In Ancient Indian astronomy, there are 27 ''

nakshatra Nakshatra () is the term for Lunar mansion in Hindu astrology and Buddhist astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to a prominent star or asterisms in or near the respective s ...

s'' , or sectors along the

ecliptic The ecliptic or ecliptic plane is the orbital plane of Earth's orbit, Earth around the Sun. It was a central concept in a number of ancient sciences, providing the framework for key measurements in astronomy, astrology and calendar-making. Fr ...

. A list of them is first found in the ''

Vedanga Jyotisha ''Vedanga Jyotisha'' (), or ''Jyotishavedanga'' (), is one of earliest known Indian texts on astrology ('' Jyotisha''). The extant text is dated to the final centuries BCE, but it may be based on a tradition reaching back to about 700-600 BCE. ...

'', a text dated to the final centuries BCE. The ''Nakṣatra'' system predates the influence of

Hellenistic astronomy Ancient Greek astronomy is the astronomy written in the Greek language during classical antiquity. Greek astronomy is understood to include the Ancient Greek, Hellenistic, Greco-Roman, and late antique eras. Ancient Greek astronomy can be divided ...

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 The Indian national calendar, also called the Shaka calendar or Śaka calendar, is a solar calendar that is used alongside the Gregorian calendar by ''The Gazette of India'', in news broadcasts by All India Radio, and in calendars and officia ...

—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

is a solar calendar, much like the

Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian cale ...

wherein solstices and equinoxes fall on the same date(s) every year.

Padas (quarters)

The 27 Nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the

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

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Nakshatras Nakshatra () is the term for Lunar mansion in Hindu astrology and Buddhist astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to a prominent star or asterisms in or near the respective ...

Horoscopic astrology Nakshatra Astrology-related lists