The Nakshatra Vivaha Mantra is a set of Vedic and Puranic incantations used to ritually marry the Moon (Chandra) to the 27 nakshatras, or lunar mansions. This ceremony is described in the Puranas, notably the Matsya Purana (Chapter 129) and the Padma Purana (Srishti Khanda, Chapter 12), where the Moon is said to have married the 27 daughters of Daksha Prajapati, the personified nakshatras. The mantras are primarily drawn from the Jyotisha tradition and are chanted during astrological rituals to harmonize lunar influences.
The core beej-akshara is 'Nakṣatra' (नक्षत्र), which phonetically combines 'na' (earth element) and 'kṣa' (space element), symbolizing the union of material and celestial realms. Each nakshatra has a specific mantra, but the collective invocation 'Om Nakshatrabhyo Namah' is common. The purpose is to seek blessings for marital harmony, fertility, and astrological compatibility.
According to the Brihat Samhita (Chapter 98), chanting these mantras 108 times during the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) in a sacred space, preferably near a water body, aligns the couple's stars. The ritual setting includes a mandala with 27 lamps representing the nakshatras, and the chanting is done by a qualified priest. Cautions: These mantras should not be chanted during eclipses or inauspicious lunar phases, as per the Jyotisha texts.
They are traditionally performed before marriage to mitigate doshas (flaws) in the couple's horoscopes. The Nakshatra Vivaha is also a standalone puja for those seeking to strengthen their marital bond, as described in the Devi Mahatmya (Chapter 11) where the goddess is praised as the embodiment of all nakshatras.
Salutations to the lunar mansions (nakshatras).
The mantra contains the seed 'Nakṣatra' (नक्षत्र), where 'na' (earth element) and 'kṣa' (space element) symbolize the union of material and celestial realms.