Nakshatrapurusha, Nakṣatrapuruṣa, Nakshatra-purusha: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Nakshatrapurusha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Nakṣatrapuruṣa can be transliterated into English as Naksatrapurusa or Nakshatrapurusha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexNakṣatrapuruṣa (नक्षत्रपुरुष).—A vow in honour of Nārāyaṇa— detailed.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 54. 7-30.
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts: ViśvarūpaBeyond this internal innovation within the Viśvarūpa cult, however, it is clear that this integration of the Star-gods with the Cosmic Viṣṇu would also represent the merging of two traditional conceptions of a multiple deity, namely Viśvarūpa and nakṣatrapuruṣa. In the Bṛhatsaṃhita, Varahamihira’s encyclopaedic Sanskrit text of the 6th century, the conception and worship of the Nakṣatrapuruṣa is described. For ritual purposes, the Puruṣa is to be conceived as anatomically composed of the 28 asterisms.
The worship of this Nakṣatrapuruṣa should commence with the feet in the month of Caitra as the moon passes through the Mula asterism; and be continued when the moon is in Rohini, with the worship of the knees of the Puruṣa, and so forth. The relevant asterism (nakṣatra, dhiṣṇyā) and the god Viṣṇu are to be worshipped together (visnum sampujya dhisnyam ca; kuryat kesavapujanam svavidhina dhisnyasya pujam tatha: Bṛhatsaṃhita 105.6, 8) by those wishing to influence favourably their condition in a future life.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNakṣatrapuruṣa (नक्षत्रपुरुष).—
1) (in astr.) the figure of a man's body on the limbs of which are shown the various asterisms.
Derivable forms: nakṣatrapuruṣaḥ (नक्षत्रपुरुषः).
Nakṣatrapuruṣa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nakṣatra and puruṣa (पुरुष).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nakṣatrapuruṣa (नक्षत्रपुरुष):—[=nakṣatra-puruṣa] [from nakṣatra > nakṣ] m. ([astrology]) a human figure representing the N°s (also -ka)
2) [v.s. ...] a ceremony in which such a figure is worshipped
3) [v.s. ...] Name of [chapter] of the [Vāmana-purāṇa]
[Sanskrit to German]
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: Purusha, Nakshatra.
Starts with: Nakshatrapurushaka, Nakshatrapurushakosha, Nakshatrapurushavrata.
Full-text: Nakshatrapurushavrata, Nakshatrapurushaka, Shivanakshatrapurushavrata, Nakshatrapurushakosha, Brahmahatti.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Nakshatrapurusha, Nakṣatrapuruṣa, Nakshatra-purusha, Naksatrapurusa, Naksatra-purusa, Nakṣatra-puruṣa; (plurals include: Nakshatrapurushas, Nakṣatrapuruṣas, purushas, Naksatrapurusas, purusas, puruṣas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
The Matsya Purana (critical study) (by Kushal Kalita)
Part 4.2d - Nakṣatrapuruṣa-vrata < [Chapter 4 - Religious aspects of the Matsyapurāṇa]
Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)
Religion and Rituals: Vaiṣṇava < [Chapter 5 - Cultural history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]
Vows (Vrata) in the Matsya Purāṇa < [Chapter 5 - Cultural history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]
Karmic Astrology—a Study (by Sunita Anant Chavan)
Part 2.1.3 - Concept of Nakṣatras < [Chapter 2 - Jyotiḥśāstra and the Concept of Karman]