Animal Symbols of the Nakshatras

The animal symbols of the nakshatras are full of deep meanings and esoteric significance. In most books, the animal symbols are only given in connection with the sexual compatibility of the nakshatras in the kuta system of relationship compatibility.

Nakshatras animal symbols
But if you really think about their deeper significance, you start unravelling a fascinating picture, not just about the nakshatras but also of their behaviour pattern. The animal connected to the nakshatras will give indication of the personality, behaviour pattern, and relationship with other nakshatras not just from a sexual point of view, but the more spiritual connection.
The nakshatras are divided into female and male animal energies. The male nakshatra is the more dynamic nakshatra; the female nakshatra is passive one. The purpose of this article is to look beyond the sexual comparisons that most of the text use the animal symbols and study the deeper meaning of the animal symbolism of the nakshatras.

In ancient texts, the explanation were kept short or just basic as the writers presumed that these books were studied with the help of a teacher and it was left to the teachers to unlock the deeper meanings. The texts were used as guides to the teachers so that they covered the whole thing. In this way, the seers protected the sacred knowledge from falling into the wrong hands. There is a lot written about the nakshatras, their symbolism, gunas, doshas etc., but most of it is unexplained.

Here we will try to decipher what the seers meant by linking each nakshatra to a particular animal sign. The aim of this article is to open the minds to understanding the depth of knowledge a keyword word expresses.

The nakshatra animal signs are

Male

Female

Animal
Symbol

Ashwini

Shatabishak

Horse

Bharani

Revati

Elephant

Pushya

Krittika

Sheep

Rohini

Mrigsira

Serpent

Moola

Ardra

Dog

Ashlesha

Punarvasu

Cat

Magha

Purva
Phalguni

Rat

Uttara
Phalguni

Uttara
Bhadra

Cow

Swati

Hasta

Buffalo

Vishakha

Chitra

Tiger

Jyeshtha

Anuradha

Hare

Purva
Ashadha

Shravana

Monkey

Purva
Bhadra

Dhanishtha

Lion

Uttara
Ashadha

Mongoose