In the series of Nakshatras, the twenty third nakshatra is Dhanishta. Detailed information on the Nakshatra, its characteristics, gender, gana, and all the details is below:
Dhanishta Nakshatra ranges from 23 degrees 20 minutes in Makara Rasi to 6 degrees 40 minutes in Kumbha Rasi. The presiding deity for Dhanishta nakshatra is Vasus – the eight Vedic gods or Ashta vasu. Dhanishta nakshatra symbol is a Drum. The planetary ruler is Mars
Dhanistha Nakshatra:
Dhanishta comes from the sanskrit words Dhan – wealth, tishta – reside indicating one who is rich with good fortune, resilience and a strong character. It also means “The most famous”, “The swiftest”, “The wealthiest”, and “The most benevolent”.
The main presiding deity is Vasus – Ashta Vasu/Eight Vedic gods. The Ashta Vasus are – Dhara (Prithvi), Anala(Agni), Anila(Vayu), Apa(Varuna), Pratyusha(One of the Aditya), Prabhasa(Akash), Soma(Chandrama), and Dhruva(Nakshatrani). The eight vasus represent the elemental forces of nature.
The symbol is a Drum/Damaru. The hourglass shape of Damaru represents good & evil, masculine & feminine energies that come together. This also indicates the rhythm, dance, music, and divine timing.
The planetary ruler is Mars. Mars here is associated with masculinity, power, courage, and conflict.
Characteristics:
Dhanishta nakshatra natives are extremely intelligent with knowledge in various areas. They are experts in all the work they take up. They are thoughtful and careful when making decisions. They are philosophically inclined. They are most often involved in charitable work or other spiritual endeavors. They are polite, good communicators, and interact well with others. They like social gatherings and group activities. They are very discreet and consciously try not to hurt others. They have good organizational abilities. Most of them are either music lovers or dancers. They are very interested in religious and spiritual matters and actively participate. They have great affinity and compassion for the needy and poor people. They tend to carry revenge and wait for the opportunity to take revenge and settle the score. They tend to let success and recognition go to their heads and become egoistic. They become extremely argumentative and opinionated. They tend to become harsh and ruthless, self-obsessed, and inconsiderate.
Physical characteristics:
Dhanishta nakshatra natives are at either extremes with no in-between. Most of them have lean bodies with long figures. They look younger than their age and have thick lips. In other cases, they may be stout and may have teeth protruding out of the lips.
Padas of Dhanishta Nakshatra:
1st pada or Simha navamsa: When the native is born in Dhanishta nakshatra, between 23 degrees 20 minutes to 26 degrees and 40 minutes in Dhanus rasi, they are in the first pada of Dhanishta Nakshatra. The first pada is ruled by Sun(Ravi). Those born in the first pada will be very intelligent and practical. They work very hard and earn plenty of wealth. They will be successful businessmen. They will be highly successful. They will be capable administrators. They tend to sleep more and will fear easily. They speak a lot. They may not have a good married life.
2nd pada or Kanya navamsa - When the native is born in Dhanishta nakshatra, between 26 degrees 40 minutes to 30 degrees in Dhanus rasi, they are in the second pada of Dhanistha nakshatra. The second pada is ruled by Mercury(Budha). Those born in the second pada of Dhanistha nakshatra will be very sharp and fast in grasping. They will also be talkative will make more friends and will be social butterflies. They adapt to new ideas and changes very fast. They will serve the authority or will be the main yes man to authorities. They will be learned and will know various topics. They will be slightly cunning and will cut around the corners especially if they are businessmen.
3rd pada or Tula Navamsa - When the native is born in Dhanishta nakshatra, between 0 degrees to 3 degrees 20 minutes of Kumbha Rasi, they are in the third pada of Dhanishta nakshatra. The third pada is ruled by Venus(Shukra). Those born in the third pada will lead a happy life. They will be famous and respected in their circles. They are endowed with success and wisdom. They will complete all the work taken up. They will be good healers, psychics, and yoga practitioners. They love group activities. They tend to go overboard in consuming liquor, drugs, etc.
4th pada or Karkataka Navamsa - When the native is born in Dhanishta nakshatra between 3 degrees 20 minutes to 6 degrees 40 minutes in Kumbha Rasi, they are in the fourth pada of Dhanishta nakshatra. The fourth pada is ruled by Mars(Kuja). Those born in the fourth pada will be very ambitious, and driven for success. They will be great researchers with a penchant to uncover. They will take an active part in helping the underprivileged. They like to take part in outdoor activities. They will be egoistic and given to anger easily if others do not listen to them. They will have an interest in gambling and fast money like lotteries.
Auspicious activities:
The below are the activities that can be performed/started in Dhanishta nakshatra.
· Starting music
· Dance
· Purchasing moveable and immovable property
· Travel
· Medical treatment
· Financial transactions
· Gardening
· Digging wells
Professions suitable:
The Professions suitable for Dhanishta nakshatra natives are
· Dancer
· Doctor
· Surgeons
· Musician
· Real estate agent
· Scientist
· Engineering
· Mining
· Poet/writer
· Entertainment business
· Makers of musical instruments
· Gem dealers
· Astrologers
· Holistic healers
Health:
Primary body parts represented by Dhanishta nakshatra are Back and Anus
Ailments related to Dhanishta nakshatra are:
· Boils
· Nausea
· Knee & ankle
· Palpitations
· Fainting
· Heart diseases
· Blood pressure
· Blood disorders
· Varicose Veins
· Anemia
· Anus ailments like hemorrhoids & fissures
· Back pain
· Spine degeneration
Other information:
Gana Rakshasa
Color Silver Grey
Planet Lord Mars
Guna Tamas
Nadi Pitta
Gender Male
Nature Moveable/Changeable
Element Air
Direction North
Varna Farmer/servant
Animal Lion
Bird Golden Bee, peacock
Tree Shamee, Indian Mesquite
Syllables Ga, Gee, Gu, Gey
Mythology #1
Dhruva is one of the Ashta Vasus that rule Dhanishta nakshatra.
Dhruva was born to King Uttanapada and Suniti. The king also had another son Uttama, born to his second queen Suruchi. Uttama was the most liked by King Uttanapada. Once, when Dhruva was a child of five years of age, he was sitting on his father’s lap. Suruchi, who was jealous of the older son from the first wife (since Dhruva would be the heir to the throne and not Uttama) forcefully removed Dhruva from the King’s lap. Dhruva protested to get down the lap of his father and asked why is he not allowed to sit on his father’s lap. Then Suruchi tells Dhruva that only God can bestow him with that power.
Suniti, being of gentle nature and lesser favorite wife – tried to console Dhruva, but he was very determined to hear of his fate from God himself. Seeing his firm resolve, his mother bade him farewell, as Dhurva set out on a lonely journey to the forest. Seeing his strong determination, Sage Narada appeared before him and tried to desist him from assuming severe austerity at an early age. But seeing his resolve, Narada guided him by teaching him rituals and mantras to meditate on when praying to Lord Vishnu. The one mantra that Narada taught and was used by Dhruva was “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya”. Dhruva started his meditation, and went without food and water for six months, his mind fixed on the lord. His tapas shook the heavens and the Lord Vishnu appeared before him, but Dhruva would not open his eyes because he was still merged in his inner vision of Vishnu’s form described to him by Narada. Lord Vishnu then made the inner vision disappear. Then Dhruva prostrated before Vishnu, but he could not utter a single word The Vishnu touched Dhruva’s right cheek with his divine conch, which gave back his speech. Dhruva recites a beautiful poem in praise of the Lord Vishnu in 12 powerful verses, which are known as Dhruva-stuti (as per Bhagavata Purana).
Having spent a long time in the tapasya Dhruva even forgot the objective of his tapasya and only asked Vishnu for a life in memory of the Lord. Pleased by his austerities and stuti, Vishnu granted his wish and further declared that the child will attain Dhruvapada – the state where he would become a celestial body that would not be touched by the Maha Pralaya or the final destruction.
Dhruva returned to his kingdom, to be warmly received by his family and attained the crown at the age of six. He ruled for many decades in a fair and just manner. This story reiterates the determination that is associated with Dhanishta nakshatra.
