Nakshatras in the Atharvaveda

In the Atharvaveda (Shaunakiya recension, hymn 19.7) a list of 28 stars or asterisms is given, many of them corresponding to the later nakshatras:

(1) Kṛttikā (the Pleiads), (2) Rohinī, (3) Mrigashīrsha, (4) Ārdrā, (5) Punarvasu, (6) Sūnritā, (7) Pushya, (8) Bhanu (the Sun), (9) Asleshā, (10) Maghā, (11) Svāti (Arcturus), (12) Chitrā (Spica), (13) Phalgunis, (14) Hasta, (15) Rādhas, (16) Vishākhā, (17) Anurādhā, (18) Jyeshthā, (19) Mūla, (20) Ashādhas, (21) Abhijit, (22) Sravana, (23) Sravishthās, (24) Satabhishak, (25) Proshtha-padas, (26) Revati, (27) Asvayujas, (28) Bharani.

The classical list of 27 nakshatras is first found in the Vedanga Jyotisha, a text dated to the final centuries BCE.

In Indian Astronomy including vedic astrology, there are various systems of enumerating 27 or 28 nakshatras/ stars. The following list of nakshatras gives the corresponding regions of sky, following Basham.
No. Name Associated stars Description Ashvini
"wife of the Ashvins" β and γ Arietis

• Lord: Ketu (South lunar node)
• Symbol : Horse's head
• Deity : Ashvins, the horse-headed twins who are physicians to the gods
• Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Mesha
• Western zodiac 26° Aries - 9°20' Taurus

2; 7 Bharani
"the bearer" 35, 39, and 41 Arietis

• Lord: Shukra (Venus)
• Symbol: Yoni, the female organ of reproduction
• Deity: Yama, god of death or Dharma
• Indian zodiac: 13° 20' - 26°40' Mesha
• Western zodiac 9° 20' - 22° 40' Taurus

3 Krittika
an old name of the Pleiades; personified as the nurses of Kārttikeya, a son of Shiva. Pleiades

• Lord: Surya (Sun)
• Symbol: Knife or spear
• Deity : Agni, god of fire
• Indian zodiac: 26°40' Mesha - 10° Vrishabha
• Western zodiac 22° 40' Taurus - 6° Gemini

4; 9 Rohini
"the red one", a name of Aldebaran. Also known as brāhmī Aldebaran

• Lord: Chandra (Moon)
• Symbol: Cart or chariot, temple, banyan tree
• Deity : Brahma or Prajapati, the Creator
• Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Vrishabha
• Western zodiac 6° - 19°20' Gemini

5; 3 Mrigashīrsha
"the deer's head". Also known as āgrahāyaṇī λ, φ Orionis

• Lord: Mangala (Mars)
• Symbol: Deer's head
• Deity: Soma, Chandra, the Moon god
• Indian zodiac: 23° 20' Vrishabha - 6° 40' Mithuna
• Western zodiac: 19°20' Gemini - 2°40' Cancer

6; 4 Ardra
"the moist one" Betelgeuse

• Lord: Rahu (North lunar node)
• Symbol: Teardrop, diamond, a human head
• Deity : Rudra, the storm god
• Indian zodiac: 6° 40' - 20° Mithuna
• Western zodiac: 2° 40' - 16° Cancer

7; 5 Punarvasu (dual)
"the two restorers of goods", also known as yamakau "the two chariots" Castor and Pollux

• Lord: Guru (Jupiter)
• Symbol : Bow and quiver
• Deity : Aditi, mother of the gods
• Indian zodiac: 20° Mithuna - 3°20' Karka
• Western zodiac 16° - 29°20' Cancer

8; 6 Pushya
"the nourisher", also known as sidhya or tiṣya γ, δ and θ Cancri

• Lord: Shani (Saturn)
• Symbol : Cow's udder, lotus, arrow and circle
• Deity : Bṛhaspati, priest of the gods
• Indian zodiac: 3°20' -16°40' Karka
• Western zodiac 29°20' Cancer - 12°40' Leo

9; 7 Āshleshā
"the embrace" δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae

• Lord: Budh (Mercury)
• Symbol: Serpent
• Deity : Sarpas or Nagas, deified snakes
• Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Karka
• Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Leo

10; 15 Maghā
"the bountiful" Regulus

• Lord: Ketu (south lunar node)
• Symbol : Royal Throne
• Deity : Pitrs, 'The Fathers', family ancestors
• Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Simha
• Western zodiac 26° Leo - 9°20' Virgo

11 Pūrva Phalgunī
"first reddish one" δ and θ Leonis

• Lord: Shukra (Venus)
• Symbol : Front legs of bed, hammock, fig tree
• Deity : Bhaga, god of marital bliss and prosperity
• Indian zodiac: 13°20' - 26°40' Simha
• Western zodiac 9°20' - 22°40' Virgo

12 Uttara Phalgunī
"second reddish one" Denebola

• Lord: Surya (Sun)
• Symbol: Four legs of bed, hammock
• Deity : Aryaman, god of patronage and favours
• Indian zodiac: 26°40' Simha- 10° Kanya
• Western zodiac 22°40' Virgo - 6° Libra

13 Hastam
"the hand" α, β, γ, δ and ε Corvi

• Lord: Chandra (Moon)
• Symbol: Hand or fist
• Deity : Saviti or Surya, the Sun god
• Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Kanya
• Western zodiac 6° - 19°20' Libra

14 Chitrai
"the bright one", a name of  Spica

• Lord: Mangala (Mars)
• Symbol: Bright jewel or pearl
• Deity : Tvastar or Vishvakarman, the celestial architect
• Indian zodiac: 23°20' Kanya - 6°40' Tula
• Western zodiac: 19°20' Libra - 2°40' Scorpio

15 Svāti
name of Arcturus (of unknown derivation) Arcturus

• Lord: Rahu (north lunar node)
• Symbol: Shoot of plant, coral
• Deity : Vayu, the Wind god
• Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Tula
• Western zodiac 2°40' - 16° Scorpio

16; 14 Viśākhā
"forked, having branches"; also known as rādhā "the gift" α, β, γ and ι Librae

• Lord: Guru (Jupiter)
• Symbol : Triumphal arch, potter's wheel
• Deity : Indra, chief of the gods; Agni, god of Fire
• Indian zodiac: 20° Tula - 3°20' Vrishchika
• Western zodiac 16° - 29°20' Scorpio

17 Anuradha
"following rādhā" β, δ and π Scorpionis

• Lord: Shani (Saturn)
• Symbol : Triumphal archway, lotus
• Deity : Mitra, one of Adityas of friendship and partnership
• Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Vrishchika
• Western zodiac 29°20' Scorpio - 12°40' Sagittarius

18; 16 Jyeshtha
"the eldest, most excellent" α, σ, and τ Scorpionis

• Lord: Budh (Mercury)
• Symbol : circular amulet, umbrella, earring
• Deity : Indra, chief of the gods
• Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Vrishchika
• Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Sagittarius

19; 17 Mula
"the root" ε, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis

• Lord: Ketu (south lunar node)
• Symbol : Bunch of roots tied together, elephant goad
• Deity : Nirrti, goddess of dissolution and destruction
• Indian zodiac: 0° - 13°20' Dhanus
• Western zodiac 26° Sagittarius - 9°20' Capricorn

20; 18 Purva Ashadha
"first of the aṣāḍhā", aṣāḍhā "the invincible one" being the name of a constellation δ and ε Sagittarii

• Lord: Shukra (Venus)
• Symbol: Elephant tusk, fan, winnowing basket
• Deity : Apah, god of Water
• Indian zodiac: 13°20' - 26°40' Dhanus
• Western zodiac 9°20' - 22°40' Capricorn

21 Uttara Ashadha
"second of the aṣāḍhā" ζ and σ Sagittarii

• Lord: Surya (Sun)
• Symbol : Elephant tusk, small bed
• Deity : Visvedevas, universal gods
• Indian zodiac: 26°40' Dhanus - 10° Makara
• Western zodiac 22°40' Capricorn - 6° Aquarius

22; 20 Abhijit
"victorious"[5] α, ε and ζ Lyrae - Vega Lord: Brahma
23; 20 Shravana
α, β and γ Aquilae

• Lord: Chandra (Moon)
• Symbol : Ear or Three Footprints
• Deity : Vishnu, preserver of universe
• Indian zodiac: 10° - 23°20' Makara
• Western zodiac 6° - 19°20' Aquarius

24; 21; 23 Shravishthā
"most famous", also Dhanishta "swiftest" α to δ Delphini

• Lord: Mangala (Mars)
• Symbol : Drum or flute
• Deity : Eight vasus, deities of earthly abundance
• Indian zodiac: 23°20' Makara - 6°40' Kumbha
• Western zodiac 19°20' Aquarius - 2°40' Pisces

25; 22
Shatabhishaj
"requiring a hundred physicians" γ Aquarii

• Lord: Rahu (north lunar node)
• Symbol : Empty circle, 1,000 flowers or stars
• Deity : Varuna, god of cosmic waters, sky and earth
• Indian zodiac: 6°40' - 20° Kumbha ; Western zodiac 2°40' - 16° Pisces

26; 3 Purva Bhadrapada
"the first of the blessed feet" α and β Pegasi

• Lord: Guru (Jupiter)
• Symbol : Swords or two front legs of funeral cot, man with two faces
• Deity : Ajikapada, an ancient fire dragon
• Indian zodiac: 20° Kumbha - 3°20' Meena ; Western zodiac 16° - 29°20' Pisces

27; 4 Uttara Bhādrapadā
"the second of the blessed feet" γ Pegasi and α Andromedae

• Lord: Shani (Saturn)
• Symbol : Twins, back legs of funeral cot, snake in the water
• Deity : Ahir Budhyana, serpent or dragon of the deep
• Indian zodiac: 3°20' - 16°40' Meena ; Western zodiac 29°20' Pisces - 12°40' Aries

28; 5 Revati
"prosperous" ζ Piscium

• Lord: Budh (Mercury)
• Symbol : Fish or a pair of fish, drum
• Deity : Pushan, nourisher, the protective deity
• Indian zodiac: 16°40' - 30° Meena
• Western zodiac 12°40' - 26° Aries

 Padas (quarters)

The 27 Nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the ecliptic each. Each Nakshatra is also divided into quarters or padas of 3°20’, and the below table lists the appropriate starting sound to name the child. The 27 nakshatras, each with 4 padas, give 108, which is the number of beads in a japa mala, indicating all the elements (ansh) of Vishnu:

# Name Pada 1 Pada 2 Pada 3 Pada 4 1 Aśvini (अश्विनि)) चु Chu चे Che चो Cho ला La 2 Bharaṇī (भरणी) ली Li लू Lu ले Le पो Lo 3 Kṛttikā (कृत्तिका) अ A ई I उ U ए E 4 Rohini(रोहिणी) ओ O वा Va/Ba वी Vi/Bi वु Vu/Bu 5 Mṛgaśīrsha (म्रृगशीर्षा) वे Ve/Be वो Vo/Bo का Ka की Ke 6 Ārdrā (आर्द्रा) कु Ku घ Gha ङ Ng/Na छ Chha 7 Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु) के Ke को Ko हा Ha ही Hi 8 Puṣya (पुष्य) हु Hu हे He हो Ho ड Da 9 Āshleṣā (आश्लेषा) डी Di डू Du डे De डो Do 10 Maghā (मघा) मा Ma मी Mi मू Mu मे Me 11 Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī (पूर्व फाल्गुनी) नो Mo टा Ta टी Ti टू Tu 12 Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī (उत्तर फाल्गुनी) टे Te टो To पा Pa पी Pi 13 Hasta (हस्त) पू Pu ष Sha ण Na ठ Tha 14 Citrā (चित्रा) पे Pe पो Po रा Ra री Ri 15 Svātī (स्वाति) रू Ru रे Re रो Ro ता Ta 16 Viśākhā (विशाखा) ती Ti तू Tu ते Te तो To 17 Anurādhā (अनुराधा) ना Na नी Ni नू Nu ने Ne 18 Jyeṣṭha (ज्येष्ठा) नो No या Ya यी Yi यू Yu 19 Mūla (मूल) ये Ye यो Yo भा Bha भी Bhi 20 Pūrva Ashādhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा) भू Bhu धा Dha फा Bha/Pha ढा Dha 21 Uttara Aṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढ़ा) भे Bhe भो Bho जा Ja जी Ji 22 Śrāvaṇa (श्र‌ावण) खी Ju/Khi खू Je/Khu खे Jo/Khe खो Gha/Kho 23 Śrāviṣṭha (श्रविष्ठा) or Dhaniṣṭha गा Ga गी Gi गु Gu गे Ge 24 Śatabhiṣā (शतभिषा)or Śatataraka गो Go सा Sa सी Si सू Su 25 Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्वभाद्रपदा) से Se सो So दा Da दी Di 26 Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तरभाद्रपदा) दू Du थ Tha झ Jha ञ Da/Tra 27 Revatī (nakṣatra) (रेवती) दे De दो Do च Cha ची Chi