Editing Nakshatra (section)

{{Short description|Lunar mansion in Hindu astronomy}}
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{{Nakshatras}}
'''Nakshatra''' ({{langx|sa| नक्षत्रम्|translit=Nakṣatram}}) is the term for [[Lunar mansion]] in [[Hindu astrology]] and Buddhist astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 (sometimes also 28) sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to a prominent star or [[asterism (astronomy)|asterisms]] in or near the respective sectors. In essence (in Western astronomical terms), a nakshatra simply is a [[constellation]]. Every nakshatra is divided into four ''padas'' ({{lit}} "steps"). 

The starting point for the nakshatras according to the ''[[Vedas]]'' is "Krittika" (it has been argued because the Pleiades may have started the year at the time the ''Vedas'' were compiled, presumably at the vernal equinox), but, in more recent compilations, the start of the nakshatras list is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the star [[Spica]], called ''Chitrā'' in [[Sanskrit]]. This translates to Ashwinī, a part of the modern constellation of Aries. These compilations, therefore may have been compiled during the centuries when the sun was passing through Aries at the time of the vernal equinox. This version may have been called ''Meshādi'' or the "[[first point of Aries|start of Aries]]".<ref>
{{cite book
 |first=Vashisht |last=Vaid
 |year=2012
 |title=The Radiant Words of Love & Wisdom
}}
</ref>{{full citation|date=December 2022|reason=page, publisher, publication place}}

The first [[Indian astronomy|astronomical]] text that lists them is the ''[[Vedanga Jyotisha]]''.<ref>
{{cite web
 |title=Nakshatras and Upanakshatras
 |date=June 13, 2012
 |website=vedanet.com
 |publisher=American Institute of Vedic Studies
 |url=https://vedanet.com/2012/06/13/nakshatras-and-upanakshatras/
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322154946/https://vedanet.com/2012/06/13/nakshatras-and-upanakshatras/
 |archive-date=March 22, 2015
}}
</ref>{{better source needed|date=June 2018}}

In classical Hindu scriptures (''[[Mahabharata]], [[Harivamsa]]''), the creation of the asterisms is attributed to [[Daksha]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moor |first=Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kJDAAAAYAAJ&dq=Daksha+Nakshatra&pg=PA291 |title=The Hindu Pantheon |date=1810 |publisher=J. Johnson |pages=291 |language=en}}</ref> The Nakshatras are personified as daughters of Daksha and as wives of [[Chandra]], the god of the Moon. When Chandra neglected his 26 other wives in favour of [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]], his father-in-law cursed him with leprosy and proclaimed that the Moon would wax and wane each month.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Coulter |first1=Charles Russell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QEJUEAAAQBAJ&dq=Chandra+Daksha&pg=PA437 |title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities |last2=Turner |first2=Patricia |date=2021-12-06 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-9179-7 |pages=437 |language=en}}</ref> The Nakshatras are also alternatively described as the daughters of [[Kashyapa]].