The literal meaning of the word Dhanishtha is ‘the wealthiest one’. Vedic astrology translates the meaning of Dhanishtha as wealthy and beneficent. Strong benefic influence of Dhanistha in a horoscope is capable of blessing the native with wealth and status. People under strong influence of Dhanistha may also enjoy various types of pleasures in their lives.
A musical drum is taken as the main symbol of Dhanishtha. This symbol associates Dhanishtha with all types of musical activities. Accordingly, Dhanishtha people may be inclined towards one form of music or another. It is believed by some that the musical drum used as the symbol of Dhanishtha is the Damaru of Lord Shiva. Some others believe it is a drum which is hollow from inside. A Damaru is also hollow from inside and it creates music from hollowness.
This indicates the trait of creating things out of nothing. It means people under strong influence of Dhanistha may bring beautiful creations to life, virtually out of nothing. It also means that Dhanishtha people may create success, money and wealth out of nothing. Hence Dhanishtha people may achieve success and wealth, even if they are born in poor families.
A Flute is also considered as a symbol of Dhanishtha. The symbol of Flute again relates Dhanishtha to music and creation of something out of nothing. Hence Dhanishtha people may be creative and they may create wealth, money, success, music and other pieces of creation out of nothing.
Since old times, drums have been used to convey messages to masses of people. Whenever kings needed to make public announcements, drums were used to gather crowds. It is believed that through the sound of Damaru, Lord Shiva also sends messages to all creatures or to some specific creatures in the zone. Therefore, Dhanishtha represents traits of connecting to masses and communicating with them.
Due to traits like creativity and the ability to connect to masses; Dhanishtha may bless people under its strong influence with success through various creative fields. Hence Dhanishtha people may achieve success as various types of artists who play musical instruments like flute, drum, guitar, violin, piano and all other such instruments. Dhanishtha may also bless the people with success through other creative fields and they may become actors, singers, dancers, writers and other types of creative artists. Dhanishtha as a nakshatra has a lot to do with creativity of all types.
Vedic astrology assigns eight Vasus as the ruling deities of Dhanishtha. Vasus are a particular group of gods. Other groups are Rudras and Adityas. The eight Vasus are known as Apah, Dhruva, Dhara, Anila, Soma, Anala, Pratyush and Prabhasa. Each one of these Vasus adds his unique traits to Dhanishtha. Hence Dhanishtha is blessed with traits like musical abilities, confidence, organizational skills, being full of energy, being fixed in nature, reliability, charitable nature, resourcefulness, business skills, discrimination, joyfulness, hopefulness, goodness, sensitivity, excellence, wealth, safety and many other good traits possessed by these eight Vasus.
Lord Shiva is assigned as the final presiding deity of Dhanishtha. Accordingly, some traits of Lord Shiva like his musical abilities and his dancing abilities are relayed through Dhanishtha. Lord Shiva is considered as the lord of dances in his Nataraja form. Among various types of dances he engages in; two forms of Tandava hold special significance.
Lord Shiva uses Ananda Tandava to promote creation, joy and happiness. On the other hand, he uses Rudra Tandava to cause destruction. In the deepest sense, Rudra Tandava represents the act of getting rid of such traits within you, which may hinder your growth like anger, depression, frustration and sorrows. Once it is done, Ananda Tandava is used to express the state of being joyful and blissful.
Hence Lord Shiva exhibits two seemingly opposite sides of his personality through these two forms of Tandava. In reality, they are not opposite and they are complementary, since one can’t survive without the other. In the deepest sense, creation can’t be complete on its own and it always needs destruction to complement it. Let’s look at this aspect with the help of some examples from different spheres.
Eating food is a creative activity since it helps the body achieve growth, stay healthy and gain energy to perform daily routines. However, the act of eating or drinking is not complete without the act of excretion, which is a destructive act. Through the acts of excretion like sweating, urinating and defecating; we destroy. However, this destruction is only meant to make us better by getting rid of unwanted parts of food. Imagine what may happen if we only eat and drink; and there is no excretion?
Trees grow or create leaves and then they destroy or shed them. However, such destruction only means well for them as they will soon have new leaves. Imagine what may happen if trees keep holding onto their dry and unwanted leaves. The birth of a baby is considered as the peak of creativity. However, this too is accompanied by destruction as this baby will die one day. It looks like a bad thing but imagine what may happen if people are only born and no one dies.
It may simply become impossible to sustain the system with such huge number of people living at the same time. Imagine you are five thousand years old and you witness two hundred generations born after you. Even if you don’t age and you stay young, the world around you may be nothing less than chaos. How are you going to handle thousands of family members and all other complications associated with immortality? Apart from that, life is meaningful only if death is there.
We feel the need to study, enjoy our youths, engage in professions, get married, have children and grow wiser, only because life comes with expiry date. All these attributes may get lost or corrupted if we become immortals. Hence destruction of life is necessary for creation of life. It means they are complementary and not opposite.
Let’s look at the final example now. In the deepest sense, we only destroy so that we may be able to create. On account of various events and activities; elements like anger, frustration, sadness and other such elements may build inside us. With time, they may get stronger and it may become difficult for us to handle them and to live with them. Hence we engage in acts of aggression which in reality are acts of destruction.
These acts are meant to destroy excessive buildups of anger, frustration and other such elements. Once they are destroyed, we feel relieved and capable of enjoying. Through our daily routines, they build up again and the need to destroy them rises again. Hence the outburst of troublesome emotions is the act through which we destroy what is disturbing us; so that we may be able to create again; which means to grow and to enjoy life again.
Therefore, two opposite looking forms of Tandava practiced by Lord Shiva in reality are complementary to each other. Dhanishtha also represents both these sides of Lord Shiva. It means Dhanishtha represents creative as well as destructive traits of Lord Shiva. In other words, Dhanishtha exhibits traits belonging to soft form of Lord Shiva as well as those belonging to aggressive form of Lord Shiva.
This makes Dhanishtha more versatile compared to Ardra and Shravana. Ardra primarily represents aggressive form of Lord Shiva and Shravana features non-aggressive side of Lord Narayana. Both Ardra and Shravana seem incomplete in the sense that they represent one side of these lords and they lack the opposite or complementary sides.
When it comes to Dhanishtha, it is complete in the sense that it represents both sides of Lord Shiva’s personality. It should be noted that Ardra and Shravana represent much broader spectrums of personalities of Lord Shiva and Lord Narayana, respectively. Dhanistha on the other hand, primarily represents the creative and destructive aspect of Lord Shiva’s personality.
Hence Dhanistha is not as versatile as the other two nakshatras when it comes to represent different aspects of personalities of their respective lords. However, it is better in the sense that it gives a complete picture of one aspect of Lord Shiva. This aspect is the aspect of creation and destruction, to be seen as two sides of the same coin. Hence the coin is complete, only when both sides are present. Due to representation of both aspects of this trait of Lord Shiva; Dhanishtha may be creative as well as destructive.
Vedic astrology assigns Mars as the ruling planet of Dhanishtha. Hence Dhanishtha gets traits like bravery, courage, energy, aggression, initiative and warrior abilities from Mars. The first two quarters of Dhanishtha fall in Capricorn ruled by Saturn and the last two quarters of Dhanishtha fall in Aquarius, also ruled by Saturn. Saturn is known to exhibit traits like administrative abilities, organizational abilities, perseverance and discipline among other traits. These traits of Saturn are exhibited through Dhanishtha, making it a goal oriented nakshatra. Dhanishtha people are generally very good at pursuing their goals until they achieve them.
Since Mars is exalted in Capricorn and it rules Dhanishtha, quarters of this nakshatra falling in this sign may receive too much energy at times. Accordingly, people under strong influence of Capricorn part of Dhanishtha may be more aggressive and energetic than those under strong influence of Aquarius part of Dhanishtha. This extra energy provided by Dhanishtha in Capricorn part may prove good or bad for a native, depending on how the native is able to channelize it. Due to this extra energy, people under strong influence of Capricorn part of Dhanishtha may often be seen engaging in sports, defence services and other such activities which are creative or destructive and which at the same time; require a lot of energy.
In comparison, the Aquarius part of Dhanishtha is softer and easier to channelize. As a result, it tends to channelize its energy in relatively softer ways. It may be assumed that Capricorn part of Dhanishtha represents Rudra Tandava which means destructive aspect, more than creative aspect. However, Aquarius part of Dhanishtha represents Ananda Tandava which means creative aspect, more than destructive aspect. As a result, people under strong influence of Aquarius part of Dhanishtha may be more inclined to work as actors, musicians, singers, writers, dancers, painters and many other types of creative professionals.
Since Capricorn part of Dhanishtha is more aggressive, it is difficult to handle. Hence placement of exalted Mars in this part of Dhanishtha may cause problems in the sphere of relationships, especially the relationships like lover affair and marriage. For this reason, Manglik Dosh formed by malefic Mars in Capricorn part of Dhanishtha may prove much more troublesome than Manglik Dosh formed by malefic Mars in Aquarius part of Dhanishtha. Even the placement of benefic Mars in Capricorn part of Dhanishtha in relevant houses of a horoscope may cause problems in marriage; though such problems may be manageable.
Dhanishtha people may have good interest in music and some of them may choose professions related to music. Dhanishtha people may have good amount of confidence and bravery due to influence of Mars on this nakshatra. These traits may become stronger in Capricorn part of Dhanishtha. Hence a number of people under strong influence of Capricorn part of Dhanishtha may be seen practicing in the fields like army, police, sports and other such fields.
Dhanishtha people are generally fixed in nature and they work hard to reach their goals. Due to traits like perseverance, confidence and good organizational abilities possessed by them, these people may be able to achieve their goals in most cases. Dhanishtha people may have good sense of business, trade and diplomacy. They may use these traits to climb the ladders of success in their lives.
Dhanistha people may be good at enjoying their lives and whatever they achieve in their lives. Therefore, these people are generally seen living happily. In fact, living happy and prosperous lives is one of the main traits possessed by Dhanishtha people. These people may be good at giving outward expressions to troublesome emotions like anger or sadness. Hence they may let them out every now and then. Though such acts of these people may look troublesome, these acts may end up refreshing them and reviving them.
As a result, they may be able to enjoy more and create more; since they are able to destroy more of their troublesome emotions. Due to this trait, people under strong influence of Dhanistha may also do well as actors since they may be gifted with the art of finding outward expressions for emotions. Here also, they may be especially good at expressing anger, sadness and joy; since these are some of the most intense types of emotions. When it comes to romance and love, the emotions engaged are relatively softer, unless there is a touch of tragedy or vengeance. Therefore, actors under strong influence of Dhanistha may do better in genres like action, comedy and tragedy; depending on their overall horoscopes.
People under strong influence of Capricorn part of Dhanishtha may be more interested in materialistic pursuits. On the other hand, people under strong influence of Aquarius part of Dhanistha may be more interested in philosophical and spiritual pursuits. It doesn’t mean Aquarius type Dhanistha people may not earn as well as Capricorn type Dhanishtha people. It means money and pleasures bought with it may not be the primary need for Aquarius type Dhanishtha people, which may be the case with Capricorn type Dhanishtha people.
Aquarius type Dhanistha people may be more inclined towards philosophy, music, spiritualism and understanding things on deeper levels. For example, while reading a very good book like a biography, Capricorn type Dhanishtha actor or producer may consider making a movie based on such story. In the same situation, Aquarius type Dhanishtha actor or producer may try to learn more and more from such story or biography. The thought of converting such story into a movie may not cross his mind.
It means deep down, Capricorn type Dhanistha native may find that the best use of such book is make it into a movie, primarily for financial gains or professional success. On the other hand, Aquarius type Dhanistha native may want to learn more and more from this book; so that he may become better as a person.
Dhanishtha people may be good at social skills and they may know the art of making and maintaining social relationships. Accordingly, they may have big social circles. Dhanishtha people may possess good conversational skills which may help them convince people and maintain their social circles. Dhanishtha people may be stubborn to some extent due to strong influence of Mars on this nakshatra. Hence it may be difficult to handle them through pressure as they may refuse to comply.
They may be better handled by trying to convince them with logic or even better, by giving them time and space to decide right or wrong by themselves. When exalted Mars or Sun is placed in Capricorn part of Dhanishtha in relevant houses of horoscope; the element of adamancy may increase a lot. Such Dhanishtha people may often be called egoistic, adamant and/or stubborn.
Here again, the best way to handle such Dhanistha people is by simply giving them suggestions and then leaving them alone. Over time, these people may think over such suggestions and they may come up with good decisions in many cases. Trying to convince them again and again; or trying to pressurize them to act on some specific suggestions or instructions may be the worst ways to handle them. If someone can make Dhanishtha people understand things in best possible manners; it is them only.
Hence give them suggestions and let them do rest of the job. Dhanishtha people may love when they are improving themselves. However, they may resent or even retaliate when others are trying to do the same job for them. The traits like being adamant or egoistic may be stronger in Capricorn part of Dhanishtha and they may be milder in Aquarius part of this nakshatra.
Dhanishtha exhibits a number of traits. However, different people may embrace different traits, depending on placements of various planets in this nakshatra, as well as depending on their overall horoscopes. Looking at planets among navagraha; Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury and Rahu may perform better in Capricorn part of Dhanishtha. Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and Ketu may perform better in Aquarius part of this nakshatra.
Placements of malefic planets in Dhanistha may weaken or corrupt its significances. As a result, the native may suffer from a wide variety of problems, depending on which planets are placed in this nakshatra, as well as on his overall horoscope.
Let’s look at performances of various planets in various navamshas of Dhanishtha. Starting with Leo navamsha; Mars may perform very well here whereas Saturn, Venus, Mercury and Rahu may perform well but not very well here; since all of them are either weak or not strong in Leo. Sun may perform above average or well in this navamsha; since it is strong in Leo and it is very comfortable in Dhanishtha.
Moon may perform on average here whereas Ketu may perform above average in this navamsha; since Ketu is strong in Leo and it is comfortable in Dhanishtha. Jupiter may perform on average or above average here. Though Jupiter is debilitated in Capricorn; it is strong in Leo and it is very comfortable in Dhanishtha. Among navagraha; Mars may be the strongest in this navamsha. No planet may be significantly weak in this navamsha.
Looking at Virgo navamsha; Mars, Saturn, Mercury and Rahu may perform very well here whereas Venus may perform above average but not well in this navamsha. Mercury and Rahu are exalted in Virgo and Saturn is strong in Capricorn as well as Virgo. Mars is exalted in Capricorn and it is very comfortable in Dhanishtha. Venus is debilitated in Virgo and it is comfortable but not very comfortable in Dhanishtha.
Sun may perform on average or above average here and Moon may also perform on average or above average in this navamsha. Ketu may perform below average here; since it is debilitated in Virgo. Jupiter may perform poorly but not very poorly in this navamsha; since it is very comfortable in Dhanishtha. Among navagraha; Saturn and Rahu may be the strongest in this navamsha whereas Jupiter may be the weakest.
Moving on to Libra navamsha; Saturn and Venus may perform very well here whereas Mercury and Rahu may perform well or very well here. All these planets are strong in Aquarius as well as Libra. Within the sign of Aquarius, Saturn may do its best work in this navamsha. Mars may perform on average or above average in this navamsha; since it is not strong in Aquarius as well as Libra but it is very comfortable in Dhanishtha.
Moon may perform below average in this navamsha; since it is weak in Aquarius. Jupiter may perform on average here whereas Ketu may perform below average or on average in this navamsha. Sun may perform below average but not poorly in this navamsha; since it is weak in Aquarius and it is debilitated in Libra, but it is very comfortable in Dhanistha. Among navagraha; Saturn may be the strongest in this navamsha whereas Sun may be the weakest.
Considering Scorpio navamsha; Saturn may perform well or very well here whereas Venus, Mercury and Rahu may perform well but not very well in this navamsha. Venus and Mercury are not strong in Scorpio and Rahu is debilitated in this sign. Mars may perform above average or well in this navamsha; since it is strong in Scorpio and it is very comfortable in Dhanishtha.
Sun may perform on average or above average here whereas Ketu may perform above average in this navamsha; since it is exalted in Scorpio. Jupiter may perform on average or above average here whereas Moon may perform below average in this navamsha, since it is debilitated in Scorpio and weak in Aquarius. Among navagraha; Saturn may be the strongest and Moon may be the weakest in this navamsha.
Himanshu Shangari