Dhanishta Nakshatra
Dhanishta is the twenty-third of the 27 nakshatras and spans 23°20′ Makara (Capricorn) to 6°40′ Kumbha (Aquarius) in the sidereal zodiac. Its planetary lord is Mars, so when the Moon is here at birth the Vimshottari dasha sequence opens with Mars, a period of 7 years in full. It is presided over by the eight Vasus and symbolised by a mridanga drum, and its four padas carry the naming syllables Ga, Gi, Gu, Ge.
Reference data for Dhanishta Nakshatra
- Sanskrit name
- धनिष्ठा
- Position
- 23 of 27
- Sidereal span
- 23°20′ Makara (Capricorn) to 6°40′ Kumbha (Aquarius)
- Rashi
- Makara (Capricorn) and Kumbha (Aquarius)
- Planetary lord (Vimshottari)
- Mars — 7-year dasha
- Presiding deity
- The eight Vasus
- Symbol
- A mridanga drum
- Gana
- Rakshasa
- Yoni
- Lion (female)
- Nadi
- Madhya (Pitta)
- Muhurta class
- Chara (movable)
- Name syllables
- Ga, Gi, Gu, Ge
The four padas
| Pada | Span | Navamsha | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23°20′–26°40′ Makara (Capricorn) | Simha (Leo) | Ga (गा) |
| 2 | 26°40′–30°00′ Makara (Capricorn) | Kanya (Virgo) | Gi (गी) |
| 3 | 0°00′–3°20′ Kumbha (Aquarius) | Tula (Libra) | Gu (गू) |
| 4 | 3°20′–6°40′ Kumbha (Aquarius) | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Ge (गे) |
Spans follow the standard 27-fold sidereal division (13°20′ per nakshatra, 3°20′ per pada). Lords follow the Vimshottari sequence; gana, yoni, nadi and name syllables follow the common Avakahada table. Regional Panchangs sometimes differ on symbols and syllable spellings.
Deity, symbol and meaning of Dhanishta
Dhanishta, ‘the wealthiest’, is presided over by the eight Vasus, the elemental gods of abundance, and is also called Shravishtha. Its symbol is a mridanga drum. Tradition reads Dhanishta through rhythm, music, prosperity, generosity and working well in groups. It spans Makara and Kumbha, joining practical ambition with a wider social outlook.
Dhanishta in a birth chart
When the Moon occupies Dhanishta at birth, this is your Janma Nakshatra — the birth star used for naming, for the Vimshottari dasha sequence and for Kundli matching. Dhanishta is ruled by Mars and lies in Makara (Capricorn) and Kumbha (Aquarius), so a reading weighs Mars together with the sign lord (Saturn and Saturn). If the Ascendant or another planet sits in Dhanishta it takes on the same symbolism, but the result depends on that planet’s own strength, house and aspects: a nakshatra refines a placement, it does not override it.
Muhurta: what Dhanishta is traditionally chosen for
In muhurta texts this is a chara (movable) nakshatra, suited to travel, buying vehicles and anything meant to move or change. The traditional Panchak period begins when the Moon reaches its second half, in Kumbha. A full muhurta still checks tithi, weekday, local sunrise and the individual chart, so the nakshatra alone never decides a date.
Gana, yoni and nadi in Kundli matching
Dhanishta belongs to the Rakshasa gana, its yoni (animal) is the lion (female) and its nadi is Madhya (Pitta). In Ashtakoot Guna Milan these feed Gana Koota (6 points), Yoni Koota (4 points) and Nadi Koota (8 points) — together 18 of the 36 points. They compare the two partners’ birth stars, so none of them describes a person on its own, and a low score in one koota is weighed against the whole chart rather than read as a verdict.
What this means in your chart
A general description of Dhanishta cannot tell you which planet sits there in your chart, which house it rules or which dasha is running. Generate your free Kundli to see where Dhanishta falls for you, then ask the AI astrologer about that specific placement rather than treating this page as a personal prediction.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the lord of Dhanishta nakshatra?+
Dhanishta is ruled by Mars in the Vimshottari system. If your Moon is in Dhanishta, your dasha sequence begins with Mars, whose full period is 7 years; the balance remaining at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
What are the name letters for Dhanishta nakshatra?+
The four padas carry the syllables Ga, Gi, Gu, Ge, one per pada in that order. The pada is fixed by the Moon’s exact degree at birth, so the birth time decides which syllable applies; many families treat all four as available.
Which rashi is Dhanishta nakshatra in?+
Dhanishta spans 23°20′ Makara (Capricorn) to 6°40′ Kumbha (Aquarius). Because it crosses a sign boundary, two people born in Dhanishta can have different Moon signs; the pada tells you which.
Is Dhanishta a good or bad nakshatra?+
No nakshatra is good or bad in itself. Muhurta texts class Dhanishta as a chara (movable) nakshatra, which describes the kind of activity it traditionally suits, not the worth of a person born under it. How it plays out depends on the planet placed there, its house and the running dasha.
Related pages
General reference only; the AI astrologer reads your calculated chart before answering.
Ask about Dhanishta in my chartAstrology guidance is for spiritual reflection and self-awareness only. It should not be treated as guaranteed future prediction.