Shravana

The Shravana (22nd nakshatra) asterism as depicted in temples.

The 22nd and 23rd nakshatra mapped to the star chart at Aquila and Delphinus. Shravana is the right (western) one.

Shravana is an Indian nakshatra associated with a mythological sea-crature named Makara. The nakshatra is used by the Indian Vedic tradition,. Most of these names are roughly 3000 years old. They pre-date Hinduism but were taken over by it.

Etymology and History

Origin of Constellation

Shravana literally means "Listening". It consists of three stars in the area of α Aquilae (Altair), likely α, β and γ Aquilae.

There is a story connected to the asterism: a boy, Sravankumara, carried his blind parents on his shoulders. Yet, it is also associated with the mythological creature Makara (depicted in Capricornus, just south of Aquila).

Makara face at Konark Temple (CC BY Pratishkhedekar)

Makara is a sea-creature, sometimes resembling a crocodile, sometimes a huge fish, in many cases depicted with an elephant trunk. In some cases, this creature carries deity, for instance the river goddess Ganga or the sky god Varuna. Its representation in mythology resemble the many variants of the depiction of the creature that the Greeks named "Ketos" (Cetus) but the Makara-nakshatra in the Vedic tradition is a section of Capricornus, and the Vedic constellation is in Aquila.

Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

References

• References (general)