Abhijit (nakshatra)

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Abhijit (Hindi: अभिजित) is a unique nakshatra and the 22nd lunar mansion in the Indian system of 28 nakshatras. It is considered a division within the sidereal Capricorn sign, spanning from the fourth pada of Uttara Ashadha to the first pada of Shravana. Abhijit is the Sanskrit name for Vega, the brightest star in the northern constellation of Lyra. The name Abhijit means "the victorious one" in Sanskrit.

In the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu, in the form of Krishna, tells Uddhava that among the Nakshatras, he is Abhijita, highlighting the auspiciousness of this Nakshatra.^[1]

Abhijita's longitude spans from 06° 40' to 10° 53' 20" in sidereal Capricorn, covering the last quarter of Uttara Ashadha to the initial 1/15th segment of Shravana. As a result, the Abhijita Nakshatra is not a regular Nakshatra with four padas but rather intercalary. It is not as frequently mentioned as other asterisms in Hindu mythology.

Chandra, the moon god, has 27 wives who are Nakshatras, with whom he stays for one day in a sidereal lunar month. Each of the 27 asterisms is feminine and they are sisters, with Abhijita being the only masculine Nakshatra. The Abhijita Nakshatra is considered an auspicious Nakshatra in the Hindu calendar.

• List of Nakshatras