Mars Transit in Dhanishta

Dhanishta is Mars's own nakshatra, with the eight Vasus as its deities and a drum as its symbol. The first two padas lie in Capricorn and the last two in Aquarius, both Saturn's signs. Parashara places the deepest point of Mars's exaltation at the twenty-eighth degree of Capricorn, inside the second pada. Mars is neutral toward Saturn, and lord and sign together give the strongest Mars of the cycle.

Mars stays around seventeen days. The Vasus are the gods of the elements and of wealth, and prosperity, music, rhythm, fame and generosity are the themes. In its own nakshatra Mars gives sustained effort with a result at the end: property is bought, and a debt is cleared.

The knees are the body area in Capricorn, the calves and ankles in Aquarius, and Dhanishta's classical difficulty is delay in marriage. Mars's pride here can hold a partnership at arm's length.

• In the Capricorn padas, Scorpio, Leo and Pisces Moons and lagnas have Mars in the third, sixth and eleventh, Phaladeepika's favourable houses.
• In the Aquarius padas, those houses pass to Sagittarius, Virgo and Aries.
• Capricorn and Aquarius Moons carry a strong Mars on the self and should keep the temper in check.
• Libra, Cancer and Gemini Moons in Capricorn's padas, and Scorpio, Leo and Cancer in Aquarius's, should watch the fourth, seventh and eighth.

The transit shows how a person handles strength, and whether power is used to build or to dominate. What is built during these weeks tends to last.

Honour the Vasus with a dana of grain, water, a lamp or cloth, the elements they govern. Worship Hanuman on Tuesday. Recite Om Angarakaya Namah and give red lentils or copper, Parashara's dana for Mars. Music practised as a discipline, with a steady beat, is the nakshatra's own sadhana.