Dhanishta nakshatra & the price of fame

Dhanistha, the exaltation point of Mars, is a true powerhouse of energy. This nakshatra shapes its natives into driven, passionate, and eccentric individuals whose magnetism stirs both obsession and fascination in the onlookers who are intuitively picking up on Dhanishta's energy. This is because she is ruled by the Vasus, elemental gods of the natural world and so Dhanishta governs physical objects: objects that draw attention & captivate the senses. Under her influence, natives become magnetic and are easily perceived as "objects" of desire, desired by the public who project their own fantasies upon them. Famous Dhanishta natives who embody this magnetic allure and enduring public fascination as major sex symbols includes George Clooney (Dhanishta ascendant) and Marilyn Monroe (Dhanishtha Moon). It is easy to judge a Dhanishha native as they often find themselves in the spotlight whether famous or not. This nakshatra generates considerable heat, both in the personality and appearance of the native, giving them a charged “aura” or presence that can be both captivating and intimidating. Because of her association with the Vasus & physical objects, Dhanishta also plays a cosmic role as a bringer of facts, proving things through tangible experience. Her shakti is the power to bestow wealth and fame - dhan meaning wealth + ishta meaning the most = the wealthiest; and her other name, Shravishta, begins with the root shra, meaning “to hear”—she is the most heard of, and therefore the most famous. Not only can she award fame and prosperity this to the native (under favourable chart conditions) but Dhanishta natives also become themselves channels by which others can receive wealth or recognition. They are the ones who will introduce you to the right person or help extract value from overlooked situations. They like helping the people around them rise to success, although sometimes at their own expense as the Saturn/Mars combination creates a self-sacrificial tendency. Saturn helps channel the fiery energy of Mars providing the structure necessary to fulfill one’s vision while preventing reckless dispersion of energy. This is why Mars finds exaltation in Dhanishta’s Capricorn portion.

Bhishma Pitamah, is one of the rulers of this nakshatra as one of the ashta vasus. He is probably the most important personality of the Mahabharata after Sri Krsna and his life story gives a lot of insights into Dhanishta nakshatra. He earned the name Bhishma (which means terrible or dreadful) because of the fierce and difficult vow of celibacy he took and steadfastly maintained until his death. His oath also required him to renounce his rightful claim to the throne and always protect whoever occupied it, even when that meant serving the tyrannic Dhuryodhana. His loyalty to the throne and willingness to sacrifice personal happiness and pleasure for duty reflect Dhanishta’s fierce devotion to a chosen cause. Like other Mars nakshatras, she brings balancing of past-life missteps in the realm of ego (Mars) by offering the chance to serve & sacrifice in this life. The blending energies on malefic Mars and Saturn makes Dhanishta a star of conquest who is often forced to overlook comfort and sever herself from the “sweeter” aspects of life in pursuit of glory. Her sacrificial wish is to achieve supremacy amongst the Gods and to achieve supremacy one has to give up comfort and mental peace which are significators of the 4th house. The opposite 10th house, the natural house of Dhanishta, ties her to the public sphere for the 10th is the highest and most visible point of the chart. In the 10th house one is stripped from their privacy and becomes subject to the projections and demands of the collective; but it is also this house which grants power, position and recognition that allows for great change to be accomplished. A planet in Dhanishta therefore has to sacrifice the comfort and significations of the house opposite to itself to achieve its desired success in the house it occupies. Princess Diana is a striking example of this as well of how Dhanishta helps one ascend to fame. She went from being a teacher to becoming a princess and desired to be the “Queen of People’s Hearts” (Moon in Dhanishta in the 4th house) yet she knew this would require sacrificing her “royal career” and in time she lost the support of the royal family who came to see her strength as a threat. Though Dhanishta is of rakshasa (demonic) nature, her motivation is dharma (righteous action), so even when these individuals are perceived as intense, harsh, or aggressive, their driving force is often aligned with a higher purpose. Following Bhishma's life, romance and family life may become secondary to their pursuit of glory and challenging karma may arise in the realm of Venus. Its influence can also lessen interest in marriage and children altogether.

Dhanishta Moon native Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones, Sex & the City

Symbolised by the damaru drum and the flute, Dhanishta is deeply attuned to rhythm, both in music and in the measured pulse of time. Many performers fall under her influence: musicians, vocalists, drummers, songwriters, dancers. The damaru drum resembles the hourglass and evokes the heartbeat , the rythmic & structured passage of time which Dhanishta is very much aware of. She instills in her natives an uneasy feeling of being stuck in a physical body and the constant awareness of one's mortality. Actually, it is interesting to notice Dhanishta's connection to mortality/immortality, and it is perhaps this very awareness of time passing that fuels her desire to create a legacy that transcends death.

A modern example of Dhanishta’s influence can be seen in Axl Rose who has most of his planets in Dhanishta (4) and Shravava (3), another star that gives celebrity status. As the frontman of Guns N’ Roses, he rose to extraordinary fame and is celebrated as one of the greatest vocalists of all time with the widest recorded male vocal range. Yet the fame and pressure of leading one of the most iconic rock bands took a heavy toll on his mental health. Despite countless lineup changes over four decades, he remained the sole constant member of the band (mirroring Bhishma’s loyalty to the throne) “More than 20 musicians have joined Guns N’ Roses, but only Axl Rose lasted”. His is known for his bluntness, intimidating presence and his innovative artistic vision. I recommend watching his interviews and performances if you want to see the influence of Saturn’s graveness and Mars’s intensity channeled through him (his appearance, personality and stage presence).

Axl Rose on stage