Dhanishta Nakshatra
Ruled by Mars · Capricorn and Aquarius · Rakshasa gana
Dhanishta is the 23rd of the 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions). It spans 23°20′ Capricorn to 6°40′ Aquarius of the sidereal zodiac, which places it in Capricorn and Aquarius. Its ruling planet is Mars, its deity is The eight Vasus, and its symbol is a drum.
Dhanishta nakshatra: personality and nature
Dhanishta is rhythmic, ambitious and resourceful, associated with wealth, music and group energy.
Love and relationships
Energetic and independent, and may put career first.
Career and work
Music, real estate, sport, finance, engineering and entrepreneurship.
What to watch for
Impatience and arrogance. As with any placement, the Moon's sign and house, the planets aspecting it and the running dasha change how Dhanishta shows up in a particular chart.
The four padas of Dhanishta
Each nakshatra is divided into four padas of 3°20′, and each pada falls in one navamsa (D9) sign, which colours how the nakshatra expresses and matters for marriage reading.
- Pada 1: 23°20′ Capricorn to 26°40′ Capricorn, Leo navamsa.
- Pada 2: 26°40′ Capricorn to 0°00′ Aquarius, Virgo navamsa.
- Pada 3: 0°00′ Aquarius to 3°20′ Aquarius, Libra navamsa.
- Pada 4: 3°20′ Aquarius to 6°40′ Aquarius, Scorpio navamsa.
Dhanishta and the Vimshottari dasha
A person whose Moon is in Dhanishta begins life in the Mars Mahadasha, the full length of which is 7 years. How much of it remains at birth depends on how far the Moon has travelled through Dhanishta. The Rahu Mahadasha follows. The Vimshottari dasha system derives from the Moon's nakshatra, so this is why the nakshatra matters for timing.
Compatibility: gana, yoni and nadi
In Ashtakoota (Guna Milan) matching, Dhanishta counts as Rakshasa gana, Lion yoni (female) and Madhya nadi. Gana and yoni describe temperament and instinctive compatibility. Nadi carries the most weight, 8 of the 36 points, and scores zero when both partners share the same nadi. Note that Rakshasa is a temperament label in this system, not a moral judgement. These are read from each partner's Moon nakshatra, so the full pair of charts should be considered together.
For informational and self-reflection purposes only. Not financial, medical, legal, or professional advice.
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Dhanishta nakshatra: common questions
Mars rules Dhanishta. A Moon here starts the 7-year Mars Mahadasha in the Vimshottari system.
Dhanishta spans 23°20′ Capricorn to 6°40′ Aquarius of the sidereal zodiac, so it lies in Capricorn and Aquarius.
Pada 1 falls in the Leo navamsa; Pada 2 falls in the Virgo navamsa; Pada 3 falls in the Libra navamsa; Pada 4 falls in the Scorpio navamsa.
Dhanishta is Rakshasa gana, Lion yoni (female) and Madhya nadi.
It depends on your date, exact time and place of birth, because the Moon moves through a nakshatra in about a day. Generate a free Kundli to see your Moon's nakshatra and pada.