Maghā (मघा)

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann

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Magha, 10th nakshatra, in Tirupperunthurai (Athmanathaswamy temple) near Aranthangi, India, 10th century CE. (SMH 2025).

Nakshatras 10, 11 and 12 in the constellation Leo, as animated GIF to show where the historical images were placed (WGSN 2025). Magha is the right one.

Maghā (मघा), "The Bountiful", 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.

Etymology and History

Name Variants

• Magha
• Paitra

Magha Puja

Origin of Constellation

5 stars: Regulus (α Leo), γ, η, 31,ο and ρ Leonis

The bright star, Regulus, is securely identified across all historical sources; it is the main star (yogatara).

The nakshatra-asterism surrounding it consists of five fainter stars: γ, η, ο, 31 and ρ Leonis.

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Regulus	HIP 49669	Constellation lines (Vertex)	1.4
2	Algieba	HIP 50583	Constellation lines (Vertex)	1.98
3	γ 1 Leonis	HIP 50583	Constellation lines	2.37
4	Adhafera	HIP 50335	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.41
5	η Leonis	HIP 49583	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.41
6	-	HIP 50174	Inside the hull	6.02

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

• 
  Magha ,10th century CE.
• 
  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).
• 
  Magha,Tibetean
• 
  Magha, Chinese
• 
  Magha Puja
• 
  Magha - reconstructed by Jones (1720).

Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

References

• References (general)