The name syllables of the four padas of Dhanishta are Ga (गा) for the first pada, Gi (गी) for the second, Gu (गू) for the third and Ge (गे) for the fourth. Padas 1–2 are in Capricorn (Makara) and padas 3–4 are in Aquarius (Kumbha), so the name rashi depends on the pada of the syllable: Ga, Gi give Capricorn (Makara); Gu, Ge give Aquarius (Kumbha). Dhanishta spans 23°20′ Makara to 6°40′ Kumbha in the zodiac; in the Vimshottari order its graha is Mars (Mangal), and its deities are the Vasus (the eight Vasus).
The 4 padas (charan) of Dhanishta: name letters and rashi
| Pada | Name letter | Rashi | Degrees in the rashi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | गाGa | Capricorn (Makara) | 23°20′–26°40′ |
| 2 | गीGi | Capricorn (Makara) | 26°40′–30° |
| 3 | गूGu | Aquarius (Kumbha) | 0°–3°20′ |
| 4 | गेGe | Aquarius (Kumbha) | 3°20′–6°40′ |
Each nakshatra spans 13°20′ and each of its four padas 3°20′. To find the rashi of any name from its first letter: Rashi by name
Previous nakshatra: ShravanaNext nakshatra: ShatabhishaAll 27 nakshatras
- Order
- 23rd of 27
- In the zodiac
- 23°20′ Makara to 6°40′ Kumbha293°20′–306°40′ from the start of Mesha
- Rashi
- Capricorn (Makara): padas 1–2; Aquarius (Kumbha): padas 3–4
- Graha (Vimshottari)
- Mars (Mangal)Nakshatras of the same graha: Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishta
- Deity
- the Vasus (the eight Vasus)
When the Moon is next in Dhanishta
- from Tuesday, 20 October 2026, 6:03 PM to Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 7:49 PM
- from Tuesday, 17 November 2026, 2:18 AM to Wednesday, 18 November 2026, 4:35 AM
- from Monday, 14 December 2026, 9:13 AM to Tuesday, 15 December 2026, 11:54 AM
- from Sunday, 10 January 2027, 3:12 PM to Monday, 11 January 2027, 5:54 PM
- from Saturday, 6 February 2027, 9:20 PM to Sunday, 7 February 2027, 11:49 PM
- from Saturday, 6 March 2027, 4:21 AM to Sunday, 7 March 2027, 6:42 AM
Times are Indian Standard Time; the Moon enters and leaves a nakshatra at the same moment all over India. They agree with Drik Panchang within 2 minutes. Today’s panchang
Where the lists differ
- Books and lists write the vowel of some syllables long or short (वू/वु, चू/चु). The Avakahada chakra counts अ-आ, इ-ई, उ-ऊ, ए-ऐ and ओ-औ as one, so the pada stays the same.
Dhanishta Nakshatra: questions and answers
Which letter should a name begin with in Dhanishta Nakshatra?
By tradition the syllable of the pada of Dhanishta that the Moon is in at birth begins the name: Ga (गा) in the first pada, Gi (गी) in the second, Gu (गू) in the third and Ge (गे) in the fourth. The pada follows from the date, time and place of birth; SanatanBodh’s birth panchang works it out.
What are the 4 padas (charan) of Dhanishta Nakshatra?
The four padas of Dhanishta span 3°20′ each: the 1st from 23°20′ to 26°40′ in Capricorn (Makara), syllable Ga (गा); the 2nd from 26°40′ to 30° in Capricorn (Makara), syllable Gi (गी); the 3rd from 0° to 3°20′ in Aquarius (Kumbha), syllable Gu (गू); the 4th from 3°20′ to 6°40′ in Aquarius (Kumbha), syllable Ge (गे).
Which nakshatra comes after Dhanishta?
In the order of the 27 nakshatras Shatabhisha (24) comes after Dhanishta (23), and Shravana (22) comes before it. The Moon passes the nakshatras in this order, one after another.
Which rashi is Dhanishta Nakshatra in?
Dhanishta spans 23°20′ Makara to 6°40′ Kumbha in the zodiac (293°20′–306°40′ counted from the start of Mesha). Padas 1–2 are in Capricorn (Makara) and padas 3–4 are in Aquarius (Kumbha), so the name rashi depends on the pada of the syllable: Ga, Gi give Capricorn (Makara); Gu, Ge give Aquarius (Kumbha). Each rashi holds nine nakshatra padas: the 108 padas of the 27 nakshatras in 12 rashis.
What are the graha and the deity of Dhanishta Nakshatra?
In the Vimshottari order the graha of Dhanishta is Mars (Mangal), which is also the graha of Mrigashira and Chitra (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, chapter 46). In the Brihat Samhita (chapter 98) the deities of Dhanishta are the Vasus (the eight Vasus).
How long is the Moon in Dhanishta?
About a day. The Moon’s speed varies, so it takes about 21 to 27 hours to cross the 13°20′, and it comes back to Dhanishta about 27 days later (our calculation, 2026–27). The moments are the same all over India.
Sources
- Name syllables: Brihad Avakahada Chakram, Nakshatra Prakarana, Shatapada Chakra verses 9–15 (archive.org); Pt. Sitarama Sharma, Ati Brihat Avakahada Chakram (1932), pp. 22–24; Drik Panchang, nakshatra pada swar siddhanta
- Nine nakshatra padas to a rashi: Pt. Sitarama Sharma, Ati Brihat Avakahada Chakram (1932), p. 26; the span of each nakshatra: Drik Panchang’s nakshatra pages (drikpanchang.com/tutorials/nakshatra/)
- Graha: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, chapter 46, verses 12–14 (counted from Krittika: Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus), R. Santhanam’s English translation, vol. 2, pp. 507–508; Drik Panchang’s nakshatra and navagraha pages
- Deity: Varahamihira, Brihat Samhita, chapter 98, verses 4–5, English translation by V. Subrahmanya Sastri and M. Ramakrishna Bhat (Bangalore, 1946), p. 742; Drik Panchang’s nakshatra lists (Swami) and nakshatra pages
- The Moon entering and leaving each nakshatra: SanatanBodh panchang calculation (astronomy-engine, Lahiri ayanamsha); compared with Drik Panchang’s 2026 and 2027 nakshatra lists (New Delhi), every time within 2 minutes (4 October 2026)
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