Shravanaश्रवण

Shravana is the twenty-second nakshatra and fills the section of Capricorn from 10 degrees to 23 degrees 20 minutes. The word comes from the root for hearing, which is why the symbol is an ear. Three footprints are also given, recalling the three strides of Vishnu. The nakshatra is easy to find in the sky because its three stars in Aquila form a short line.

Vishnu is the deity, in his form as Trivikrama. In the Vamana avatar he asks King Bali for three paces of land and then stretches his body to cover the worlds, a story told in the Bhagavata Purana. The Moon is the planetary lord and the gana is Deva. In Kerala, Thiruvonam, the day of Shravana nakshatra in the month of Chingam, is the date of the Onam festival. Hearing sacred knowledge, shruti, is the founding image of the Vedic tradition.

For muhurat Shravana is one of the chara or movable nakshatras alongside Punarvasu, Swati, Dhanishta and Shatabhisha. Texts traditionally suggest the group for travel and for activities that involve motion or transmission. The syllables commonly listed for naming are Khi, Khu, Khe and Kho. Because a family priest may follow a different list, confirm before choosing a name.