The zodiac is a belt of sky divided into 12 equal parts of 30° each. Each part is a rashi (sign). Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is tied to the fixed stars. This is why your Vedic sign is often one sign behind the "sun sign" in Western magazines.
| Rashi | Element | Ruling graha |
|---|---|---|
| Mesh (Aries) | Fire | Mangal |
| Vrishabh (Taurus) | Earth | Shukra |
| Mithun (Gemini) | Air | Budh |
| Kark (Cancer) | Water | Chandra |
| Simha (Leo) | Fire | Surya |
| Kanya (Virgo) | Earth | Budh |
| Tula (Libra) | Air | Shukra |
| Vrishchik (Scorpio) | Water | Mangal |
| Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Fire | Guru |
| Makar (Capricorn) | Earth | Shani |
| Kumbh (Aquarius) | Air | Shani |
| Meen (Pisces) | Water | Guru |
Moon sign, sun sign and lagna
In Jyotish your Moon sign (chandra rashi) is the one most often used for daily rashifal, because the Moon stands for the mind. Your lagna (rising sign) describes your body and the shape of your life. The Sun's sign shows your soul's direction. A full reading looks at all three.
Elements in practice
Fire signs are known for drive, earth signs for patience, air signs for ideas and communication, and water signs for feeling and intuition. These are tendencies, not boxes. Two people with the same Moon sign can live very different lives because the rest of their chart is different.
This article is general information about traditional Vedic astrology. It is not a prediction for you personally and not a substitute for professional advice.