The 28th Nakshatra – Abhijit

There is also a nakshatra called Abhijit that was part of the original nakshatra mandala. Abhijit is 4°13'2o” long and is placed between 6°4o’ and io°53'2o” Capricorn and it was the most auspicious nakshatra during the ancient times. It was such a powerful nakshatra that if an important activity began when the Moon was in Abhijit nakshatra, it guaranteed unparalleled success.

During the Mahabharata3, Shree Krishna came to know that Duryodhana was planning to start a war with five Pandava brothers at a time when the Moon was in Abhijit. He was aware of the power of the Abhijit. The Kauravas were planning to begin Mahabharata when it was Amavasya tithi (New Moon) and the Moon was in Abhijit nakshatra; this day would be an extremely potent one to bring a successful outcome. This combination can only happen when the Sun is in Capricorn and is an unbeatable combination for victory over an enemy.

Shree Krishna knew that if the Kaurava and Duryodhana started Mahabharata on this day, the Pandava would lose, so he removed Abhijit nakshatra from the nakshatra mandala; he wanted to avoid misuse of this auspicious nakshatra. This nakshatra was placed beyond the nakshatra belt and so became an intercalary nakshatra. It remains 6°4o’ to 10° along the side of Uttara Ashadha and 10° to 10° 53'2o” by Shravana.