Uttara Phalguni is the twelfth nakshatra, running from 26°40′ Leo to 10° Virgo in the sidereal zodiac, and it is ruled by the Sun with Aryaman, god of contracts, hospitality and friendship, as its deity. Where its twin Purva Phalguni is about enjoyment, Uttara Phalguni is about commitment: the promise kept, the alliance honoured, the help given reliably over time.
Its main star is usually identified as Denebola, the tail of the Lion. The word "uttara" means "latter", so this is the second of the two Phalgunis.
Two signs, one nakshatra
Uttara Phalguni is one of the nakshatras that cross a sign boundary. Its first pada lies in the last 3°20′ of Leo, and the other three padas fill the first 10° of Virgo. This is why two people with the "same" nakshatra can have different Moon signs, a detail worth checking before reading a rashifal.
The Leo part has the Sun as both sign lord and nakshatra lord, a doubly solar placement: dignified, generous, public-facing. The Virgo part combines the Sun's sense of duty with Mercury's practicality, which gives the more familiar Uttara Phalguni picture of a capable, organised helper.
Lord and deity: the Sun and Aryaman
The Sun is the soul, authority, the father and self-respect. As nakshatra lord here it brings a sense of honour and responsibility, and a wish to be useful in a way that is recognised.
Aryaman is one of the Adityas and a close companion of Mitra. He is the guardian of agreements between people, of hospitality, and of the customs of marriage; in the Vedic wedding hymns he is invoked to bless the union. He also oversees the paths that link people and communities. So Uttara Phalguni carries the idea of the social contract in its warmest form: friendship with obligations, marriage as a covenant, patronage that supports others.
Symbol, gana, yoni and nadi
The symbol is the back legs of a bed, completing the image begun in Purva Phalguni. A bed with all four legs is stable. That is the step from romance to a settled household.
Uttara Phalguni belongs to Manushya gana. Its yoni is the cow, male, and its nadi is Adi (vata).
For gun milan: the cow's partner is the female cow of Uttara Bhadrapada, and its traditional enemy yoni is the tiger, which is the yoni of Chitra and Vishakha. So Uttara Phalguni and its near neighbour Chitra lose yoni points together. Manushya gana sits comfortably with Manushya and Deva. Same nadi scores zero unless an exception applies. Treat these as parts of a wider study of both charts.
Muhurta nature: fixed (dhruva)
Muhurta Chintamani groups Uttara Phalguni with Rohini, Uttara Ashadha and Uttara Bhadrapada as fixed (dhruva, sthira) nakshatras. These suit anything meant to last: laying foundations, entering a new home, planting, installing a deity, long-term agreements, and marriage. Uttara Phalguni is a regular choice in wedding muhurtas, along with the other marriage nakshatras. The muhurat tool checks it together with tithi, weekday and the couple's own charts.
Temperament
A Moon in Uttara Phalguni tends to be dependable, sociable and helpful. These people keep their word, remember kindnesses and often become the organiser in a family or team. There is usually a quiet pride in being useful, and a steady interest in fairness and good relationships.
The growth areas are over-commitment and the need for recognition. Uttara Phalguni natives may take on too many duties, find it hard to say no, or feel hurt when their help is taken for granted. In the Virgo padas, the eye for detail can turn into self-criticism. Setting clear limits, and remembering that a contract has two sides, helps this nakshatra flourish.
The four padas
The navamsas of Uttara Phalguni run from Sagittarius to Pisces, the same pattern as Ashlesha's.
Pada 1: Leo 26°40′ to 30°, Sagittarius navamsa
The only pada in Leo. Jupiter's navamsa adds idealism, faith and generosity to the Sun's dignity. This pada is often linked with leadership in teaching, law or religious life. Naming syllable: Te.
Pada 2: Virgo 0° to 3°20′, Capricorn navamsa
Now in Virgo, with a Saturn navamsa. Practical, ambitious and hardworking, this pada builds careers through patience and method. Naming syllable: To.
Pada 3: Virgo 3°20′ to 6°40′, Aquarius navamsa
Aquarius turns the helper's instinct toward groups, causes and systems. Service to the community and an analytical, sometimes reformist mind are typical. Naming syllable: Pa.
Pada 4: Virgo 6°40′ to 10°, Pisces navamsa
Pisces softens Virgo's precision with compassion and imagination. This pada is kind, devotional and often drawn to healing or caring work. Naming syllable: Pi.
Naming syllables
The north Indian syllables are Te, To, Pa and Pi by pada. The first belongs to the Leo portion, the other three to Virgo. See naam akshar for how they are applied.
Moon, lagna and planets in Uttara Phalguni
A Moon here opens the Vimshottari dasha with the Sun, whose full period is only 6 years, so the Moon's 10-year period always begins within the first six years of life, followed by Mars and then Rahu.
With the lagna in Uttara Phalguni, the rising sign may be Leo or Virgo depending on the exact degree, which changes the whole house layout. Planets here take on the nakshatra's sense of duty and partnership. Mercury in the Virgo portion is in its own sign. As always, one factor never decides a chart, and the full kundli is read together.
Check which part of Uttara Phalguni your Moon or lagna falls in with the free kundli chart, and compare it with the lighter Purva Phalguni.