Core Concepts

Rashi

राशिRashi

Rashi means zodiac sign in Vedic astrology. There are 12 Rashis, each spanning 30 degrees, representing distinct personality archetypes and qualities.

What is Rashi?

Rashi (Rashi, राशि) — Rashi means zodiac sign in Vedic astrology. There are 12 Rashis, each spanning 30 degrees, representing distinct personality archetypes and qualities.

In Vedic astrology, Rashi refers to a zodiac sign — one of the 12 divisions of the celestial ecliptic, each spanning exactly 30 degrees. 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). When people refer to 'my Rashi,' they typically mean their Moon sign — the zodiac sign where the Moon was placed at birth — which is considered more important than the Sun sign in Vedic astrology for personality and emotional nature.

Examples

If your Moon is in Mesha (Aries), your Rashi is Mesha — indicating a fiery, pioneering personality.
Each Rashi is ruled by a planet: Mars rules Aries and Scorpio, Venus rules Taurus and Libra.
The Rashi chart (D1) is the primary chart analyzed in Vedic astrology.

Practical Application

Your Moon Rashi determines your emotional nature and is the basis for daily, weekly, and monthly Vedic horoscope predictions. It's also used as the starting point for transit analysis (Gochar) and is essential for compatibility matching.

Common Misconceptions

In Vedic astrology, 'your sign' usually refers to your Moon sign, not Sun sign as in Western astrology.
Your Vedic Rashi may differ from your Western zodiac sign due to the Ayanamsa correction (~24 degrees difference).
All 12 Rashis exist in every birth chart — each governs one of the 12 houses.

Related Terms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rashi in Vedic astrology?

Rashi means zodiac sign. In Vedic astrology, your Rashi typically refers to your Moon sign — the zodiac sign where the Moon was placed at your time of birth. There are 12 Rashis, each with unique characteristics.

How do I find my Rashi?

To find your Rashi, you need your exact birth date, time, and place. A Vedic astrology calculator or Kundli generator will show your Moon sign (Rashi) based on these details.

Is Rashi the same as zodiac sign?

Yes, Rashi is the Hindi/Sanskrit word for zodiac sign. However, in Vedic astrology, Rashi usually refers to the Moon sign, while in Western astrology, people typically identify with their Sun sign.

Can my Rashi change?

Your birth Rashi never changes — it's fixed at the moment of birth. However, the Moon transits through all 12 Rashis every month, which affects daily predictions.