UttaraShada

Uttarashada is taken as the twenty first nakshatra among the 27 nakshatras which are
considered important in Indian astrology for making calculations from horoscopes
based on Vedic astrology. The literal translation of the word Uttarashada is The Latter
Invincible one or the Later Undefeated one and Vedic astrology associates this
nakshatra with being invincible like its previous nakshatra Poorvashada. These two
nakshatras named Poorvashada and Uttarashada make a pair like Poorvaphalgui and
Uttaraphalguni with many characteristics and qualities common between them
whereas there are some differences in the characteristics as we will see later in this
article. Most of the Vedic astrologers take the main symbol of Uttarashada as the Tusk
of an Elephant and this symbol sheds light on many characteristics of Uttarashada. The
tusk of an elephant is very dear to the elephant and it is undoubtedly the most precious
part of an elephants body as elephants have been killed for long times only in order to
get their tusks and sell them at high prices. Since the tusk itself is something of a great
value, this symbol associates great value with Uttarashada which means that natives
under the strong influence of this nakshatra are respected and valued very highly like
the tusk of an elephant. Some Vedic astrologers believe that the symbol of tusk relates
this nakshatra with all kinds of wars and fighting since elephants use their tusks a
great deal when they fight with one another. Some Vedic astrologers associate
Uttarashada with characteristics like leadership and royalty through this symbol of
tusk as according to these Vedic astrologers the tusks of the elephants are a major
factor in deciding their control or leadership over the other elephants.
Elephants have also been used as the symbols of royalty as the kings or very powerful
people only were able to possess elephants and ride them. In many of the ancient
civilizations, great kings and powerful people used to show off their power and status
by the number of elephants they possessed and by the quality of the elephants they
possessed. It should also be noted here that in ancient times, most of the kings used to
ride on an elephant whenever they went to battlefield for the purpose of war and the
elephants also used to make the front row of the battling crew in order to scare the
other army and in order to inflict maximum damage to the other army. The greater
the number of elephants in an army, the stronger the army was considered. So it can be
said that Uttarashada relates to royalty, strength, war and victory through its symbol.
Vedic astrology assigns ten Vishvadevas or Universal Gods as the ruling deities of this
nakshatra and each of these ten Vishvadevas impart different and good qualities to
this nakshatra and as a result this nakshatra becomes much better and more balanced
than its previous nakshatra Poorvashada. All of these ten Vishvadevas are considered
as benevolent deities in Vedic astrology and they possess many good qualities like
genuineness, goodness, truthfulness, skillfulness, forgiveness, brightness and many other
good qualities. Therefore Uttarashada is considered as a nakshatra which exhibits all of
these good qualities under the influence of its ten ruling deities and some Vedic
astrologers suggest that every kind of Goodness is exhibited by this nakshatra and that
this nakshatra can be taken as another name for goodness. Some Vedic astrologers
assign Lord Ganesha as the final ruling deity of this nakshatra and these astrologers
believe that the qualities of Lord Ganesha like being invincible in war, removing all
obstacles and working for the well being of the universe are relayed through this
nakshatra which make Uttarashada a more positive nakshatra.

Vedic Jyotish assigns Sun as the planetary ruler of this nakshatra and many good
qualities of Sun which are in tune with the qualities of ten Vishvadevas, are relayed
through this nakshatra. Sun is known as a planet which signifies duty, responsibility,
being true to its word, Justice and Kingly nature among many other characteristics,
according to Vedic astrology and all of these qualities of Sun are exhibited through
Uttarashada which makes it a nakshatra that supports, promotes and protects
goodness on all levels. The influence of the Sun also provides this nakshatra with
sufficient energy to carry out its operations as Sun is known as a planet full of energy
in Vedic Jyotish. Suns aggression and the ability to wage war and punish the wrong
doers is also relayed through this nakshatra which makes it an aggressive nakshatra
but it usually shows aggression only when it is required in order to serve a higher or
universal purpose and not for its own selfish benefits or motives like its previous
nakshatra Poorvashada which can show aggression when it finds that its goals are
slipping away from it. Uttarashada is therefore considered as a much more controlled
nakshatra in comparison to its previous nakshatra Poorvashada and Uttarashada is
only likely to indulge in the acts of aggression, fighting or war for the benefit of the
society or a bigger group of people instead of its own selfish interests. The first part of
this nakshatra falls in the sign of Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter whereas the last three
parts of this nakshatra fall in the sign of Capricorn ruled by Saturn and hence
Uttarashada comes under the influence of Jupiter and Saturn also. Since most of the
parts of this nakshatra lie in Capricorn, the influence of Saturn on this nakshatra is
much stronger than the influence of Jupiter and as Capricorn is a sign known for
practicality and discipline among other qualities so these qualities of Saturn are also
exhibited through this nakshatra which makes it a much more balanced nakshatra in
comparison to its previous nakshatra Poorvashada and there is not much room for
ideal or unrealistic hopes in this nakshatra as was the case with Poorvashada.
Most of the Vedic astrologers believe that the influence of Saturn and Capricorn makes
Uttarashada a very practical and realistic nakshatra and it does not fall victim to
unrealistic hopes, convictions and obsessions like its previous nakshatra Poorvashada.
The natives under the strong influence of this nakshatra are very much motivated
towards reaching their goals and they also have a good amount of patience to wait for
the fruits of their efforts, but at the same time, they are able to move on to the next
thing when they feel that something that they were trying to achieve has very little or
no chances of being established now and it is wiser to move on to something else. The
obsessive streak seen in the case of Poorvashada natives reduces significantly in case of
Uttarashada natives and as a result they are in better control of themselves and
accordingly they have the capability to leave the things when they feel that attending
to them any longer is a waste of time and effort. Uttarashada natives are usually very
practical and wise in their approach and they are disciplined in their actions due to
the influence of Saturn and Capricorn on this nakshatra. Some Vedic astrologers
believe that Uttarashada natives can at times be rigid and harsh by virtue of being
over disciplined due to the influence of Capricorn on this nakshatra as Capricorn is
considered as a very practical, disciplined and strict sign in Vedic astrology.
Uttarashada natives have good respect for traditions and they follow the traditions set
by their ancestors and society, most of the times. Ancestors are also considered to be
among the ten Vishvadevas which are considered to be the ruling deity of this
nakshtara and due to the influence of Ancestors on this nakhsatra, Uttarashada
natives respect their traditional values and they do not like people who go against these
traditions or traditional values and some of these natives can take harsh actions
against the people breaking these traditions.
But some Vedic astrologers believe that Uttarashada natives have a very good sense of
separating good from the bad and they are only offended when some good traditions
are violated by other people whereas they have the capability to change or break a
tradition when they feel that it is no longer useful for the society or it is likely to do
harm in the present circumstances and this positive discrimination of Uttarashada
natives helps them gain respect and status among the society. Though Uttarashada
natives also have a tendency to engage in a fight or war like the Poorvashada natives
but Uttarashada natives are much wiser in making such decisions and they only
engage in such actions when it is required for the benefit of a bigger section of the
society unlike Poorvashada natives who can engage in acts of fight or war just to fulfill
one of their obsessions or to achieve one of their unrealistic goals. Some Vedic
astrologers believe that Uttarashada natives engage in acts like war only to reach a
final peace in the end and not to gain some territory or some other profits and they are
also known to be the ones who are good at forgiving even their enemies when the final
objective is achieved and they feel that hurting or harming anyone now is not
necessary. These characteristics make Uttarashada a much more balanced nakshatra
than many other nakshatras and the natives under the influence of this nakshatra
have a bigger vision for universal benefit.
Vedic astrology assigns many kinds of professional fields to this nakshatra and
accordingly the natives under the influence of this nakshatra can be seen practicing as
policemen, army personnel and people serving in other such organizations which work
for the security of the people, organizations and nations, bodyguards and other people
dealing in similar kinds of professional fields, wrestlers, athletes, sword fighters, boxers,
karate fighters and other people practicing in other kinds of combat sports, people
related to the field of defense like authorized arms manufacturers and suppliers,
defense ministers and secretaries and other people dealing in the similar fields,
Lawyers, Judges, magistrates and other such kinds of authority figures who use their
power of judgment and discrimination to decide between the right and the wrong and
many other kinds of people dealing in many other kinds of professional fields. Natives
under the influence of this nakshatra are also seen practicing as astrologers, preachers,
teachers, counselors, advisors, physicians, psychologists and other similar kind of
professionals who have something to do with healing or guiding the other people. Many
Vedic astrologers believe that natives under the strong influence of this nakshatra are
rarely seen engaging in illegal or immoral acts as they do not like such kind of acts and
it is hard for them to even be in the company of the people engaging in such kind of
acts.
Discussing about some other facts associated with this nakshatra
which are considered important for making certain calculations like gun Milan for the
purpose of horoscope matching for marriage, Jyotish considers Uttarashada as a female
nakshatra and though different Vedic astrologers provide different facts in support of
this classification, no convincing explanation is available so for, for this gender
classification of Uttarashada. Vedic astrology considers Uttarashada as fixed in nature
and balanced in functioning and both of these classifications can be easily understood
by looking at the nature and functioning of this nakshatra. Uttarashada is considered
as Kshatriya in Varna or Caste and most of the astrologers explain this classification
on the basis of warlike qualities of Uttarashada. Vedic astrology assigns the Gan of
Manav to this nakshatra and this classification is explained on the basis that this
nakshatra works in a very humane way and it works for the welfare of all human
beings. Jyotish considers this nakshatra as Sattawic in nature and this classification is
explained on the basis that all the ruling deities as well as the ruling planet of this
nakshatra are considered as Sattawic in nature. Vedic astrology assigns the element of
Air to this nakshatra.