
29° 57′ S |
18h 59m |
288.9 |
Nunki |
σ Sagittarii |
2.05 |
21° 49′ S |
19h 01m |
289.4 |
Vega |
α Lyrae |
0.03 |
38° 44′ N |
18h 35m |
282.8 |
Double Double |
ε Lyrae |
4.59 |
39° 37′ N |
18h 42m |
284.7 |
|
ζ Lyrae |
4.34 |
37° 36′ N |
18h 43m |
284.8 |
Tarazed |
γ Aquilae |
2.72 |
10° 29′ N |
19h 44m |
300.3 |
Altair |
α Aquilae |
0.76 |
08° 44′ N |
19h 48m |
301.3 |
Alshain |
β Aquilae |
3.71 |
06° 17′ N |
19h 53m |
302.6 |
Rotanev |
β Delphini |
3.64 |
14° 25′ N |
20h 35m |
313.3 |
Svalocin |
α Delphini |
3.77 |
15° 44′ N |
20h 37m |
313.8 |
|
δ Delphini |
4.43 |
15° 04′ N |
20h 41m |
314.8 |
|
γ Delphini |
4.27 |
16° 07′ N |
20h 44m |
315.6 |
Sadalmelik |
α Aquarii |
2.95 |
00° 19′ S |
22h 03m |
335.6 |
Scheat Pegasi |
β Pegasi |
2.44 |
27° 49′ N |
23h 01m |
350.3 |
Markab Pegasi |
α Pegasi |
2.49 |
14° 56′ N |
23h 02m |
350.5 |
Sirrah |
α Andromedae |
2.07 |
28º 49' N |
00h 06m |
1.5 |
Algenib Pegasi |
γ Pegasi |
2.83 |
14º 54' N |
00h 11m |
2.8 |
Revati |
ζ Piscium |
5.21 |
07° 35′ N |
01h 11m |
17.9 |
I have been forced to insert 6 not earlier listed stars, see next page.
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