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Story of Mrigasira Nakshatra - The Birth of Mrigashirsha Nakshatra

Story of the origin of Mrigasira Nakshatra in Hinduism is associated with Lord Shiva. A hunter was hunting in a dense forest. He climbed on a huge tree on the banks of a pond. The leaves of the tree obstructed his vision. So he plucked the leaves from the tree and threw it down.

The tree, on which, the hunter climbed was a bilva tree, sacred to Shiva. The bel leaves that he threw down fell on a Shivling under the tree.


When female deer came to drink water from the pond, the hunter took aim to kill it. The female deer noticed the hunter and asked him to spare her life for a few hours so that she can go home and meet her young ones for the last time.

The hunter permitted the deer to got go home.

He continued to sit on the tree and spend the whole night fasting. To keep himself awake he plucked bilva leaves and threw it down chanting the name of Shiva.

It was a Shivratri night and unknowingly the hunter performed the Shivratri vrat. His mind was filled with mercy, kindness and love.

In the morning, the female deer returned. But the hunter did not kill her and was moved by the honesty of the animal.

Shiva was pleased with the hunter and the deer and took them to heaven.

Both the female deer and the hunter can be seen at night in the sky. This is the Mrigasira Nakshatra.