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APPENDIX
TISHYA NAKSHTRA & K
Why so much importance is attached to the Tishya Asterism—the Tishya day, in the inscriptions of Asoka ? Presumably, no such importance would have been attached if it had not a special significance in the life of Asoka. The Tishya days are the days on which the moon, in her monthly course, is in conjunction with the Tishya Nakshatra, situated entirely within the Cancer. There is another Lunar Constellation, viz., the Punarvasu, mentioned in PE V. The Punarvasu days are those on which the moon, in her monthly course, is in conjunction with the Punarvasu Nakshatra, forming a group of five stars---four situated within the Gemini and one within the Cancer. These two Nakshatras find mention successively in two contexts in PE V-the first for castration and the second for branding oxen, goats, rams and boars. Among the special days, on which Kautilyal prohibits castration and branding, are included the day of the birth star (Jāta-nakshatra) of the conqueror or the national star (Deśa-nakshatra) i.e. the Star of the conquest itself. As regards the release of prisoners, which is the subject matter of PE V, Kautilya* prescribes the day of the King's birth star and also that of the acquisition of a new country among proper occasions. As Asoka specifies only a regnal year in connection with each jail delivery, we may not be concerned here with the stars associated with other occasions as mentioned by Kautilya. But the star of coronation (Rāja-nakshatra) cannot be less important to a reigning king, than his birth star, especially
1. Arth, XIII, 5. 2, Ibid, II, 36.
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