Shatabhisha is the 24th of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astronomy. It spans 6°40′ Kumbha to 20°00′ Kumbha of the sidereal zodiac. Its name means "a hundred healers", its presiding deity is Varuna, the guardian of cosmic order and the waters, and its planetary lord in the Vimśottarī system is Rahu.

The span is calculated with the Lahiri ayanamsa. The name, deity, lord and junction star are traditional and cited below; they describe a cultural system, not a measured influence.

Nakshatra 24 of 27 · Kumbha (Aquarius)

Shatabhisha शतभिषा

A hundred healers

Presided over by Varuna, the guardian of cosmic order and the waters, and ruled by Rahu.

At a glance

TRADITION
Position
24th of 27
Sidereal span
6°40′ Kumbha – 20°00′ Kumbha
Sign
Kumbha (Aquarius)
Planetary lord
Rahu
Presiding deity
Varuna
Junction star
λ Aquarii

When the Moon is next in Shatabhisha

Times in UTC · Lahiri ayanamsa · to the nearest minute

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The four padas

Each pada is a quarter of 3°20′. The 108 padas of the zodiac cycle through the twelve signs in order, giving each pada its navamsa (D9) sign.

Pada 1

6°40′ Kumbha – 10°00′ Kumbha

Navamsa: Dhanus

Pada 2

10°00′ Kumbha – 13°20′ Kumbha

Navamsa: Makara

Pada 3

13°20′ Kumbha – 16°40′ Kumbha

Navamsa: Kumbha

Pada 4

16°40′ Kumbha – 20°00′ Kumbha

Navamsa: Meena

The other Rahu mansions

The nine lords repeat three times around the zodiac, so each lord rules three mansions, 120° apart.

Sources

  • Taittirīya Saṃhitā 4.4.10 — the Vedic list of nakshatras with their presiding deities. Keith, A. B. (Trans.). (1914). The Veda of the Black Yajus School entitled Taittiriya Sanhita (Part 2). Harvard University Press. Read the translation
  • Sūrya Siddhānta, chapter 8 — the asterisms and their junction stars. Burgess, E. (Trans.). (1858–1860). Translation of the Sûrya-Siddhânta, a text-book of Hindu astronomy. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 6. Read the translation
  • Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra, Vimśottarī daśā chapter — the nine planetary lords in nakshatra order. Santhanam, R. (Trans.). (1984). Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (Vol. 2). Ranjan Publications.

Junction-star identifications differ between texts and commentators. English meanings are approximate renderings of the Sanskrit name.