Purvaṣādha (पूर्व आषाढा)

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann

---

Purva Ashadha, 20th nakshatra, temple

The 20th and 21st nakshatra mapped to the star chart (Stellarium). Together, these two asterisms form "The Invincible" in modern Sagittarius. Animated GIF by SMH 2025 for WGSN. Purva A. is the first (right, western).

Purvaṣādha (पूर्व आषाढा) 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. Typically identified with δ and ε Sagittarii.

Etymology and History

Name Variants

• Purvaṣādha
• Purva Ashadha
• Jaladaivata,
• Jalarksha
• Apya,
• Toya,

Origin of Constellation

Ashadha means The Invincible and refers to two asterisms in Sagittarius. The First (Purva A.) is depicted as a group of two stars marking a horn or stinger. They are identified with δ and ε Sagittarii, the "arrow" of the Greek and Babylonian archer. The identification of δ is certain because of given coordinates in the 2nd millennium but instead of ε Sgr it could also be γ Sgr (at the tip of the arrow): the three stars form a racognizable pattern.

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Kaus Australis	HIP 90185	Constellation lines (Vertex)	1.81
2	Kaus Media	HIP 89931	Constellation lines (Vertex)	2.668
3	Alnasl	HIP 88635	Constellation lines (Vertex)	2.99
4	η Sagittarii	HIP 89642	Constellation lines (Vertex)	3.11
5	37 G. Sgr	HIP 89020	Inside the hull	5.65
6	RS Sgr	HIP 89637	Inside the hull	6.03

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

• 
  Purva Ashadha, 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).
• 
  reconstructed by Jones (1720)

Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

References

• References (general)