NAKSHATRA

अश्व्यादिरूपं तुरगास्य योनि क्षुरोन एणास्य मणिर्गृहं च।
पृषत्कचक्रे भवनं च मंचः शय्याकरो मौक्तिकविदु्रमं च।।
तोरणं बलिनिभं च कुण्डलं सिंहपुच्छगजदन्तमंचकाः।
त्र्यास्रि च त्रिचरणाभमर्दलौ वृत्तामंचयमलाभमर्दलाः।।

The above mentioned Shloka gives the shapes of all 27 Nakshatras plus Abhijit serial wise. The shapes of all 28 Nakshatras thus mentioned are as follows- "horse mouth, vagina, knife, vehicle, deer, gem, house, arrow, wheel, house, dais, bed, hand, pearl, coral, flag, boiled rice, ear ring, lion tail, ivory, throne, triangle, Brahmin, drum, circle, dais, twins, drum"

The earth revolves around Sun and takes 365.2422 days to complete one circle. This is the measure of one year. Moon has two types of motions. It takes 27.32 days to complete one revolution of earth and 29.531 days to touch the degrees of Sun. Therefore the two Pakshas (two halves of lunar month) are of around 30 days. In the perspective of stars Moon moves one Nakshatra per day and takes 27.32 days to cover the distance of 360 degrees. Therefore zodiac is divided into 27 parts each part called Nakshatra and Moon moves to next Nakshatra every day.

This circle of 360 degrees is known as zodiac because all the planets revolve around Sun on the same plane of earth. On this plane their orbit remains restricted within a breadth of 9 degrees. This 9 degree wide belt is known as zodiac. This zodiac is divided into 12 parts called Rashi and these 12 divisions of zodiac are further divided into 27 subdivisions. The area of each subdivision is 360/27=13.20 degrees. These subdivisions are known as Nakshatras. Each Nakshatra is a group of several stars and has a specific shape and named after the name of principal star of the group.

As total number of Nakshatras in the 12 signs of zodiac is 27 therefore there are 27/12 = 2¼ Nakshatras in each sign. As each Nakshatra has been subdivided into 4-4 small divisions therefore 27 Nakshatras have 108 Charanas (quarters).

We can also say that Moon while moving on its orbit completes one circle around earth in 27.32 days. In this way Moon crosses 27 Nakshatras in 27 days that is it passes one Nakshatra every day. Thus on this circular route the distance of 13.20 degrees of each Nakshatra is covered by Moon in about one day.

The shapes of Nakshatras are shown in the picture and table given in this article. Their star lord has been given with number of stars in it. We can recognize these stars according to their images given in the picture. In Delhi Ashwani Nakshatra was seen right on our head after sunset on 1st January. Around 13 days later Bharani Nakshatra came on our head.

In this way all 27 Nakshatras can be seen at night one by one during the year. On each lightless night around 10 Nakshatras can be seen from East to West. If light is more then maximum five to seven Nakshatras can be seen overhead.

In Astrology Nakshatras are more important than signs. For accurate prediction each planet yields the result of Nakshatra on which it is moving.

Nakshatra Table :