Vishakha: Difference between revisions

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Viśākhā (विशाखा)}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Viśākhā (विशाखा)}}
[[File:16 Vishakha draw.png|thumb|Vishakha, the 16th nakshatra, as depicted in temples.]]
[[File:Vishakha nakshatras in Temple draw+lbl 4ase.jpg|thumb|Vishakha, , 16th nakshatra, ...]]
[[File:16 Vishakha stellarium.gif|thumb|Vishakha, the 16th nakshatra, mapped to the Stellarium star chart (WGSN 2025).]]
[[File:16 Vishakha stellarium.gif|thumb|Vishakha, the 16th nakshatra, mapped to the Stellarium star chart (WGSN 2025).]]
Viśākhā (विशाखा), "forked", is an Indian name, 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. Identified with α, β, γ and ι Librae.
Viśākhā (विशाखा), "forked", is an Indian name, 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. Identified with α, β, γ and ι Librae.
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* Vishakha
* Vishakha
* Dvidaivata
* Dvidaivata

[[File:Tibet nakshatra 14.png|thumb|Tibet nakshatra 14]]


===Origin of Constellation===
===Origin of Constellation===
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===Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation===
===Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation===
<gallery>
File:Vishakha nakshatras in Temple draw+lbl 4ase.jpg|Vishakha, 10th century
File:Tibet nakshatra 14.png|Vishakha, Tibetean
File:氐宿(仏像図彙).png|Vishakha, Chinese
File:16 Vishakha draw.png|reconstructed by Jones (1720)
</gallery>


==Mythology==
==Mythology==

Latest revision as of 09:17, 31 October 2025

Vishakha, , 16th nakshatra, ...
Vishakha, the 16th nakshatra, mapped to the Stellarium star chart (WGSN 2025).

Viśākhā (विशाखा), "forked", is an Indian name, 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. Identified with α, β, γ and ι Librae.

Etymology and History

Name Variants

  • Viśākhā,
  • Vishakha
  • Dvidaivata

Origin of Constellation

The name "Vishakha" means "having many branches" which is depicted in the temple drawing. Yet, the asterism has only four stars among which two are α and β Librae which is known from coordinates. The other two are typically identified with ι and γ Lib. These four stars do not form a line but a quadrilateral in the sky. It is outside the band of the Milky Way. Therefore, the literal translation may not refer to any recognizable pattern (of stars or bright or dark clouds of the Milky Way).

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

Weblinks

References