Wanand
Wanand (وَنَند), The Victorious One, is a Persian name for the bright star Vega. The name is clearly a translation from the Vedic nakshatra Abhijit, which became obsolete and is not used in Indian mathematical astronomy of the past two millennia (but only in Hindu astrology).
Concordance, Etymology, History
Variants:
- Pahl. Wanand
In Avestan its name was Vanaṇt-, m., “the victorious one”; cf. also Pahlavi Wanand;
It corresponds to Vega, α Lyr. In Avestan texts, this is a special divinity to which a little hymn was dedicated (the 21st of the canon), that specifically invokes him for his antidemonic powers. Vanant is also the name of one of the lunar mansions, the 20th of the list, where ita Pāzand form is Varant.
Mythology
IAU Working Group on Star Names
The name was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 2025. The star Vega is named already, but if "Wawand" as a lunar mansian (like Abhijit) refers to more than one star, the name could be used for another star in the mansion.
As this star is already named ..., the WGSN chose ... (not to apply/ to apply the name to a neighbouring star/ to ...) in the IAU-CSN.
