Constellations (Nakshatra)

While there are 12 signs or rasis as explained earlier, the Zodiac is further marked by 27 constellations (Nakshatras). The first constellation Aswani synchronizes with first point of Aries. Each constellation measures 13° 20’ of arc (Here I may explain that mark ‘0’indicates degree and the mark “ ‘ “ indicates minutes) These are not measurement of time, but of the stretch of the constellation. So one constellation or Nakshatra measures 13° 20’ of arc and consists of four quarters of 13° 20’ each. These 27 constellation comprise a sign. The signs or constellation are both reckoned from the same point, namely, the Zero degree of the Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac.

Like the signs the Constellations are owned by the various planets. Here even Rahu and Ketu have ownership over certain constellations the 27 constellations and their lords are given below:

Constellation	Lord
Aswin	Ketu
Bharini	Venus
Krittika	Sun
Rohini	Moon
Mrigsira	Mars
Aridra	Rahu
Punarvasu	Jupiter
Pushyami	Saturn
Aslesha	Mercury
Magha	Ketu
Poorva-Phalguni	Venus
Uttara-Phalguni	Sun
Hasta	Moon
Chitra	Mars
Swati	Rahu
Vishakha	Jupiter
Anuradha	Saturn
Jyestha	Mercury
Moola	Ketu
Poorva-Ashada	Venus
Uttara-Ashada	Sun
Shravan	Moon
Dhanistha	Mars
Satabhisha	Rahu
Poorva- Bhadra	Jupiter
Uttara- Bhadra	Saturn
Revati	Mercury

 

It has been mentioned earlier that one Rasi or sign contains 2-1/4 nakshatras. The longitudinal span of a rasi being 30° and of a constellation being 13° 20’, the Constellations or nakshatras are accommodated under the twelve signs as shown in the following table:

	Rasis	Nakshatras	Span in degrees & minutes
1.	Aries	Aswini(1,2,3,4)	0° to 13°-20’
		Bharini(1,2,3,4)	13°-20’ to 26°-40’
		Krittika(1)	26°-40’ to 30°-00’
2.	Taurus	Krittika(2,3,4)	0°-00’ to 10°-00’
		Rohini(1,2,3,4)	10°-00’ to 23°-20’
		Mrigsira(1,2)	23°-20’ to 30°-00’
3.	Gemini	Mrigsira(3,4)	0°-00’ to 6°-40’
		Aridra(1,2,3,4)	6°-40’ to 20°-00’
		Punarvasu(1,2,3)	20°-00’ to 30°-00’
4.	Cancer	Punarvasu(4)	0°-00’ to 3°-20’
		Pushyami(1,2,3,4)	3°-20’ to 16°-40’
		Aslesha(1,2,3,4)	16°-40’ to 30°-00’
5.	Leo	Magha(1,2,3,4)	0°-00’ to 3°-20’
		Purva Phalguni (1,2,3,4)	13°-20’ to 26°-40’
		Uttara Phalguni(1)	6°-40’ to 30°-00’
6.	Virgo	Uttara Phalguni(2,3,4)	0°-00’ to 10°-00’
		Hasta(1,2,3,4)	10°-00’ to 23°-20’
		Chitra(1,2)	23°-20’ to 30°-00’
7.	Libra	Chitra(3,4)	0°-00’ to 6°-40’
		Swati(1,2,3,4)	6°-40’ to 20°-00’
		Vishakha	20°-00’ to 30°-00’
8.	Scorpio	Vishakha(4)	0°-00’ to 3°-20’
		Anuradha(1,2,3,4)	3°-20’ to 16°-40’
		Jyestha(1,2,3,4)	16°-40’ to 30°-00’
9.	Sagittarius	Moola(1,2,3,4)	0°-00’ to 13°-20’
		Poorvashada(1,2,3,4)	13°-20’ to 26°-40’
		Uttarashada(1)	26°-40’ to 30°-00’
10.	Capricorn	Uttarashada(2,3,4)	0°-00’ to 10°-00’
		Shravana(1,2,3,4)	10°-00’ to 23°-20’
		Dhanishta(1,2)	23°-20’ to 30°-00’
11.	Aquarius	Dhanishta(3,4)	0°-00’ to 6°-40’
		Shatabhisha(1,2,3,4)	6°-40’ to 20°-00’
		Poorvabhadra(1,2,3)	20°-00’ to 30°-00’
12.	Pisces	Poorvabhadra(4)	0°-00’ to 3°-20’
		Uttarabhadra(1,2,3,4)	3°-20’ to 16°-40’
		Revati(1,2,3,4)	16°-40’ to 30°-00’

 

The figures 1, 2, 3 or 4 within brackets against the names of constellation are the padas (charan) Viz. 1 is for first Pada, 2 is for second pada and so on. It should be seen that some constellations have all their four padas within a sign or rasi while the others have only one, two or three padas and the remaining one falling under the next sign.

It will be seen that under Aries there are four padas of Aswani, Four padas of Bharini and one pada of Krittika. Now if the longitude of the moon or the sunor any other planet is Aries 15°-20’ it falls in 1st pada of Bharini which extends 13°-20’ to 16°-40’. If the longitudes of the planet is scorpio 30-45’, it falls under the 1st pada of Anuradha which extends from 3°-20’ to 6°-40’. The position in respect of the first example is that Aries being sign the sign lord is Mars and the constellation being Bharini the constellation lord is Venus. In the second example the sign being scorpio the sign lord is Marsand constellation being Vishakha the constellation or Nakshatra lord is Jupiter Thus within one sign there will be influence of two planets namely of the sign lord as well as the constellation lord. The effect of these influences will be dealt with when we reach Judge a natives horoscope.