NAKSHATRAVANAM

One living garden, twenty-seven traditions

A plant for every Nakshatra — a botanical record of cultural memory, planted, tended and documented.

SCRIPTURAL

What the texts establish

The twenty-seven nakṣatras and their presiding deities are enumerated in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa (III.1) and the Taittirīya Saṁhitā. Tree pairings come later — through purāṇic tree-planting chapters, the Bṛhat Saṁhitā, and the vṛkṣāyurveda literature culminating in Surapāla. We cite each layer separately and record variant pairings where recensions disagree.

SCIENTIFIC

What the field record establishes

Every species is identified to an accepted botanical name, checked against current nomenclatural authority, and planted only within its documented native range and soil-moisture tolerance. Growth, phenology, pollinator and bird visitation are logged per accession, and the recorded medicinal or ecological properties are referenced to published literature rather than to tradition alone.

How a pairing is validated

01 Enumerate from the text The nakṣatra list and its deities are taken from the Taittirīya recension, not from a modern secondary list.

02 Identify the species Each Sanskrit and vernacular plant name is resolved to a botanical name through the nighaṇṭus and regional floras.

03 Verify nomenclature Accepted names, synonymy and family placement are checked against current taxonomic authority before labelling.

04 Validate in the field Accessions are monitored for survival, phenology and fauna use; the record is published with the collection.

السبعة والعشرون

اختر ناكشاترا لقراءة سجلّها.

ناكشاترا 1 من 27

Ashwini

الإنجليزية Strychnine tree

السنسكريتية Kāraskara / Viṣatinduka

الهندية कुचला — Kuchlā

العلمي Strychnos nux-vomica

الإله Aśvins

العائلة Loganiaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Deciduous tree of dry forest; India and SE Asia

السجل النصي Presiding deity Aśvins as enumerated for Ashwini in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Seeds carry strychnine and brucine; a classical dravya admitted only after śodhana (detoxification).

ناكشاترا 2 من 27

Bharani

الإنجليزية Indian gooseberry

السنسكريتية Āmalakī

الهندية आँवला — Āṁvlā

العلمي Phyllanthus emblica

الإله Yama

العائلة Phyllanthaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Small deciduous tree; northern and peninsular India

السجل النصي Presiding deity Yama as enumerated for Bharani in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Fruit is exceptionally high in ascorbic acid and tannins; a rasāyana drug in the Caraka Saṁhitā.

ناكشاترا 3 من 27

Krittika

الإنجليزية Cluster fig

السنسكريتية Udumbara

الهندية गूलर — Gūlar

العلمي Ficus racemosa

الإله Agni

العائلة Moraceae

الطبيعة والمدى Riparian tree; Indian subcontinent

السجل النصي Presiding deity Agni as enumerated for Krittika in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي A keystone fig: the cauliflorous crop feeds fig wasps, bats and hornbills through the dry season.

ناكشاترا 4 من 27

Rohini

الإنجليزية Java plum

السنسكريتية Jambū

الهندية जामुन — Jāmun

العلمي Syzygium cumini

الإله Prajāpati

العائلة Myrtaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Evergreen tree; subcontinent, common along water

السجل النصي Presiding deity Prajāpati as enumerated for Rohini in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Seed extracts are among the most studied traditional antidiabetic materials; heavy monsoon fruiting.

ناكشاترا 5 من 27

Mrigashira

الإنجليزية Catechu tree

السنسكريتية Khadira

الهندية खैर — Khair

العلمي Acacia catechu

الإله Soma

العائلة Fabaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Dry deciduous tree; northern and central India

السجل النصي Presiding deity Soma as enumerated for Mrigashira in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Nitrogen-fixing; heartwood yields catechu tannins used in medicine and dyeing.

ناكشاترا 6 من 27

Ardra

الإنجليزية Indian sandalwood

السنسكريتية Candana

الهندية चंदन — Chandan

العلمي Santalum album

الإله Rudra

العائلة Santalaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Hemiparasitic tree; peninsular India

السجل النصي Presiding deity Rudra as enumerated for Ardra in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Needs a host root system; listed Vulnerable by IUCN, so propagation on site is host-paired.

ناكشاترا 7 من 27

Punarvasu

الإنجليزية Giant thorny bamboo

السنسكريتية Vaṁśa

الهندية बाँस — Bāṁs

العلمي Bambusa bambos

الإله Aditi

العائلة Poaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Clumping bamboo; moist tracts of the subcontinent

السجل النصي Presiding deity Aditi as enumerated for Punarvasu in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Fastest biomass accumulation in the collection; stabilises bank soil and sequesters carbon rapidly.

ناكشاترا 8 من 27

Pushya

الإنجليزية Sacred fig

السنسكريتية Aśvattha

الهندية पीपल — Pīpal

العلمي Ficus religiosa

الإله Bṛhaspati

العائلة Moraceae

الطبيعة والمدى Large deciduous fig; subcontinent

السجل النصي Presiding deity Bṛhaspati as enumerated for Pushya in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Asynchronous fruiting makes it a year-round frugivore resource; unusual night stomatal activity.

ناكشاترا 9 من 27

Ashlesha

الإنجليزية Ceylon ironwood

السنسكريتية Nāgakesara

الهندية नागकेसर — Nāgkesar

العلمي Mesua ferrea

الإله Sarpas (Nāgas)

العائلة Calophyllaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Slow evergreen; Western Ghats and NE India

السجل النصي Presiding deity Sarpas (Nāgas) as enumerated for Ashlesha in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Very dense timber; the aromatic stamens are the nāgakesara of the classical nighaṇṭus.

ناكشاترا 10 من 27

Magha

الإنجليزية Banyan

السنسكريتية Vaṭa / Nyagrodha

الهندية बरगद — Bargad

العلمي Ficus benghalensis

الإله Pitṛs

العائلة Moraceae

الطبيعة والمدى Spreading fig; subcontinent

السجل النصي Presiding deity Pitṛs as enumerated for Magha in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Prop roots build a multi-stemmed canopy supporting among the highest bird diversity of any Indian tree.

ناكشاترا 11 من 27

Purva Phalguni

الإنجليزية Flame of the forest

السنسكريتية Palāśa

الهندية ढाक / पलाश — Ḍhāk

العلمي Butea monosperma

الإله Bhaga

العائلة Fabaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Deciduous tree of dry forest; subcontinent

السجل النصي Presiding deity Bhaga as enumerated for Purva Phalguni in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Nitrogen-fixing; late-winter flowering is a critical nectar source before the general bloom.

ناكشاترا 12 من 27

Uttara Phalguni

الإنجليزية Indian bat fig

السنسكريتية Plakṣa

الهندية पिपरी — Piparī

العلمي Ficus amplissima

الإله Aryaman

العائلة Moraceae

الطبيعة والمدى Evergreen fig; peninsular India

السجل النصي Presiding deity Aryaman as enumerated for Uttara Phalguni in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Peninsular endemic; dense shade and small figs taken by bulbuls and barbets.

ناكشاترا 13 من 27

Hasta

الإنجليزية Needle-flower jasmine

السنسكريتية Yūthikā

الهندية जूही — Jūhī

العلمي Jasminum auriculatum

الإله Savitṛ

العائلة Oleaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Scrambling shrub; peninsular India

السجل النصي Presiding deity Savitṛ as enumerated for Hasta in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Night-scented; the flower oil is a documented source of methyl anthranilate used in attar.

ناكشاترا 14 من 27

Chitra

الإنجليزية Bael

السنسكريتية Bilva

الهندية बेल — Bel

العلمي Aegle marmelos

الإله Tvaṣṭṛ

العائلة Rutaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Thorny deciduous tree; dry subcontinent

السجل النصي Presiding deity Tvaṣṭṛ as enumerated for Chitra in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Fruit mucilage and marmelosin underlie its long-recorded use in intestinal disorders.

ناكشاترا 15 من 27

Swati

الإنجليزية Arjun tree

السنسكريتية Arjuna / Kakubha

الهندية अर्जुन — Arjun

العلمي Terminalia arjuna

الإله Vāyu

العائلة Combretaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Large riparian tree; subcontinent

السجل النصي Presiding deity Vāyu as enumerated for Swati in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Bark arjunolic acid is the subject of a substantial modern cardiological literature.

ناكشاترا 16 من 27

Vishakha

الإنجليزية Spanish cherry

السنسكريتية Bakula

الهندية मौलसरी — Maulsarī

العلمي Mimusops elengi

الإله Indrāgni

العائلة Sapotaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Evergreen tree; peninsular India and the Deccan

السجل النصي Presiding deity Indrāgni as enumerated for Vishakha in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Persistently fragrant flowers; bark long used as a dentifrice, with documented antimicrobial activity.

ناكشاترا 17 من 27

Anuradha

الإنجليزية Rayan

السنسكريتية Kṣīriṇī

الهندية खिरनी — Khirnī

العلمي Mimusops hexandra

الإله Mitra

العائلة Sapotaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Hardy evergreen; dry peninsular India

السجل النصي Presiding deity Mitra as enumerated for Anuradha in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Extremely drought-tolerant; the sweet berries are an important famine and wildlife food.

ناكشاترا 18 من 27

Jyeshtha

الإنجليزية Chir pine

السنسكريتية Sarala

الهندية चीड़ — Chīṛ

العلمي Pinus roxburghii

الإله Indra

العائلة Pinaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Himalayan pine, 500–2000 m

السجل النصي Presiding deity Indra as enumerated for Jyeshtha in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي The only montane species in the collection; grown in a raised, freely drained cohort.

ناكشاترا 19 من 27

Mula

الإنجليزية Sal tree

السنسكريتية Śāla / Sarja

الهندية साल — Sāl

العلمي Shorea robusta

الإله Nirṛti

العائلة Dipterocarpaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Dominant forest tree; eastern and central India

السجل النصي Presiding deity Nirṛti as enumerated for Mula in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Forms near-monodominant forest; its resin (dhūnā) is the classical incense of the region.

ناكشاترا 20 من 27

Purva Ashadha

الإنجليزية Rattan cane

السنسكريتية Vetra

الهندية बेंत — Bent

العلمي Calamus rotang

الإله Āpas

العائلة Arecaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Climbing palm; wet peninsular India

السجل النصي Presiding deity Āpas as enumerated for Purva Ashadha in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي A wetland indicator species — it marks the garden's permanently moist swale.

ناكشاترا 21 من 27

Uttara Ashadha

الإنجليزية Jackfruit

السنسكريتية Panasa

الهندية कटहल — Kaṭhal

العلمي Artocarpus heterophyllus

الإله Viśvedevas

العائلة Moraceae

الطبيعة والمدى Evergreen tree; Western Ghats origin

السجل النصي Presiding deity Viśvedevas as enumerated for Uttara Ashadha in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Cauliflorous; the largest tree-borne fruit and a significant regional carbohydrate staple.

ناكشاترا 22 من 27

Shravana

الإنجليزية Crown flower

السنسكريتية Arka

الهندية मदार / सफ़ेद आक — Madār

العلمي Calotropis gigantea

الإله Viṣṇu

العائلة Apocynaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Shrub of open wasteland; subcontinent

السجل النصي Presiding deity Viṣṇu as enumerated for Shravana in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Principal larval host of the plain tiger butterfly; cardenolide latex used in classical preparations.

ناكشاترا 23 من 27

Dhanishta

الإنجليزية Khejri

السنسكريتية Śamī

الهندية खेजड़ी — Khejṛī

العلمي Prosopis cineraria

الإله Vasus

العائلة Fabaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Desert tree; Thar and the dry northwest

السجل النصي Presiding deity Vasus as enumerated for Dhanishta in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Nitrogen-fixing with a deep taproot; measurably raises crop yield in agroforestry trials.

ناكشاترا 24 من 27

Shatabhisha

الإنجليزية Burflower tree

السنسكريتية Kadamba

الهندية कदम — Kadam

العلمي Anthocephalus cadamba

الإله Varuṇa

العائلة Rubiaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Fast-growing deciduous tree; moist subcontinent

السجل النصي Presiding deity Varuṇa as enumerated for Shatabhisha in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Globose inflorescences; among the fastest-growing native hardwoods, used in canopy restoration.

ناكشاترا 25 من 27

Purva Bhadrapada

الإنجليزية Mango

السنسكريتية Āmra

الهندية आम — Ām

العلمي Mangifera indica

الإله Aja Ekapāda

العائلة Anacardiaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Evergreen tree; Indo-Burma origin

السجل النصي Presiding deity Aja Ekapāda as enumerated for Purva Bhadrapada in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي The subcontinent's most cultivated fruit tree; several hundred named landraces are documented.

ناكشاترا 26 من 27

Uttara Bhadrapada

الإنجليزية Neem

السنسكريتية Nimba

الهندية नीम — Nīm

العلمي Azadirachta indica

الإله Ahirbudhnya

العائلة Meliaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Evergreen tree; dry subcontinent

السجل النصي Presiding deity Ahirbudhnya as enumerated for Uttara Bhadrapada in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Azadirachtin is a well-characterised insect antifeedant, now used in registered biopesticides.

ناكشاترا 27 من 27

Revati

الإنجليزية Butter tree

السنسكريتية Madhūka

الهندية महुआ — Mahuā

العلمي Madhuca longifolia

الإله Pūṣan

العائلة Sapotaceae

الطبيعة والمدى Deciduous tree of central Indian forest

السجل النصي Presiding deity Pūṣan as enumerated for Revati in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa III.1; the tree pairing follows the nakṣatra-vṛkṣa lists of the later purāṇic and vṛkṣāyurveda compilations.

السجل العلمي Corolla is a major tribal food and fermentation crop; flowering supports large bee populations.

Where recensions assign different trees to the same nakṣatra, the variant is recorded rather than resolved; where a claimed property has no published support, it is listed as traditional usage only.