Your Healing Stars: Volume I Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology by Radhe Chapter 16: Introduction Chapter 16: Introduction Surya rules the daytime and the 12 rashis. Each rashi is defined by the movement of the sun as it passes through a grouping of stars in the course of a month. In contrast, Chandra lords over the nighttime and the 27 lunar mansions, or nakshatras. The Sanskrit term nakshatra means ‘star map’. A nakshatra is measured by the moon’s passage through a smaller grouping of stars in the course of a day. In the dark, still nights of ancient times, it was relatively easy to map out the lunar nakshatras. One simply had to observe the stellar backdrop of the moon in the night sky. Just as a graha occupying a rashi is influenced by the nature of that constellation, so too, is true of a graha occupying a nakshatra. As the abodes of the gods, each nakshatra is aligned with the energy of its residing godhead. For example, the first nakshatra is Aswhini, wherein dwell the Aswhini Kumars (twin boys on horses), gods known for their rapid healing methods. Aptly, a graha that occupies Aswhini has the power (shakti) to accomplish things quickly. Since Jyotisha is a lunar-based system, the nakshatra placement of Chandra is important. Chandra represents the perceptive consciousness. In contrast to other grahas, Chandra is easily influenced by environmental factors. Thus, an individual is greatly inspired by the gross and subtle attributes associated with his/her natal moon nakshatra. The nakshatra of natal Chandra is referred as the “birth nakshatra”. The nakshatra of other personal grahas, such as the Lagnesha and Surya, as well as the Lagna, also hold significance. In fact, the nakshatra placement of any graha is important in understanding its behavior and expression on multiple realms of existence. For example, if the 4B bhavesha occupies Ashwini, perhaps the mother is a doctor, nurse or healer. Or if Guru, graha karaka for ancient sampradayas (doctrines transmitted orally from teacher to student) and higher studies, occupies Ashwini, the person may pursue an education in ancient modalities of alternative healing. The following lists each of the 27 nakshatras, its ruling devata and energy (shakti). If you know your moon nakshatra, look up its associated shakti in the table below. Chapter 16: Introduction Table 1: The 27 Lunar Nakshatras and their Shakti # Name Deity Shakti 1 Aswhini Aswhini Kumars, healing gods Power to accomplish things quickly 2 Bharani Yama, god of death Power to remove things in life 3 Krittika Agni, god of fire Power to burn or destroy 4 Rohini Brahma, the creator Power to grow and create 5 Mrigashira Soma, the moon Power to fulfill desires 6 Ardra Rudra (Shiva), the healer Power to hit a target 7 Punarvasu Aditi, mother of the gods Power to gain wealth 8 Pushya Brihaspati, lord of sacred speech Power to gain spiritual knowledge 9 Ashlesha Nagas, serpents Power to inflict poison 10 Magha Ancestors, protectors of humanity Power to leave the body 11 Purva Phalguni Aryaman, sun god of marriage Power to procreate Bhaga, sun god of conjugal bliss and 12 Uttara Phalguni prosperity Power to bring happiness Power to obtain goals through our 13 Hasta Savitar, sun god of inspiration hands 14 Chitra Tvashtar, sun god and celestial architect Power to achieve good merit 15 Swati Vayu, the wind god Power to scatter, like the wind Power to accomplish goals and 16 Vishakha Indra (king of heaven) and Agni (fire god) aspirations 17 Anuradha Mitra, sun god of friendship Power to make friends 18 Jyeshta Indra, lord of heaven Power to conquer 19 Mula Nirriti, goddess of destruction Power to destroy 20 Purva Ashadha Apas, water goddesses Power to invigorate 21 Uttara Ashadha Visvedevas, all the gods, collectively Power to be victorious 22 Shravana Vishnu, god of sustenance Power to connect with others 23 Dhanishta Vasus, gods of the earthly realm Power to be famous and wealthy 24 Ṣatabhishak Varuna, lord of the oceans Power to heal 25 Purva Bhadrapada Aja Ekapada, one-footed serpent god Power of spiritual growth 26 Uttara Bhadrapada Ahirbudhnya, serpent of the sky Power to bring rain 27 Revati Pushan, sun god of nourishment Power to nourish Chapter 17: Nakshatras and their Devatas Introduction In the following sections, the nature of each nakshatra devata is highlighted. (For the detailed Vedic portrayal and mythology of the nakshatra devatas, see The Divine Forces of the Lunar Nakshatras, written by the author.) Included in each nakshatra section is the scriptural description of one’s natal moon nakshatra.1 1 Descriptives are sourced from various Jyotisha shastra, including Hora Ratnam, Hora-Sara, Maansagari, Jataka Bharnam, Varahamihira and Jyotisha-Siddhanta-Sara. Chapter 17: Nakshatras and their Devatas Table 2: 27 Nakshatras and their Ruling Devatas # Name Rashi Degree Devata 1 Ashwini Aries 0.00-13.20 Aswhini Kumars, celestial healing twins 2 Bharani Aries 13.20-26.40 Yama, lord of death 3 Krittika Aries-Taurus 26.40-10.00 Agni, lord of fire 4 Rohini Taurus 10.00-23.20 Prajapati, the creator god 5 Mrigashira Taurus-Gemini 23.20-6.40 Soma, the moon 6 Ardra Gemini 6.40-20.00 Rudra, an ancient form of Shiva 7 Punarvasu Gemini-Cancer 20.00-3.20 Aditi, mother earth 8 Pushya Cancer 3.20-16.40 Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods 9 Ashlesha Cancer 16.40-30.00 Nagas, celestial serpent snakes 10 Magha Leo 0.00-13.20 Pitris, ancestors 11 Purva Phalguni Leo 13.20-26.40 Aryaman, god of traditions 12 Uttara Phalguni Leo-Virgo 26.40-10.00 Bhaga, god of bliss 13 Hasta Virgo 10.00-23.20 Savitar, sun god 14 Chitra Virgo-Libra 23.20-6.40 Tvashtar, celestial architect 15 Swati Libra 6.40-20.00 Vayu, wind god 16 Vishakha Libra-Scorpio 20.00-3.20 Indra-Agni, dual gods Indra and Agni 17 Anuradha Scorpio 3.20-16.40 Mitra, god of friendship 18 Jyeshta Scorpio 16.40-30.00 Indra, king of heaven 19 Mula Sagittarius 0.00-13.20 Nirriti, goddess of destruction 20 Purva Ashadha Sagittarius 13.20-26.40 Apas, water goddesses 21 Uttara Ashadha Sagittarius-Capricorn 26.40-10.00 Visvedevas, all the gods collectively 22 Shravana Capricorn 10.00-23.20 Vishnu, the sustainer of the universe 23 Dhanishta Capricorn-Aquarius 23.20-6.40 Vasus, earthly gods 24 Shatabhishak Aquarius 6.40-20.00 Varuna, lord of the waters 25 Purva Bhadrapada Aquarius-Pisces 20.00-3.20 Aja Ekapada, one-legged serpent 26 Uttara Bhadrapada Pisces 3.20-16.40 Ahirbudhnya, cloud serpent 27 Revati Pisces 16.40-30.00 Pushan, lord of cattle Chapter 17: Nakshatras and their Devatas Ashwini, ruled by Ashwini Kumars Nakshatra translation horsemen Devata Ashwini Kumars Devata translation young boys on horses Constellation Aries 0:00-13:20 Stars 2 Stellar configuration head of a horse Moon in Aswhini: A person born in Ashwini nakshatra will be beautiful, lucky, efficient in work, will have a bulky body, be wealthy and a public figure. Readers may be familiar with the Ashwini Kumars, for these twin boys are credited with the transmission of Ayurveda to mankind. According to the sampradaya of Ayurveda, there is a time when the human race is overcome by the darkness of illness and disease. The rishis are gravely concerned, for in such a dire state, people no longer adhere to spiritual practices. The great sages approach Brahma, the creator god for a solution. Brahma elects to impart the vidya (knowledge) of Ayurveda to the Ashwini Kumars, who become renowned as celestial physicians. In turn, the Ashwini Kumars instruct Indra (monarch of heaven) and the sages in the secrets of Ayurveda. One such seer is Agnivesha, who codifies the wisdom of Ayurveda in a text called Agnivesha Tantra (later renamed the Caraka Samhita). To this day, the Caraka Samhita is used by Ayurvedic practitioners and students. Chapter 17: Nakshatras and their Devatas Bharani, ruled by Yama Nakshatra translation to maintain or support Devata Yama Devata translation restraint Constellation Aries 13.20-26.40 Stars 3 Stellar configuration yoni Moon in Bharani: One born in the asterism of Bharani will have quietly disposed mind. He will be unsteady in thinking, be after women, dear to his brothers, self- respected, courageous, helpful to friends, long lived and will less number of sons. Yama is the devata ruler of Bharani. He and his twin sister Yami (woman of respect) are the first man and woman on earth. True to his name (Yama means ‘restraint) and that of his nakshatra (Bharani means ‘to maintain or support), this Vedic lord leads an exemplary life of proper conduct. Yama is the first mortal to die and the first to discover the way to the heavenly abode of the gods. He shares this knowledge with others on earth and guards the transmigrating souls of the recently deceased as they traverse the path to heaven. For these reasons, Yama is anointed into kingship as Yama Pitri Raj, ‘king of the ancestors’. Chapter 17: Nakshatras and their Devatas Krittika, ruled by Agni Nakshatra translation the cutters Devata Agni Devata translation lord of fire Constellation Aries-Taurus 26.40-10.00 Stars 6 Stellar configuration knife or sword Moon in Krittika: One born in Krittika nakshatra will be stingy, sinful, will face starvation, remain aggrieved and indulge in wrongful acts. Lord Agni, the divine ruler of Krittika, is the most frequently hymned-to god in the ancient Indian scripture known as the Rigveda. Agni is the symbol for tejas (radiant heat), the foundation of all transformational processes within the physical, mental and subtle sheaths.