Rashis - The Zodiac Signs

The zodiac is divided in 12 sections, which are called the 12 rashis, or signs. Each sign is exactly 30 degrees. Like the bhavas(houses), the rashis are each related to an area of life. Part of the characteristics of a sign are derived from the graha(planet) that is lord of that sign, but independant of that, each rashis has its own unique traits. The rashis are classified in many different ways, as movable fixed and dual, as male or female, as watery, dry, airy or fiery, etc. The most influencial rashi is the one which was ascending at the Eastern horizon at the time of birth. It is called the "Lagna", or better known, Ascendant. Because of its prominence, the whole chart will be colored according to its characteristics. Another very important sign is the one that holds the Moon, the so-called Janma Rashi. The Moon is very important in Jyotish, and so is the Rashi it is in. Both the Ascendant and the Moon sign will be of major influence in the life of the individual.

Signs are called "Rashis" (raw-shees) in Sanskrit. This table shows the signs with their rulers, Sanskrit names and symbols, etc. As you can see, the signs are the same as used in Western astrology. However, the nature of the signs, what they do, and the demigods behind them, who control them, are vastly different in Vedic astrology.

Vedic Zodiacal Signs

Sign Sanskrit Name Type Sex Mobility Lord Aries Mesha Ram Fire M Movable Mars Taurus Vrishaba Bull Earth F Fixed Venus Gemini Mithuna Couple Air M Common Mercury Cancer Karkata Crab Water F Movable Moon Leo Simha Lion Fire M Fixed Sun Virgo Kanya Virgin Earth F Common Mercury Libra Tula Balance Air M Movable Venus Scorpio Vrishchika Scorpion Water F Fixed Mars Sagittarius Dhanus Bow Fire M Common Jupiter Capricorn Makara Alligator Earth F Movable Saturn Aquarius Kumbha Pot Air M Fixed Saturn Pisces Meena Fishes Water F Common Jupiter

Note: Vedic astrology differs from Western or Tropical astrology mainly in that it uses the fixed zodiac as opposed to the moving zodiac. Most people's "Sun Sign", that which you can get from the newspaper each day, is usually one sign back when the chart is refigured using Vedic astrology. So, the first surprise using the Vedic system is that you are no longer the Sun Sign you always thought you were. However, if you were born in the last 5 days or so of the Western sign month, then you will probably still be the same sign in the Vedic system.