Ashlesha

For the star named after the nakshatra, see Epsilon Hydrae.

Ashlesha (Sanskrit: आश्लेषा or Āśleṣā; Tibetan: སྐར་མ་སྐག), meaning "the embrace", is the 9th of the 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions) in Indian astronomy and astrology. It corresponds to a group of stars in the constellation Hydra: δ, ε, η, ρ, and σ Hydrae. The main star (yogatara) is ε Hydrae, which has the modern name Ashlesha after the nakshatra.^[1]

It is also known as Ayilyam in Tamil and Malayalam (Tamil: ஆயில்யம், Malayalam: ആയില്യം, Āyilyaṃ). Ashlesha is also known as the Clinging Star or Nāga.^{[2][better source needed]} It extends from 16:40 to 30:00 in Cancer.^{[3][better source needed]}

The planetary lord is Mercury or Budha. Its presiding deities are the Nāgas.^[4] The nakshatra's symbol is a coiled serpent. It is a trikshana or three eyed. Its animal symbol is the male cat Gana (Rakshasa), Dosha (Kapha).^[5]

See also

• List of Nakshatras

References

1. "Ashlesha (आश्लेषः)". All Skies Encyclopaedia. IAU Working Group on Star Names. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
2. "Ashlesha Nakshatra | Ashlesha Nakshatra Chacertistics (Ashlesha Nakshatra Career)". Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
3. "Ashlesha nakshatra". 19 December 2009.
4. "Characteristics based on Nakshatras". Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
5. "ashlesha". Retrieved 6 November 2016.