Dhanishtha is the 23rd of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Indian astronomy. It spans 23°20′ Makara to 6°40′ Kumbha of the sidereal zodiac. Its name means "the most wealthy", its presiding deity is The Vasus, the eight elemental gods, and its planetary lord in the Vimśottarī system is Mars.

The span is calculated with the Lahiri ayanamsa. The name, deity, lord and junction star are traditional and cited below; they describe a cultural system, not a measured influence.

Nakshatra 23 of 27 · Makara (Capricorn) / Kumbha (Aquarius)

Dhanishtha धनिष्ठा

The most wealthy

Presided over by The Vasus, the eight elemental gods, and ruled by Mars.

At a glance

TRADITION
Position
23rd of 27
Sidereal span
23°20′ Makara – 6°40′ Kumbha
Sign
Makara (Capricorn) → Kumbha (Aquarius)
Planetary lord
Mars
Presiding deity
The Vasus
Junction star
β Delphini

When the Moon is next in Dhanishtha

Times in UTC · Lahiri ayanamsa · to the nearest minute

  1. →
  2. →
  3. →
  4. →

The four padas

Each pada is a quarter of 3°20′. The 108 padas of the zodiac cycle through the twelve signs in order, giving each pada its navamsa (D9) sign.

Pada 1

23°20′ Makara – 26°40′ Makara

Navamsa: Simha

Pada 2

26°40′ Makara – 30°00′ Makara

Navamsa: Kanya

Pada 3

0°00′ Kumbha – 3°20′ Kumbha

Navamsa: Tula

Pada 4

3°20′ Kumbha – 6°40′ Kumbha

Navamsa: Vrischika

The other Mars mansions

The nine lords repeat three times around the zodiac, so each lord rules three mansions, 120° apart.

Sources

  • Taittirīya Saṃhitā 4.4.10 — the Vedic list of nakshatras with their presiding deities. Keith, A. B. (Trans.). (1914). The Veda of the Black Yajus School entitled Taittiriya Sanhita (Part 2). Harvard University Press. Read the translation
  • Sūrya Siddhānta, chapter 8 — the asterisms and their junction stars. Burgess, E. (Trans.). (1858–1860). Translation of the Sûrya-Siddhânta, a text-book of Hindu astronomy. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 6. Read the translation
  • Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra, Vimśottarī daśā chapter — the nine planetary lords in nakshatra order. Santhanam, R. (Trans.). (1984). Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (Vol. 2). Ranjan Publications.

Junction-star identifications differ between texts and commentators. English meanings are approximate renderings of the Sanskrit name.