Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s20.21

v1.c3.s20.21

On the other hand, the names of at least three of the Nakṣatras in the later sense occur in the Rigveda. Tiṣya,¹² however, does not seem to be mentioned as a lunar mansion. With Aghās (plur.) and Arjunī (dual)¹³ the case is different: it seems probable that they are the later lunar mansions called Maghās (plur.) and Phalguni (dual). The names appear to have been deliberately changed in the Rigveda, and it must be remembered that the hymn in which they occur, the wedding hymn of Sūryā, has no claim to great age.¹⁴ Ludwig¹⁵ and Zimmer¹⁶ have seen other references to the Nakṣatras as 27 in the Rigveda,¹⁷ but these seem most improbable. Nor do the adjectives revatī (‘rich’) and punarvasū (‘bringing wealth again’) in another hymn¹⁸ appear to refer to the Nakṣatras.