Poorvabhadrapada Nakshatra
Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra is 25th among 27 nakshatras. The first three quarters of Poorvabhadrapada fall in Aquarius whereas the last quarter falls in Pisces.
The word Poorvabhadrapada literally translates into ‘the former lucky feet’ or ‘the former one with lucky feet’. In general, the meaning of this word is considered to add characteristics like being fortunate and lucky, to Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra.
Looking deeper, the journey of nakshatras from Ashwini to Revati is the journey of soul from its first birth to liberation. Hence Ashwini represents the basic instincts necessary for survival. On the other hand, the previous nakshatra Shatabhisha represents strong urge to know the deepest secrets of existence. Hence great deal of evolution is witnessed from Ashwini to Shatabhisha.
Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra is the beginning of the final chapter of this journey. Poorvabhadrapada is the first nakshatra where the urge to live everything in order to know the real thing reaches its peak. This urge to live and know through experience makes Poorvabhadrapada a highly volatile nakshatra and literally anything is possible with this nakshatra.
For this reason, Poorvabhadrapada is one of the most feared nakshatras. Natives under strong influence of Poorvabhadrapada may be seen living at polar extremes, depending on the working of this nakshatra in their horoscopes. The head of a big terrorist organization and a high authority law enforcement officer dedicated to destroy such organization; may both be under strong influence of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra.
Since the journey of liberation is closer to its end, nothing less than extremes should be expected. Even a simple video game or a sports competition becomes very difficult or extreme towards the end. The same happens here also. The first 24 nakshatras have enjoyed, gained information, lived some of such information and left what they thought might be problematic. Poorvabhadrapada is the sum total of all these nakshatras and it often wishes to live each and everything; rather than gaining information about it.
Though all this may look troublesome and it may not seem to bear any resemblance to the meaning of the word Poorvabhadrapada, it does make perfect sense. Poorvabhadrapada is the first step on the first path, where gaining information becomes insufficient and knowledge alone will do. The dark side of this path is that one may have to go through extremely bad or evil experiences on this path. The bright side is that from such experiences alone, true knowledge and wisdom is born.
Once you have tried something, disliked it completely and left it; there is no chance you are going back to it. Until you have tried it; there is always a chance or desire to try it. Technically, the last part of leaving sins and desires for good doesn’t happen in Poorvabhadrapada and it happens in the next nakshatra Uttarabhadrapada. Hence Poorvabhadrapada is the attempt to try everything. This attempt tells it what is to be kept and what is to be left. The keeping and leaving part then happens in Uttarabhadrapada.
Hence Poorvabhadrapada is the first step on the final path. First step here means the first part. This path has two parts where the first part deals with knowing everything through personal experiences. The second part brings the final wisdom, guiding what to keep and what to leave. Since the final path is undoubtedly the luckiest path; the meaning ‘first lucky feet’ should better be understood as ‘first part of the luckiest path’.
The main symbol assigned to Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra is ‘the front two legs of a funeral cot’. Fearsome it may seem, this symbol also indicates first part of the journey beyond death. It means Poorvabhadrapada is willing to take this first step and it is willing to cross this first part; which takes it beyond death; to liberation. Achieving victory over death requires dealing with it first. Hence Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra exhibits characteristics like being dangerous, violent, volatile, versatile, dramatic, daredevil, adventurous, extremist and secretive. All these characteristics help Poorvabhadrapada complete the challenges it may face during the first part of the final path.
Another important as well as relevant symbol is associated with Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra. This symbol represents a ‘two faced man’. One of his faces belongs to a gentle, civilized and well cultured person whereas the second face represents a violent, destructive, evil and mysterious person. This symbol indicates that Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra has the ability to live at opposite extremes at the same time. It means natives under strong influence of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra may lead dual lives. One part of these lives is the public face whereas the other one is the hidden face.
Hence an average marketing executive who in reality is a government secret agent or spy; may very well be a Poorvabhadrapada native. A tourist guide, who turns out to be the mastermind of a bomb blast incident; may also be a Poorvabhadrapada native. A religious guru who engages in sex, drugs and alcohol during the dark hours of night; is very likely to be a Poorvabhadrapada native. A well reputed doctor dealing in trafficking of human organs; may be a Poorvabhadrapada native. Similarly, all other such natives who are leading dual lives may be under strong influence of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra.
This is because Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra represents an extreme battle between the God and the Devil. In other words, Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra represents an extreme battle between conscience and ego. The journey of liberation is in its final stage in Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra. Hence it is natural for the Devil to use his best weapons, in order to win this battle. The God and the Devil are the good and the evil inside a Poorvabhadrapada native; and they are engaged in the decisive battle.
This is why Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra features two opposite extremes at the same time. There are no doubts that the goodness will prevail in the end. However, the next stage represented by Uttarabhadrapada may or may not be achieved in present lifetime, by a Poorvabhadrapada native. If the overall horoscope is supportive, natives under strong influence of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra may finally win this battle. Such Poorvabhadrapada natives may get rid of all evil and they may be left with goodness alone. This stage announces the arrival of second step or second part of the final path. It means such Poorvabhadrapada native may get promoted to an Uttarabhadrapada type native.
On the other hand, some Poorvabhadrapada natives may not win this battle during their present lives, due to their overall horoscopes. Such Poorvabhadrapada natives may be seen living at extremes throughout their lives; without reaching the next stage. If that happens, the journey is continued in their next lives also; until they get through this stage during one of their future lives.
Vedic astrology assigns Aja Ekapada as the ruling deity of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra. The word Aja Ekapada literally translates into ‘a goat with one foot’. This god is believed to be a Rudra form of Lord Shiva. Hence Aja Ekapada connects Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra to Rudra form of Lord Shiva; the form which is known for destruction.
Vedic astrology assigns Jupiter as the ruling planet of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra. The association of the most benefic planet among navagraha with a seemingly evil nakshatra like Poorvabhadrapada confuses some astrologers. In the deepest sense, Jupiter alone is capable of ruling Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra. Among other things, Jupiter signifies conscience; and spiritual growth achieved through conscience.
When the decisive battle is fought between conscience and ego; more and more conscience is required to defeat ego. It is perhaps due to Jupiter’s influence only; that Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra may finally win this battle and cross this part of the final path. Hence a native under strong influence of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra may keep engaging in extremes; realizing their wastefulness in the end. If Jupiter is benefic as well as strong and the overall horoscope is supportive, the native may finally win this battle and cross this part of the final path.
The first three quarters of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra fall in Aquarius ruled by Saturn whereas the last quarter of Poorvabhadrapada falls in Pisces ruled by Jupiter. These planets and signs add characteristics like indulgence, awareness, conscience, intelligence, patience, repentance, penance and realization to Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra. The realization comes after indulgence, awareness and repentance.
The indulgence, awareness and repentance may happen in Aquarius part of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra whereas realization may come in Pisces part of Poorvabhadrapada. Awareness in this context means the native may be aware of whatever good or bad he may be engaging in. After engaging in the evil, awareness may create the need for repentance and penance. The native may purify himself through these processes and then the realization may come.
Poorvabhadrapada natives may be good at balancing opposite sides of their personalities. These natives are masters of disguise. For this reason, criminals under strong influence of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra may prove to be the most difficult types of criminals to handle. Shravana type criminals may also be difficult but they are not difficult to handle; and they are difficult to trace or catch. Shravana natives may keep working under the radar and they may not engage in acts of violence. Even when they are caught, they may use legal and diplomatic methods to get out. When it comes to Poorvabhadrapada natives; the first challenge is to trace their true identities.
Poorvabhadrapada natives may not be hidden in literal sense and in most cases; they may be hiding in plain sights. It means a Poorvabhadrapada type criminal may be right before your eyes the entire time but you may not be able to recognize him; let alone catch him. Even if you catch a Poorvabhadrapada type criminal, he may prove extremely difficult to handle. Poorvabhadrapada natives may not be scared of death and this puts them in positions of advantage. It means one such criminal may attack you and kill you instead of getting caught.
Even if he is killed during the process; he may not care. Even if you capture him alive, he may keep creating problems for you, every now and then. For instance, he may get your family kidnapped or harmed and ask for his release. Criminals under strong influence of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra are generally blessed with large networks of people. Hence they may trouble you a lot; even if they are behind bars or restricted through other means.
The symbol of a sword or a double-edged sword is also assigned to Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra. This symbol also represents characteristics like destructive potential and dual-nature. Hence duality becomes the most prominent characteristic of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra. Poorvabhadrapada natives may fool people by pretending to be fools themselves. These natives may be intelligent, adventurous and brave. However, they may hide this side of their personalities and they may pretend to be average type of natives or even less than average.
Looking at professions, natives under strong influence of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra may be seen practicing as spies, detectives, secret agents, police officers, army officers, naval officers, air force officers, administrative officers, revenue officers, diplomats, coffin makers, cemetery keepers, arms manufacturers, arms dealers, scientists, doctors, engineers, IT professionals, software developers, astrologers, black magicians, psychics, tantrics, aghoris, healers, spiritual gurus, religious gurus, actors, TV artists, stage artists, dancers, writers, singers, musicians, directors, producers, sportsmen, criminals, murderers, serial killers, contract killers, researchers, explorers, politicians, professionals dealing in weapon industry, defence services, terrorist organizations, mafia, media industry, movie industry, television industry, music industry, airline industry, hotel industry, fashion industry, casino industry, tobacco industry, liquor industry, chemical industry, medical industry, pharmaceutical industry and many other types of professionals; depending on their overall horoscopes.
Let’s look at some other facts associated with this nakshatra. Poorvabhadrapada is considered as a passive and fierce nakshatra. It is considered as a male nakshatra. Vedic astrology assigns Brahman Varna and ether element to Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra. The Gana assigned to Poorvabhadrapada is Manava and the Guna assigned to it is Sattwic. It is a downward nakshatra and its Yoni or animal symbol is Lion.
Himanshu Shangari