Nakshatra 23 of 27
Dhanishta Nakshatra (धनिष्ठा)
Dhanishta nakshatra: ruled by Mars, deity Vasus, in sidereal Capricorn and Aquarius. See its four padas with navamsa signs, matching attributes, and what Moon in Dhanishta means for your Vimshottari dasha.
Direct answer
Dhanishta (धनिष्ठा) is the 23rd of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 23°20′ Capricorn to 6°40′ Aquarius in sidereal Capricorn and Aquarius. Its ruling planet is Mars, its presiding deity is Vasus, and its symbol is the drum / flute. A person born with the Moon in Dhanishta starts life in a Mars mahadasha (7 years full length).
The four padas of Dhanishta
Each nakshatra divides into four padas of 3°20′. The pada decides the navamsa (D9) sign — the chart traditionally read for marriage and inner life. If your Moon or lagna degree falls in Dhanishta, this table shows its navamsa sign.
| Pada | Degrees | Navamsa sign |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23°20′ Capricorn – 26°40′ Capricorn | Leo |
| 2 | 26°40′ Capricorn – 0°00′ Aquarius | Virgo |
| 3 | 0°00′ Aquarius – 3°20′ Aquarius | Libra |
| 4 | 3°20′ Aquarius – 6°40′ Aquarius | Scorpio |
Moon in Dhanishta and your Vimshottari dasha
In Vimshottari dasha, the nakshatra of your birth Moon sets the starting mahadasha. A Moon in Dhanishta begins life in a Mars mahadasha, whose full length is 7years — shortened at birth by however far the Moon has already travelled through the nakshatra's 13°20′ span. The rest of the 120-year cycle follows in fixed order.
What a Mars period brings depends on what Mars controls in your specific chart — house ownership, placement, and strength — not on the nakshatra alone. That is why this site checks dasha timing against your real past before making forward claims.
Matching attributes (Ashtakoot)
In Guna Milan, nakshatras are compared through classical categories. Dhanishtais classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana (temperament group), Madhya (Pitta) nadi (constitution group), Vaishya varna, and the Lion (female) yoni. Two charts with the same nadi traditionally raise Nadi dosha — the heaviest single factor in the 36-guna score — which is why matching reports here flag it for expert review rather than auto-failing the match.
Frequently asked questions
Which planet rules Dhanishta nakshatra?
Dhanishta is ruled by Mars. In Vimshottari dasha, a birth Moon in Dhanishta begins the cycle with a Mars mahadasha of up to 7 years (shortened by how far the Moon has already travelled through the nakshatra at birth).
Which rashi (Moon sign) is Dhanishta in?
Dhanishta straddles sidereal Capricorn and Aquarius. Which rashi your Moon falls in depends on the exact degree — the pada table on this page shows the boundary.
What are the matching attributes of Dhanishta?
For Ashtakoot matching, Dhanishta is classified as Rakshasa (fierce) gana, Madhya (Pitta) nadi, Vaishya varna, with the Lion (female) yoni. Nadi and gana carry the most weight in the 36-guna score; same-nadi matches are traditionally flagged for closer review.
How do I know if my Moon is in Dhanishta?
You need your birth date, time, and place — the Moon moves through one nakshatra in roughly a day, so the time matters. The free chart and dasha calculators on this site compute it with the Lahiri ayanamsa.