Mṛgaśiraṣa (also spelled Mārgaśīrṣa/Mṛgaśira; Devanagari: मृगशीर्ष) is the 5th
nakṣatra or ''lunar mansion'' as used in
Hindu astronomy
Astronomy has long history in Indian subcontinent stretching from pre-historic to modern times. Some of the earliest roots of Indian astronomy can be dated to the period of Indus Valley civilisation or earlier. Astronomy later developed as a dis ...
and
astrology
Astrology is a range of divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of celestial objects. Di ...
in the constellation
Orion. Its position is described in the
Surya Siddhānta.
The asterism’s names in various languages are:
* ta, மிருகசீரிடம்
*
Sinhalese:Muwasirasa
* kn, ಮೃಗಶಿರ
* ml, മകയിരം
The first two ''carana/pada'' (quarters) of this nakṣatra are part of ''Vṛṣabha Rāśi'' (Devanagari: वृषभ) or ''Taurus''. The latter half of this star belong to ''Mithuna Rāśi'' (Devanagari: मिथुन) or ''Gemini'' (from 23°20’ Taurus to 6°40’ Gemini). stars in
λ,
φ1, φ2 Orionis
Etymology
The term Mṛgaśira (मृगशिर) a composite of two Sanskrit words, mṛga (मृग) meaning deer and śira (शिर) meaning head or precisely, the top of the head.
The names Mṛgaśira (मृगशिर) and Mārgaśīrṣa/Mṛgaśīrṣa (मार्गशीर्ष) are sometimes used interchangeably.
Grammatically, Mārgaśīrṣa (मार्गशीर्ष) means "of Mṛgaśira" or "related to Mṛgaśira". Thus Mṛgaśira (मृगशिर) is the correct name of the star, while Mārgaśīrṣa (मार्गशीर्ष) is the name of the month related to Mṛgaśira, i.e., the month in which moon will be in conjuncture with the Mṛgaśira nakṣatra. In Malayalam it is called Makayeeram.
Naming principles
Under the traditional Hindu principle of naming individuals according to their Ascendant/Lagna nakshatra, the following Sanskrit syllables correspond with this nakṣatra, and would belong at the beginning of a first name:
*Ve (Devanagari: वे)
*Vo (Devanagari: वो)
*Ka (Devanagari: क)
*Ki (Devanagari: कि)
Mṛgaśira nakṣatra extends from after 23°20 in Vṛṣabha Rāśi up to 6°40 in Mithuna. Star is governed by
mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Roman god of war. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin at ...
and the presiding deity or God is a Soma God. Soma mean Chandra or Moon God. He holds amrita (nectar of immortality ). Symbol is
Antelope or
Deer
Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the re ...
. Rules the following parts of the body : face, chin, cheeks, larynx, palate, throat, vocal chord, arms, shoulders, thymus gland, upper ribs.
The word ''mṛga'' represents forests, gardens, a search, a seeking to find, to roam about in forests and a hunter, to seek to blaze the trail, a guide and preceptor. Mṛgaśirṣa is partly in
Vṛṣabha
Vṛṣabha, or Vrishabha, is a month in the Indian solar calendar. It corresponds to the zodiacal sign of Taurus, and overlaps with about the second half of May and about the first half of June in the Gregorian calendar. The first day of the ...
and partly in
Mithuna
Maithuna (Devanagari: मैथुन) is a Sanskrit term for sexual intercourse within Tantric sex, or alternatively to the specific lack of sexual fluids generated, while mithuna is a couple participating in such a ritual. It is the most impo ...
. It conveys the ideas of searching for beautiful faces, visit or request a girl in marriage. People born in this nakṣatra have a strong body and moderate complexion.
See also
*
List of Nakshatras
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mrigashirsha
Nakshatra