This entry is part 1 of 6 in the series Nakṣatra

Introduction

The vaishnava of Jagannath worship the nakshatra devata at the time of Ratha Yatra. These devata are associated with the chariots of the three deities of the simhasana i.e. the three chariots. Other details can be learnt from the traditional writings on Jagannath Mahaprabhu.

Today we take the initiative to openly introduce these 27 nakshatra devata to the vedic astrologers.

  • You will appreciate that the devata of the chariot of Balabhadra Deva are from the family of Rudra, the deity who destroys the tamas energy.
  • The devata of the chariot of Subhadra Devi, the sister of Krishna and wife of Arjuna Pandava, are forms of Shakti. Dhakti/Durga/Mother fully replaces Brahma as the creative power of the universe. In fact She is Brahmamayi, the creative principle.
  • The devata of the chariot of Jagannath Mahaprabhu are some principal forms of Vishnu.

Please go through all these 27 devata and familiarize yourself with their forms, nature and principal mantra.

Bhū-Loka Tamas Bhuva-Loka Rajas Svarga-Loka Sattva
Balabhadra Deva
 Subhadrā Jagannāth
# Name Ratha Yatra Vedic Jyotiṣa # Name Ratha Yatra Vedic Jyotiṣa # Name Ratha Yatra Vedic Jyotiṣa
1 Aśvinī Gaṇeśa Dasra 10 Maghā Chaṇḍi Pitṛ 19 Mula Panchamukha Mahavira Nirriti
2 Bharaṇī Kārtikeya Yama 11 P.Phalgunī Chāmuṇḍā Bhaga 20 P.Āshādhā Harihara Apah
3 Kṛttikā Sarva-maṅgala Agni 12 U.Phalgunī Ugratārā Aryaman 21 U.Āṣāḍhā Madhusudana Vishva
4 Rohini Pralambarī Brahma 13 Hasta Banadurgā Savitur 22 Śrāvaṇa Giri Goverdhan dhāri Vishnu
5 Mrigasīra Halayudha Soma 14 Chitra Śūlidurgā Tvastr 23 Dhaniṣṭhā Pāṇḍu Narasingha The Vasus
6 Ārdrā Mṛtyuṅjaya Rudra 15 Svātī Varāhī Vāyu 24 Shatabhisha Chintamani Krishna Varuna
7 Punarvasu Natāmvara Aditi 16 Viśākhā Śyāmākālī Indragni 25 P.Bhādrapadā Nārāyaṇa Ajaikapada
8 Puṣyā Mukteśvara Bṛhaspati 17 Anurādhā Maṅgalā Mitra 26 U.Bhādrapadā Chatra Bhaṅga Rāvaṇa Ahirbudhnya
9 Aslesa Śeṣadeva Sarpas 18 Jyeshtha Vimalā Indra 27 Revati Rama-Hanuman Pushan

Janma Nakshatra

The first step is to know your janma nakshatra devata. The position of the Moon in the sky at the moment of your birth is your janma nakshatra. As taught in the Bhagavat Gita, it is a chariot of the Gods that delivered you into this world. There is a lot more than this simplistic usage, but this is a fine beginning.

Illustration: Sri Narendra Modi, India Prime Minister, was born in Anuradha Nakshatra. You can read Moo 7-54 Anr in chart where Anr is Anuradha. This is specifically mentioned in the Panchanga Nakshatra 17 Anuradha

Anuradha is part of the Subhadra Devi Chariot and the specific power of Shakti is named Maṅgalā. She is an extremely powerful devi and the principal shakti of Vedanga Jyotisha [Anuradha is in 8th bhava of natural Zodiac in Scorpio]. Sri Achyutananda did the crow meditation under water in the pond outside the Kakatpur mangala temple for his Jyotish siddhi. The crow (family of Raven) is associated with Agni tattva and so is Maṅgalā, the shakti associated with protection and strength, the feminine -Mars.

Worship of this Janma Nakshatra devata is essential for protection and long life. Ideally you should find the mantra for your Janma Nakshatra devata.