| Nakshatras |
|---|
| *Ashvini *Bharani *Krittika *Rohini *Mrigashira *Ardra *Punarvasu *Pushya *Ashlesha * Magha * Purva Phalguni * Uttara Phalguni *Hasta * Chitra *Svati *Vishakha *Anuradha *Jyeshtha *Mula * Purva Ashadha *Uttara Ashadha *Shravana *Dhanishtha * Shatabhisha *Purva Bhadrapada *Uttara Bhadrapada *Revati *Abhijit |
Dhanishtha (Devanagari: धनिष्ठा,Telugu: ధనిష్ఠ,Kannada: ಧನಿಷ್ಠ), also known asAvittam inTamil andMalayalam[1] (Tamil:அவிட்டம்,Malayalam: അവിട്ടം), is the twenty-thirdnakshatra in Hindu astronomy, corresponding toα to δDelphini. InJyotiṣa, Dhanishta is ruled byMangala (the planetMars).Dhanishta is classified as a movable nakshatra, meaning that, underelectional astrological beliefs, it is best to begin activities like travel when the moon is in Dhanishta.[2] This is based on the Panchanga reading only (which is also known as a calendar to track the suitable day for doing or starting anything good).
The deities which preside over Dhanishta are theAshta Vasus:Agni,Prithvi,Vāyu,Varuna,Dyaus,Surya,Chandramas andDhruva. The powers bestowed by theAshta Vasus comes under the domain ofLord Nataraja who is the main supreme deity of this nakshatra. The animal associated to this nakshatra is a femalelion and it is symbolized as"A Lioness which is resting majestically after a Lioness's share". The symbol that is most commonly used to represent Dhanishta is the drum known as theUdukai inTamil andDamaru inSanskrit.[3]
It is the birth star of a greatTamilSiddharTirumular and also the birth star ofBhishma, a great hero in theMahabharata epic.
TraditionalHindu given names are determined by which pada (quarter) of a nakshatra the Ascendant/Lagna was in at the time of birth. In the case of Dhanista, the given name would begin with the following syllables:
In the Indian web seriesAsur (Indian web series), the killer Shubh Joshi was known to target people of Dhanistha nakshatra.[5]
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