Visual Classifications of the Nakshatras

Here is something you might not have seen before in your Jyotish studies: a visual depiction of the qualities (gunas) of the nakshatras.

The material is all taken from Hart de Fouw's excellent work: Light on Life, An Introduction to the Astrology of India (particularly pages 206-214).

As one bright student told me the other day, the nakshatras are kind of like the periodic table of Jyotish. Full of story and lore, truth and the telling, myth and math, nakshatras neatly introduce us to the more Tantric webs of meaning of Nature and of the Universe.

They are parts of the 360 degree zodiac, each of the 27 nakshatras being 13 degrees and 20 seconds. The 28th that is sometimes used is abhijit, but "only occasionally, in electional astrology" and its depiction would "ruin the symmetrical distribution" as well as mess up the divine geometry inherent within. (See Light on Life.) 

Numbers are a quick and easy way to label the other standard nakshatras:

1.   Ashvini
2.   Bharani
3.   Krittika
4.   Rohini
5.   Mrigashirsha
6.   Ardra
7.   Punarvasu
8.   Pushya
9.   Ashlesha

10.   Magha
11.   Purva Phalguni
12.   Uttara Phalguni
13.   Hasta
14.   Chitra
15.   Swati
16.   Vishaka
17.   Anuradha
18.   Jyestha

19.   Mula
20.   Purva Ashadha
21.   Uttara Ashadha
22.   Shravana
23.   Dhanistha
24.   Shatabhisha
25.   Purva Bhadrapada
26.   Uttara Bhadrapada
27.   Revati

Abhijit is acknowledged in the diagram as the empty "28"th pie slice even though its placement is typically between Uttara Ashada (21) and Shravana (22). 

It is my belief and motivation that, by looking at these visual diagrams, new insights will come to the student, particularly for those, like me, who are pitta and visually oriented.

Here are the diagrams. There is room in the lower right for your own notes. As always, contact me with any questions, comments, or observations, and I will include them here.

Coming soon: some sort of visual treatment for the 4 padas per nakshatra, raising the number of elements to the holy number of 108.

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