Aslesha/ Aayilyam star in Cancer / Kataka Zodiac with mobile astrophotography
As promised, back with the nakshatra updates :-)
Aslesha (16.40 Cancer-30.00 Cancer) is ruled by the Serpent God. Aslesha is also known by the name Naga, which relates to the serpent deity. The nakshatra indicates serpentine qualities like clinging, entwining or embracing.
The primary symbol of this asterism is the coiled snake which can even be found in all the ancient civilizations of the world. All civilizations have a cold blooded and deceptive aspect to them, while at the same time they are also insightful, semi divine and carnal.
There is a saying that persons born in Ashlesha Nakshatra possess serpent’s sight that even the look of these persons on others will have the effect of penetration of certain unknown force. In order to escape from such sight, it is the ancient traditional practice that the neighbors grow bamboos on the border or fences of their houses. Probably the bamboos have magnetic power to catch both sight and sound.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (10.16) mentions story of powerful Naga named Kāliya. As per mythology, Kāliya had made his home at the lake near Vrindavan (Krishna’s place) fearing Garuda. However, his toxicity made the lake poisonous killing several animals nearby. Hence Lord Krishna challenged Kāliya and evicted him. This made him into the hydra constellation is a popular mythological belief in India.
Let us look at the δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae which is popularly accepted as Aslesha captured in the night sky.
σ Hydrae, also named Minchir is a solitary star . It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.48. That one other star that is visible is delta hydrae.
We will see Magha nakshatra captured in Simha Raasi in our next post. Have a great day :-)
