[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v1.c3.s20.115 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s20.115 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s20.115 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.s20.115](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s20.115) 13. Svātī or Niṣṭyā is later clearly the brilliant star Arcturus or a Bootis, its place in the north being assured by the notice in the Śāntikalpa,⁸³ where it is said to be ‘ever traversing the northern way’ (\*nityam uttara-mārgagam\*). The Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa,⁸⁴ however, constructs an asterismal Prajāpati, giving him Citrā (a Virginis) for head, Hasta (Corvus) for hand, the Viśākhe (a and β Libræ) for thighs, and the Anurādhās (β, δ, and π Scorpionis) for standing place, with Niṣṭyā for heart. But Arcturus, being 30° out, spoils this figure, while, on the other hand, the Arabic and Chinese systems have respectively, instead of Arcturus, ι, κ, and λ Virginis and κ Virginis, which would well fit into the Prajāpati figure. But in spite of the force of this argument of Weber’s,⁸⁵ Whitney⁸⁶ is not certain that Niṣṭyā here must mean a star in Virgo, pointing out that the name Niṣṭyā, ‘outcast,’ suggests the separation of this Nakṣatra from the others in question. - [Previous: v1.c3.s20.114](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s20.114) - [Next: v1.c3.s20.116](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s20.116) - [Up: v1.c3.s20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s20) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s20.115](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s20.115) · Pramāṇa