xvardag-mrinh

calculation of Asterisms (lunar mansions)

The groups of stars in the moons observed path in the heaven were

known to the Perso-Aryans1; they are called in Prsg xvardag. We

know four lists of the lunar mansions in Prsg, Sogdian, Xvrazmian,

and Persian.

Prsg

The Bundahin 25-26 gives the names of the asterisms in a Pzand

transcription: k-n hambaxinh ped vst-u-haft xvardag-mrinh

k-n nm n ast the same (ecliptic) is divided into twenty-seven2

asterisms (lunar mansions) whose names are these: The

manuscripts do not agree with each other for some names; moreover,

the Pzand names are so corrupt that no reliance can be placed upon

them, and the first step towards recovering the true Pahlavi names

would be to transliterate the Pzand back into Pahlavi characters.3

However, the names of some lunar mansions are given in Hmdibrh

(Pahlavi characters) in the Bundahin and the third book of the

Dnkird, ch. 419.

Sogdian

Brn gives the list of Sogdian lunar mansions in Arabic script.4 A

Sogdian manuscript from Turfan, contains the same list in Sogdian

script (M 549); however, the text is damaged and only a few words are

legible. The number of the xvardag is taken as 28 by both texts (ii

qmbyy xxx ptmyrtyy ). However, Brns list begins with prwy

corresponding to the first nakatra in the Vedic list, i.e. Kttik, while

the other list begins with by corresponding to the nakatra Avin.5

Xvrazmian

1 . The Avesta book on astronomy was called Naxtar starry night. This book

was lost after the onslaught of Alexander. 2 . According to the short Bundahin the number of the asterisms is 28; however

it mentions 27 names. 3 . E.W. West, Pahlavi Texts, I (SBE, v, 1880), 11.

4 .11 :11 ." "

5 . W.B. Henning, An Astronomical Chapter of the Bundahishn , JRAS, 1942,

243.

As to the lunar mansions with the Xvrazmians Brn says that:

They were in the habit of using the mansions of the moon and

deriving from them the rules. The names of the mansions in their

language they have preserved, but (now) those who made use of them,

who knew how to observe them and how to draw conclusions from

them, have died out. Their using the lunar mansions is clearly proved

by the fact that in the Xvrazmian dialect an astronomer is called

xrwynyk, i.e. looking to the lunar mansions, for x(y)r6 means a

mansion of the moon. They used to distribute these stations over the

twelve signs of the Zodiac, for which they also had special names in

their language.7 In a Sogdian manuscript from Mt. Mug (Freman,

1938) we find a list of lunar mansions, called nrn mk stars of the

moon; this list is identical with the Xvrazmian list given by Brn.8

Persian

A Prs fragment gives a list of the xvardag in Persian, in a corrupt

state.9 In the beginning it is said that :

The 28 constellations which are called xvardag (in) Astronomy, are

the creatures of Ahura Mazd, and there is (nothing) of Ara Mainyu

in them. The figures of these 28 constellations are like angels; they are

luminous, and have control over the whole world of life.

Then it gives the names of the lunar mansions in both versions,

Pzand (Bd.) and Persian, and their Arabic equivalents.

In the following we try to give the transcription of the Prsg names

of the xvardag.

1 Paz. padvar10/ (Bd), (Dk).11

6 . xyr (xr, xyr) comes from xvar(a)- and means sun. Brn possibly speaks

of nxr < *anxara- star, fixed star (cf. Sogd. nr/ nxr; nxr-wzn/ xrwzn zodiac) 7 . The Chronology of Ancient Nations, E. Sachau, London, 1879, 226. (

11 :11-11 ) 8 . A.A. , ,

, , 1962, 46-60. See also Henning, op.cit., 242. 9 . R.VIII.1.B, folio 370 (Library of the Cama Oriental Institute, Mumbai). I have

published it in 1995:

There is also another Persian list in the restn Cahrcaman. 10

padevar DH, K20, padaevar R, padaivr M67.

R

The first xvardag may be read /pedispar/ or /perispar/ (it may be

derived from paiti-spara- counter-shield). It corresponds to Skt.

Avayujau (or, Avin).12

The 27th

xvardag in Brns list is , corresponding to Arab.

. The corresponding Xvarazmian name is rywnd /rvand/ (Sogd.

M 549 rywndyy /rvand/ is 26th in Brns list, . Skt. Revat is

26th

in the Vedic list, and 27th

in another list which starts with Avin.)

2 Paz. pparvz/ (Bd).13

The second xvardag is called Pparvz or Pparvn, that is, the

asterism that precedes Parvz Pleiades.14 It corresponds to Skt.

Apabhara (or, Bhara).

The 28th

xvardag in Brns list is 15 , corresponding to Arab.

. The corresponding Xvrazmian name of the asterism is .

3 Paz. parvz/ (Bd).16

The third xvardag is called Parvz or Parvn17; it can be identified

with Av. paoryain pl. f. Pleiades (Pat Prne id.). It

corresponds to Skt. kttik.

The 1st x

vardag in Sogdiano-X

varazmian, according to Brns list,

is , corresponding to Arab. .

4 Paz. pah18

The fourth xvardag is called /pah/ or pahak (Av. pasu-,

pasuka- small cattle).19 It corresponds to Skt. Rohi red cow,

cow.

12

. This double pronunciation is not rare in Prsg, for example pedimr/ perimr reckoning.

13 R

14 . According to Behramgore T. Anklesaria the Upa-paoir of the Titar Yat 12

seems to correspond to the Pparvz of the Bundahin. Asterisms in Iranian Literature, The K.R. Cama Memorial Volume, Bombay, 1900, 220. See also Henning, op. cit., 247. But Av. upa is rendered by Pers. (ped) abar. Pers. p-parvn could render Av. *paurva.paoiryain-.

15 . Sogd. pr(w) after. However, there is another prw that means before (Av.

Paurva-, OPers. paruva-), cf. prwcyk former.

R

18 . paha K20 ; pah R.

R 19

. It seems to be a corrupt form of , or following after.

Anklesaria, 221. See also Brn:

The second xvardag in Sogdiano-X

varazmian, according to Brns

list, is (prprw), corresponding to Arab. . In the Sogdian

manuscript from Mt. Mug the name of this asterism is written prprwk

(pr-prw/ pr-prwk following upon the Pleiades).

5 Paz. azesar (DH)/ avesar (K20)20

The fifth xvardag is called Abesar crown, or less likely Azsar

goats head21. It corresponds to Skt. Mgaira antelopes head.

The third xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is 22 (Sogd. mrz

workman), corresponding to Xvar. , and Arab. .

6 Paz. ban/ bn, (Bd)23

The sixth xvardag is called Ban.24 The corresponding Sanskrit

asterism is called rdr (rdra- adj. wet, moist).

The fourth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is (Sogd. mrz

workman), corresponding to Xvar. , and Arab. .

7 Paz. raxva / raja (DH), (Dk)

25

The form may be read Rsan (Av. urvsn- name of a plant).

If the Pazand form Raxva be right, it may refer to the river Harax

vait.

However, the original form could be [lyt'], possibly a mere

transcription of Av. riti- gift.26 The corresponding Sanskrit asterism

is called Punarvasu (punar-vasu- adj. restoring goods).

The fifth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is , corresponding to

Xvar. , and Arab. .

8 Paz. taraha/ tarha (TD1), (Bd)27

R

21 . I read azsar, taking it to mean the rams head ; cf. with the Skt.

(=:). Anklesaria, 221-222

R

Mobad Manekji Rustamji Unwala has in his possession an old MS. Persian

Dictionary named , written in 764 A.Y.; it contains the Persian

names of the asterisms rarely to be met with elsewhere. Most of the names seem to

be corrupt scriptions of the Pahlavi asterisms. The sixth asterism is there named ,

auspicious. Anklesaria, 222 24

. 1ban height ; stature ; top (Av. barnu-) ; 2ban idol; 3ban/ bu mane.

25 .R

26 . M. Boyce read it Raht.

27 .R

The eighth xvardag is called Triag. The corresponding Sanskrit

asterism is Tiya or Puya. Note that Vedic tiya- comes from *titri

a- (Av. titrya-).

The sixth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is , corresponding to

Xvar.

28, and Arab. .

9 Paz. azara/ avara (DH), (Bd)29

The ninth xvardag is called Abarag above; north. The

corresponding Sanskrit asterism is re/ le.

The seventh xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is ,

corresponding to Xvar.

30, and Arab. . Sogd.-Xvar. xmry/

xmly may come from ham-sri to put together(Av. hm.sri), and

then is cognate with the Sanskrit word.

10 Paz. nahn31

The tenth xvardag is called Nax

v/ Nox top, beginning. The

corresponding Sanskrit asterism is Magh.

The eighth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is ( Skt. magh),

corresponding to Xvar. , and Arab. .

11 Paz. man/ min (K20)32

The eleventh xvardag is called Meyn middle, center. The

corresponding Sanskrit asterism is (Prva-)Phalgun.

The ninth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is , corresponding to

Xvar. (m in the Sogdian manuscript from Mt. Mug), and Arab.

.

12 Paz. avdm33

The twelfth xvardag is called Abdum last; end. The corresponding

Sanskrit asterism is (Uttara-)Phalgun.

The tenth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is , corresponding to

Xvar. , and Arab. .

13 Paz. mha/ maha (K20)34

28

. jyry is the name of the 13th

day of the month in Brns list. The same day is called tyry in the document from Tok-kala.

29 .R

30 .

31 .R

32 .R

33 .R

The thirteenth xvardag is called May/ Mahrb (from Av. *maya-

vohu- good man). The corresponding Sanskrit asterism is Hasta.

The eleventh xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is 35 ,

corresponding to Xvar. , and Arab. .

14 Paz. spur, 36

(Dk)37

The fourteenth xvardag is called Spurr complete, entire (from *us-

prna-), or Spul (Av. sprzan- spleen). The corresponding

Sanskrit asterism is Citr.

The twelfth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is 38 , corresponding

to Xvar. (wprn in the Sogdian manuscript from Mt. Mug),

and Arab. .

15 Paz. husru39

The fifteenth xvardag is called Husrav (Av. hu-sravah- adj.

famous). The corresponding Sanskrit asterism is Svti.

The thirteenth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is ,

corresponding to Xvar. (strwk or trwk in the Sogdian

manuscript from Mt. Mug), and Arab. .

16 Paz. sri/ srb (K20)40

The sixteenth xvardag is called Sr/ Sry (Av. sr-, srv- horn;

claw. In Avesta there is a fixed star called hapta.sr). The

corresponding Sanskrit asterism is Vikh.

The fourteenth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is ,

corresponding to Xvar. , and Arab. .

41

17 Paz. nur/ nor (DH)42

The seventeenth xvardag is called Var (Av. varah- breast,

chest)43. The corresponding Sanskrit asterism is Anurdh.

34

. R

35

36

. -spw- (cf. /harvisp/). 37

.R 38

39

.R 40

.R

42

. R 43

. Cf. Arab. )(

The fifteenth xvardag in Brns list is , corresponding to

Xvar. , and Arab. .

18 Paz. glw44

The eighteenth xvardag is called Dil (Av. zrd- heart). The

corresponding Sanskrit asterism is Jyeh.

The sixteenth Sogd.-Xvar. asterism in Brns list is ,

corresponding to Arab. .45

19 Paz. grafa46

The nineteenth xvardag is called Draf(ag) (Av. drafa- drop,

droplet; banner). The corresponding Sanskrit asterism is Mla/

Victau.

The seventeenth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is

(mn-sdwys: sdwys < Av. Satavasa), corresponding to Xvar.

(rnt in the Sogdian manuscript from Mt. Mug), and Arab. 47 .

20 Paz. varat48

The twentieth xvardag is called Vanand

49 (Av. vanat-). Notice

that the 20th

Sogdian xvardag in Brns list is calld Vanand. The

corresponding Sanskrit asterism is Ah/ Prvh.

The eighteenth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is ,

corresponding to Xvar. , and Arab. .

21 Paz. g, (Dk)50

The twenty-first xvardag is called Gv (Av. gao-/ gu- cow, ox).

The corresponding Sanskrit asterism is Ah/ Uttarh.

The nineteenth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is 51 ,

corresponding to Xvar.

52, and Arab. .

22 Paz. g/ go (K20)53

44

.R 45

46

.R 47

48

.R

49 . Vanand is written by in the Bundahin 504.

50 .R

51

53

.R

The twenty-second xvardag is called Jg (Av. yaoa- bond; yoke).

The corresponding Sanskrit asterism is Abhijit.

The twentieth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is ,

corresponding to Xvar. , and Arab. .

23 Paz. muri/ muru (K20)54

The twenty-third xvardag is called Murv (Av. mra- bird). The

corresponding Sanskrit asterism is ravaa.

The twenty-first xvardag in Brns Sogd-Xvar. list is ,

corresponding to Arab. .

24 Paz. bunza/ bunda (TD1, K20)55

The twenty-fourth xvardag is called Banz(ag)/ Bang (banz/ bang

henbane, hemp56). The corresponding Sanskrit asterism is ravih/

Dhanih.

The twenty-second xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is ,

corresponding to Xvar. (stmy in the Sogdian manuscript from

Mt. Mug)57

, and Arab. .

25 Paz. kahtsar58

The twenty-fifth xvardag is called Kahtsar the head of Kaht (Pers.

/kaht, kt/ kahas channel, sewer). The corresponding Sanskrit

asterism is atabhiaj/ atatrak.

The twenty-third xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is 59 ,

corresponding to Xvar. (stmy in the Sogdian manuscript from

Mt. Mug), and Arab. .

26 Paz. kahtmyn/ vaht.miyn (K20)60

The twenty-sixth xvardag is called Kahtmeyn the middle of

Kaht. The corresponding Sanskrit asterism is (Prva-)Prohapad/

(Prva-)Bhadrapad.

54

.R 55

.R56

. Cf. Bd 43 mang baz k ast banz xvned. 57

. Cf. Skt. atabhiaj. 58

.R 59

60

.

R

The twenty-fourth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is (M

549: [frwx]p), corresponding to Xvar. (rwt in the

Sogdian manuscript from Mt. Mug), and Arab. .

27 Paz. kaht61

The twenty-seventh xvardag is called Kaht. The corresponding

Sanskrit asterism is (Uttara-)Prohapad/ (Uttara-)Bhadrapad.

The twenty-fifth xvardag in Brns Sogdian list is (M 549:

prw frwxp), corresponding to Xvar. (prwrwt in the Sogdian

manuscript from Mt. Mug), and Arab. .

The Bundahin and the Dnkird give some information about the

Xvardag :

Bd 30 az avn axtarn tzravindar hend: titar ud ban ud triag ud abarag ud pedispar ud pparvz.

Among the fixed stars the following move quicker (than others):

Titar, Ban, Triag, Abarag, Pedispar, and Pparvz.

Bd 72 cn gbed k: axtarn bcihrag ud zamgcihrag ud

urvarcihrag hend. avn bcihragn titar ud triag ud abarag ud

pedispar ud pparvz ud a strag k parvz xvnend, avn

bsardagn. hn zamgcihr haftring ud mx meyn asmn,

avn zamgsardagn. hn urvarcihrag abrg jud az avn.

As it says: Fixed stars are af.cira (containing the seed of

water/ rain), zmas.cira (containing the seed of earth),

urvar.cira (containing the seed of plant). The afcira stars are:

Titar, Triag, Abarag, Pedispar, Pparvz, and the six stars that are

called Parvz. The zmas.cira stars are: Haftring, and the Peg in the

Centre of the Sky. The other (stars) are urvar.cira.

Dk iii, 419 M403sl zaman-vihzagg az sln vas ham-baved, z

abargr az rz abg hangmn sl cahr handxtag. sl hangm

bun vahr, hn ka xvard fradum xvardag varrag ast perispar

rased, u- se mh hn ka xvard ped varrag gv dopehikar axtar-z

raved xv. M404u- didgar hmin hn ka xvard fradum xvardag

karzang axtar rased ast rd, u- se mh hn ka xvard ped karzang

ud agr ud hag axtar yed . sidgar pdz hn ka xvard

fradum xvardag tarzg ast spurr rased, u- se mh hn

ka xvard ped tarzg ud gazdum ud nmasp axtar raved xv. ud

cahrum abdum zimestn hn ka xvard fradum xvardag vahg

61

.R

gv xvnend rased, u- se mh hn ka ped vahg ud dol ud mhg

axtar raved xv.

The year with moving hours, which are produced from several

years, has its superior power in this that the days are fixed with the

four seasons of the year. The origin of the seasons of the year is

spring, when the sun reaches the first asterism of (the constellation of)

Aries, that is Persipar; and three months belong to it, when the sun

goes through the constellations of Aries, Taurus, and Gemini. The

second (season) is summer, when the sun reaches the first asterism of

the constellation of Cancer, that is Rd; and three months belong to it,

when the sun goes through the constellations of Cancer, Leo, and

Virgo. The third (season) is autumn, when the sun reaches the first

asterism of (the constellation of) Libra, that is Spurr; and three months

belong to it, when the sun goes through the constellations of Libra,

Scorpio, and Sagittarius. The fourth and last (season) is winter, when

the sun reaches the first asterism of Capricornus, which is called Gv;

and three seasons belong to it, when the sun goes through the

constellations of Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces.

As we see, the above system of the stellar xvardag consists of

twenty-seven equal parts, each xvardag has 13 20' of space, and when

the sun, the moon, or a planet is between 0 and 13 20' in longitude,

it is said to be in the first xvardag Pedispar, and so on.

Longitudes of the ending-points of the Xvardag

1 Pedispar 13 20'

2 P-Parvz 26 40'

3 Parvz 40 0

4 Pah(ak) 53 20'

5 Abesar 66 40'

6 Ban 80 0

7 Rd 93 20'

8 Triag 106 40'

9 Abarag 120 0

10 Naxv 133 20'

11 Meyn 146 40'

12 Abdum 160 0

13 May 173 20'

14 Spurr 186 40'

15 Husrav 200 0

16 Sry 213 20'

17 Var 226 40'

18 Dil 240 0

19 Draf(ag) 253 20'

20 Vanand 266 40'

21 Gv 280 0

22 Jg 293 20'

23 Murv 306 40'

24 Banz(ag) 320 0

25 Kahtsar 333 20'

26 Kahtmeyn 346 40'

27 Kaht 360 0

This list of twenty seven xvardag, begins with the vernal equinox,

and the four cardinal points of it are Pedispar, Rd, Spurr, and Gv,

representing the beginnings of the four seasons. Notice that the

asterism Gv (cow) coincides with the month Mira in the ancient

Persian calendar, which is in the beginning of the winter.

Raham Asha