Svati

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann

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Svati, the 15th nakshatra,

the 15th Nakshatra, Svati, with the bright star Arcturus in the middle (WGSN 2025).

(Malayendu's) Svati (स्वाति), or Anila, is an Indian name, used by the Indian Vedic tradition. Most of these names are roughly 3000 years old. They pre-date Hinduism but were taken over by it.

Concordance, Etymology, History

Name Variants

• Anila
• Svati
• Suati
• Su-Ati
• Malayendu's Svati

Tibetan depiction of the Svati Goddess.

Svati is the name of a goodness.

The asterism as historically depicted in temples consists of three stars, among which the middle one is brighter than the others. The identification of the bright star with Arcturus (Ἀρκτοῦρος) (α Bootis) is certain because of its mentioning in astrolabes with coordinates. The other two stars, therefore, must be ζ and η Bootis.

Origin of Constellation

In Vedic astrology the presiding deity is Vayu (the Wind God). However, the alternate/shakti deity of Svati Nakshatra is Saraswati, the revered Hindu goddess of knowledge, wisdom, speech, and the arts.

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Arcturus	HIP 69673	Constellation lines (Vertex)	-0.05
2	Muphrid	HIP 67927	Constellation lines (Vertex)	2.68
3	ζ Boötis	HIP 71795	Constellation lines	3.78
4	υ Boötis	HIP 67459	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.07
5	τ Boötis	HIP 67275	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.49
6	* zet Boo B	HIP 71795	Constellation lines	4.51
7	* zet Boo A	HIP 71795	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.51
8	-	HIP 70027	Inside the hull	4.85
9	7 Boo	HIP 67787	Inside the hull	5.709
10	CY Boo	HIP 69829	Inside the hull	5.8
11	V* CN Boo	HR 5343	Inside the hull	5.957
12	-	HIP 68516	Inside the hull	6.384

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

• 
  Svati 10th century
• 
  Display of all 28th nakshatras in silver arch with candles in Tirupperunthurai (Athmanathaswamy temple) near Aranthangi, India, 10th century CE. (SMH 2025).
• 
  Display of all 28th nakshatras in a door frame in Tirupperunthurai (Athmanathaswamy temple) near Aranthangi, India, 10th century CE. (SMH 2025).
• 
  Svati Tibetean
• 
  Svati Chinese
• 
  Svati as reconstructed by Jones (1720)

Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

References

• References (general)