Pūrvaphālgunī & the union of opposites

Straight in direction be the paths, and thornless, whereon our fellows travel to the wooing of Sūryā (daughter of the Sun) and Soma. Let Aryaman and Bhaga lead us to the perfect union of the wife and husband (RV 10.85.23)

Pūrvaphālgunī moon native Gina Lollobrigida in "Solomon and Sheba" / Figs, symbol of fertility and abundance, carry the energy of Pūrvaphālgunī

The beautiful star of Pūrvaphālgunī has risen to allow us to experience the pleasures of this world and the world beyond. Lying in the center of regal Leo and ruled by pleasure-seeking Venus, Pūrvaphālgunī desires to enjoy the best life has to offer. “May I partake of the best share amongst the Gods” is her sacrificial wish.  Leo rules celebrations, romance, fame and recognition, while Venus rules luxury, pleasure, union and relationships, making this nakshatra excellent at channeling the art of enjoyment and pleasure in this world. Pūrvaphālgunī brings forth the fruits (phal) of our past (purva) actions, inviting us to rest, receive, and enjoy like a sovereign who has earned their throne. Pūrvaphālgunī holds the shakti to unite opposites and the power to procreate. She is the fertile goddess, the former reddish one - the colour red symbolising her link to fertility and generative force, which tend to be heightened in those under her influence. The two opposite forces that are seeking to unite are represented in this star by the male & female principles, as Pūrvaphālgunī’s foundation above is the wife / female partner and her foundation below is the husband / male partner, and the result of her shakti (union of both) is the creation of the foetus. 

It is under the Phalgunis that Shiva (the male, purusa) and Parvati (the female, shakti) were united in marriage, as well as S​​ūryā, the daughter of Sun, and Soma, the Moon (under Pūrvaphālgunī, she is taken in the chariot to the groom and they are officially wedded under Uttara Phalguni). These events not only highlight this nakshatra’s association with marriage and grand celebrations, but also its power to bring opposite forces together to create something greater than themselves. Pūrvaphālgunī shows us that before creation, there needs to be union as Shiva and Shakti must be united for creation to be set forth. Marriage perfectly embodies Pūrvaphālgunī’s core themes. First, a man and a woman—opposite energies—are united and symbolically become one. Second, marriage is traditionally a sacred ceremony where vows are exchanged, blending the energies of the Sun (truth, dharma, sacredness) and Venus (love, harmony, union). Third, it’s a celebration that gathers people from both the bride’s and groom’s sides often for the first and only time. And finally, the overall festive spirit of the occasion reflects the full activation of both the Sun and Venus. Thus, those born under Pūrvaphālgunī are usually sociable, hospitable and love to celebrate life.

Shiva Lingam & Yoni symbolizing the cosmic union of the male and female principles

One of the teachings of Pūrvaphālgunī is that to enjoy life’s finest offerings, we must seek completion through connection. In our article on the union between the masculine & feminine principles for the purpose of creation, we have explained how love is the source of all creation, and how this love manifests in the union of the masculine & feminine aspects of divinity (Radha & Krishna, Shiva & Shakti). Love (prema) is the highest source of pleasure, and is the juiciest, sweetest portion of the results of sādhanā. Love is the rasa - the juice - which makes life more enjoyable, and that love can only be experienced towards an object (the object of love). Pūrvaphālgunī therefore teaches us  that, to partake of the best portion (which is her sacrificial wish), one should reach completion in union with the object of love, or the object of desire. 

“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.”

Napoleon Hill (most likely Pūrvaphālgunī Moon)

Pūrvaphālgunī’s disposition is rooted in Kāma (desire), Rajas (passion) and Ugra (fierceness). Aryaman, deity of Purvaphalguni, is called the King of the Ancestors and our DNA carries ancestral desires which find fulfillment through us. The urge to love, to create, and to unite is not only personal, but also ancestral; so to channel the highest expression of this nakshatra and achieve union with divinity it is important to purify our desires. Kāma is actually vital to becoming successful in sādhanā as without developing a strong desire for God, the renunciation of material pleasures is not possible. Pūrvaphālgunī is the ardent (rajasic) fervor of tapas (ugra) for the attainment of one’s desires (kāma), it is “the division that must be destroyed so that union may prevail”. As long as Shiva’s two eyes remain open we experience duality, but when His third eye opens, it burns through the duality and brings about dissolution and simultaneous union with divinity. Non-dualism is achieved through union (of the divine feminine and masculine principles worshipped as yoni and linga) and in the manifested world, which serves as a reflection of the higher spiritual reality, we also correspondingly “become one” through the procreative act. It is also understood that the soul (jiva) and the ego (Kundalini) are feminine and their goal is to unite and merge with the masculine principle, the purusha (Krishna or Shiva). This is why Yoga, which literally means union of man & God, is the ultimate goal of Pūrvaphālgunī: because the highest object of desire is Brahman in His manifest or unmanifest aspect. 

Pūrvaphālgunī and the union of East & West

In this short example, we will view how Pūrvaphālgunī's power to unite opposites can manifest in her native. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is a saint and spiritual teacher who played a pivotal role in bringing Eastern philosophy to the Western world. He has a strong Sun in Pūrvaphālgunī in the 9th house of dharma, spirituality and global outreach.

The royal energy of Leo, especially when expressed through Pūrvaphālgunī, brings themes of luxury, festivity, and celebration. In the case of Śrīla Prabhupāda, the Sun (representing purpose) occupies this nakshatra in the 9th house, and so Pūrvaphālgunī’s celebratory nature is channeled into spiritual practices and global outreach. Joyous occasions are not merely social events, but become vehicles for spreading dharma across the world. One of the most vivid embodiments of this symbolism is the Rathayatra festival he inaugurated in the West, where devotees pull Jagannath's chariot to symbolically reunite Him with His beloved gopīs. As you may recall, it is under Pūrvaphālgunī that Soma, the daughter of the Moon, was carried to Surya on her chariot to be wedded. Śrīla Prabhupāda introducing this festival loaded with Pūrvaphālgunī symbolism to the Western world is a beautiful example of this nakshatra’s activation through its native.

According to Jātaka Pārijāta, Pūrvaphālgunī is a liberal nakshatra. Śrīla Prabhupāda, though a traditional sannyāsī, adapted certain customs—such as officiating wedding ceremonies for his disciples (another Pūrvaphālgunī theme)—to support the spreading of Krishna consciousness in the Western world and some of His actions, though controversial to his contemporaries, were ultimately necessary to fulfill the greater purpose of dharma dissemination.  

Prabhupāda’s establishment of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is itself an expression of Pūrvaphālgunī's inclusive spirit: bringing people of all backgrounds together in devotion. Even the name of the movement reflects both the global scope of the 9th house and the inclusive nature of Pūrvaphālgunī. His Sun in Pūrvaphālgunī in the 9th house reflects not only his role as a spiritual teacher and a propounder of dharma  but also as a visionary who  established sacred spaces and inaugurated spiritual festivals and celebrations for worship and collective upliftment. He even began attracting followers simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra under a tree in Central Park, and emphasised the power of singing, dancing, and eating prasādam (sanctified food) as a joyful and accessible means of connecting with God.

"Our movement is for ananda, simply bliss, and the method of pushing this movement is chanting, dancing, feasting and philosophizing." 

His chart reveals further alignment with his divine mission as his Pūrvaphālgunī Sun is sitting with Jupiter (Guru) and Ketu (Moksha) both in Magha nakshatra, the star of the ancestors, showing his role as a transmitter of ancient knowledge. Crossing the ocean (Jupiter) he carried ancestral wisdom to foreign lands, reviving dharma in unfamiliar soil. Ketu sitting with mooltrikona Sun (8° Leo) also enhances the signification of the house and granted him victory and authority in 9th house matters.

Śrīla Prabhupāda at the Rathayatra celebration in San Francisco