The Sanskrit term Nakṣatracakra can be transliterated into English as Naksatracakra or Nakshatracakra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Nakshatrachakra.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Yoga Vasishtha Maharamayana

Nakṣatracakra (नक्षत्रचक्र) refers to a “sphere of the heavens”, according to the Yogavasistha 7.129.—“[...] there is another sphere of the heavens (nakṣatracakra), which is afar from the starry frame [viz., ṛkṣacakra], and twice in its extent than that; this is lighted by the zodiacal light and beyond it there reigns a thick darkness. At the end of this sphere, there is the great circle of the universe; having one half of it stretching above and one below, and containing the sky in the midst of them. (This is called the brahmāṇḍa-kharpara, or the mundane sphere)”.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: WorldCat: Samarāṅgaṇa sūtradhāra of Bhojadeva

Nakṣatracakra (नक्षत्रचक्र) refers to the “constellation of stars” (group of planets), according to the Samarāṅgaṇa Sūtradhāra verse 4.16.—“[...] and from the limbs (gātra) also the constellation of stars or group of planets [viz., Nakṣatracakra] and from the five senses (indriya) took birth the pentad of planets and comets (grahapañcaka)”.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: eScholarship: The descent of scripture: a history of the Kamikagama

Nakṣatracakra (नक्षत्रचक्र) refers to the “astrological phenomena (that are considered favourable and unfavourable)”, according to the Kāmikāgama: an ancient Śaiva Āgama scripture in 12,000 Sanskrit verses dating to at least the 5th century and represented as an encyclopedic account of ritual instructions (kriyāpāda).—In modern print editions, the Kāmika-āgama is structured in two major parts. The Pūrvabhāga consists of 75 chapters (paṭalas) [...] Chapters 9 to 34 present a general account of the principles and preliminary rites for the construction of temples, houses, buildings, and settlements. [...] Chapters 22 and 23 describe characteristics of astrological phenomena (āyādilakṣaṇa, nakṣatracakra) that are considered favourable and unfavourable for various constructions and ceremonies.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Nakṣatracakra (नक्षत्रचक्र).—

1) the sphere of the fixed stars.

2) the lunar asterisms taken collectively.

Derivable forms: nakṣatracakram (नक्षत्रचक्रम्).

Nakṣatracakra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nakṣatra and cakra (चक्र).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Nakṣatracakra (नक्षत्रचक्र).—n. (-rkra) 1. A particular diagram for astrological calculations 2. The lunar asterisms collectively. E. nakṣatra and cakra a circle.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Nakṣatracakra (नक्षत्रचक्र) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—[tantric] As p. 88. Bd. 964.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Nakṣatracakra (नक्षत्रचक्र):—[=nakṣatra-cakra] [from nakṣatra > nakṣ] n. a [particular] diagram, [Tantrasāra]

2) [v.s. ...] the N°s collectively, [Horace H. Wilson]

3) [v.s. ...] the sphere of the fixed stars, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Nakṣatracakra (नक्षत्रचक्र):—[nakṣatra-cakra] (kraṃ) 1. n. A lunar diagram.

[Sanskrit to German]

Nakshatracakra in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Nakshatra, Cakra.

Full-text: Grahapancaka, Arkendu, Brahmandakharpara, Mantramshaka, Ayadilakshana, Rakshasa.

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