Thread by @AstroAmigo

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On the auspicious occasion of #GuruPurnima, let's start learning some Nakshatra based techniques in Jyotish. It will be a long thread, to be finished in some weeks. You can click this tweet to load the entire thread.

Retweet so that others can also learn.

Om Ganeshay Namah.

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Request you to make a notebook and write tweets & memorize them daily.

Let us first begin with definition of the word "Nakshatra". Among many meanings, it means one that does not move (जो न चले/हिले) i.e. (न क्षरति, न सरति इति नक्षत्रः). English word for it is constellation.

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But does the word Nakshatra include all the constellations for the purposes of Jyotish?

No.

Only a sector of Ecliptic is concerned here where Moon and other Grahas pass through during the course of their transit. All Nakshatras are located on or around the ecliptic.

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The stretch is 32° on either side of ecliptic. See image.

Our enlightened Rishis considered them to be habitat of Moon and other Grahas. Hence, they are also called them as Lunar Mansions. Tetteriya Samhita says that Nakshatras are Lunar Mansions & one who knows them is wise.

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There are 27 Nakshatras.

If the above image seems confusing to you, understand it this way. Imagine a Zodiac circle (360°) in sky surrounding us.

Now, 1° = 60' (1 degree = 60 minutes)

So, 360° = 360 x 60' = 21,600'

Divide 21,600' by 27 to find expanse of 1 Nakshatra.

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So, 21,600/27 = 800'

Hence, one Nakshatra is 800 minutes wide.

In other words, 800' = (13 x 60') + 20' = 13° + 20' = 13°20'

So you must have undstood that one Nakshatra is 13°20' in its expanse, and expanse of every Nakshtara is equal. Now we'll understand Rashis briefly.

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There are 12 Rashis of equal expanse on Zodiac circle. So, dividing 360° by 12, we get 30°. So one Rashi = 30 degree.

You must be knowing the name of 12 Rashis in Vedic Jyotish. If not, read image below. Start from Aries (Mesha) and go anti-clockwise to end at Pisces (Meena).

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Before seeing how Rashis & Nakshatra are related, first learn that each Nakshatra is subdivided into 4 equal parts. Each part is called Pada/Quarter (पद/चरण).

One Nakshatra = 800'
So, one quarter = 800'/4 = 200'

200' = (3 × 60') + 20' = 3° + 20' = 3°20'

So, Quarter = 3°20'

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So, each Nakshatra (13°20') consists of 4 equal quarters of 3°20' each. Each quarter is known by a letter. See image for reference. I'll explain later on why knowing quarter of Nakshatra is crucial in some techniques. Also understand that 40' + 20' = 60' = 1° for next tweet.

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Okay, now let's relate Nakshatras and Rashis.

Now, One Rashi = 30° = 30 x 60' = 1800'

One Nakshatra = 800'

So one Rashi = 1800' = 800' + 800' + 200' = 1 Nakshatra + 1 Nakshatra + (3 x 60') + 20' = 2 Nakshatras + 3° + 20' = 2 Nakshatras + ¹/⁴ Nakshatra = 2¹/⁴ Nakshatras.

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So, one Rashi consists of 2.25 Nakshatras.
Since, 1 Nakshatra = 4 quarters,

so 1 Rashi = 2.25 Nakshatras = 2 + 1/4 Nakshatras = 4 + 4 + 1 quarter = 9 quarters.

Hence, 1 Rashi = 9 qtrs
1 Nakshatra = 4 qtrs
1 Rashi = 2.25 Nakshatras.

Hope this is clear. If not, clear it now.

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In tweet #9, I forgot to put the image showing quarters of Nakshatra known by a letter. See that image below.

Also, if you have any doubt, don't quote tweet to ask. Ask in replies so that others can also read. If everything is clear, let's move ahead.

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Image below will give make clear how Zodiac is equally divided into 12 Rashis and 27 Nakshatras.

Now homework.

Read everything till now and memorize following 4 Nakshatras in SAME order.

1. Ashwini - अश्विनी
2. Bharani - भरणी
3. Krittika - कृत्तिका
4. Rohini - रोहिणी

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Today's work is not much. Memorize next 5 Nakshatras.

5. Mrigashira - मृगशिरा
6. Ardra - आर्द्रा
7. Punarvasu - पुनर्वसु
8. Pushya - पुष्य
9. Ashlesha - अश्लेषा

So here are first 9 Nakshatras. Memorize their names in the same order. Repeat in the same order many times.

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Now, every Nakshtra has a Lord (Swami). There are 9 Grahas (Navagrahas) and 27 Nakshatras. Each Graha gets Lordship (स्वामित्व) of 3 Nakshatras. Here's the order for first 9 Nakshatra Lords. Click image to load full image. Memorize this whole table. We're going very slowly.

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In Tweet #11, we learnt:

1 Rashi = 9 qtrs
1 Nakshatra = 4 qtrs
1 Rashi = 2.25 Nakshatras

So first Rashi i.e. Aries (Mesha) would consist of first 2 Nakshatras (Ashwini & Bharani) and 1st quarter of 3rd Nakshatra (Krittika). Aries, thus, can be remembered as 441.

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Remaining 3 quarters of Krittika would go into 2nd Rashi Taurus (Vrishabha). Then 4 quarters of next Nakshatra Rohini would come and then 2 qtrs. of Mrigashira would complete total 9 quarters in this Rashi. Memorize Taurus for quarters as 342. I repeat, 9 qtrs make one Rashi.

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Remaining 2 quarters of Mrigashira then go into the Third Rashi Gemini (Mithuna). Then come 4 quarters of next Nakshatra Arda which makes 6 quarters in this Rashi. Then 3 quarters of Punarvasu complete the total 9 quarters in Gemini. You can memorize it as 243.

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Finally, remaining 1 quarter of Punarvasu, then complete Pushya (4 qtrs) and Ashlesha (4 qtrs) complete 9 quarters in the fourth Rashi Cancer (Karka/Karkata). Use 144 to memorize.

Thus, the first 9 Nakshatras that you learnt until now are distributed in the first 4 Rashis.

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Tweets numbered 16-19 should be memorized. It may take 2-3 days and several times, but give the time it requires. Image below will help you more. For now, only remember first 4 Rashis and Nakshatras in them. Also remember 441, 342, 243 and 144 to grasp qtrs. in each Rashi.

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Next 9 Nakshatras are:

Magha, Poorvaphalguni, Uttaraphalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha and Jyestha. Their Swami (Lord) repeat in the same order as from No. 1 to 9 as shown in Tweet No. 15 that is, they start from Ketu till Mercury. Read image. Memorize all.

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It will take you some time, may be even 2-3 days. Knowing the serial order, Lords and Names will be of immense help.

Write down their names again and again in a notebook.

Interesting thing is that Lords and 441, 342, 243 and 144 will repeat here. Let us see, how.

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In Tweet #19 we saw that Ashlesha Nakshatra and Karka Rashi end in the same point. Refer to image in Tweet #20 to make this concept clear.

Now immediately after this point, next Nakshatra Magha and next Rashi Leo (Simha) will begin. Refer to the above image again.

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Before we go ahead, we must learn one crucial conept. This point (संधि बिन्दु) where one Rashi & Nakshatra end and other Rashi & Nakshtra begin is called Ganda (गण्ड) point. It is considered a territory ruled by no one, hence very malefic. In your diagram, observe this point.

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30 minutes (half of 1°) on either side of Ganda (गण्ड) point is called Gandanta (गण्डान्त) region. So, last 30' of Karka (Cancer) Rashi and first 30' of Simha (Leo) Rashi make one Gandanta region. Total 1°.

Now we we will learn very important concept which is not heard much.

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24 minutes on either side of Ganda (गण्ड) point is called Abhukta Mool (अभुक्त मूल). So, last 24' of Karka (Cancer) Rashi and first 24' of Simha (Leo) Rashi make one Gandanta region. Total 48 minutes.

Abhukt means which is of no use. We will see its importance later.

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Now let us continue to learn how Nakshatras are accommodated in Rashis.

Leo (सिंह) Rashi consists of complete 2 Nakshatras (Magha and Purvaphalguni - 4 qtrs each) and 1st quarter of Uttaraphalguni Nakshatra. This completes 9 quarters in it. Thus, it can be remembered as 441.

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Remaining 3 quarters of Uttaraphalguni Nakshatra would go into next Rashi Virgo (Kanya). Then 4 quarters of next Nakshatra Hasta would come and then the first 2 qtrs. of Chitra would complete total 9 quarters in this Rashi. Memorize this order as 342.

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Remaining 2 quarters of Chitra then go into the next Rashi Libra (Tulaa). Then come 4 quarters of next Nakshatra Swati which makes 6 quarters in this Rashi. Then the first 3 quarters of Vishakha complete the total 9 quarters in Libra. You can memorize this order as 243.

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Finally, remaining 1 quarter of Vishakha, then complete Anuradha (4 qtrs) and Jyeshtha (4 qtrs) complete 9 quarters in the eighth Rashi Scorpio (Vrishchika). Use 144 to memorize.

Thus, Nakshatras No. 10-18 that you learnt are distributed in the Rashis Leo-Scorpio.

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Someone asked how to memorize numbers 441, 342, 243, 144. Well, it is easy. Note the sum of numbers just before and after the comma = 4.

Now write names of first 18 Nakshatras and their lords. Write 9 Nakshatras in a column. Refer image. Even if it takes 2 days, don't worry.

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Now you must have observed that Jyestha Nakshatra and Scorpio Rashi end in the same point. Hereafter, next Nakshatra and Rashi will start together. Can you tell what is this point called? Refer Tweet No. 23-26.

Find Gandanta, Abhukta Moola region here. Write in copy.

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To work on exercise in Tweet No. 32, you might need help of image posted in Tweet No. 20.

At this point, you should be able to know the names of first 8 Rashis, first 18 Nakshatras and their Lords. We will learn the names of Lord of Rashis later on. Don't worry about it now.

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There is typographical error in Tweet No. 26. Correction is made in block letters below. Make sure you rectify it. Like this tweet after rectifying.

So, last 24' of Karka (Cancer) Rashi and first 24' of Simha (Leo) Rashi make one ABHUKTA MOOL region.