Uttarabhadrapada Nakshatra

 Full Moon in Uttarabhadrada Nakshatra and Revati 

Today on the 6th October 2025 is the Sharad Purnima. The day is celebrated as Kojagiri Purnima and the Ras Leela is said to have taken place on this day. 

As I was pondering on the shakti of the Uttarabhadrapada nakshatra - Varshaayita Shakti — The Power to Bring Rain / Nourishment. 

I am reminded of the Chakora birds 🐦 which await the, moonlight 🌙 light as the source of nectar. I'm reminded of the lines from Priyae Charusheelae - "

sphurad adhara-sīdhave tava vadana-candramā

rocayatu locana-cakoraṃ ||1||"

Where Krishna pleads with Radha, to see Radha's moon like face, as delightful like moonlight for the Chakora bird that waits patiently.... 

Interestingly, on this day the skies were absolutely so clear radiating the warm lights of the moon. 

Yet on the previous day on satabishek nakshatra is rained 🌧  so heavily... I had interestingly gone outside and by the time I had come home, I was all drenched. 

Coming to Uttarabhadrada Nakshatra, I'm reminded of the formation of pearls. 

Formation of a pearl inside an oyster is thought to occur because of foreign material inside the body of the oyster. To save itself from the undesired material the mollusk coats the object with layers of nacre. It takes many years for a mollusk to produce a pearl of substantial size. The process through which the pearls are formed inside the body of the mollusk is very delicate, and a little disturbance at any stage of development of a pearl can influence its shape and luster. The finest pearl is that which has no foreign matter in its core. There is a common belief that when Swati Nakshatra rain comes to earth it produces pearl in pearl oysters. The mollusk is then said to open its mouth to receive the first raindrops. The pearls thus produced by the raindrops of Swati Nakshatra are the finest and have no foreign matter in them.

(Source - https://www.gemstoneuniverse.com/pearl-gemstone.html)

Though the formation of pearls as per the above source is linked mainly to Swati Nakshatra, Shravan and Pushya. I was pondering on the sign of Uttarabhadrapada. 

🌕 1. Sharad Purnima – The Night of Divine Nectar 

According to the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (10th Skandha, chapters 29–33),

on this bright full moon night of the month of Ashwin,

Lord Kṛṣṇa played His flute (Venu-nāda), calling the Gopīs to the Yamunā’s sandy banks under the shining silver moonlight.

That was Śarad Pūrṇimā — the night when:

The Moon is full, the air is cool and pure, and the rasa (divine essence) pervades all creation.

It is said that on this night:

The Moon showers Amṛta — celestial nectar — symbolizing divine bliss (rasa).

Kṛṣṇa, the embodiment of that bliss, manifests His infinite forms to dance with each Gopī — one with every heart.

Thus, the Rāsa Krīḍā is not a physical dance, but a cosmic revelation of unity between the individual soul (Gopī) and the Supreme Soul (Kṛṣṇa).

🌸 2. The Word “Rasa” – Its Double Meaning 

In Sanskrit, Rasa means:

Essence, nectar, flavor, emotion, or divine joy.

In Vedanta and Bhakti, it is the spiritual taste of love between God and devotee.

On Sharad Purnima:

The Moonlight (Chandrarasa) is the outer nectar — Amṛta raining from the heavens.

The Rāsa dance is the inner nectar — Premarasa, the taste of divine love.

So, Rāsa Krīḍā = The Dance of Divine Rasa, when outer and inner nectar become one.

This is why the night is called “Amrita Varshini” — the night when nectar rains.

🐍 3. Link to Uttarabhadrapada Shakti 

Now, let’s connect this with Uttarabhadrapada Nakshatra’s Shakti:

Varshaayita Shakti — The Power to Bring Rain / Nourishment

During Sharad Purnima, the Moon literally “rains nectar” — Varsha of Amrita.

In a subtle sense, Ahirbudhnya, the serpent of the deep waters, represents the Kundalini energy rising — the union of Śakti and Śiva — just like Kṛṣṇa and the Gopīs uniting in bliss.

So the inner Rāsa Krīḍā happens in the deep heart (Hridaya Guha) — the inner ocean of Uttarabhadrapada.

It’s the yogic rasa, where the soul merges in the still joy of the Self.

Uttarabhadrapada Rasa Krīḍā = Mystical Union

The “dance” happens inside, in meditation and devotion — the soul dances with the Divine.

In Tantra and Yoga, Rāsa Krīḍā is also symbolic of:

The union of Śiva (pure consciousness) and Śakti (creative energy) within the body.

The awakening of the Kundalini serpent (Ahirbudhnya) through love and surrender.

During Sharad Purnima, when the Moon is brightest:

The Ida and Pingala nadis (lunar and solar channels) balance.

The nectar of Soma descends from the Sahasrāra (crown chakra).

The inner consciousness experiences Rasa, the sweetness of union.

That is the inner Rāsa Līlā — the dance of energy and consciousness in perfect harmony.

🪔 6. Essence of the Mystery 

🌕 Sharad Purnima = Rasa descending from the heavens

💧 Uttarabhadrapada = Rain from the ocean of consciousness

💃 Ashwini = The dance of divine vitality in the heart

So:

When Sharad Purnima falls in Uttarabhadrapada, it represents inner union, the silent bliss of realization.

When it falls in Ashwini, it represents outer union, the playful dance of life and love.

Both express the same eternal truth:

“The soul and the Divine are never separate — they dance as one, within and without.”