Abhijit Nakshatra

In Vedic Astrology, today only 27 Nakshatras are counted. There used to be one more Nakshatra, Abhijit.

Its position used to be the 22nd.

Abhijit is not a full nakshatra.

It spreads from 06 degrees 40 minutes to 10 degrees 53 minutes 20 seconds of Makara rasi.

This constitutes the last quarter of Uttarashada and the first 53 minutes 20 degrees of Shravana.

All other Nakshatras have got a span of 13 degrees 20 minutes.

In Modern Astronomy, Abhijit corresponds to Lyra.

What is the proof that Abhijit Nakshatra was there originally?

The Nakshatra Sukta of Yajurveda which contains the mantras for all the Nakshatras contains mantra for Abhijit also.

यस्मि॒न् ब्रह्मा॒भ्यज॑य॒त्सर्व॑मे॒तत्। अ॒मुञ्च॑ लो॒कमि॒दमू॑च॒ सर्वम्᳚।

तन्नो॒ नक्ष॑त्रमभि॒जिद्वि॒जित्य॑। श्रियं॑ दधा॒त्वहृ॑णीयमानम्।

उ॒भौ लो॒कौ ब्रह्म॑णा॒ सञ्जि॑ते॒मौ। तन्नो॒ नक्ष॑त्रमभि॒जिद्विच॑ष्टाम्।

तस्मि॑न्व॒यं पृत॑ना॒स्सञ्ज॑येम। तन्नो॑ दे॒वासो॒ अनु॑जानन्तु॒ कामम्᳚ ॥ २१ ॥

How Abhijit got dropped?

This is mentioned in Mahabharata.

Abhijit was the younger sister of Rohini Nakshatra.

She competed with Rohini.

She wanted a higher position than Rohini.

Abhijit dropped from the sky to earth to observe tapas to achieve this.

Indra tells Skanda that he is unable to keep track of time because of the gap this created in the sky.

Krittika Nakshatra was asked to move in and fill the gap.

Who is the Lord of Abhijit Nakshatra?

Vishnu.

What is the meaning of Abhijit?

Invincible.

Abhijit created a position for herself later by taking away parts of Uttarashada and Shravana.

It is because of this victory over the other stars she is called Abhijit.

Characteristics of those born in Abhijit

• Simple
• Attractive
• Popular
• Polite
• Famous
• Well-dressed
• Pious

What is Abhijit Nakshatra good for?

Performance of Shradha.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi