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.

सत्ताईस नक्षत्र

विवरण देखने के लिए नक्षत्र चुनें।

नक्षत्र 1 में से 27

Ashwini

अंग्रेज़ी Strychnine tree

संस्कृत Kāraskara / Viṣatinduka

हिन्दी कुचला — Kuchlā

वैज्ञानिक Strychnos nux-vomica

देवता Aśvins

कुल Loganiaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Deciduous tree of dry forest; India and SE Asia

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 2 में से 27

Bharani

अंग्रेज़ी Indian gooseberry

संस्कृत Āmalakī

हिन्दी आँवला — Āṁvlā

वैज्ञानिक Phyllanthus emblica

देवता Yama

कुल Phyllanthaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Small deciduous tree; northern and peninsular India

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 3 में से 27

Krittika

अंग्रेज़ी Cluster fig

संस्कृत Udumbara

हिन्दी गूलर — Gūlar

वैज्ञानिक Ficus racemosa

देवता Agni

कुल Moraceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Riparian tree; Indian subcontinent

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 4 में से 27

Rohini

अंग्रेज़ी Java plum

संस्कृत Jambū

हिन्दी जामुन — Jāmun

वैज्ञानिक Syzygium cumini

देवता Prajāpati

कुल Myrtaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Evergreen tree; subcontinent, common along water

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण Seed extracts are among the most studied traditional antidiabetic materials; heavy monsoon fruiting.

नक्षत्र 5 में से 27

Mrigashira

अंग्रेज़ी Catechu tree

संस्कृत Khadira

हिन्दी खैर — Khair

वैज्ञानिक Acacia catechu

देवता Soma

कुल Fabaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Dry deciduous tree; northern and central India

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण Nitrogen-fixing; heartwood yields catechu tannins used in medicine and dyeing.

नक्षत्र 6 में से 27

Ardra

अंग्रेज़ी Indian sandalwood

संस्कृत Candana

हिन्दी चंदन — Chandan

वैज्ञानिक Santalum album

देवता Rudra

कुल Santalaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Hemiparasitic tree; peninsular India

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 7 में से 27

Punarvasu

अंग्रेज़ी Giant thorny bamboo

संस्कृत Vaṁśa

हिन्दी बाँस — Bāṁs

वैज्ञानिक Bambusa bambos

देवता Aditi

कुल Poaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Clumping bamboo; moist tracts of the subcontinent

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण Fastest biomass accumulation in the collection; stabilises bank soil and sequesters carbon rapidly.

नक्षत्र 8 में से 27

Pushya

अंग्रेज़ी Sacred fig

संस्कृत Aśvattha

हिन्दी पीपल — Pīpal

वैज्ञानिक Ficus religiosa

देवता Bṛhaspati

कुल Moraceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Large deciduous fig; subcontinent

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 9 में से 27

Ashlesha

अंग्रेज़ी Ceylon ironwood

संस्कृत Nāgakesara

हिन्दी नागकेसर — Nāgkesar

वैज्ञानिक Mesua ferrea

देवता Sarpas (Nāgas)

कुल Calophyllaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Slow evergreen; Western Ghats and NE India

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण Very dense timber; the aromatic stamens are the nāgakesara of the classical nighaṇṭus.

नक्षत्र 10 में से 27

Magha

अंग्रेज़ी Banyan

संस्कृत Vaṭa / Nyagrodha

हिन्दी बरगद — Bargad

वैज्ञानिक Ficus benghalensis

देवता Pitṛs

कुल Moraceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Spreading fig; subcontinent

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 11 में से 27

Purva Phalguni

अंग्रेज़ी Flame of the forest

संस्कृत Palāśa

हिन्दी ढाक / पलाश — Ḍhāk

वैज्ञानिक Butea monosperma

देवता Bhaga

कुल Fabaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Deciduous tree of dry forest; subcontinent

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 12 में से 27

Uttara Phalguni

अंग्रेज़ी Indian bat fig

संस्कृत Plakṣa

हिन्दी पिपरी — Piparī

वैज्ञानिक Ficus amplissima

देवता Aryaman

कुल Moraceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Evergreen fig; peninsular India

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण Peninsular endemic; dense shade and small figs taken by bulbuls and barbets.

नक्षत्र 13 में से 27

Hasta

अंग्रेज़ी Needle-flower jasmine

संस्कृत Yūthikā

हिन्दी जूही — Jūhī

वैज्ञानिक Jasminum auriculatum

देवता Savitṛ

कुल Oleaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Scrambling shrub; peninsular India

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 14 में से 27

Chitra

अंग्रेज़ी Bael

संस्कृत Bilva

हिन्दी बेल — Bel

वैज्ञानिक Aegle marmelos

देवता Tvaṣṭṛ

कुल Rutaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Thorny deciduous tree; dry subcontinent

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण Fruit mucilage and marmelosin underlie its long-recorded use in intestinal disorders.

नक्षत्र 15 में से 27

Swati

अंग्रेज़ी Arjun tree

संस्कृत Arjuna / Kakubha

हिन्दी अर्जुन — Arjun

वैज्ञानिक Terminalia arjuna

देवता Vāyu

कुल Combretaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Large riparian tree; subcontinent

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण Bark arjunolic acid is the subject of a substantial modern cardiological literature.

नक्षत्र 16 में से 27

Vishakha

अंग्रेज़ी Spanish cherry

संस्कृत Bakula

हिन्दी मौलसरी — Maulsarī

वैज्ञानिक Mimusops elengi

देवता Indrāgni

कुल Sapotaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Evergreen tree; peninsular India and the Deccan

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 17 में से 27

Anuradha

अंग्रेज़ी Rayan

संस्कृत Kṣīriṇī

हिन्दी खिरनी — Khirnī

वैज्ञानिक Mimusops hexandra

देवता Mitra

कुल Sapotaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Hardy evergreen; dry peninsular India

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 18 में से 27

Jyeshtha

अंग्रेज़ी Chir pine

संस्कृत Sarala

हिन्दी चीड़ — Chīṛ

वैज्ञानिक Pinus roxburghii

देवता Indra

कुल Pinaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Himalayan pine, 500–2000 m

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 19 में से 27

Mula

अंग्रेज़ी Sal tree

संस्कृत Śāla / Sarja

हिन्दी साल — Sāl

वैज्ञानिक Shorea robusta

देवता Nirṛti

कुल Dipterocarpaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Dominant forest tree; eastern and central India

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 20 में से 27

Purva Ashadha

अंग्रेज़ी Rattan cane

संस्कृत Vetra

हिन्दी बेंत — Bent

वैज्ञानिक Calamus rotang

देवता Āpas

कुल Arecaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Climbing palm; wet peninsular India

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण A wetland indicator species — it marks the garden's permanently moist swale.

नक्षत्र 21 में से 27

Uttara Ashadha

अंग्रेज़ी Jackfruit

संस्कृत Panasa

हिन्दी कटहल — Kaṭhal

वैज्ञानिक Artocarpus heterophyllus

देवता Viśvedevas

कुल Moraceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Evergreen tree; Western Ghats origin

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण Cauliflorous; the largest tree-borne fruit and a significant regional carbohydrate staple.

नक्षत्र 22 में से 27

Shravana

अंग्रेज़ी Crown flower

संस्कृत Arka

हिन्दी मदार / सफ़ेद आक — Madār

वैज्ञानिक Calotropis gigantea

देवता Viṣṇu

कुल Apocynaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Shrub of open wasteland; subcontinent

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 23 में से 27

Dhanishta

अंग्रेज़ी Khejri

संस्कृत Śamī

हिन्दी खेजड़ी — Khejṛī

वैज्ञानिक Prosopis cineraria

देवता Vasus

कुल Fabaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Desert tree; Thar and the dry northwest

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 24 में से 27

Shatabhisha

अंग्रेज़ी Burflower tree

संस्कृत Kadamba

हिन्दी कदम — Kadam

वैज्ञानिक Anthocephalus cadamba

देवता Varuṇa

कुल Rubiaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Fast-growing deciduous tree; moist subcontinent

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 25 में से 27

Purva Bhadrapada

अंग्रेज़ी Mango

संस्कृत Āmra

हिन्दी आम — Ām

वैज्ञानिक Mangifera indica

देवता Aja Ekapāda

कुल Anacardiaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Evergreen tree; Indo-Burma origin

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

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

नक्षत्र 26 में से 27

Uttara Bhadrapada

अंग्रेज़ी Neem

संस्कृत Nimba

हिन्दी नीम — Nīm

वैज्ञानिक Azadirachta indica

देवता Ahirbudhnya

कुल Meliaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Evergreen tree; dry subcontinent

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण Azadirachtin is a well-characterised insect antifeedant, now used in registered biopesticides.

नक्षत्र 27 में से 27

Revati

अंग्रेज़ी Butter tree

संस्कृत Madhūka

हिन्दी महुआ — Mahuā

वैज्ञानिक Madhuca longifolia

देवता Pūṣan

कुल Sapotaceae

स्वरूप एवं क्षेत्र Deciduous tree of central Indian forest

शास्त्रीय प्रमाण 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.

वैज्ञानिक प्रमाण 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.