Article by Vamadeva Shastri (David Frawley), USA

Each Nakshatra reflects certain wishes or desires that those who born under them are inclined to have. In the Vedas each Nakshatra deity reflects these wishes, that those who worship this deity and its Nakshatra will gain. This material comes from the Taittiriya Brahmana III.1.4. It affords additional insight on the Nakshatras and their meaning. I have condensed the material to make it as relevant as possible.

1. The Ashwins desired, “May we be possessed of good hearing and not be deaf. “One who makes the appropriate offering to the Ashwins and to Ashwini becomes possessed of good hearing and will not become deaf.

Ashwini Nakshatra grants the power of hearing on both outer and inner levels. That is why this Nakshatra relates to secret knowledge and to miraculous powers.

2. Yama desired, “May I win the lordship of the ancestors.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Yama and to Bharani wins the lordship of the ancestors and wins the lordship of his peers.

Those born under Bharani want to be respected by their elders and by their peers.

3. Agni desired, “May I be the eater of food for the Gods.” One who offers to Agni and Krittika the appropriate offering becomes an eater of food for mortals.

Agni as fire both cooks and digests food. Krittika provides nourishment and the power to digest it as well. Those born under it like to provide for others in this way.

4. Prajapati created creatures but thus created they went way. Of them he thought about Rohini. He desired, “May she approach me. May we unite together.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Prajapati, to Rohini, his beloved approaches him and he unites with her.

Rohini is a Nakshatra of love, passion and sexuality that is generally fertile and creative, but not inclined to tolerate limits. Because of this it is very productive for almost everything but can draw jealously upon it.

5. Soma desired. “May I win the lordship of the plants.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Soma, to Mrigashira, wins the lordship of the plants, wins the lordship of his peers.

Those born under Mrigashirsha want to provide the Soma, delight or enjoyment to their peers. They can be exhilarating and entertaining leaders, shining on others like the Moon. For this reason they usually do best with a retinue of friends.

6. Rudra desired, “May I become the lord of the animals.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Rudra, to Ardra, becomes the lord of the animals.

Rudra is the lord of the wild animals and all things wild, strange or disturbing. These come through Ardra, which therefore needs to seek control over them.

7. The Earth in the beginning had no growths. She desired, “May I produce herbs and trees.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Aditi, to Punarvasu, produces progeny and cattle.

Punarvasu is a creative Nakshatra ruled by the Earth as the World Mother Aditi. It gives the ability to create in form and structure. Those born under it like to produce things in a maternal way.

8. Brihaspati desired, “May I possess the splendor of spiritual knowledge.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Brihaspati, to Pushya, gains the splendor of spiritual knowledge.

Pushya connects us with spiritual knowledge, but also religion, ritual and morality in general. Through it the good overcomes the evil.

9. The Gods and the Demons were at war. The Gods made an offering to Aslesha. This drove away the Demons. One who makes the appropriate offering to the Serpent God, to Aslesha, drives away his hateful opponents.

In Aslesha one can defeat one’s enemies. Through it one gains the poison of the serpent to use on others. Those born under Aslesha make powerful warriors with powerful weapons.

10. The Fathers desired, “May we flourish in the world of the ancestors.” One who makes the appropriate offering to the Fathers, to Magha, flourishes in the world of the ancestors.

Magha gives fame that lasts through the generations. Those born under it seek a high reputation for themselves, a kind of kingly or paternal status.

11. Bhaga desired, “May I partake of the best portion of the Gods.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Bhaga, to the Phalgunis, gains the best portion among his peers.

Those born under Purva Phalguni seek the best portion for themselves. They become connoisseurs in life, seeking what is subtle and refined.

12. Aryaman desired, “May I become the lord of the animals.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Aryaman, to the Phalgunis, he becomes the lord of the animals.

Those born under Uttara Phalguni seek colleagues and followers in order to help them in their causes, which are generally noble in nature (at least to them).

13. Savitar desired, “May the Gods place their faith in me.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Savitar, to Hasta, men place faith in him. He becomes the Sun among his peers.

People born under Hasta want to be believed in and want others to have faith in them. They regard themselves as capable of great achievements and can serve to rally and inspire people around them.

14. Twashtar desired, “May I gain a wonderful progeny.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Twashtar, to Chitra, gains a wonderful progeny.

Twashtar is a form of the Creator, usually called Prajapati. Chitra therefore has great creative powers, giving splendor, multiplicity and abundance.

15. The Wind desired, “May I win the freedom to move as I wish in all the worlds.” One who makes the appropriate offering to the Wind, to Swati, gains the freedom to move as he wishes in all the worlds.

The Wind, Vayu, has free movement in all the worlds. Those born in Vayu’s Nakshatra of Swati have a similar desire. They don’t like to be held or tied down. They like to travel where they want and when they want.

16. Indra and Agni desired, “May I gain the greatest splendor among the Gods.” He makes the appropriate offering to Indra and Agni, to Vishakha, gains the greatest splendor among his peers.

Vishakha is a competitive Nakshatra and has a fiery and lightning like energy and effects. Its natives seek power and recognition.

17. Mitra desired, “May I be regarded as a friend in all the worlds.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Mitra, to Anuradha, becomes regarded as a friend in all these worlds.

Those born under Anuradha want to be friends with everyone. They are emotionally sensitive to others and place the welfare of others over their own.

18. Indra desired, “May I gain supremacy among the gods.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Indra, to Jyeshta, gains supremacy among his peers.

Those born under Jyeshta seek to be the best and the highest but on their own, by their own effort, as individuals, not by relying on others. They often do their best when left alone.

19. Prajapati desired, “May I find the root of progeny.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Prajapati, to Mula, gains the root of progeny.

Here Mula is ruled by Prajapati, the Creator, who also rules Rohini. This gives Mula a more creative energy. Mula means root. It gives the root of progeny or strong creative powers, somewhat like Rohini. In the negative sense in the Vedas, Mula ruled by Nirriti takes away the root of one’s progeny or causes the loss of one’s first child.

20. The Water Goddesses desired, “May we at our wish gain the sea.” One who makes the appropriate offering to the Water Goddesses, to Ashadha, gains at wish the sea.

Under Purvashadha one seeks connections like water desiring to reach the ocean. It is a creative, nurturing and healing Nakshatra.

21. The Universal Gods desired, “May we win a victory that can never be lost.” One who makes the appropriate offering to the Universal Gods, to Ashadha, gains a victory that can never be lost.

Uttarashadha is a competitive Nakshatra that causes us to seek great achievements, but in alliance with others, in great partnerships, organizations and associations. One succeeds by virtue of one’s broad connections.

22. Vishnu desired, “May I hear people say good words about me. May I not gain any bad regard.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Vishnu, to Shravana, hears good words about himself and does not come to any bad regard.

Those born under Shravana are concerned about what people say about them and about their public reputation. They will strive to keep themselves in good repute. They are sensitive about the opinions of others.

23. The Vasus desired, “May we revolve around the summit of the Gods.” One who makes the appropriate offering to the Vasus, to Dhanishta, gains the summit among his peers.

The Vasus rule over material and worldly splendors, which their Nakshatra grants. They gain through high association.

24. Varuna desired, “May I be firm and not unsteady.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Varuna, to Shatabhishak, becomes firm and not unsteady.

This firmness also implies freedom from disease and debility. Shatabhishak is a Nakshatra of healing and energization.

25. Aja Ekapat desire, “”May I gain radiance and the splendor of spiritual knowledge.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Aja Ekapat, to Purva Bhadra, gains radiance and the splendor of spiritual knowledge.

Purva Bhadra has a great spiritual potential like Brihaspati ruled Pushya. It can give even more insight, perception and spiritual fire – that of the soul. It awakens us to our higher spiritual potential and power in life.

26. Ahir Budhnya desired, “May I find a foundation.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Ahir Budhnya, to Uttara Bhadra, gains a foundation.

Uttara Bhadra grants a firm foundation in life, connecting us with the wellsprings of vitality, the serpent who dwells in the middle of the sea.

27. Pusha desired, “May I become the lord of the animals.” One who makes the appropriate offering to Pusha, to Revati, becomes lord of the animals.

Revati gives lordship over domestic cattle, richness of harvest and fertile fields. Those born under this Nakshatra like the good things of life but as are in harmony with nature.

About Author: Vamadeva (Dr. Frawley) is a unusual western born knowledge-holder in the Vedic tradition. He carries many special Vedic ways of knowledge (vidyas), which he passes on to students in India and in the West. In India, Vamadeva is recognized not only as a Vedacharya (Vedic teacher), but also as a Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor), Jyotishi (Vedic astrologer), Puranic (Vedic historian) and a Yogi. He is a visiting professor for the Vivekananda Yoga Kendra in Bangalore, India, a government approved deemed university for yogic and Vedic studies and also a teacher with the Sringeri Shankaracharya Math, the most central of the traditional Vedantic centers in India.

In India, Vamadeva’s translations and interpretations of the ancient Vedic teachings have been given great acclaim in both spiritual and scholarly circles. In America he is more known as a teacher and practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine and of Vedic astrology (Jyotish) and has done pioneering work on both these subjects in the West.