Dhanishta

right|200px|thumb|Delphinus map showing Dhanishta

Dhanishtha (Devanagari: धनिष्ठा, Telugu: ధనిష్ఠ, Kannada: ಧನಿಷ್ಠ), also known as Avittam in Tamil and Malayalam (, Malayalam: അവിട്ടം), is the twenty-third nakshatra in Hindu astronomy, corresponding to α to δ. In Jyotiṣa, Dhanishta is ruled by Mangala (the planet Mars). Dhanishta is classified as a movable nakshatra, meaning that, under electional astrological beliefs, it is best to begin activities like travel when the moon is in Dhanishta. 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).