Reference
Rashi: your Moon sign in Vedic astrology
In India, when someone asks your sign, they usually mean your Rashi: the sign the Moon occupied at your birth. This page lists the twelve Rashis and explains why working out yours needs more than a birthday.
The 12 Rashis
Each Rashi has a Sanskrit name, an element, a modality (how its energy moves) and a ruling planet. Spans are sidereal longitudes from 0° Mesha.
| Rashi | English sign | Sidereal span | Element | Modality | Ruling planet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesha | Aries | 0°–30° | Fire | Movable (Chara) | Mars |
| Vrishabha | Taurus | 30°–60° | Earth | Fixed (Sthira) | Venus |
| Mithuna | Gemini | 60°–90° | Air | Dual (Dvisvabhava) | Mercury |
| Karka | Cancer | 90°–120° | Water | Movable (Chara) | Moon |
| Simha | Leo | 120°–150° | Fire | Fixed (Sthira) | Sun |
| Kanya | Virgo | 150°–180° | Earth | Dual (Dvisvabhava) | Mercury |
| Tula | Libra | 180°–210° | Air | Movable (Chara) | Venus |
| Vrishchika | Scorpio | 210°–240° | Water | Fixed (Sthira) | Mars |
| Dhanu | Sagittarius | 240°–270° | Fire | Dual (Dvisvabhava) | Jupiter |
| Makara | Capricorn | 270°–300° | Earth | Movable (Chara) | Saturn |
| Kumbha | Aquarius | 300°–330° | Air | Fixed (Sthira) | Saturn |
| Meena | Pisces | 330°–360° | Water | Dual (Dvisvabhava) | Jupiter |
Rulerships follow the classical scheme: the Sun and Moon rule one sign each (Simha and Karka), and Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn rule two each. Rahu and Ketu are not given sign rulership in this scheme.
Moon sign vs Sun sign
Western astrology popularised the Sun sign, which depends only on the day of the year. Vedic astrology places more emphasis on the Moon, which represents the mind (manas), emotions and how you experience life day to day. Traditional sign-based forecasts in India (Rashifal) are organised by Moon sign, and compatibility matching uses the Moon’s Rashi and Nakshatra.
Your Vedic Sun sign also differs from your Western one. Because the sidereal zodiac is about 24° behind the tropical one, the Sun enters sidereal Mesha around 14 April each year rather than around 21 March. This is the date of Mesha Sankranti, celebrated as the solar new year in several regions of India.
How Rashi is calculated from date and time of birth
The Moon is the fastest-moving body in the chart. It covers about 13° a day, so it spends only about two and a quarter days in each sign. That has a practical consequence: on a large share of dates, the Moon changes Rashi at some point during the day. Your date of birth narrows it down; your time of birth decides it.
- Your local birth time and birthplace are converted to Universal Time using historical time-zone rules (including any daylight-saving time in force).
- The Moon’s longitude for that instant is computed with high-precision astronomical data.
- The Lahiri ayanamsa is subtracted to give the sidereal longitude.
- The sidereal longitude divided by 30° gives the sign: 0°–30° is Mesha, 30°–60° Vrishabha, and so on.
The same calculation gives your birth Nakshatra, which divides the zodiac more finely (13°20′ segments). Two people with the same Rashi can have different Nakshatras.
Rashi, Lagna and the full chart
Rashi is one important lens, but a full reading also uses the Lagna (Ascendant), the houses and the condition of each planet. Some astrologers even draw a second chart, the Chandra Kundli, with the Moon’s sign as the first house. See how to read a Vedic birth chart.
Find your exact Rashi
Your Moon sign, Nakshatra and Ascendant, calculated from your date, time and place of birth. Free.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find my Rashi by date of birth alone?
Not reliably. The Moon changes sign about every two and a quarter days, so on many birth dates it moves from one Rashi to the next during the day. You need the birth time and place to know which side of the change you were born.
Is Rashi the same as my zodiac sign?
In Vedic astrology, Rashi usually means your Moon sign. The 'zodiac sign' in Western magazines is usually your tropical Sun sign. They are often different signs.
What is the difference between Rashi and Lagna?
Rashi is the sign the Moon occupied at birth and is linked with the mind and emotions. Lagna (Ascendant) is the sign rising on the eastern horizon and is linked with the self and body. Both are central in Vedic readings, and both need an accurate birth time.
Why is my Vedic Rashi different from what another website shows?
Usually because of a different ayanamsa, a time-zone conversion error, or the Moon being close to a sign boundary. AstroVeda AI uses the Lahiri ayanamsa and historical time-zone rules for your birthplace, and records these settings with each report.