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.

Los veintisiete

Seleccione un nakṣatra para ver su ficha.

NAKṣATRA 1 de 27

Ashwini

Inglés Strychnine tree

Sánscrito Kāraskara / Viṣatinduka

Hindi कुचला — Kuchlā

Científico Strychnos nux-vomica

Deidad Aśvins

Familia Loganiaceae

Hábito y área Deciduous tree of dry forest; India and SE Asia

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 2 de 27

Bharani

Inglés Indian gooseberry

Sánscrito Āmalakī

Hindi आँवला — Āṁvlā

Científico Phyllanthus emblica

Deidad Yama

Familia Phyllanthaceae

Hábito y área Small deciduous tree; northern and peninsular India

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 3 de 27

Krittika

Inglés Cluster fig

Sánscrito Udumbara

Hindi गूलर — Gūlar

Científico Ficus racemosa

Deidad Agni

Familia Moraceae

Hábito y área Riparian tree; Indian subcontinent

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 4 de 27

Rohini

Inglés Java plum

Sánscrito Jambū

Hindi जामुन — Jāmun

Científico Syzygium cumini

Deidad Prajāpati

Familia Myrtaceae

Hábito y área Evergreen tree; subcontinent, common along water

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO Seed extracts are among the most studied traditional antidiabetic materials; heavy monsoon fruiting.

NAKṣATRA 5 de 27

Mrigashira

Inglés Catechu tree

Sánscrito Khadira

Hindi खैर — Khair

Científico Acacia catechu

Deidad Soma

Familia Fabaceae

Hábito y área Dry deciduous tree; northern and central India

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO Nitrogen-fixing; heartwood yields catechu tannins used in medicine and dyeing.

NAKṣATRA 6 de 27

Ardra

Inglés Indian sandalwood

Sánscrito Candana

Hindi चंदन — Chandan

Científico Santalum album

Deidad Rudra

Familia Santalaceae

Hábito y área Hemiparasitic tree; peninsular India

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 7 de 27

Punarvasu

Inglés Giant thorny bamboo

Sánscrito Vaṁśa

Hindi बाँस — Bāṁs

Científico Bambusa bambos

Deidad Aditi

Familia Poaceae

Hábito y área Clumping bamboo; moist tracts of the subcontinent

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO Fastest biomass accumulation in the collection; stabilises bank soil and sequesters carbon rapidly.

NAKṣATRA 8 de 27

Pushya

Inglés Sacred fig

Sánscrito Aśvattha

Hindi पीपल — Pīpal

Científico Ficus religiosa

Deidad Bṛhaspati

Familia Moraceae

Hábito y área Large deciduous fig; subcontinent

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 9 de 27

Ashlesha

Inglés Ceylon ironwood

Sánscrito Nāgakesara

Hindi नागकेसर — Nāgkesar

Científico Mesua ferrea

Deidad Sarpas (Nāgas)

Familia Calophyllaceae

Hábito y área Slow evergreen; Western Ghats and NE India

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO Very dense timber; the aromatic stamens are the nāgakesara of the classical nighaṇṭus.

NAKṣATRA 10 de 27

Magha

Inglés Banyan

Sánscrito Vaṭa / Nyagrodha

Hindi बरगद — Bargad

Científico Ficus benghalensis

Deidad Pitṛs

Familia Moraceae

Hábito y área Spreading fig; subcontinent

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 11 de 27

Purva Phalguni

Inglés Flame of the forest

Sánscrito Palāśa

Hindi ढाक / पलाश — Ḍhāk

Científico Butea monosperma

Deidad Bhaga

Familia Fabaceae

Hábito y área Deciduous tree of dry forest; subcontinent

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 12 de 27

Uttara Phalguni

Inglés Indian bat fig

Sánscrito Plakṣa

Hindi पिपरी — Piparī

Científico Ficus amplissima

Deidad Aryaman

Familia Moraceae

Hábito y área Evergreen fig; peninsular India

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO Peninsular endemic; dense shade and small figs taken by bulbuls and barbets.

NAKṣATRA 13 de 27

Hasta

Inglés Needle-flower jasmine

Sánscrito Yūthikā

Hindi जूही — Jūhī

Científico Jasminum auriculatum

Deidad Savitṛ

Familia Oleaceae

Hábito y área Scrambling shrub; peninsular India

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 14 de 27

Chitra

Inglés Bael

Sánscrito Bilva

Hindi बेल — Bel

Científico Aegle marmelos

Deidad Tvaṣṭṛ

Familia Rutaceae

Hábito y área Thorny deciduous tree; dry subcontinent

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO Fruit mucilage and marmelosin underlie its long-recorded use in intestinal disorders.

NAKṣATRA 15 de 27

Swati

Inglés Arjun tree

Sánscrito Arjuna / Kakubha

Hindi अर्जुन — Arjun

Científico Terminalia arjuna

Deidad Vāyu

Familia Combretaceae

Hábito y área Large riparian tree; subcontinent

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO Bark arjunolic acid is the subject of a substantial modern cardiological literature.

NAKṣATRA 16 de 27

Vishakha

Inglés Spanish cherry

Sánscrito Bakula

Hindi मौलसरी — Maulsarī

Científico Mimusops elengi

Deidad Indrāgni

Familia Sapotaceae

Hábito y área Evergreen tree; peninsular India and the Deccan

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 17 de 27

Anuradha

Inglés Rayan

Sánscrito Kṣīriṇī

Hindi खिरनी — Khirnī

Científico Mimusops hexandra

Deidad Mitra

Familia Sapotaceae

Hábito y área Hardy evergreen; dry peninsular India

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 18 de 27

Jyeshtha

Inglés Chir pine

Sánscrito Sarala

Hindi चीड़ — Chīṛ

Científico Pinus roxburghii

Deidad Indra

Familia Pinaceae

Hábito y área Himalayan pine, 500–2000 m

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 19 de 27

Mula

Inglés Sal tree

Sánscrito Śāla / Sarja

Hindi साल — Sāl

Científico Shorea robusta

Deidad Nirṛti

Familia Dipterocarpaceae

Hábito y área Dominant forest tree; eastern and central India

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 20 de 27

Purva Ashadha

Inglés Rattan cane

Sánscrito Vetra

Hindi बेंत — Bent

Científico Calamus rotang

Deidad Āpas

Familia Arecaceae

Hábito y área Climbing palm; wet peninsular India

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO A wetland indicator species — it marks the garden's permanently moist swale.

NAKṣATRA 21 de 27

Uttara Ashadha

Inglés Jackfruit

Sánscrito Panasa

Hindi कटहल — Kaṭhal

Científico Artocarpus heterophyllus

Deidad Viśvedevas

Familia Moraceae

Hábito y área Evergreen tree; Western Ghats origin

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO Cauliflorous; the largest tree-borne fruit and a significant regional carbohydrate staple.

NAKṣATRA 22 de 27

Shravana

Inglés Crown flower

Sánscrito Arka

Hindi मदार / सफ़ेद आक — Madār

Científico Calotropis gigantea

Deidad Viṣṇu

Familia Apocynaceae

Hábito y área Shrub of open wasteland; subcontinent

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 23 de 27

Dhanishta

Inglés Khejri

Sánscrito Śamī

Hindi खेजड़ी — Khejṛī

Científico Prosopis cineraria

Deidad Vasus

Familia Fabaceae

Hábito y área Desert tree; Thar and the dry northwest

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 24 de 27

Shatabhisha

Inglés Burflower tree

Sánscrito Kadamba

Hindi कदम — Kadam

Científico Anthocephalus cadamba

Deidad Varuṇa

Familia Rubiaceae

Hábito y área Fast-growing deciduous tree; moist subcontinent

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 25 de 27

Purva Bhadrapada

Inglés Mango

Sánscrito Āmra

Hindi आम — Ām

Científico Mangifera indica

Deidad Aja Ekapāda

Familia Anacardiaceae

Hábito y área Evergreen tree; Indo-Burma origin

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

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

NAKṣATRA 26 de 27

Uttara Bhadrapada

Inglés Neem

Sánscrito Nimba

Hindi नीम — Nīm

Científico Azadirachta indica

Deidad Ahirbudhnya

Familia Meliaceae

Hábito y área Evergreen tree; dry subcontinent

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO Azadirachtin is a well-characterised insect antifeedant, now used in registered biopesticides.

NAKṣATRA 27 de 27

Revati

Inglés Butter tree

Sánscrito Madhūka

Hindi महुआ — Mahuā

Científico Madhuca longifolia

Deidad Pūṣan

Familia Sapotaceae

Hábito y área Deciduous tree of central Indian forest

REGISTRO ESCRITURAL 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.

REGISTRO CIENTíFICO 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.