Hasta (हस्त)

Hasta , the 13th nakshatra, in Tirupperunthurai (Athmanathaswamy temple) near Aranthangi, India, 10th century CE. (SMH 2025).

Nakshatras 13 and 14, Hasta and Citra, marked on the Stellarium map (WGSN 2025).

Hasta (हस्त) 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

• Hasta
• Kara,
• Ravibha

The term "Hasta" means "hand". Temple depictions show it with five stars, and it is identified with the five stars (β, α, ε, γ, and δ Corvi) of modern Corvus that form a remarkable and easily recognizable pattern in the night sky.

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

• 
  Hasta 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).
• 
  Hasta Chinese
• 
  Hasta as reconstructed by Jones (1720)

Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

References

• References (general)