The star cluster '

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

: कृत्तिका, pronounced , popularly

transliterated Transliteration is a type of conversion of a text from one writing system, script to another that involves swapping Letter (alphabet), letters (thus ''wikt:trans-#Prefix, trans-'' + ''wikt:littera#Latin, liter-'') in predictable ways, such as ...

Krittika), sometimes known as Kārtikā, corresponds to the

open star cluster An open cluster is a type of star cluster made of tens to a few thousand stars that were formed from the same giant molecular cloud and have roughly the same age. More than 1,100 open clusters have been discovered within the Milky Way galaxy, and ...

called

Pleiades The Pleiades (), also known as Seven Sisters and Messier 45 (M45), is an Asterism (astronomy), asterism of an open cluster, open star cluster containing young Stellar classification#Class B, B-type stars in the northwest of the constellation Tau ...

in western

astronomy Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and the phenomena that occur in the cosmos. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and their overall evolution. Objects of interest includ ...

; it is one of the clusters which makes up the constellation

Taurus Taurus is Latin for 'bull' and may refer to: * Taurus (astrology), the astrological sign ** Vṛṣabha, in vedic astrology * Taurus (constellation), one of the constellations of the zodiac * Taurus (mythology), one of two Greek mythological ch ...

. In

Indian astronomy Astronomy has a long history in the Indian subcontinent, stretching from History of India, pre-historic to History of India (1947–present), modern times. Some of the earliest roots of Indian astronomy can be dated to the period of Indus Valle ...

and ( Hindu astrology) the name literally translates to "the cutters". Krittika nakshastra

It is also the name of its

goddess A goddess is a female deity. In some faiths, a sacred female figure holds a central place in religious prayer and worship. For example, Shaktism (one of the three major Hinduism, Hindu sects), holds that the ultimate deity, the source of all re ...

-personification, who is a daughter of

Daksha Daksha ( ,) is a Hindu god whose role underwent a significant transformation from Vedic mythology, ''Vedic'' to Itihasa-Purana, ''Itihasa-Puranic'' mythology. In the ''Rigveda'', Daksha is an ''Adityas, aditya'' and is associated with priestly ...

and

Panchajani In Hindu mythology, Asikni (), also known as Panchajani and Virani, is a consort of Daksha in the Puranic pantheon. Most scriptures mention her as the mother of 6000 sons and 60 daughters. Etymology and epithets The Sanskrit word "Asikni" means ...

, and thus a half-sister to

Khyati Khyati () is one of the 24 daughters of Daksha, born to his wife Prasuti. Her father is regarded to have another 62 from his wife Panchajani (Virini).The Matsya Puranam P-I (B.D. Basu) English Translation Ch #5, Page 17 One of his daughters is ...

. Spouse of Kṛttikā is

Chandra Chandra (), also known as Soma (), is the Hindu god of the Moon, and is associated with the night, plants and vegetation. He is one of the Navagraha (nine planets of Hinduism) and Dikpala (guardians of the directions). Etymology and other ...

("moon"). Alternative accounts suggest that Kritika was the name of six celestial women. The six Krittikas who raised the Hindu God

Kartikeya Kartikeya (/Sanskrit phonology, kɑɾt̪ɪkejə/; ), also known as Skanda (Sanskrit phonology, /skən̪d̪ə/), Subrahmanya (/Sanskrit phonology, sʊbɾəɦməɲjə/, /ɕʊ-/), Shanmukha (Sanskrit phonology, /ɕɑnmʊkʰə/) and Murugan ...

are Śiva, Sambhūti, Prīti, Sannati, Anasūya and Kṣamā. In Hindu astrology, is the third of the 27 s. It is ruled by Sun. Under the traditional Hindu principle of naming individuals according to their Ascendant/Lagna , the following

syllables correspond with this , and would belong at the beginning of the first name of an individual born under it: A (अ), I (ई), U (उ) and E (ए).

Cultural and mythological significance

In Vedic literature and Hindu mythology, the Krittika are known as the six mothers or nursemaids of the war god Kartikeya (also known as Skanda or Murugan), who was nurtured by them after being born from the sparks of Lord Shiva’s third eye. The Krittika are identified with the Pleiades star cluster, and their names are often listed as Śiva, Sambhūti, Prīti, Sannati, Anasūya, and Kṣamā in various texts. They are revered as embodiments of maternal care and protective fierceness. In the

Rigveda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' (, , from wikt:ऋच्, ऋच्, "praise" and wikt:वेद, वेद, "knowledge") is an ancient Indian Miscellany, collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canoni ...

and later scriptures, the Krittika are associated with fire rituals (Agnihotra) and purification rites, symbolizing the transformative power of heat and flame. The lunar mansion of Krittika was also significant in Vedic astronomy as the original starting point of the zodiac in some ancient systems.Hopkins, Edward Washburn (1915). ''Epic Mythology''. Strassburg: K.J. Trübner. ISBN 978-8120810422.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krttika Taurus (constellation) Nakshatra Daughters of Daksha Pleiades

Cultural and mythological significance

See also

References