Uttarashadha, Uttarāṣāḍhā, Uttara-ashadha: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Uttarashadha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Uttarāṣāḍhā can be transliterated into English as Uttarasadha or Uttarashadha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: JyotiṣaUttarāṣāḍha (पूर्वाषाढ):—Name for a particular section of the ecliptic. It is also known as Uttarāṣāḍhanakṣatra. Nakṣatra means “Lunar mansion” and corresponds to a specific region of the sky through which the moon passes each day. Uttarāṣāḍha means “second of the aṣāḍhā” (where aṣāḍhā means “the invincible one” being the name of a constellation) and is associated with the deity known as Viśvadeva (All divinities). The presiding Lord of this lunar house is Sūrya (Sun).
Indian zodiac: |26°40' Dhanuṣa| – |10° Makara|
Dhanuṣa (धनुष, “bow”) corresponds with Sagittarius and Makara (मकर, “sea-monster”) corresponds with Capricorn.
Western zodiac: |22°40' Capricorn| – |6° Aquarius|
Capricorn corresponds with Makara (मकर, “sea-monster”) and Aquarius corresponds with Kumbha (कुम्भ, “pitcher”).
Uttarāṣāḍha (उत्तराषाढ) is the name of a constellation, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 6), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If Mars (bhauma) should re-appear in the constellation of Pūrvaphālguni (sacred to Bhāga) or in that of Uttaraphālguni (sacred to Āryama), retrograde in the constellation of Uttarāṣāḍha (sacred to Viśvedeva) and disappear in the constellation of Rohiṇī (sacred to Bhauma), he will afflict the three worlds with miseries”.

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexUttarāṣāḍha (उत्तराषाढ).—An asterism.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 82. 11.

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraUttarāṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढा) refers to the twenty-first of twenty-seven constellations (ṛkṣa), according to the Mānasāra. Ṛkṣa is the third of the āyādiṣaḍvarga, or “six principles” that constitute the “horoscope” of an architectural or iconographic object. Their application is intended to “verify” the measurements of the architectural and iconographic object against the dictates of astrology that lay out the conditions of auspiciousness.
The particular nakṣatra, also known as ṛkṣa (e.g., uttarāṣāḍhā) of all architectural and iconographic objects (settlement, building, image) must be calculated and ascertained. This process is based on the principle of the remainder. An arithmetical formula to be used in each case is stipulated, which engages one of the basic dimensions of the object (breadth, length, or perimeter/circumference). In the context of village planning and measurement, the text sates that among the stars (ṛkṣa), the ones that are pūrṇa (odd), are auspicious and the ones that are karṇa (even), inauspicious.

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: 4harmony: Uttara Ashadha Nakshatra DayUttara Ashadha, different than previous Purva Ashadha nakshatra has much more calm and balance energy. It represents „later victory”. This star grant us the power of undefeated victory – but only when we are patient enough to reach our goal, and if our aim is righteous, taking into consideration goodness of all.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraUttarāṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढा) refers to one of the twenty-seven constellations (nakṣatra) according to according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV).—Uttarāṣāḍhā is the Sanskrit equivalent of Chinese Teou, Tibetan Chu-smad and modern Sagittarii.
Uttarāṣāḍhā is classified in the fourth group: “The moon revolves around the earth in 28 days. If the moon enters one of the nine following constellations (e.g., Uttarāṣāḍhā), then at that moment the earth trembles as if it would collapse and this trembling extends as far as Devendra. Then peace (yogakṣema) is plentiful, rain favors the growth of the five grains, the emperor is kind (śiva), the great ministers are virtuous and everyone is peaceful”.
Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)Uttarāṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढा) is the name of a Nakṣatra mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Uttarāṣāḍhā] with a group of kingdoms for the sake of protection and prosperity.
The Uttarāṣāḍhānakṣatra comprises the following realms:
- Sin-t'eou-kieou-lo (Sindhukūla?),
- K'iu-na-si-siu (Gunasisu?),
- Kia-lo-tch'a (Kalakṣi?),
- So-lo-tch'a (Sarakṣi?),
- Ta-lo-ni-po-ti (Dharaṇīpati),
- Hai-kouo (Sāgaraphala?),
- A-leou-chö-na-lo-p'o (Aruṣṇarava?),
- Na-p'o-fou-che-po-lo-p'o (Navapuṣparava?),
- Mo-na-teou-li (Manaturi?),
- Min-t'o-lo-po-ti (Mindharapati or Nemindharapati?).

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist IconographyUttarāṣādhā (उत्तराषाधा) refers to the twenty-first of the 28 nakṣatras (“constellations”) of the zodiac, as commonly depicted in Buddhist Iconography, and mentioned in the 11th-century Niṣpannayogāvalī of Mahāpaṇḍita Abhayākara.—The nakṣatras are described collectively in the dharmadhātuvāgīśvara-maṇḍala of the Niṣpannayogāvalī. In this maṇḍala the nakṣatras are given one face and two arms, which are clasped against the chest in the añjalimudrā:—“the deities [viz., Uttarāṣādhā] are decked in bejewelled jackets and they all show the añjali-mudrā”.—In colour, however, they differ. [viz., Uttarāṣādhā is given the colour white].

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryuttarāṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढा).—f (S) The twenty-first of the lunar mansions.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishuttarāṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढा).—f The twenty first of the lunar mansions.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryUttarāṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढा).—
1) the 21st lunar mansion consisting of three stars.
2) Name of bread-fruit or Jak tree (Mar. phaṇasa).
Uttarāṣāḍhā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms uttara and āṣāḍhā (आषाढा).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryUttarāśāḍhā (उत्तराशाढा).—f.
(-ḍhā) One of the lunar mansions. E. See uttarāṣāḍhā.
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Uttarāṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढा).—f.
(-ḍhā) The twenty-first of the lunar mansions, figured by an elephant’s tooth or a bed, and containing two stars, one of which is in Sagittarius. E. uttara subsequent, and āṣāḍhā the constellation; to distinguish it from asterism, twentieth: see pūrvāṣāḍhā and āṣāḍhā.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryUttarāṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढा):—[from uttara > ut-tama] f. Name of a lunar mansion (cf. aṣāḍhā), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Uttarāśāḍhā (उत्तराशाढा):—[uttarā+śāḍhā] (ḍhā) 1. f. One of the lunar mansions.
2) Uttarāṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढा):—[uttarā+ṣāḍhā] (ḍhā) 1. f. The 21st of the lunar mansions.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusUttarāṣāḍha (ಉತ್ತರಾಷಾಢ):—
1) [noun] the twenty first lunar mansion consisting of three stars.
2) [noun] ಉತ್ತರಾಷಾಢ ಪೂರ್ವಾಷಾಢ [uttarashadha purvashadha] uttarāṣāḍha pūrvāṣāḍha (col. ) frequent vomiting and loose motion.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryUttarāṣāḍhā (उत्तराषाढा):—n. one of the stars forming a constellation;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ashadha, Uttara, Asada.
Starts with: Uttarashadhanakshatra.
Full-text (+65): Uttarashadhanakshatra, Ajavithi, Vishvadaiva, Vaishvi, Vaishvadevata, Vishvadaivata, Vaishva, Vishveshvara, Nakshatra, Ashadha, Uttaratam, Vishvesha, Uttiratam, Vaishvadaivata, Gunasisu, Kalakshi, Sarakshi, Sagaraphala, Manaturi, Dharanipati.
Relevant text
Search found 35 books and stories containing Uttarashadha, Uttara-asadha, Uttara-aṣāḍhā, Uttara-āṣāḍhā, Uttara-āṣāḍha, Uttara-ashadha, Uttarasadha, Uttarāṣāḍha, Uttarāṣāḍhā, Uttarāśāḍhā; (plurals include: Uttarashadhas, asadhas, aṣāḍhās, āṣāḍhās, āṣāḍhas, ashadhas, Uttarasadhas, Uttarāṣāḍhas, Uttarāṣāḍhās, Uttarāśāḍhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Atharvaveda ancillary literature (Study) (by B. R. Modak)
Part 1.19 - The Uttara Asadha (Sagitarii) < [Chapter 2b - A Topical Analysis of the Atharvaveda-Parisistas]
Part 1 - The Lore of the Constellations—Introduction < [Chapter 2b - A Topical Analysis of the Atharvaveda-Parisistas]
Part 1.1 - The Krttika (Tauri Pleiades) < [Chapter 2b - A Topical Analysis of the Atharvaveda-Parisistas]
Narada Purana (English translation) (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 56.14 - Description of the Asterisms (Nakṣatras) < [Part 2 - Dvitīya-pāda]
Chapter 56.18 - Description of Upagraha (Secondary atmospheric phenomena) < [Part 2 - Dvitīya-pāda]
Chapter 56.4 - Description of Mars (Kujacāra) < [Part 2 - Dvitīya-pāda]
Hayanaratna: The Jewel of Annual Astrology (by Martin Gansten)
7. General Methods for Gauging the Nature of the Year < [Chapter 1 - Fundamentals of Astrology and the Annual Revolution]
13. Planets, Zodiacal Signs and Asterisms < [Introduction]
9. Periods according to the Schools of Gaurī and Mahādeva < [Chapter 7 - The Planetary Periods]
Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 17 - On the Dhruva Maṇḍalam < [Book 8]
Chapter 15 - On the motion of the Sun < [Book 8]
Hiranyakesi-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)
Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)