Indian Names (All Terms)

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
अश्विनी	Ashvini	physician to the Gods	β, γ Arietis	Nakshatra
भरणी	Bharani	the bearer	35, 39 and 41 Arietis	Nakshatra
कृत्तिका	Krittika	Pleiades personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva	Pleiades	Nakshatra
रोहिणी	Rohini	"the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī	Aldebaran	Nakshatra
मृगशिर	Mrigashira	"the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī	λ, φ Orionis	Nakshatra
आर्द्रा	Ardra	a storm god	Betelgeuse	Nakshatra
पुनर्वसु (dual)	Punarvasu	"the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"		Nakshatra
पुष्य	Pushya	"the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya	γ, δ and θ Cancri	Nakshatra
आश्ळेषा/आश्लेषा	Āshleshā	"the embrace"	δ, ε , η, ρ, and σ Hydrae	Nakshatra
मघा	Maghā	"the bountiful"	Regulus	Nakshatra
पूर्व फाल्गुनी	Pūrva Phalgunī	"first reddish one"	δ and θ Leonis	Nakshatra
उत्तर फाल्गुनी	Uttara Phalgunī	"second reddish one"	Denebola	Nakshatra
हस्त	Hasta	"the hand"	α, β, γ, δ and ε Corvi	Nakshatra
चित्रा	Chitra	"the bright one"	Spica	Nakshatra
स्वाति	Svati	"Su-Ati (Sanskrit) Very good"	Arcturus	Nakshatra
विशाखा	Vishakha	"forked, having branches"	α, β, γ and ι Librae	Nakshatra
अनुराधा	Anuradha	"following rādhā"	β, δ and π Scorpionis	Nakshatra
ज्येष्ठा	Jyeshtha	"the eldest, most excellent"	α, σ, and τ Scorpionis	Nakshatra
मूल	Mula	"the root"	ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis	Nakshatra
पूर्व आषाढा	Purva Ashadha	"first of the āṣāḍhā", āṣāḍhā "the invincible one"	δ and ε Sagittarii	Nakshatra
उत्तर आषाढा	Uttara Ashadha	"Later invincible"	ζ and σ Sagittarii	Nakshatra
श्रवण	Shravana		α, β and γ Aquilae	Nakshatra
श्रविष्ठा/धनिष्ठा	Dhanishta	"most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest"	α, β, γ, δ Delphini	Nakshatra
शतभिष/शततारका	Shatabhisha	"requiring a hundred physicians"	λ Aquarii	Nakshatra
पूर्व भाद्रपदा/पूर्व प्रोष्ठपदा	Purva Bhadrapada	"the first of the blessed feet"	α and β Pegasi	Nakshatra
उत्तर भाद्रपदा/उत्तर प्रोष्ठपदा	Uttara Bhādrapadā	"the second of the blessed feet"	γ Pegasi and α Andromedae	Nakshatra
रेवती	Revati	"prosperous"	ζ Piscium	Nakshatra
अभिजित	Abhijit	"Invincible"	Lyra	Nakshatra
	Nadyantaka		γ Phe or ν Eri	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Aśvanābha		α And	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Matsyodara		β And	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Kartitakara		β Cas	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Āptapān		α Cas	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Yama		α Eri	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Pīt ̟ hamūla		γ Cas	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Bharan ̟ ī		ε Eri, 41 Ari	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Supīt ̟ ha		δ Cas	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Kr ̟ ttikā		η Tau	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Mānus ̟ aśīrs ̟ a		β Per	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Malayendu		?	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Nr ̟ pārśva		α Per	Shylaja+ (2016)
	Hutabhuk		β Tau	Shylaja+ (2016)