Rohiṇī (रोहिणी)

Not to be confused with Śakata.

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Shylaja

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Rohini, 4th nakshatra, Athmanathaswamy temple (10th century CE)

Krttika and Rohini mapped to the stars, animated GIF, WGSN 2025.

Rohiṇī (रोहिणी), The Red One, is one of the nakshatras in the Vedic tradition. The asterism is represented by the star cluster of the Hyades with Aldebaran as the brightest star (physically not connected but seen in the same direction). "Rohini" literally means "red", which clearly refers to Aldebaran only. Thus, over time, it obviously became a name for the brightest star of the group, used by the Indian Vedic tradition.

Etymology and History

Surendrapuri Temple's Navagraha Temples, Chandra with Rohini

Name Variants

• Brahmya,
• Brahmabha,
• Brāhmī

Origin of Constellation

Rohiṇī (रोहिणी) is a prominent goddess in Hinduism, recognized as the favorite consort of Chandra (the moon god) and the daughter of Daksha and Asikni. Note that the association of stars with specific gods does not result in that star being worshipped.

The asterism is depicted roughly V-shaped in historical drawings in India and China, obviously matching the star pattern in the sky created by the Hyades star cluster, sometimes (in China) even connected to the star λ Tauri (which forms part of the Chinese lunar mansion asterism Bi, The Net, in this area). The V-shaped geometry forms a chariot (Śakata) for the goddess Rohini.

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Aldebaran	HIP 21421	Constellation lines (Vertex)	0.86
2	Chamukuy	HIP 20894	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.41
3	Ain	HIP 20889	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.53
4	Prima Hyadum	HIP 20205	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.65
5	Secunda Hyadum	HIP 20455	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.76
6	θ 1 Tauri	HIP 20885	Inside the hull	3.84
7	δ 3 Tauri	HIP 20648	Inside the hull	4.298
8	-	HIP 21029	Inside the hull	4.764
9	δ 2 Tauri	HIP 20542	Inside the hull	4.8
10	75 Tau	HIP 20877	Inside the hull	4.969
11	63 Tau	HIP 20484	Inside the hull	5.625
12	70 Tau	HIP 20661	Inside the hull	6.439
13	-	HIP 21053	Inside the hull	6.491

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

• 
  Rohini 10th centry 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).
• 
  Rohini Chinese, matching the Bi lunar mansion
• 
  Rohini as reconstructed by Jones (1720)
• 
  Chandra Rohini

Mythology

Rohini was one of 27 daughters of Daksa Prajapati. All these girls were married to Candra, the moon. This can be considered as the easiest way of conveying why the moon is seen with 27 different stars in a month. The story further states that he adored Rohini, making all the other girls feel sad. They complained to their father about it. Daksa cursed him to loose the luster. Candra pleaded mercy and the curse was modified for waxing and waning. There are many references in literature describing the romance of Candra and Rohini. The image in the temple is probably based on this story.

References

• References (general)