Swathi Nakshatra captured in Bootes Constellation with mobile astrophotography
This Nakshatra is very special for a lot reasons in our household. The first association that comes to mind is with Lord Lakshmi Narasimhar , it is the birthstar of Lakshmi Narasimhar— The Kaatu Azhagiya Singar temple in Srirangam for my parents and grandparents. This Kshetram was a forest thousands of years ago, surrounded by the two rivers- Cauvery in the South and Coloroon in the North, and inhabited only by the rishis and their families. Time and again, wild animals would attack the families of the rishis and consume them for a meal.
While the rishis had the power to burn the animals just by their looks, they would not forego the fruits of their penance by killing these wild animals. Instead they undertook a more severe form of penance invoking the blessings of Lord Narasimha.
Pleased with their prayers, Lord Narasimha appeared here providing darshan to these rishis. As per their request, he stayed here with Goddess Lakshmi protecting the lives of all those who offer their sincere prayers at this place. Just as kaatu azhagiya singar appeared to protect the rishis then, invoking my prayers so that he will protect people who are now attacked by humans itself but are equivalent to animals in their thought process.
Located 200 yards east of the Srirangam Railway Station is the Kaattu Azhagiya Singa Perumal temple (Singa perumal meaning the lord who took the form of lion) in Srirangam. This temple dates back to a period prior to the Srirangam Renganathar temple when this Kshetram was referred to as Velli Thirumutham. Only much later, after the construction of the Ranganatha temple, this place came to be called Thiruvarangam.
Lord Narasimhar is seen in a seated posture facing the West (towards Srirangam Ranganatha temple) with Lakshmi to his left.
As the Lord (Moolavar deity )appeared here in the middle of a forest and stayed back to protect the devotees, he came to be called ‘Kaattu’ (meaning forest) Azhagiya Singar. To read in detail about the Narasimha Avataram of Lord Vishnu, we can find a detailed account of the narration and the unconditional bhakthi practiced by Prahlad in Bhagavatha Purana here .
Swathi Nakshatra belongs to Thula raasi. The 15th star, Swathi Nakshatra, belongs to Deva gana. The nakshatra symbol is a fresh blade of grass.
Let us have a look at the Swathi lunar mansion captured as Arcturus star as part of Bootes Constellation lying in the thula lunar traverse band.
Swathi — α Boötis — Arcturus with magnitude -0.05
With an apparent visual magnitude of −0.05, Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere and the fourth-brightest star in the night sky.
We will see the Vishaka Nakshatra in our next post. Until then, have a great day :-)
