neuter · nakkhatta 1 · nakkhatta 2
constellation
Nakkhatta (neuter) [Vedic nakṣatra collective formation from naktiḥ and naktā = Greek νύξ, Latin nox, Gothic nahts, English night = the nightly sky, the heavenly bodies of the night, as opposed to the Sun: ādicco tapataṃ mukhaṃ Vin I 246] the stars or constellations, a conjunction of the moon with different constellations, a lunar mansion or the constellations of the lunar zodiac, figuring also as names of months and determinant factors of horoscopic and other astrological observation; further a celebration of the beginning of a new month, hence any kind of festival or festivity. — The recognised number of such lunar mansions is 27, the names of which as given in Sanskrit sources are the same in Pāli, with the exception of 2 variations (Assayuja for Aśvinī, Satabhisaja for Śatatāraka). Enumerated at Abh. 58-60 as follows: Assayuja [Sanskrit Aśvinī] Bharaṇī, Kattikā, Rohiṇī, Magasiraṃ [Sanskrit Mr̥gaśīrṣa] Addā [Sanskrit Ārdrā], Punabbasu, Phussa [Sanskrit Puṣya], Asilesā, Maghā, Pubba-phaggunī [Sanskrit Pūrva-phalgunī). Uttara°, Hattha, Cittā [Sanskrit Chaitra], Sāti [Svātī], Visākhā, Anurādhā, Jeṭṭhā, Mūlaṃ, Pubbāsāḷha [°āṣāḍha], Uttar°, Savaṇa, Dhaniṭṭhā, Satabhisaja [Śatatāraka], Pubba-bhaddapadā, Uttara°, Revatī. — It is to be pointed out that the Niddesa speaks of 28 names instead of 27 (Nidd I 382: aṭṭhavīsati nakkhattāni), a discrepancy which may be accounted by the fact that one name (the Orion) bore 2 names, viz. Mr̥gaśīrṣa and Agrahayanī (see Plunkett, Ancient Calendars etc. page 227 f. ). — Some of these names are more familiar and important than others, and are mentioned more frequently, e.g. Āsāḷha (Āsālhi°) Ja I 50 and Uttarāsāḷha Ja I 63, 82; Kattikā and Rohiṇī Pj II 456. — nakkhattaṃ ādisati to augur from the stars, to set the horoscope Nidd I 382; oloketi to read the stars, to scan the constellations Ja I 108, 253; ghoseti to proclaim (shout out) the new month (cf. Latin calaṃdae from cālāre to call out, scilicet mensem), and thereby announce the festivity to be celebrated Ja I 250; n. ghuṭṭhaṃ Ja I 50, 433; saṅghuṭṭhaṃ Pv-a 73; ghositaṃ Vv-a 31; kīḷati to celebrate a (nakkhatta-) festival Ja I 50, 250; Vv-a 63; Dhp-a I 393 (cf. °kīḷā below). na ositaṃ the festival at an end Ja I 433. — nakkhatta (singular) a constellation Snp 927; collective the stars Vv 81 1 (cando n.-parivārito). nakkhattāni (plural) the stars: nakkhattānaṃ mukhaṃ chando (the moon is the most prominent of the lights of night) Thig 143; Vin I 246 = Snp 569 (but cf. explanation at Pj II 456: candayogavasena "ajja Kattikā, ajja Rohiṇī" ti paññāṇato āloka-kāraṇato sommabhāvato ca nakkhattānaṃ mukhaṃ cando ti vutto); D I 10 (nakkhattānaṃ patha-gamanaṃ and uppatha-gamanaṃ a right or wrong course, i.e. a straight ascension or deviation of the stars or planets); II 259; III 85, 90; A IV 86; Thig 143 (nakkhattāni namassantā bālā). -kīḷana = kīḷā Dhp-a III 461; -kīḷā the celebration of a festival, making merry, taking a holiday Ja I 50; Thig-a 137; Vv-a 109; -ggāha the seizure of a star (by a demon: see gāha), the disappearance of a planet (transit?) D I 10 (explained at Sv I 95 as nakkhattasa aṅgārakādi-gahasamāyoga); -patha "the course of the stars," i.e. the nocturnal sky Dhp 208; -pada a constellation Vin II 217; -pāṭhaka an astrologer, soothsayer, augur Nidd I 382; -pīḷana the failing or obscuration of a star (as a sign of death in horoscopy) Dhp-a I 166;— mālā a garland of stars Vv-a 167; -yoga a conjunction of the planets, a constellation in its meaning for the horoscope Ja I 82 {345} 253; Dhp-a I 174 (+ tithi-karaṇa); °ṃ oloketi to set the horoscope Dhp-a I 166, °ṃ uggaṇhāti the same Pv III 5 4 ; -rājā the king of the nakkhattas (i.e. the moon) Ja III 348.
a star; a heavenly body; a pattern or a group of stars or constellation through which the moon passes, one of 27 (or 28) lunar mansions; a disposition of the stars or constellations; a favorable disposition of a pattern or a group of stars; a celebration of a new lunar mansion, a festival, a holiday
【中】 星座，星宿，星，慶祝。~kīḷā,【陰】 ~kīlana,【中】 在某些星座的出現而慶祝的節日。~pāṭhaka,【陽】 占星家。~yoga。【陽】 行星的連接，占星術。~rāja,【陽】 星王（月亮）。
(nt, nt) constellation; zodiac; celestial object constellation, star Construction: √nakkh + a + tta nakkha + tta
(nt, nt, abstr) astrology [lit.] constellation Construction: √nakkh + a + tta nakkha + tta
(nt, nt) celebration; festival celebration Construction: √nakkh + a + tta nakkha + tta