Quick answer
The 12 rashis are Mesha (Aries), Vrishabha (Taurus), Mithuna (Gemini), Karka (Cancer), Simha (Leo), Kanya (Virgo), Tula (Libra), Vrishchika (Scorpio), Dhanu (Sagittarius), Makara (Capricorn), Kumbha (Aquarius) and Meena (Pisces). Each is ruled by a planet. Vedic Astrology usually calls your Moon sign your rashi, and because it uses the sidereal zodiac, your Vedic sign is often one sign earlier than your Western sign.
In this article
“But my horoscope says I’m a Leo”
It’s one of the most common moments of confusion. You’ve read Leo horoscopes in magazines for years, and then a family astrologer tells you your rashi is Karka. Or Mithuna. Or something else entirely. Neither of them is wrong; they’re simply measuring different things.
This article lists all 12 rashis with their English names, explains why your Vedic sign can differ from your Western one, and shows how the same planets also rule the numbers in numerology.
Rashi chart: names, planets and elements
- Mesha (Aries): Mars. Fire.
- Vrishabha (Taurus): Venus. Earth.
- Mithuna (Gemini): Mercury. Air.
- Karka (Cancer): Moon. Water.
- Simha (Leo): Sun. Fire.
- Kanya (Virgo): Mercury. Earth.
- Tula (Libra): Venus. Air.
- Vrishchika (Scorpio): Mars. Water.
- Dhanu (Sagittarius): Jupiter. Fire.
- Makara (Capricorn): Saturn. Earth.
- Kumbha (Aquarius): Saturn. Air.
- Meena (Pisces): Jupiter. Water.
Elements and qualities
Signs are also grouped by element and by quality, which is a quick way to understand their nature:
- Fire signs (Mesha, Simha, Dhanu): energetic, bold and enthusiastic.
- Earth signs (Vrishabha, Kanya, Makara): practical, steady and grounded.
- Air signs (Mithuna, Tula, Kumbha): thoughtful, social and communicative.
- Water signs (Karka, Vrishchika, Meena): emotional, intuitive and sensitive.
By quality, the movable (chara) signs are Mesha, Karka, Tula and Makara, which like to start things. The fixed (sthira) signs are Vrishabha, Simha, Vrishchika and Kumbha, which like to hold steady. The dual (dvisvabhava) signs are Mithuna, Kanya, Dhanu and Meena, which adapt between the two.
Moon sign, Sun sign and ascendant
Your chart actually has three “signs” that people talk about. Your Sun sign is where the Sun was when you were born; Western horoscopes use this. Your Moon sign, or rashi, is where the Moon was; Vedic Astrology gives this the most weight for daily predictions and matching. Your ascendant, or lagna, is the sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth; it sets up the houses of your chart.
The Moon moves through a sign in about two and a half days, so knowing your date of birth alone isn’t always enough to be sure of your rashi. Your time and place of birth settle it.
Why your Vedic sign may differ from your Western sign
Western Astrology uses the tropical zodiac, tied to the seasons. Vedic Astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, tied to the stars, which is currently about 24° behind. So many people born in the first three weeks of a Western sign fall in the previous sign in Vedic Astrology. Vedic Astrology also usually gives your Moon sign as your rashi, while Western horoscopes use your Sun sign.
For example, someone born on 1 April is an Aries Sun sign in Western Astrology. In Vedic Astrology, the Sun usually enters Mesha around 14 April, so on 1 April it is still in Meena (Pisces). And their rashi, being the Moon sign, could be different again.
The same planets in numerology
Indian numerology uses the same nine planets. Each number is ruled by one: 1 Sun, 2 Moon, 3 Jupiter, 4 Rahu, 5 Mercury, 6 Venus, 7 Ketu, 8 Saturn and 9 Mars. That is why a Simha (Leo, Sun) native with Driver number 1 (Sun) often shows a doubly strong solar nature. Find your numbers with the free DOB Calculator.
The nice thing about the numerology side is that it needs no birth time at all. If you’re unsure of your rashi because nobody noted the time you were born, your Driver and Conductor numbers still give you a planetary picture from your date of birth alone.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 12 rashi names in English?
Aries (Mesha), Taurus (Vrishabha), Gemini (Mithuna), Cancer (Karka), Leo (Simha), Virgo (Kanya), Libra (Tula), Scorpio (Vrishchika), Sagittarius (Dhanu), Capricorn (Makara), Aquarius (Kumbha) and Pisces (Meena).
Is rashi the Moon sign or the Sun sign?
In Vedic Astrology, your rashi usually means your Moon sign: the sign the Moon was in when you were born.
Why is my Vedic sign different from my Western sign?
Vedic Astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is about 24° behind the tropical zodiac used in the West, so signs often shift back by one.
Can I find my rashi from my date of birth alone?
Not always. The Moon changes sign roughly every two and a half days, so on some dates your rashi depends on the time of birth.
What is the difference between rashi and lagna?
Your rashi is the sign the Moon was in at birth. Your lagna, or ascendant, is the sign rising on the eastern horizon at that moment, and it changes about every two hours.