Planets and 27 Nakshatras

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At 08:21 PM 12/29/03 -0000, Average Man wrote:

 

>In ancient times when this Sanskrit verse was written, the location

>of the nakshatras was determined by the Pleiades group of stars. The

>first nakshatra was allotted the sun as lord with the moon, mars,

>Rahu (ascending node or dragon's head), jupiter, saturn, mercury,

>descending node or dragon tail, & venus were given to the nakshatras

>in that order. These lords are repeated three times throughout the

>zodiac making a total of 27 nakshatras,a systematic arrangement.

 

Average Man,

 

You really discussed two topics in your post, so I'll reply in two separate

posts. I am interested in your quote about the ruling planets and the

nakshatras because I believed that the **origin** of giving the nine ruling

planets to the nakshatras was lost. I have three questions:

 

(1) What is the text and what is the sloka number that says the 27

nakshatras begin with the Pleiades? (We know this is true, but it would be

nice to have the reference.)

 

(2) What is the earliest text and sloka number that mentions 27 nakshatras

rather than 28 asterisms? At some time 28 asterisms became 27 nakshatras in

India.

 

(3) What is the earliest text and the sloka number that lists the nine

ruling planets beginning with Ketu (Moon's south node) for Ashvini (first

nakshatra of Aries)?

 

In a separate post I'll reply to your ayanamsa question.

 

Thank you,

Therese