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.

二十七宿

选择一个星宿以查看记录。

星宿 1 / 27

Ashwini

英文名 Strychnine tree

梵文名 Kāraskara / Viṣatinduka

印地文名 कुचला — Kuchlā

学名 Strychnos nux-vomica

主神 Aśvins

科 Loganiaceae

习性与分布 Deciduous tree of dry forest; India and SE Asia

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Seeds carry strychnine and brucine; a classical dravya admitted only after śodhana (detoxification).

星宿 2 / 27

Bharani

英文名 Indian gooseberry

梵文名 Āmalakī

印地文名 आँवला — Āṁvlā

学名 Phyllanthus emblica

主神 Yama

科 Phyllanthaceae

习性与分布 Small deciduous tree; northern and peninsular India

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Fruit is exceptionally high in ascorbic acid and tannins; a rasāyana drug in the Caraka Saṁhitā.

星宿 3 / 27

Krittika

英文名 Cluster fig

梵文名 Udumbara

印地文名 गूलर — Gūlar

学名 Ficus racemosa

主神 Agni

科 Moraceae

习性与分布 Riparian tree; Indian subcontinent

经典依据 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.

科学依据 A keystone fig: the cauliflorous crop feeds fig wasps, bats and hornbills through the dry season.

星宿 4 / 27

Rohini

英文名 Java plum

梵文名 Jambū

印地文名 जामुन — Jāmun

学名 Syzygium cumini

主神 Prajāpati

科 Myrtaceae

习性与分布 Evergreen tree; subcontinent, common along water

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Seed extracts are among the most studied traditional antidiabetic materials; heavy monsoon fruiting.

星宿 5 / 27

Mrigashira

英文名 Catechu tree

梵文名 Khadira

印地文名 खैर — Khair

学名 Acacia catechu

主神 Soma

科 Fabaceae

习性与分布 Dry deciduous tree; northern and central India

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Nitrogen-fixing; heartwood yields catechu tannins used in medicine and dyeing.

星宿 6 / 27

Ardra

英文名 Indian sandalwood

梵文名 Candana

印地文名 चंदन — Chandan

学名 Santalum album

主神 Rudra

科 Santalaceae

习性与分布 Hemiparasitic tree; peninsular India

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Needs a host root system; listed Vulnerable by IUCN, so propagation on site is host-paired.

星宿 7 / 27

Punarvasu

英文名 Giant thorny bamboo

梵文名 Vaṁśa

印地文名 बाँस — Bāṁs

学名 Bambusa bambos

主神 Aditi

科 Poaceae

习性与分布 Clumping bamboo; moist tracts of the subcontinent

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Fastest biomass accumulation in the collection; stabilises bank soil and sequesters carbon rapidly.

星宿 8 / 27

Pushya

英文名 Sacred fig

梵文名 Aśvattha

印地文名 पीपल — Pīpal

学名 Ficus religiosa

主神 Bṛhaspati

科 Moraceae

习性与分布 Large deciduous fig; subcontinent

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Asynchronous fruiting makes it a year-round frugivore resource; unusual night stomatal activity.

星宿 9 / 27

Ashlesha

英文名 Ceylon ironwood

梵文名 Nāgakesara

印地文名 नागकेसर — Nāgkesar

学名 Mesua ferrea

主神 Sarpas (Nāgas)

科 Calophyllaceae

习性与分布 Slow evergreen; Western Ghats and NE India

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Very dense timber; the aromatic stamens are the nāgakesara of the classical nighaṇṭus.

星宿 10 / 27

Magha

英文名 Banyan

梵文名 Vaṭa / Nyagrodha

印地文名 बरगद — Bargad

学名 Ficus benghalensis

主神 Pitṛs

科 Moraceae

习性与分布 Spreading fig; subcontinent

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Prop roots build a multi-stemmed canopy supporting among the highest bird diversity of any Indian tree.

星宿 11 / 27

Purva Phalguni

英文名 Flame of the forest

梵文名 Palāśa

印地文名 ढाक / पलाश — Ḍhāk

学名 Butea monosperma

主神 Bhaga

科 Fabaceae

习性与分布 Deciduous tree of dry forest; subcontinent

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Nitrogen-fixing; late-winter flowering is a critical nectar source before the general bloom.

星宿 12 / 27

Uttara Phalguni

英文名 Indian bat fig

梵文名 Plakṣa

印地文名 पिपरी — Piparī

学名 Ficus amplissima

主神 Aryaman

科 Moraceae

习性与分布 Evergreen fig; peninsular India

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Peninsular endemic; dense shade and small figs taken by bulbuls and barbets.

星宿 13 / 27

Hasta

英文名 Needle-flower jasmine

梵文名 Yūthikā

印地文名 जूही — Jūhī

学名 Jasminum auriculatum

主神 Savitṛ

科 Oleaceae

习性与分布 Scrambling shrub; peninsular India

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Night-scented; the flower oil is a documented source of methyl anthranilate used in attar.

星宿 14 / 27

Chitra

英文名 Bael

梵文名 Bilva

印地文名 बेल — Bel

学名 Aegle marmelos

主神 Tvaṣṭṛ

科 Rutaceae

习性与分布 Thorny deciduous tree; dry subcontinent

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Fruit mucilage and marmelosin underlie its long-recorded use in intestinal disorders.

星宿 15 / 27

Swati

英文名 Arjun tree

梵文名 Arjuna / Kakubha

印地文名 अर्जुन — Arjun

学名 Terminalia arjuna

主神 Vāyu

科 Combretaceae

习性与分布 Large riparian tree; subcontinent

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Bark arjunolic acid is the subject of a substantial modern cardiological literature.

星宿 16 / 27

Vishakha

英文名 Spanish cherry

梵文名 Bakula

印地文名 मौलसरी — Maulsarī

学名 Mimusops elengi

主神 Indrāgni

科 Sapotaceae

习性与分布 Evergreen tree; peninsular India and the Deccan

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Persistently fragrant flowers; bark long used as a dentifrice, with documented antimicrobial activity.

星宿 17 / 27

Anuradha

英文名 Rayan

梵文名 Kṣīriṇī

印地文名 खिरनी — Khirnī

学名 Mimusops hexandra

主神 Mitra

科 Sapotaceae

习性与分布 Hardy evergreen; dry peninsular India

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Extremely drought-tolerant; the sweet berries are an important famine and wildlife food.

星宿 18 / 27

Jyeshtha

英文名 Chir pine

梵文名 Sarala

印地文名 चीड़ — Chīṛ

学名 Pinus roxburghii

主神 Indra

科 Pinaceae

习性与分布 Himalayan pine, 500–2000 m

经典依据 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.

科学依据 The only montane species in the collection; grown in a raised, freely drained cohort.

星宿 19 / 27

Mula

英文名 Sal tree

梵文名 Śāla / Sarja

印地文名 साल — Sāl

学名 Shorea robusta

主神 Nirṛti

科 Dipterocarpaceae

习性与分布 Dominant forest tree; eastern and central India

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Forms near-monodominant forest; its resin (dhūnā) is the classical incense of the region.

星宿 20 / 27

Purva Ashadha

英文名 Rattan cane

梵文名 Vetra

印地文名 बेंत — Bent

学名 Calamus rotang

主神 Āpas

科 Arecaceae

习性与分布 Climbing palm; wet peninsular India

经典依据 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.

科学依据 A wetland indicator species — it marks the garden's permanently moist swale.

星宿 21 / 27

Uttara Ashadha

英文名 Jackfruit

梵文名 Panasa

印地文名 कटहल — Kaṭhal

学名 Artocarpus heterophyllus

主神 Viśvedevas

科 Moraceae

习性与分布 Evergreen tree; Western Ghats origin

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Cauliflorous; the largest tree-borne fruit and a significant regional carbohydrate staple.

星宿 22 / 27

Shravana

英文名 Crown flower

梵文名 Arka

印地文名 मदार / सफ़ेद आक — Madār

学名 Calotropis gigantea

主神 Viṣṇu

科 Apocynaceae

习性与分布 Shrub of open wasteland; subcontinent

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Principal larval host of the plain tiger butterfly; cardenolide latex used in classical preparations.

星宿 23 / 27

Dhanishta

英文名 Khejri

梵文名 Śamī

印地文名 खेजड़ी — Khejṛī

学名 Prosopis cineraria

主神 Vasus

科 Fabaceae

习性与分布 Desert tree; Thar and the dry northwest

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Nitrogen-fixing with a deep taproot; measurably raises crop yield in agroforestry trials.

星宿 24 / 27

Shatabhisha

英文名 Burflower tree

梵文名 Kadamba

印地文名 कदम — Kadam

学名 Anthocephalus cadamba

主神 Varuṇa

科 Rubiaceae

习性与分布 Fast-growing deciduous tree; moist subcontinent

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Globose inflorescences; among the fastest-growing native hardwoods, used in canopy restoration.

星宿 25 / 27

Purva Bhadrapada

英文名 Mango

梵文名 Āmra

印地文名 आम — Ām

学名 Mangifera indica

主神 Aja Ekapāda

科 Anacardiaceae

习性与分布 Evergreen tree; Indo-Burma origin

经典依据 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.

科学依据 The subcontinent's most cultivated fruit tree; several hundred named landraces are documented.

星宿 26 / 27

Uttara Bhadrapada

英文名 Neem

梵文名 Nimba

印地文名 नीम — Nīm

学名 Azadirachta indica

主神 Ahirbudhnya

科 Meliaceae

习性与分布 Evergreen tree; dry subcontinent

经典依据 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.

科学依据 Azadirachtin is a well-characterised insect antifeedant, now used in registered biopesticides.

星宿 27 / 27

Revati

英文名 Butter tree

梵文名 Madhūka

印地文名 महुआ — Mahuā

学名 Madhuca longifolia

主神 Pūṣan

科 Sapotaceae

习性与分布 Deciduous tree of central Indian forest

经典依据 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.

科学依据 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.