Indian Names (All Terms)

Map of India, part of South Asia (UN region)

The Indian subcontinent hosts a rich and old traditional astronomy in many different flavours. It grew and was inspired by exchange with neighbouring cultures such as Chinese and Mesopotamian.

	Sanscrit	Transliteration		English Description/ Translation		Source
		with diacritics	without ...			Reference
1	अश्विनी	Aśvini, dasra	Aśvini (अश्विनी)	Twin physician of the Gods	β, γ Arietis (perhaps also α Ari in some variants)	Nakshatra
2	भरणी	Yamya, yamabha	Bharani	the bearer, a container	35, 39 and 41 Arietis | (three stars)	Nakshatra
3	कृत्तिका	Kṛttika,Agni, Hutabhuk, agnidaiva	Kṛttika	Pleiades personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva	Pleiades	Nakshatra
4	रोहिणी	Brahmya, Brahmabha	Rohini	"the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī	Aldebaran and the Hyades	Nakshatra
5	मृगशिर	Mṛgaśira, Somya	Mrigashira	"the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī	λ, φ1,2 Orionis	Nakshatra
6	आर्द्रा	Roudra, Shivabha	Ardra	wetness,	Betelgeuse	Nakshatra
7	पुनर्वसु (dual)	Yamakau, aditerbha	Punarvasu	"the twinrestorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"?	4 stars: α, β Geminorum (ε, ζ Gem?)	Nakshatra
8	पुष्य	Puṣya	Pushya	"the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya	γ, δ and θ Cancri (represented by α CMi)	Nakshatra
9	आश्लेषः	Āshleshā, Ahya, Phanibha, Sarpa	Ashlesha	"the embrace"	δ, ε , η, ρ, and σ Hydrae	Nakshatra
10	मघा	Maghā? Paitra	Magha	"the bountiful"?	5 stars: Regulus (α Leo), γ, η, 31,ο and ρ Leonis	Nakshatra
11	पूर्व फाल्गुनी	Pūrva Phalgunī, Bhagya, Bhagybha	Purva Phalguni	"first reddish one"?	δ and θ Leonis	Nakshatra
12	उत्तर फाल्गुनी	Uttara Phalgunī, Arya, Aryamrksha	Uttara Phalguni	"second reddish one"?	Denebola plus 3 more	Nakshatra
13	हस्त	Hasta	Hasta, kara, Ravibha	"the hand"	β, α, ε, γ, and δ Corvi	Nakshatra
14	चित्रा	Citrā, Tvarshtra	Chitra	"the bright one"	Spica	Nakshatra
15	स्वाति	Anila	Malayendu's Svati	"Su-Ati - Goodness	Arcturus (+ η and ζ Bootis)	Nakshatra
16	विशाखा	Viśākhā, Dvidaivata	Vishakha	"forked, having many branches"	α, β, γ and ι Librae	Nakshatra
17	अनुराधा	Maitra	Anuradha	"following rādhā"	β, δ, ρ and π Scorpii	Nakshatra
18	ज्येष्ठा	Jyeṣṭha, Śakra, Aindra	Jyeshtha	"the eldest, most excellent"	α, σ, and τ Scorpii	Nakshatra
19	मूल	Mūlā, Nirtibha	Mula	"the root"	ε, μ, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, and λ Scorpii	Nakshatra
20	पूर्व आषाढा	Purvaṣādha, Jaladaivata, Apya, Toya, Jalarksha	Purva Ashadha	"first of the āṣāḍhā", āṣāḍhā "the invincible one"	δ and ε Sagittarii	Nakshatra
21	उत्तर आषाढा	Uttara Āṣāḍhā, Vaiśvadeva	Uttara Ashadha	"Latter invincible"	ζ and σ Sagittarii	Nakshatra
22	श्रवण	Śravana, Śṛti, Vaisnava, Haribha	Shravana	Listening	α, β and γ Aquilae | Altair	Nakshatra
23	श्रविष्ठा/ धनिष्ठा	Dhaniṣṭhā, Vāsava, Vasubha, Śraviṣṭhā	Dhanishta	"most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest"	α, β, γ, δ Delphini	Nakshatra
24	शतभिष/ शततारका	Śatabhiṣa, Śatabhiṣaj, Varunarksha	Shatabhisha/ Satabhisa	a hundred physicians"	λ Aquarii	Nakshatra
25	पूर्व भाद्रपदा/ पूर्व प्रोष्ठपदा	Purvābhādra, Ajanghri, Ajaikapada, Pragbhadra	Purva Bhadrapada	"the first of the blessed feet"?	α and β Pegasi	Nakshatra
26	उत्तर भाद्रपदा/ उत्तर प्रोष्ठपदा	Uttara Bhādrapada, Ahirbudhnya, dvitiyabhādra, upāntya	Uttara Bhadrapada (U. Bhadra)	"the second of the blessed feet"?	γ Pegasi and α Andromedae	Nakshatra
27	रेवती	Pourshna	Revati	"prosperous"?	ζ Piscium (plus 30 more stars, perhaps including M31)	Nakshatra
28	अभिजित	Vidibha	Abhijit	Victorius	Lyra | alf Lyrae	Nakshatra
		Āptapān	Aptapan	??	α Cas	Shylaja+ (2016)
		Aśvanābha		Belly of the horse	α And	Shylaja+ (2016)
			Hayaamsha	Body part of horse	Sun?	Shylaja+ (2016)
			Hutabhuk	Fire, Agni	β Tau	Shylaja+ (2016)
			Illvala		ζ, ε, δ Ori
			Kartitakara	??	β Cas	Shylaja+ (2016)
		Mānus ̟ aśīrs ̟ a	Manusasirsa	Head of a person (perhaps adopted from the Greek Medusa)	β Per	Shylaja+ (2016)
			Matsyodara	Belly of the fish (perhaps adopted from the Syriac/ Arabic tradition)	β And	Shylaja+ (2016)
			Nadyantaka	End of the river (certainly adopted from the Greek tradition)	γ Phe or ν Eri	Shylaja+ (2016)
		Nr ̟ pārśva	Nrparsva	Side of a person (adopted from the Greco-Babylonian tradition)	α Per	Shylaja+ (2016)
		Pīt ̟ hamūla	Pithhamula	Base of the seat or chair (adopted from the Greek tradition)	γ Cas	Shylaja+ (2016)
		Supīt ̟ ha	Supithha	Auspicious seat / chair	δ Cas	Shylaja+ (2016)
			Trivikrama		ξν, μλ, ικ UMa
			Tulaikasikha	First star of Tula (Libra)	α Lib (same as Visakha?)	Shylaja+ (2016)
			Tulanyasikha	Another star of Tula	β Lib	Shylaja+ (2016)
			Turangamsa	Body part of horse		Shylaja+ (2016)
			Yama	May be same as Nadyantaka, South	α Eri	Shylaja+ (2016)

References