Uttara Bhadrapada is the twenty-sixth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It lies in the middle of Pisces, from 3 degrees 20 minutes to 16 degrees 40 minutes. The name means “the later of the auspicious feet”, the companion of Purva Bhadrapada, and the two are the front and back legs of a bed in the old imagery. Where its companion burns, Uttara Bhadrapada is read as deep, still and patient, like the bottom of an ocean.
Uttara Bhadrapada at a glance
| Detail | Uttara Bhadrapada |
|---|---|
| Number | 26 of 27 |
| Span | 3° 20′ to 16° 40′ Pisces |
| Ruling planet (Vimshottari lord) | Saturn |
| Deity | Ahirbudhnya |
| Symbol | The back legs of a funeral cot (some lists give twins) |
| Gana | Manushya |
| Yoni | Cow (Gau) |
| Nadi | Madhya (Pitta) |
| Varna (by Moon sign) | Brahmin |
| Naming syllables (by pada) | Du (1), Tha (2), Jha (3), Na (4) |
| Principal star | Commonly identified with Gamma Pegasi (Algenib) and Alpha Andromedae (Alpheratz); lists differ |
Every value above comes from the tables behind the site’s calculators, so this page agrees with the nakshatra calculator. The deity is spelled Ahirbudhnya in the calculator and Ahir Budhnya in the baby names facts, and both are the same figure. The varna follows the Moon’s sign, as the matching tool does.
The deity and the story
The deity is Ahir Budhnya, a name usually read as “the serpent of the deep” or “the dragon of the depths”. The Rigveda calls on him with Aja Ekapada, and the pair belong to the storm and the waters. He is the serpent that lies at the bottom of the cosmic ocean, a power of the unseen and the hidden roots of things.
In India the serpent is rarely a plain villain. It guards treasure, carries the earth and sleeps under the waters, and Ahir Budhnya shares this dignity. He is a god of stillness and depth, who holds energy in store and does not spend it. The same idea gives the nakshatra its link with meditation, restraint and the slow gathering of strength.
The two lists give different symbols. The back legs of a funeral cot belong with the front legs of Purva Bhadrapada, and twins are the image in other lists. The cot belongs to the old idea of an ending and a rest, and it should not be read as a warning.
Temperament in the classical texts
Traditional descriptions of a person born in Uttara Bhadrapada speak of calm, self-control and wisdom beyond the person’s years. The lists mention a gift for listening, a dry sense of humour, patience with difficult people, an interest in spiritual matters, and a steady, generous nature. Such a person is said to be slow to anger and hard to move once decided.
The cautions concern too much restraint: reserve that can look like coldness, a habit of carrying burdens alone, and a pull towards withdrawal. Saturn, the ruler, gives discipline and endurance. The Manushya gana is a label for a middle, human temperament in the old scheme.
These are tendencies that teachers describe and not promises. The sign, Saturn’s placement and the planets near the Moon decide how they appear in a life.
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsa sign | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Pisces | Leo | Du |
| 2 | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Pisces | Virgo | Tha |
| 3 | 10° 00′ to 13° 20′ Pisces | Libra | Jha |
| 4 | 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ Pisces | Scorpio | Na |
Pada 1 (Du, navamsa Leo). The Sun’s navamsa gives the first pada a quiet authority. It is read as the most dignified and self-assured, with a gift for leading from the back and a dislike of showing off.
Pada 2 (Tha, navamsa Virgo). Mercury’s navamsa of Virgo makes the second pada practical and detailed. It is linked with service, healing work, analysis and steady habits. The caution is over-worry.
Pada 3 (Jha, navamsa Libra). Venus rules the navamsa, adding gentleness and a sense of fairness. This is read as the most diplomatic pada, drawn to partnership, art and harmony.
Pada 4 (Na, navamsa Scorpio). Mars’s navamsa of Scorpio gives the last pada depth and a private intensity. Teachers connect it with research, the occult and a strong, hidden will.
Each planet in Uttara Bhadrapada
The site has a guide to every planet in this nakshatra. Each one reads the planet through the themes of depth, patience and the serpent of the deep.
- Sun in Uttara Bhadrapada: the Sun, the self and its authority.
- Moon in Uttara Bhadrapada: the Moon, the mind and feelings.
- Mars in Uttara Bhadrapada: Mars, drive and courage.
- Mercury in Uttara Bhadrapada: Mercury, speech and thought.
- Jupiter in Uttara Bhadrapada: Jupiter, wisdom and guidance, the lord of Pisces, the sign the nakshatra lies in.
- Venus in Uttara Bhadrapada: Venus, relationships and taste.
- Saturn in Uttara Bhadrapada: Saturn, discipline and patience, the ruler of Uttara Bhadrapada, strong in its own mansion.
- Rahu in Uttara Bhadrapada: Rahu, appetite and the unfamiliar.
- Ketu in Uttara Bhadrapada: Ketu, detachment and insight.
Compatibility and matching
Uttara Bhadrapada 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 treat it only as a way to compare temperament.
The yoni is the cow (Gau). The same animal scores highest, and the tiger (Vyaghra) is listed as the sworn enemy, which gives zero on that kuta. It is a symbolic scheme about instinct and comfort, and it is not a forecast.
Uttara Bhadrapada is in the Madhya (Pitta) 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. Nakshatra points are one input to a full chart comparison, 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 Du, Tha, Jha and Na. The second is the aspirated Tha (as in the Hindi for the letter थ), the third is the aspirated Jha (झ), and the fourth is the nasal ञ, which almost never begins a word. Families usually use the nearest sound for that pada.
The Moon’s pada at birth gives the first sound of the name, and where the birth time is not known families choose among the four.
The full list of boy and girl names for each syllable is on the Uttara Bhadrapada 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. If the birth time is uncertain, the first tool tells you whether the Moon stayed in Uttara Bhadrapada all day.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Which sign is Uttara Bhadrapada in?
It lies wholly in Pisces (Meena), from 3 degrees 20 minutes to 16 degrees 40 minutes. The navamsa signs of its padas are Leo, Virgo, Libra and Scorpio.
↳ Who rules Uttara Bhadrapada?
Saturn is the Vimshottari lord and Ahirbudhnya, the serpent of the deep, is the deity. A Moon here starts life in a Saturn dasha, whose balance depends on the exact degree.
↳ What are the naming syllables for Uttara Bhadrapada?
They are Du, Tha, Jha and Na for padas 1 to 4. The fourth is a nasal that rarely starts a word, so families use a near sound.
↳ What is the difference between Purva and Uttara Bhadrapada?
They are a pair, with different lords, deities and Moon signs for most of their span. Purva Bhadrapada begins in Aquarius, is ruled by Jupiter and burns with fire, and Uttara Bhadrapada lies in Pisces, is ruled by Saturn and has a calm, deep character.
↳ Is Uttara Bhadrapada auspicious?
Tradition describes it as a calm and wise nakshatra, and the name itself means auspicious. As with any nakshatra, one placement does not decide a life.