s. m, Corrupted from the Sanskrit word Nakshatra. A star, a horoscope; a lunar mansion or constellation in the moon's path; an asterism; besides the common division of the Zodiac into twelve signs, the Hindus divide it into twenty-seven Nachhattars, two and a quarter of which are included in each sign. In the later Astrology twenty-eight are counted, distinct in name, figure and number of stars. They are—1. Sravistha or Dhanistha, 2. Satabhishaj, 3. Purva Bhadrapada, 4. Uttra Bhadrapada, 5. Revati, 6. Asvini, 7. Bharani, 8. Krittika, 9. Rohini or Brahmi, 10. Mriga Siras or Agranayani, 11. Ardra, 12. Punarvasu or Yamakan, 13. Pushya or Sidhya. 14. Aslesha, 15. Magha, 16. Purva Phalguni, 17. Uttra Phalguni, 18. Hasta, 19. Chitra, 20. Svati, 21. Visakha or Radha, 22. Anuradha, 23. Jyeshtha, 24. Mula, 25. Purva Ashadha, 26. Uttra Ashadha, 27. Abhijit. 28. Sravana.
The names of various months are derived from these Nachhattars, thus Magh, Phaggun, Chet, Vaisakh, Jeth, Har, Sawan, Bhadron, Assu, Kattak, Magar and Poh.