The 12 Moon Signs (Rashis) of Vedic Astrology

Your rashi is the sidereal sign the Moon occupied at birth. It is the sign used for Vedic horoscopes, for Sade Sati and for most transit readings. Below is a short portrait of each, with its lord, its element and the nakshatras that fall in it. Remember that the Moon sign describes the mind and emotional habits; the Lagna and the rest of the chart modify everything here.

How to read a sign

Each sign has an element — fire, earth, air or water — and a quality: movable (chara), fixed (sthira) or dual (dvisvabhava). Movable signs start things, fixed signs sustain them, dual signs adapt. The sign’s lord colours it with its own nature, and the nakshatra within the sign refines it further.

Mesha (Aries)

Lord Mars; fire; movable. Contains Ashwini, Bharani and the first pada of Krittika. A Moon here feels quickly and acts on feeling: enthusiastic, direct, impatient with delay, generous once the anger has passed. The Sun is exalted in Mesha.

Vrishabha (Taurus)

Lord Venus; earth; fixed. Contains Krittika (padas 2–4), Rohini and Mrigashira (padas 1–2). The Moon is exalted here, and a Taurus Moon is usually steady, loyal, fond of comfort, food and music, slow to change its mind and slow to forgive.

Mithuna (Gemini)

Lord Mercury; air; dual. Contains Mrigashira (padas 3–4), Ardra and Punarvasu (padas 1–3). A Gemini Moon processes feelings by talking, reading and thinking; curious, witty and restless, it needs variety and conversation.

Karka (Cancer)

Lord the Moon itself; water; movable. Contains Punarvasu (pada 4), Pushya and Ashlesha. The Moon is in its own sign: sensitive, caring, attached to home and family, with a strong memory and changing moods. Jupiter is exalted in Karka.

Simha (Leo)

Lord the Sun; fire; fixed. Contains Magha, Purva Phalguni and Uttara Phalguni (pada 1). A Leo Moon wants respect and to be proud of what it does; warm-hearted and generous, with a strong sense of dignity that can be wounded easily.

Kanya (Virgo)

Lord Mercury; earth; dual. Contains Uttara Phalguni (padas 2–4), Hasta and Chitra (padas 1–2). A Virgo Moon is practical, observant and helpful, finds calm in order and detail, and can worry when things are untidy. Mercury is exalted here and Venus debilitated.

Tula (Libra)

Lord Venus; air; movable. Contains Chitra (padas 3–4), Swati and Vishakha (padas 1–3). A Libra Moon seeks fairness, beauty and partnership; diplomatic and sociable, it can find decisions hard when they would upset someone. Saturn is exalted in Tula and the Sun debilitated.

Vrishchika (Scorpio)

Lord Mars; water; fixed. Contains Vishakha (pada 4), Anuradha and Jyeshtha. The Moon is debilitated here, which tradition reads as intense, private and deeply felt emotion; loyal and perceptive, it does not forget. Many Scorpio Moons have the cancellation of debilitation through other factors.

Dhanu (Sagittarius)

Lord Jupiter; fire; dual. Contains Mula, Purva Ashadha and Uttara Ashadha (pada 1). A Sagittarius Moon is optimistic, principled and drawn to learning, travel and faith; frank in speech and uneasy with restriction.

Makara (Capricorn)

Lord Saturn; earth; movable. Contains Uttara Ashadha (padas 2–4), Shravana and Dhanishta (padas 1–2). A Capricorn Moon is responsible, patient and ambitious, shows care through duty rather than words, and matures well with age. Mars is exalted here and Jupiter debilitated.

Kumbha (Aquarius)

Lord Saturn; air; fixed. Contains Dhanishta (padas 3–4), Shatabhisha and Purva Bhadrapada (padas 1–3). An Aquarius Moon is independent and idealistic, cares about groups and causes, and can seem detached in personal matters while being deeply loyal to friends.

Meena (Pisces)

Lord Jupiter; water; dual. Contains Purva Bhadrapada (pada 4), Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati. A Pisces Moon is compassionate, imaginative and spiritual, absorbs the moods of others and needs time alone to recover. Venus is exalted here and Mercury debilitated.

Finding your rashi

Because the Vedic zodiac is sidereal, your rashi is often one sign earlier than the Western sign you know. Our Rashi Calculator and free Kundli give your exact Moon sign and nakshatra from your date, time and place of birth.