Updated November 2026. This guide describes a traditional system for information only. It does not predict events or give personal advice.
The twelve rashis are the twelve equal sectors of the zodiac, each 30 degrees wide, that Vedic astrology uses to describe where the planets are. They are the same twelve constellation-based signs known in the West as Aries to Pisces, but counted differently, and used differently. This guide lists them, explains how they are grouped and clears up why the Vedic sign often differs from the Western one.
The twelve rashis
| # | Rashi | Western name | Element | Ruling planet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesha | Aries | Fire | Mars |
| 2 | Vrishabha | Taurus | Earth | Venus |
| 3 | Mithuna | Gemini | Air | Mercury |
| 4 | Karka | Cancer | Water | Moon |
| 5 | Simha | Leo | Fire | Sun |
| 6 | Kanya | Virgo | Earth | Mercury |
| 7 | Tula | Libra | Air | Venus |
| 8 | Vrischika | Scorpio | Water | Mars |
| 9 | Dhanu | Sagittarius | Fire | Jupiter |
| 10 | Makara | Capricorn | Earth | Saturn |
| 11 | Kumbha | Aquarius | Air | Saturn |
| 12 | Meena | Pisces | Water | Jupiter |
How the signs are grouped
- Elements (tattva): fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) and water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces).
- Modes (guna or chara-sthira-dwiswabhava): movable signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) and dual signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces).
- Ruling planets: each sign is ruled by a planet, with the Sun and Moon ruling one sign each and the other five ruling two each. Rahu and Ketu are not given signs in most schemes.
Sidereal and tropical zodiacs
Western astrology is generally based on the tropical zodiac, which begins the sign Aries at the March equinox. Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is fixed to the background stars. Because the Earth’s axis slowly wobbles, the two have drifted apart by about 24 degrees, called the ayanamsa. In practice that means that for most people the Vedic sign of the Sun is the sign before the Western one. Someone with the Sun at 10 degrees of tropical Leo, for example, is typically a Cancer in the Vedic system.
The Indian government’s calendar reform committee adopted the Lahiri (Chitra-paksha) ayanamsa, which is why it is the most used in India. Other ayanamsas exist and differ by a fraction of a degree, which is why almanacs sometimes disagree on exact dates of sign changes.
Moon sign, Sun sign and ascendant
Three signs matter in a Vedic chart:
- Lagna (ascendant): the sign rising on the eastern horizon at birth. It needs the time and place and is the first house of the chart.
- Chandra rashi (Moon sign): the sign of the Moon. It is the basis of the Indian rashi in most daily use, for name selection, matching and Sade Sati.
- Surya rashi (Sun sign): the sign of the Sun, which changes each month at Sankranti.
Indian newspaper columns and apps usually refer to the Moon sign. Indian naming ceremonies often start from the first syllable linked to the baby’s nakshatra pada, which is within the Moon sign; see the panchang basics.
Signs and houses
The twelve signs and the twelve houses (bhavas) are different things. A house is a section of the sky starting at the ascendant, and the sign that sits on it determines which planet is its lord. In the simplest system, called whole-sign houses, the house boundaries are the sign boundaries, which makes the system easy to learn.
Traditional associations
Each sign carries a set of symbolic associations in the texts: a body part, a direction, a quality and a mythic image. Mesha is the ram and the head; Vrishabha the bull and the face; Mithuna the couple and the arms; Karka the crab and the chest; Simha the lion and the heart; Kanya the maiden and the stomach; Tula the scales and the lower belly; Vrischika the scorpion and the reproductive organs; Dhanu the archer and the thighs; Makara the sea-goat and the knees; Kumbha the water-pot-bearer and the legs; Meena the two fish and the feet. These associations come from the idea of the zodiac as the body of the cosmic person (Kala Purusha), and they are symbolic, not medical.
What to keep in mind
- Sun-sign horoscopes in newspapers describe one-twelfth of the population in a single paragraph, so they cannot be personal.
- Controlled studies have not shown that sign predicts character or events.
- The signs have a rich vocabulary from the Sanskrit tradition and understanding it helps in reading Indian calendars, literature and festival customs.
See also: Navagraha, Sade Sati and the articles index.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Sun sign and Moon sign?
A Sun sign (Western astrology) is the zodiac sign the Sun was in at birth, in the tropical zodiac. A Moon sign (rashi) is the sign the Moon was in at birth, in the sidereal zodiac. Vedic astrology uses the Moon sign as its main reference.
Why is my Vedic sign often different from my Western sign?
The sidereal zodiac is shifted back by about 24 degrees (the ayanamsa) from the tropical zodiac, because the equinoxes slowly move against the stars. That shift is nearly a whole sign.
How are the rashis named?
Mesha (Aries), Vrishabha (Taurus), Mithuna (Gemini), Karka (Cancer), Simha (Leo), Kanya (Virgo), Tula (Libra), Vrischika (Scorpio), Dhanu (Sagittarius), Makara (Capricorn), Kumbha (Aquarius), Meena (Pisces).
How long does the Moon stay in a sign?
About two and a quarter days, which is why you need the birth time to know the Moon sign for some dates.
Can a horoscope be written from the Sun sign alone?
No. A chart needs the date, time and place of birth. Newspaper predictions based on one sign are general statements and are not tied to individual charts.