Uttara Ashadhaउत्तर आषाढ़ा

Uttara Ashadha, the twenty-first nakshatra, begins in Sagittarius and ends in Capricorn at 10 degrees. As the latter of the Ashadha pair, it shares the elephant tusk symbol with Purva Ashadha and adds the planks of a bed, a picture of solid support. The name suggests a later, enduring conquest as against the early one of its partner.

The Vishvadevas, a group of universal deities honoured in Vedic ritual, are the presiding deity. In shraddha rites they receive the first offering before the ancestors, which makes them guardians of correct procedure. The Sun is the planetary lord and the gana is Manushya. Some traditions count a twenty-eighth small nakshatra, Abhijit, which occupies the end of Uttara Ashadha and the start of Shravana, and the midday Abhijit muhurat shares its name.

Uttara Ashadha is a fixed or dhruva nakshatra with Rohini, Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Bhadrapada. Texts traditionally recommend this group for work meant to last, such as founding a school, planting an orchard or taking vows. The syllables commonly listed for naming are Bhe, Bho, Ja and Ji. The first pada lies in Sagittarius and the other three in Capricorn, so astrologers take the sign into account alongside the pada.