Agni Purāṇa
136 - The diagram of asterisms indicating the period for undertaking a journey
The Lord said:
1-6. Ishall describe the diagram indicating good or bad results in journey undertaken. A diagram consisting of three columnsshould be drawn and (the asterisms) Aśhvini etc.should be represented therein (by their first letters). (The asterisms) Aśhvini, Ardra, Pūrvå (phälguni), Uttaraphålguni, Hasta, Jyeshtha, Mula, Varuna (Satabhisak) and Ajaikapat (Pürvabhadrapada) consist of first column. (The asterisms) Yämya (Bharaṇī), Mrugasira, Pushya, Bhagya (Pūrvaphālguni), Chitra, Maitra (Anurādhā), Apya (Pūrvāshādha), Väsava (Jyeshtha) and Ahirbudhanya (Uttarabhadrapada) (are located in the second column). (The asterisms) Kruttika, Rohiņi, Ahiḥ (Āśleshā) Chitra, Svathi, Vishakha, Sravaņa and Revathi are located in the third (column). Oneshould know the good or bad results from the asterisms associated with three columns. This is known as the diagram of phaniśvara (lord of serpents) divided into three columns. The presence in Sun, Mars, Saturn and Rahu (the ascending node) indicate bad luck and the rest good luck. The position is the same, such as the country or village, the brothers and wife indicate good. The twentyseven asterismsshould be known as (represented by letters) a, bha, kr, ro, mr, å, pu, pu, å, ma, pū, u, ha, ci, svā, vi, a, jye, mū, pů, u, sra, dha, śa, pū, u and re.
Summary of chapter 136 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
The wheel of the twenty-seven nakṣatras and their ritual applications are detailed. Agni maps each nakṣatra to a presiding deity, a body of Kāla-puruṣa, an associated tree (vṛkṣa), a colour, and a quality relevant to muhūrta selection. The text explains how the Moon's transit through each nakṣatra determines the auspiciousness of weddings, travel, planting, and commerce. A nakṣatra-cakra drawn on auspicious occasions serves as the basis for annual phala-vicāra. The chapter connects nakṣatra-knowledge directly to the householder's ritual calendar.
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