Uttara Ashadha Nakshatra: Meaning, Deity, Padas and Traits

Uttara Ashadha is the twenty-first of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It straddles the border between two signs: its first pada is in Sagittarius and the other three are in Capricorn. The name means “the later Ashadha”, the companion of Purva Ashadha. Where Purva Ashadha is read as fluent conviction, Uttara Ashadha is read as the quality of finishing, the later victory that comes from steady effort.

Uttara Ashadha at a glance

Every value above comes from the tables behind the site’s calculators, so this page agrees with the nakshatra calculator. The varna depends on the Moon’s sign, so it changes after the first pada.

The deity and the story

The deity is the Vishvedevas, a group the Vedas call on together. The name means “all the gods”, and the Puranas describe a class of ten, sons of Vishva, who receive a share in the shraddha offerings for ancestors. They are not one personality with a story of their own. They stand for the gods as a body, and for what the whole company of divine powers upholds: fairness, balance and the order that no one god owns.

This is why Uttara Ashadha is linked with principle and with universal rather than personal aims. The symbol of the elephant’s tusk speaks of strength that is slow, patient and hard to remove, and the planks of a bed speak of rest after labour. The idea behind both is of something secure that is built over time.

Tradition places a small additional mansion, Abhijit, between the end of Uttara Ashadha and the start of Shravana. This site follows the 27-nakshatra scheme used by the Vimshottari dasha, and the table above and every calculator on the site count 27.

Temperament in the classical texts

Texts and teachers describe a person of Uttara Ashadha as principled, dignified and reliable. The lists mention a sense of duty, a measured way of speaking, a dislike of show, and a habit of keeping promises. Success is described as arriving later than for friends, and standing up to scrutiny when it does.

The same descriptions mention caution in the harder direction: seriousness can become rigidity, and a strong sense of duty can leave little room for rest. The Sun rules the nakshatra, which adds a wish for position and a dignified bearing. Many accounts say these people prefer to earn recognition and not ask for it.

As always, the sign, the lord’s placement and the planets joined with the Moon decide how any of this shows up. These are tendencies described by the tradition and not promises.

The four padas

Pada 1 (Bhe, navamsa Sagittarius). The only pada in the sign of Sagittarius carries Jupiter’s navamsa, and it is described as the most philosophical and generous, with an interest in teaching and ideals. The cautions listed are over-confidence and preaching.

Pada 2 (Bho, navamsa Capricorn). The first pada in Capricorn, with Saturn’s navamsa, is the most disciplined and career-minded. It is read as patient, organised and ambitious in a quiet way.

Pada 3 (Ja, navamsa Aquarius). Another Saturn navamsa, now in Aquarius, gives the third pada a more detached and humane flavour. Teachers connect it with public service, science and ideas that are bigger than the person.

Pada 4 (Ji, navamsa Pisces). Jupiter’s navamsa of Pisces softens the last quarter. It is read as compassionate and imaginative, with an interest in the spiritual or the healing arts, and a need to guard energy and rest.

Each planet in Uttara Ashadha

The site has a guide to every planet in this nakshatra. Each one reads the planet through the themes of principle, steady effort and the later victory.

• Sun in Uttara Ashadha: the Sun, the self and its authority, the ruler of Uttara Ashadha, so it is strongest in its own mansion.
• Moon in Uttara Ashadha: the Moon, the mind and feelings.
• Mars in Uttara Ashadha: Mars, drive and courage.
• Mercury in Uttara Ashadha: Mercury, speech and thought.
• Jupiter in Uttara Ashadha: Jupiter, wisdom and guidance.
• Venus in Uttara Ashadha: Venus, relationships and taste.
• Saturn in Uttara Ashadha: Saturn, discipline and patience, also the lord of Capricorn, where most of this nakshatra lies.
• Rahu in Uttara Ashadha: Rahu, appetite and the unfamiliar.
• Ketu in Uttara Ashadha: Ketu, detachment and insight.

Compatibility and matching

Uttara Ashadha is in the Manushya gana. In the tables the calculator uses, a Manushya partner scores six points with another Manushya, five or six with Deva depending on which partner is which, and nothing with Rakshasa. Teachers weigh gana differently, and some use it only as a way to compare temperament.

The yoni is the mongoose (Nakula). The same animal scores highest, and the snake (Sarpa) is listed as the sworn enemy, which gives zero on that kuta. It is a symbolic scheme, a way to talk about instinct and comfort.

Uttara Ashadha is in the Antya (Kapha) nadi. Two people with the same nadi score nothing out of eight on the nadi kuta, and many astrologers apply the traditional exceptions. A different nadi scores the full eight. One result from one kuta does not decide a relationship, and no pairing is called best or worst here.

To compare two nakshatras directly, use the nakshatra compatibility calculator. Treat its points as one input to a conversation, not a verdict on any relationship.

Names and the naming syllables

The four syllables are Bhe, Bho, Ja and Ji. The first belongs to the Sagittarius pada and the other three to Capricorn, so a child born across the sign border will have a different Moon sign and a different first sound depending on the minute.

This makes the birth time unusually important here, and a small error in it can change the pada and the sign.

The full list of boy and girl names for each syllable is on the Uttara Ashadha nakshatra baby names page, and the baby names by date of birth tool works out the pada and syllable from a birth date, time and place.

Find your nakshatra

The nakshatra depends on where the Moon stood at the moment of birth, so it needs the birth date, time and place. The nakshatra calculator gives it with the pada, and the nakshatra at a date and time calculator shows which nakshatra the Moon is in at any chosen moment. Because the nakshatra spans two signs, check the Moon sign as well as the pada on the results.

Frequently asked questions