The Twelve Rashis

The Signs of the Zodiac

The twelve rashis (signs) are the constellations through which the planets move. Unlike the fixed houses, the signs are in constant motion, rotating through the sky as the Earth turns. They represent the qualities and circumstances that characterize each area of life.

The Moving Sky

While the houses are static divisions of the sky anchored to the horizon, the signs are the stars themselves - moving, shifting, rising and setting. In the time it takes for a new sign to rise on the eastern horizon (approximately two hours), the entire quality of charts born in that location changes.

The sign rising at the moment of birth - the lagna or ascendant sign - is considered even more fundamental than the sun sign emphasized in Western astrology. This is because the rising sign determines which house each sign occupies, setting the entire architecture of the chart.

The Twelve Signs

Mesha (Aries)

Element: Fire | Mode: Moveable | Ruler: Mars

Qualities: Pioneering, courageous, direct, impulsive, competitive, independent

Aries is the first sign, representing beginnings, initiative, and raw energy. Those with strong Aries influence are natural leaders who act first and think later.

Places: Forests, hills, wild terrain, gold and silver mines Color: Red

Vrishabha (Taurus)

Element: Earth | Mode: Fixed | Ruler: Venus

Qualities: Stable, sensual, practical, stubborn, loyal, pleasure-seeking

Taurus represents accumulation, stability, and the enjoyment of material life. These natives value comfort, beauty, and security.

Places: Cultivated fields, farmhouses, lush gardens Color: White

Mithuna (Gemini)

Element: Air | Mode: Dual | Ruler: Mercury

Qualities: Curious, communicative, adaptable, restless, intellectual, versatile

Gemini is the sign of communication, learning, and mental activity. These natives are often engaged in multiple pursuits and skilled with words.

Places: Cities, parks, places of learning, entertainment venues Color: Green

Karka (Cancer)

Element: Water | Mode: Moveable | Ruler: Moon

Qualities: Nurturing, emotional, protective, moody, intuitive, home-loving

Cancer represents the home, the mother, and emotional security. These natives are deeply connected to family and feel things intensely.

Places: Water bodies, canals, watery tracts, the seashore Color: Pink, rose

Simha (Leo)

Element: Fire | Mode: Fixed | Ruler: Sun

Qualities: Regal, confident, generous, proud, creative, dramatic

Leo is the sign of kings, representing leadership, self-expression, and the desire for recognition. These natives naturally command attention.

Places: Hills, elevated places, forests with wild animals, government buildings Color: Pale yellow, golden

Kanya (Virgo)

Element: Earth | Mode: Dual | Ruler: Mercury

Qualities: Analytical, practical, service-oriented, critical, detail-focused, modest

Virgo represents discrimination, service, and the perfection of skills. These natives are often healers, helpers, and meticulous workers.

Places: Towns, temples, gardens, places of commerce Color: Variegated, mixed colors

Tula (Libra)

Element: Air | Mode: Moveable | Ruler: Venus

Qualities: Harmonious, diplomatic, aesthetic, indecisive, partnership-oriented, fair

Libra represents balance, relationships, and the pursuit of harmony. These natives seek partnership and appreciate beauty and justice.

Places: Marketplaces, streets, bazaars, social venues Color: Black

Vrishchika (Scorpio)

Element: Water | Mode: Fixed | Ruler: Mars (Ketu as co-ruler)

Qualities: Intense, secretive, transformative, obsessive, penetrating, powerful

Scorpio represents the hidden depths, transformation, and the mysteries of life and death. These natives probe beneath surfaces.

Places: Wells, ponds, wetlands, hidden places Color: Red-brown

Dhanu (Sagittarius)

Element: Fire | Mode: Dual | Ruler: Jupiter

Qualities: Philosophical, optimistic, freedom-loving, blunt, expansive, spiritual

Sagittarius represents the search for meaning, higher knowledge, and dharma. These natives are teachers, travelers, and seekers.

Places: Forests, military camps, places of philosophy and religion Color: Gold, yellow

Makara (Capricorn)

Element: Earth | Mode: Moveable | Ruler: Saturn

Qualities: Ambitious, disciplined, practical, reserved, persevering, status-conscious

Capricorn represents worldly achievement, structure, and the slow climb to success. These natives are willing to work hard for long-term goals.

Places: Rivers, forests, areas near water, places of commerce Color: Variegated, spotted

Kumbha (Aquarius)

Element: Air | Mode: Fixed | Ruler: Saturn (Rahu as co-ruler)

Qualities: Humanitarian, unconventional, intellectual, detached, progressive, rebellious

Aquarius represents idealism, innovation, and service to the collective. These natives often march to their own drum.

Places: Lakes, similar to Capricorn, places of gathering Color: Deep brown

Meena (Pisces)

Element: Water | Mode: Dual | Ruler: Jupiter

Qualities: Intuitive, compassionate, dreamy, escapist, spiritual, self-sacrificing

Pisces represents transcendence, dissolution, and the ocean of consciousness. These natives are often deeply spiritual or artistic.

Places: Oceans, deep caves, temples, sacred waters Color: Fish-colored, iridescent

Sign Classifications

By Element

Fire Signs (Mesha, Simha, Dhanu): Energy, action, inspiration, transformation

Earth Signs (Vrishabha, Kanya, Makara): Stability, practicality, material focus

Air Signs (Mithuna, Tula, Kumbha): Communication, intellect, social connection

Water Signs (Karka, Vrishchika, Meena): Emotion, intuition, depth, fluidity

By Mode

Moveable (Chara): Mesha, Karka, Tula, Makara - These signs initiate action, represent change, and show karma that can be modified.

Fixed (Sthira): Vrishabha, Simha, Vrishchika, Kumbha - These signs stabilize, resist change, and show more fixed karma.

Dual (Dwisvabhava): Mithuna, Kanya, Dhanu, Meena - These signs adapt, fluctuate, and show mixed karma.

By Nature

Odd Signs (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11): More active, masculine, externally oriented

Even Signs (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12): More receptive, feminine, internally oriented

Signs and Planets

Each sign has a planetary ruler whose nature strongly colors that sign’s expression:

Understanding the planetary ruler is key to understanding the sign. Aries has Mars energy - active, competitive, initiating. Taurus has Venus energy - stable, pleasure-seeking, accumulating.

Signs in Houses

When a sign falls in a particular house, it colors that area of life with its qualities:

If Cancer (a nurturing, emotional, home-loving sign) falls in the fourth house of home, the person will be deeply attached to home and family, creating a protective nest.

If Cancer falls in the tenth house of career, the person may work in nurturing professions, or their career may be emotionally important to them, or the mother may influence their professional life.

The same sign brings different flavors to different life areas, while maintaining its essential nature.

The Dance of Signs and Houses

The signs are moving while the houses are still. At any given moment, a different sign is rising on the eastern horizon. This sign becomes the first house, and the other signs follow in order.

For someone born with Leo rising, Leo occupies the first house, Virgo the second, Libra the third, and so on. For someone born with Pisces rising, the entire arrangement is different.

This is why two people born on the same day but at different times can have very different charts. The sun may be in the same sign, but the house placement, rising sign, and overall architecture of the chart change with each passing hour.

Quality of Experience

The signs show the quality of experience in each area of life. They are the adjectives to the houses’ nouns, the flavors added to each domain of existence.

A career (tenth house) with Aries flavor is pioneering, competitive, and action-oriented. A career with Pisces flavor is creative, spiritual, or involves service and sacrifice.

Understanding the signs means understanding the infinite variety of ways that life can be lived - the colors, textures, and patterns that make each individual’s experience unique.