Asterisms

Intro

• For general records of asterisms and their myths, see tArAmaNDala page.

naxatra history

Summary via MT:

• 1. There was a nakShatra list predating the Indo-Iranian divergence.
• 2. Both in the core RV and Avesta period there was no dedicated ritual to the nakShatra-s. However, they were collectively or by specific names referred to within recitations in this period.
• 3. In the beginnings of the elaborate shrauta ritual of the agni chiti-s they were incorporated into the ritual of laying of pebbles.
• 4. In the core YV/later AV period full-fledged rituals dedicated to the deities in conjunction with their associated nakShatra-s emerged.
• 5. In parallel, the Iranians developed later liturgy for specific asterisms (perhaps as euphemisms for the deities associated with them, because the deities themselves were demonized by zarathuShTra). We see these developments as internal to the Indo-Iranian world. At least in the Indo-Aryan world the development was largely a consequence of the increasing calenderical emphasis in the shrauta ritual.

Observations

• vaidika naxatreShTi rituals.