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.

The twenty-seven

Select a nakṣatra to read its record.

NAKSHATRA 1 of 27

Ashwini

English Strychnine tree

Sanskrit Kāraskara / Viṣatinduka

Hindi कुचला — Kuchlā

Scientific Strychnos nux-vomica

Deity Aśvins

Family Loganiaceae

Habit Deciduous tree of dry forest; India and SE Asia

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 2 of 27

Bharani

English Indian gooseberry

Sanskrit Āmalakī

Hindi आँवला — Āṁvlā

Scientific Phyllanthus emblica

Deity Yama

Family Phyllanthaceae

Habit Small deciduous tree; northern and peninsular India

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 3 of 27

Krittika

English Cluster fig

Sanskrit Udumbara

Hindi गूलर — Gūlar

Scientific Ficus racemosa

Deity Agni

Family Moraceae

Habit Riparian tree; Indian subcontinent

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 4 of 27

Rohini

English Java plum

Sanskrit Jambū

Hindi जामुन — Jāmun

Scientific Syzygium cumini

Deity Prajāpati

Family Myrtaceae

Habit Evergreen tree; subcontinent, common along water

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD Seed extracts are among the most studied traditional antidiabetic materials; heavy monsoon fruiting.

NAKSHATRA 5 of 27

Mrigashira

English Catechu tree

Sanskrit Khadira

Hindi खैर — Khair

Scientific Acacia catechu

Deity Soma

Family Fabaceae

Habit Dry deciduous tree; northern and central India

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD Nitrogen-fixing; heartwood yields catechu tannins used in medicine and dyeing.

NAKSHATRA 6 of 27

Ardra

English Indian sandalwood

Sanskrit Candana

Hindi चंदन — Chandan

Scientific Santalum album

Deity Rudra

Family Santalaceae

Habit Hemiparasitic tree; peninsular India

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 7 of 27

Punarvasu

English Giant thorny bamboo

Sanskrit Vaṁśa

Hindi बाँस — Bāṁs

Scientific Bambusa bambos

Deity Aditi

Family Poaceae

Habit Clumping bamboo; moist tracts of the subcontinent

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD Fastest biomass accumulation in the collection; stabilises bank soil and sequesters carbon rapidly.

NAKSHATRA 8 of 27

Pushya

English Sacred fig

Sanskrit Aśvattha

Hindi पीपल — Pīpal

Scientific Ficus religiosa

Deity Bṛhaspati

Family Moraceae

Habit Large deciduous fig; subcontinent

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 9 of 27

Ashlesha

English Ceylon ironwood

Sanskrit Nāgakesara

Hindi नागकेसर — Nāgkesar

Scientific Mesua ferrea

Deity Sarpas (Nāgas)

Family Calophyllaceae

Habit Slow evergreen; Western Ghats and NE India

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD Very dense timber; the aromatic stamens are the nāgakesara of the classical nighaṇṭus.

NAKSHATRA 10 of 27

Magha

English Banyan

Sanskrit Vaṭa / Nyagrodha

Hindi बरगद — Bargad

Scientific Ficus benghalensis

Deity Pitṛs

Family Moraceae

Habit Spreading fig; subcontinent

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 11 of 27

Purva Phalguni

English Flame of the forest

Sanskrit Palāśa

Hindi ढाक / पलाश — Ḍhāk

Scientific Butea monosperma

Deity Bhaga

Family Fabaceae

Habit Deciduous tree of dry forest; subcontinent

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 12 of 27

Uttara Phalguni

English Indian bat fig

Sanskrit Plakṣa

Hindi पिपरी — Piparī

Scientific Ficus amplissima

Deity Aryaman

Family Moraceae

Habit Evergreen fig; peninsular India

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD Peninsular endemic; dense shade and small figs taken by bulbuls and barbets.

NAKSHATRA 13 of 27

Hasta

English Needle-flower jasmine

Sanskrit Yūthikā

Hindi जूही — Jūhī

Scientific Jasminum auriculatum

Deity Savitṛ

Family Oleaceae

Habit Scrambling shrub; peninsular India

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 14 of 27

Chitra

English Bael

Sanskrit Bilva

Hindi बेल — Bel

Scientific Aegle marmelos

Deity Tvaṣṭṛ

Family Rutaceae

Habit Thorny deciduous tree; dry subcontinent

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD Fruit mucilage and marmelosin underlie its long-recorded use in intestinal disorders.

NAKSHATRA 15 of 27

Swati

English Arjun tree

Sanskrit Arjuna / Kakubha

Hindi अर्जुन — Arjun

Scientific Terminalia arjuna

Deity Vāyu

Family Combretaceae

Habit Large riparian tree; subcontinent

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD Bark arjunolic acid is the subject of a substantial modern cardiological literature.

NAKSHATRA 16 of 27

Vishakha

English Spanish cherry

Sanskrit Bakula

Hindi मौलसरी — Maulsarī

Scientific Mimusops elengi

Deity Indrāgni

Family Sapotaceae

Habit Evergreen tree; peninsular India and the Deccan

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 17 of 27

Anuradha

English Rayan

Sanskrit Kṣīriṇī

Hindi खिरनी — Khirnī

Scientific Mimusops hexandra

Deity Mitra

Family Sapotaceae

Habit Hardy evergreen; dry peninsular India

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 18 of 27

Jyeshtha

English Chir pine

Sanskrit Sarala

Hindi चीड़ — Chīṛ

Scientific Pinus roxburghii

Deity Indra

Family Pinaceae

Habit Himalayan pine, 500–2000 m

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 19 of 27

Mula

English Sal tree

Sanskrit Śāla / Sarja

Hindi साल — Sāl

Scientific Shorea robusta

Deity Nirṛti

Family Dipterocarpaceae

Habit Dominant forest tree; eastern and central India

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 20 of 27

Purva Ashadha

English Rattan cane

Sanskrit Vetra

Hindi बेंत — Bent

Scientific Calamus rotang

Deity Āpas

Family Arecaceae

Habit Climbing palm; wet peninsular India

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD A wetland indicator species — it marks the garden's permanently moist swale.

NAKSHATRA 21 of 27

Uttara Ashadha

English Jackfruit

Sanskrit Panasa

Hindi कटहल — Kaṭhal

Scientific Artocarpus heterophyllus

Deity Viśvedevas

Family Moraceae

Habit Evergreen tree; Western Ghats origin

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD Cauliflorous; the largest tree-borne fruit and a significant regional carbohydrate staple.

NAKSHATRA 22 of 27

Shravana

English Crown flower

Sanskrit Arka

Hindi मदार / सफ़ेद आक — Madār

Scientific Calotropis gigantea

Deity Viṣṇu

Family Apocynaceae

Habit Shrub of open wasteland; subcontinent

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 23 of 27

Dhanishta

English Khejri

Sanskrit Śamī

Hindi खेजड़ी — Khejṛī

Scientific Prosopis cineraria

Deity Vasus

Family Fabaceae

Habit Desert tree; Thar and the dry northwest

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 24 of 27

Shatabhisha

English Burflower tree

Sanskrit Kadamba

Hindi कदम — Kadam

Scientific Anthocephalus cadamba

Deity Varuṇa

Family Rubiaceae

Habit Fast-growing deciduous tree; moist subcontinent

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 25 of 27

Purva Bhadrapada

English Mango

Sanskrit Āmra

Hindi आम — Ām

Scientific Mangifera indica

Deity Aja Ekapāda

Family Anacardiaceae

Habit Evergreen tree; Indo-Burma origin

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

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

NAKSHATRA 26 of 27

Uttara Bhadrapada

English Neem

Sanskrit Nimba

Hindi नीम — Nīm

Scientific Azadirachta indica

Deity Ahirbudhnya

Family Meliaceae

Habit Evergreen tree; dry subcontinent

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD Azadirachtin is a well-characterised insect antifeedant, now used in registered biopesticides.

NAKSHATRA 27 of 27

Revati

English Butter tree

Sanskrit Madhūka

Hindi महुआ — Mahuā

Scientific Madhuca longifolia

Deity Pūṣan

Family Sapotaceae

Habit Deciduous tree of central Indian forest

SCRIPTURAL RECORD 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.

SCIENTIFIC RECORD 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.