Nakshatra
Uttara Bhadrapada nakshatra: Ahir Budhnya and Saturn
Uttara Bhadrapada (Uttara Bhādrapadā) is the twenty-sixth nakshatra and lies inside sidereal Pisces, from 3°20' to 16°40'. Its deity is Ahir Budhnya, the serpent of the deep, and its Vimshottari lord is Saturn. The symbol is commonly given as the back legs of a funeral cot or as twins. Its muhurta class is dhruva, or fixed.
Draft · specialist source review requested
Purva Bhadrapada is lightning. Uttara Bhadrapada, its partner, is what lies at the bottom of the sea afterwards: still, deep and patient. The pairing is one of the clearest in the whole sequence.
What is my moon sign by date of birth?
Your birth date gets you most of the way; the Moon changes sign every two to three days, so on a change-over day you also need the time and place. For Vedic purposes the sign is sidereal. An Uttara Bhadrapada Moon is always a Pisces Moon in the sidereal zodiac, though a Western chart might show the same Moon in Aries. Enter your details in the nakshatra calculator to get both the sign and the nakshatra; sidereal explains the offset.
| Fact | Uttara Bhadrapada |
|---|---|
| Number | 26 of 27 |
| IAST spelling | Uttara Bhādrapadā |
| Deity | Ahir Budhnya |
| Vimshottari lord | Saturn |
| Symbol (commonly given) | Back legs of a funeral cot, or twins |
| Sidereal span | 3°20'-16°40' Pisces |
| Rashi | Meena (Pisces), all four padas |
| Muhurta class | Dhruva (fixed) |
The serpent of the depths
The Bṛhat Saṃhitā gives Ahir Budhnya as Uttara Bhādrapadā's deity.[32] The name means "serpent of the deep" or "of the foundation," and in the Vedas he lives at the bottom of the atmospheric ocean, often invoked next to Aja Ekapād. Where the goat strikes, the serpent rests and holds. Saturn as planetary lord adds patience and the long view.
Questions for depth
Readers link this nakshatra with calm, restraint and wisdom that arrives late. As prompts:
- What steadies you when everything around you is moving?
- Which decision have you been right to delay?
- What do you know now that took you years to learn, and who could use it?
Padas and navamsa
| Pada | Sidereal span | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3°20'-6°40' Pisces | Leo |
| 2 | 6°40'-10°00' Pisces | Virgo |
| 3 | 10°00'-13°20' Pisces | Libra |
| 4 | 13°20'-16°40' Pisces | Scorpio |
Muhurta uses
Bṛhat Saṃhitā groups the three Uttaras with Rohiṇī as dhruva (fixed), for consecration, pacifying rites, planting trees, founding a town, religious duty, sowing seed and beginnings meant to last.[32] People still choose it for things they want to keep: a foundation stone, a long-term commitment, planting a tree. Practical deadlines come first.
The chant is on the Uttara Bhadrapada mantra page. It sits between Purva Bhadrapada and Revati.
Source review
Ahir Budhnya as deity (verses 4-5) and the dhruva list (verse 6) are from Bṛhat Saṃhitā chapter 97, Sanskrit edition (98 in the English translation).[32] The Vedic background, the English glosses, the symbol and the prompts are editorial.
Common questions
Who is the lord of Uttarabhadrapada nakshatra?
Saturn, under the Vimshottari dasha scheme. Pushya and Anuradha share that lord.
What rashi is Uttara Bhadrapada?
Meena, or sidereal Pisces. All four padas are in Pisces.
Is Uttara Bhadrapada the same as Uthrattathi?
Yes. Uthrattathi is the Tamil name, and Uttarabhadra is a common short form.
Keep going
- All 27 nakshatras
- Uttara Bhadrapada mantra
- Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra
- Revati nakshatra
- Moon in Pisces
Updated 2026-10-12. Traditional interpretations are not predictions.
Sources: [32] https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/brihat-samhita-sanskrit/d/doc1218130.html
Vedic lens
What does the Vedic lens add?
Uttara Bhadrapada is lunar mansion 26 in the standard 27-part sidereal sequence. Its span is 13 degrees and 20 arcminutes, divided into four padas of 3 degrees and 20 arcminutes. A Moon placement should be calculated in a named ayanamsa before applying a natal interpretation.
In Vimshottari, its starting lord is Saturn. The fraction of the mansion still ahead of the Moon determines the remaining balance of that first major period. This does not mean everyone with a Uttara Bhadrapada Moon begins life with a complete Saturn period.
Natal meaning and electional timing answer different questions. A birth placement is not a recommendation to schedule every important activity under the same mansion. Check the current tithi, local time, and the practical deadline separately. Our editorial prompt is to compare one familiar response with a concrete alternative before making a decision; that is a reflection exercise, not a translated classical prediction.
Explore the yoga patterns, major and subperiods, and house-lord connections behind this reading.
How we calculate
Is astrology a guarantee of what will happen?
No. These calculations locate celestial bodies; astrology is a reflection and timing tradition, not evidence of guaranteed health, financial or relationship outcomes.
How are these results calculated?
Positions come from Astronomy Engine, an open-source astronomy library, and are checked against Swiss Ephemeris in our methodology tests. Western readings use the tropical zodiac; Vedic readings subtract the Lahiri ayanamsa. Terms are defined in the glossary.
Next: compare your birth chart, see today's sky, or make a private vision board.