The 12 Rashis (Vedic Moon Signs)
Written & reviewed by Ravi Prajapati Luhaniwal · Founder, Kundli.me · Vedic astrologer with 5 years of practice
The 12 rashis are the 30° signs of the zodiac, Mesha to Meena. In Vedic astrology the one that matters most is your Moon sign — the rashi the Moon held at birth — which governs the mind and emotions and anchors your dashas and transits. Each rashi has a ruling planet, an element and a symbol that set its core nature.
What the rashis are
A rashi is one of the twelve 30° signs of the zodiac. Where the 27 nakshatras divide the sky finely, the 12 rashis are the broad divisions — and in Vedic astrology the rashi that defines you is your Chandra rashi, the sign the Moon occupied at your birth. It is the seat of the mind (manas), the emotions and instinct, and it is the reference point from which your Vimshottari dashas and gochar transits are read.
This is why a Vedic rashi is not the same as a Western "sun sign": Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, currently about 24° behind the tropical one, so your Moon rashi is found from an actual chart. Generate a free janam kundli to see your Chandra rashi, nakshatra and ascendant in a minute.
Rashi identity vs. today’s rashifal
These guides are about what each rashi is — its symbol, element, ruling planet, the nakshatras it holds and the kind of person a Moon there tends to make. For today’s prediction — the daily Moon-transit forecast for each sign — visit the daily Rashifal. Each rashi guide links straight to its own daily page and back.
The 12 rashis at a glance
All twelve rashis in zodiac order, with ruling planet, element and modality. Published guides are linked; the rest are on the way.
| # | Rashi | Sign | Lord | Element | Modality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesha (मेष) | Aries | Mars | Fire | Chara (movable) |
| 2 | Vrishabha (वृषभ) | Taurus | Venus | Earth | Sthira (fixed) |
| 3 | Mithuna (मिथुन) | Gemini | Mercury | Air | Dvisvabhava (dual) |
| 4 | Karka (कर्क) | Cancer | Moon | Water | Chara (movable) |
| 5 | Simha (सिंह) | Leo | Sun | Fire | Sthira (fixed) |
| 6 | Kanya (कन्या) | Virgo | Mercury | Earth | Dvisvabhava (dual) |
| 7 | Tula (तुला) | Libra | Venus | Air | Chara (movable) |
| 8 | Vrishchika (वृश्चिक) | Scorpio | Mars | Water | Sthira (fixed) |
| 9 | Dhanu (धनु) | Sagittarius | Jupiter | Fire | Dvisvabhava (dual) |
| 10 | Makara (मकर) | Capricorn | Saturn | Earth | Chara (movable) |
| 11 | Kumbha (कुम्भ) | Aquarius | Saturn | Air | Sthira (fixed) |
| 12 | Meena (मीन) | Pisces | Jupiter | Water | Dvisvabhava (dual) |
How to use these guides
Start with your own Moon rashi, then read the rashis of the people close to you — a partner's or child's Moon sign often explains a great deal. For marriage, both charts' rashis and nakshatras feed the Kundli Milan (Gun Milan) matching. And because your rashi is the anchor for timing, pairing your rashi guide with the Vimshottari dasha gives you both who you are and when it plays out.
About the author
Ravi Prajapati Luhaniwal· Founder, Kundli.me
Ravi Prajapati Luhaniwal is the founder of Kundli.me and a Vedic astrologer with 5 years of practice. He oversees the classical accuracy of every reading and article on the site.
More about us →Frequently asked questions
What is a rashi?
A rashi is one of the 12 signs of the zodiac — each a 30° slice of the 360° circle, from Mesha (Aries) to Meena (Pisces). In Vedic (sidereal) astrology the rashi that matters most is your Moon sign — the rashi the Moon occupied at your birth — because it governs the mind, emotions and instinct, and it anchors the whole dasha and gochar (transit) system.
Is a rashi the same as a sun sign?
No. Western horoscopes use the sun sign on the tropical zodiac; Vedic astrology uses the Moon sign (Chandra rashi) on the sidereal zodiac, which currently runs about 24° behind the tropical one. Because of this ayanamsha difference, many people are a different rashi in Vedic astrology than their Western sun sign — which is why your Vedic Moon rashi is found from a real birth chart, not your birth month.
How do I find my rashi?
Your Moon rashi is set by the exact position of the Moon at your birth, so you need an accurate date, time and place of birth. Generate a free janam kundli on Kundli.me and it will show your Chandra rashi (Moon sign) along with your nakshatra and ascendant. The Moon changes sign roughly every 2¼ days, so an accurate date is usually enough for the rashi itself.
What decides a rashi's nature?
Three things above all: its ruling planet (rashi lord) — for example Saturn rules Makara and Kumbha, Mars rules Mesha and Vrishchika; its element (fire, earth, air or water); and its modality (chara/movable, sthira/fixed or dvisvabhava/dual). Together these give each rashi its core temperament, before the placements of planets in your own chart refine it.