Vishakha

Vishakha, , 16th nakshatra, ...

Vishakha, the 16th nakshatra, mapped to the Stellarium star chart (WGSN 2025).

Viśākhā (विशाखा), "forked", 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. Identified with α, β, γ and ι Librae.

Etymology and History

Name Variants

• Viśākhā,
• Vishakha
• Dvidaivata

Origin of Constellation

The name "Vishakha" means "having many branches" which is depicted in the temple drawing. Yet, the asterism has only four stars among which two are α and β Librae which is known from coordinates. The other two are typically identified with ι and γ Lib. These four stars do not form a line but a quadrilateral in the sky. It is outside the band of the Milky Way. Therefore, the literal translation may not refer to any recognizable pattern (of stars or bright or dark clouds of the Milky Way).

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

• 
  Vishakha, 10th century
• Vishakha, Tibetean
  Vishakha, Tibetean
• Vishakha, Chinese
  Vishakha, Chinese
• 
  reconstructed by Jones (1720)

Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

References

• References (general)