Nakshatradhipatis from Vedic deities to Grahas, after Valmiki’s Ramayana

In the Valmiki Ramayanam, we find many references to Nakshatras. The adhipatyam of the nakshatras is ascribed to Vedic deities.

• Raja Janaka said that the second of the two days of  PoorvaPhalguni and Uttara Phalguni where the Bhaga (deity) was Prajapathi, was recommended by the wise for marriage. (See : Sita Devi सीता देवी)
• ब्रह्मन्  O brahmin! फल्गुनीभ्याम् उत्तरे दिवसे on the latter day of the two Phalgunis,  यत्र in which day, प्रजापति: Prajapati, भग: Bhaga, वैवाहिकम् to perform marriage, मनीषिण: wise people, प्रशंसन्ति are praising.
• Similarly Raja Dasaratha selected the Pushya Nakshatram of Chaitra Masam for Rama’s coronation. (See : Arrangements were made for Sri Rama’s coronation as a crown prince and Dasaratha sent for Rama to tell him about his coronation.)
• There are references to rasis  in the balakanda : तत: then, यज्ञे when sacrifice, समाप्ते was completed, ऋतूनाम् of seasons, षट् six, समत्ययु: were spent, तत: then, द्वादशे मासे in twelfth month, चैत्रे in Chaitra month, नावमिके तिथौ on the nineth day of the rising Moon, अदितिदैवत्ये presided by Aditi as devata, नक्षत्रे when the star (Punarvasu) , पञ्चसु ग्रहेषु and the five grahas, स्वोच्चसंस्थेषु in their own exalted places (houses), कर्कटे लग्ने in Karkata Lagna, वाक्पतौ when Brihaspati, इन्दुना सह along with Moon, प्रोद्यमाने was rising, कौसल्या Kausalya, जगन्नाथम् lord of the entire universe, सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् bowed to by all the worlds, सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् adorned with all the characteristics, विष्णो: Vishnu’s, अर्धम् facet, महाभागम् highly fortunate, ऐक्ष्वाकुवर्धनम् perpetuating the Ikshvaku race, रामम् Rama, पुत्रम् as his son, अजनयत् gave birth . ” Source
• Note that there is a mention of grahas (पञ्चसु ग्रहेषु) and of rasis (कर्कटे लग्ने) but the naksharadhipati was Aditi : “अदितिदैवत्ये  नक्षत्रे when the nakshatra presided by Aditi as devata”
• Dasaratha, Kausalya and their sons were always compared to Vedic Deities such as Indra, Aditi, Yama, Varuna etc.

Contemporary Hindu Astrology : This ascribes the adhipatyam (lordship) of the Nakshatras to Grahas. The vimsottari dasa calculations are based on this. This probably happened when the brihat parasara hora sastra became popular. This sastra was taught by Veda Vyasa’s father, Parasara to Maitreya. By Valmiki’s time, it may have been just beginning to gain acceptance. Valmiki and Vyasa were contemporaries, with Valmiki somewhat older to Vyasa. See (Generations between Rama and Krishna.)

Note: The muhurta selection, in the Ramayana was done by the kings themselves and not their priests and the muhurtam was sun-rise in both cases. Nowadays, the muhurta is selected any time of the day or night. It may also be noted that then a muhurta was a time unit of 48 min duration, but many modern Hindu weddings have to be performed at an exact instant, which is labelled the muhurtam.

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula

Nakshatram of the Day!

The Vedic people used the moon as a pointer to the skies.

There are 27 Nakshatrams that cover 360 degrees of the zodiac, so each nakshatram ‘covers’ 13.33 degrees. The moon (Chandra) moves through each of these nakshatrams, once every month. Moving through means moving close to.  The Yuga (Union) of Chandra and any Nakshtra roughly lasts for a solar day.

The Nakshatra Yuga at SunRise determines the Nakshatra of the day.

So at the time the sun is rising, the moon is within the 13 degrees of the Nakshatra of the Day!

Pushya means prosperity. The deity is Brhaspati.

With Reference to Valimiki Ramayanam :

• Please note the absence of elaborate consultations of the horoscope, either for the wedding, or for the pattabhishekam (coronation.)
• The auspicious day for the Sita’s wedding was selected by Janaka and for the Rama’s coronation was selected by Dasaratha.
• Though brahmin rishis such as Vasishtha, Viswamitra and Satananda (the son of Gautama) were present, they were not consulted.
• Chandra is a male, the 27 nakshatras that he joins in turn are considered female in one story.
• The 28th nakshatra who is counted as Abhijit was also called Daksha at one time and was considered the father if these other 27 Nakshatras and was dropped later. This may also have a reference to the removal of Daksha’s head and replacement with a goat’s head (Mesha -Aries).

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula