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Among the western scholars Max Muller was the first to look at the importance given to Abhijeet in the Indian canonical texts and why its place as a separate Nakshatra has been discontinued. Another western scholar tried to show that the Abhijeet Nakshatra was used as the 28th Nakshsatra only from time to time as the Moon spends slightly more than 27 days (and not exactly one day stay) in each of the 27 Nakshatra, when 27 Nakshatra are considered. Whatever be the reason it is known that in the past the Abhijeet Nakshatra was in use in Astronomy. So it may be that Abhijeet could have been used intermittently as a separate Raashi and at other times it was part of the Brahm Raashi, which had both the Abhijeet Nakshata and the Shravan Nakshatra. When its use as a separate Nakshatra was abandoned it became a part of the Brahmaraashi, which eventually came to be called the Makar Raashi (Capricorn Sign). 

First of all, Abhijeet as such is not counted in 27 standard Nakshatra. It is a certain time of the day which is regarded as Abhijeet Nakshatra. It is 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after 12.00 pm - 30 minutes Nakshatra or Muhoort.

Abhijeet is not a star, other wise it will add to 27 stars (Nakshatra). Angaarak in Makar Raashi exalts in Dhanishthaa at 286 + Degrees Abhijeet star plays a small role and for a very short time. In that time, that is after Tiruvonam, for a short time, the time is most auspicious to consider the time as most auspicious Muhoort. If one is born in Abhijeet Lagna and at that time, in astrology, it has no specific Dashaa as sandwiched between Tiruvonam and Dhanishthaa Nakshtra.

In the Ashtottari Dashaa reckoning, it is treated no differently than other stars.
Rohini Ranjan

Written by Sunil, K B in AIA Group, quoted by Rahul Gupta, Jan 19. 2013
Ved Vyaas Jee wrote the Mahaabhaarat after Krishn had gone to His Lok and at that time the Paandav too gave their kingdom to Pareekshit and went to the forest. Mahaabhaarat clearly said that the constituent Nakshatra of the Brahm Raashi were Shravan and Abhijeet. But the Bhaagavat Puraan (which was written immediately after writing Mahaabhaarat) and even other Puraan also do not mention the Brahm Raashi. It is because of the fall of the Abhijeet Nashatra that Brahm Raashi gave way to the Makar Raashi, which has part of Uttaraa Aashaadhaa, whole of Shravan and part of Dhanisthaa. Thus the fall of Abhijeet is absolutely clear.

Now the question is where did Abhijeet go. One suggestion put forward by Vartak and like-minded people about the fall of Abhijeet is that it fell to become the Pole star. The most plausible statement is that a dying nebula was seen up to the Mahaabhaarat times in the place ascribed to Abhijeet and that must have been nothing but Abhijeet.

Story of Fallen Abhijeet Nakshatra
There is a story when Lord Krishn removed the Abhijeet Nakshatra from the sky, as unscrupulous people were misusing the powerful Abhijeet Nakshatra. According to some, however, the Abhijeet was a supernova seen till the time of the Mahaabhaarat war. The fall of Abhijeet and Revatee could have been almost at the same time (see also Fallen Nakshatra). Once Abhijeet fell there could have been uncertainty regarding the role of the Yog Taaraa Revatee. It could be that the sage Pramucha reaffirmed the position of Revatee as the Yog Taaraa, where the zodiac begins and ends. Then the preceding 1/27th of the ecliptic was given to Revatee Nakshatra as its span.

(2) Maharshi Vyaas has recorded in his Mahaabhaarat, Van Parv (Chap. 230, Verses 8-11), a dialog between Indra and Skand wherein it is stated that - "Contesting against Abhijeet (Vega), the constellation Krittikaa (Pliedes) went to "Van" the Summer Solstice to heat the Summer. Then the star Abhijeet slipped down in the sky. At that time Dhanishthaa was given the first place in the list of Nakshatra. Rohinee was also the first star some time back. Now you decide what to do," said Indra.

This dialog shows that when Indra went to Summer Solstice, Abhijeet (Vega) started falling down. Many scholars have ridiculed this idea of Star Falling; but now it is proved by modern astronomy that it was a true fact that 12,000 years BC, Vega had really come down to the horizon from the heights of the sky, to become a pole star.

Krittikaa were at the Summer Solstice between 21,800 and 20,840 years BC. At this time Dhansishthaa was at the Vernal Equinox and hence was given the first place among the Nakshatra. From this period, the sages noticed the gradual fall of Abhijeet. Falling steadily, it assumed the position of the Celestial Pole at 12,000 BC, when Indra met Skand to think on the problem of time-reckoning. The story shows that the Indian sages were observing the stars and constellations at least from 23,000 years BC.

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