Indian Names (All Terms)

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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 (भरणी) the bearer, a container 35, 39 and 41 Arietis |

(three stars)

Nakshatra
3 कृत्तिका Kṛttika,Agni, Hutabhuk, agnidaiva Kṛttika (कृत्तिका) Pleiades personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva Pleiades Nakshatra
4 रोहिणी Brahmya, Brahmabha Rohiṇī (रोहिणी) "the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī Aldebaran

and the Hyades

Nakshatra
5 मृगशिर Mṛgaśira, Somya Mṛgaśira (मृगशिर) "the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī λ, φ1,2 Orionis Nakshatra
6 आर्द्रा Roudra, Shivabha Ardra (आर्द्रा) wetness, Betelgeuse Nakshatra
7 पुनर्वसु (dual) Yamakau, aditerbha Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु) "the twinrestorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots"? α, β Geminorum Nakshatra
8 पुष्य Puṣya Puṣya (पुष्य) "the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya γ, δ and θ Cancri Nakshatra
9 आश्लेषः Āshleshā, Ahya, Phanibha, Sarpa Ashlesha (आश्लेषः) "the embrace" δ, ε , η, ρ, and σ Hydrae Nakshatra
10 मघा Maghā? Paitra Maghā (मघा) "the bountiful"? Regulus Nakshatra
11 पूर्व फाल्गुनी Pūrva Phalgunī, Bhagya, Bhagybha Pūrva Phalgunī (पूर्व फाल्गुनी) "first reddish one"? δ and θ Leonis Nakshatra
12 उत्तर फाल्गुनी Uttara Phalgunī, Arya, Aryamrksha Uttara Phalgunī (उत्तर फाल्गुनी) "second reddish one"? Denebola Nakshatra
13 हस्त Hasta Hasta (हस्त), kara, Ravibha "the hand" β, α, ε, γ, and δ Corvi Nakshatra
14 चित्रा Citrā, Tvarshtra Citrā (चित्रा) "the bright one" Spica Nakshatra
15 स्वाति Anila Malayendu's Svati "Su-Ati - Goodness Arcturus

(+ η and ζ Bootis)

Nakshatra
16 विशाखा Viśākhā, Dvidaivata Viśākhā (विशाखा) "forked, having many branches" α, β, γ and ι Librae Nakshatra
17 अनुराधा Maitra Anuradha (अनुराधा) "following rādhā" β, δ and π Scorpii Nakshatra
18 ज्येष्ठा Jyeṣṭha, Śakra, Aindra Jyeṣṭha (ज्येष्ठा) "the eldest, most excellent" α, σ, and τ Scorpii Nakshatra
19 मूल Mūlā, Nirtibha Mūlā (मूल) "the root" ε, μ, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, and λ Scorpii Nakshatra
20 पूर्व आषाढा Purvaṣādha, Jaladaivata, Apya, Toya, Jalarksha Purvaṣādha (पूर्व आषाढा) "first of the āṣāḍhā", āṣāḍhā "the invincible one" δ and ε Sagittarii | or σ Sgr Nakshatra
21 उत्तर आषाढा Uttara Āṣāḍhā, Vaiśvadeva Uttara Āṣāḍhā (उत्तर आषाढा) "Latter invincible" ζ and σ Sagittarii Nakshatra
22 श्रवण Śravana, Śṛti, Vaisnava, Haribha Śravana (श्रवण) Listening α, β and γ Aquilae | Altair Nakshatra
23 श्रविष्ठा/

धनिष्ठा

Dhaniṣṭhā, Vāsava, Vasubha, Śraviṣṭhā Dhaniṣṭhā (श्रविष्ठा) "most famous", also Shravishthā "swiftest" α, β, γ, δ Delphini Nakshatra
24 शतभिष/

शततारका

Śatabhiṣa, Śatabhiṣaj, Varunarksha Shatabhisha/

Śatabhiṣa (शतभिषक्)

a hundred physicians" λ Aquarii Nakshatra
25 पूर्व भाद्रपदा/

पूर्व प्रोष्ठपदा

Purvābhādra, Ajanghri, Ajaikapada, Pragbhadra Purvābhādra (पूर्व भाद्रपदा) "the first of the blessed feet"? α and β Pegasi Nakshatra
26 उत्तर भाद्रपदा/

उत्तर प्रोष्ठपदा

Uttara Bhādrapada, Ahirbudhnya, dvitiyabhādra, upāntya Uttara Bhādrapada (उत्तर भाद्रपदा)

(U. Bhadra)

"the second of the blessed feet"? γ Pegasi and α Andromedae Nakshatra
27 रेवती Pourshna Revati (रेवती) "prosperous"? ζ Piscium Nakshatra
28 अभिजित Vidibha Abhijit (अभिजित) Victorius Lyra | alf Lyrae Nakshatra
Nadyantaka End of the river γ Phe or ν Eri Shylaja+ (2016)
Aśvanābha Belly of the horse α And Shylaja+ (2016)
Matsyodara Belly of the fish β And Shylaja+ (2016)
Kartitakara ?? β Cas Shylaja+ (2016)
Āptapān Aptapan ?? α Cas Shylaja+ (2016)
Yama May be same as Nadyantaka, South α Eri Shylaja+ (2016)
Pīt ̟ hamūla Pithhamula Base of the seat or chair γ Cas Shylaja+ (2016)
Supīt ̟ ha Supithha Auspicious seat / chair δ Cas Shylaja+ (2016)
Mānus ̟ aśīrs ̟ a Manusasirsa Head of a person β Per Shylaja+ (2016)
Nr ̟ pārśva Nrparsva Side of a person α Per Shylaja+ (2016)
Hutabhuk Fire, Agni β Tau Shylaja+ (2016)
Tulaikasikha First star of Tula (Libra) ? Lib (same as Visakha?) Shylaja+ (2016)
Tulanyasikha ANother star of Tula ?Lib Shylaja+ (2016)
Turangamsa Body part of horse Shylaja+ (2016)
Hayaamsha Body part of horse Sun? Shylaja+ (2016)

References