The sidereal signs
The 12 Rashis of Vedic Astrology
Vedic astrology reads the sidereal zodiac — measured against the fixed stars — so your Vedic signs usually sit about one sign earlier than the Western (tropical) dates you grew up with. And it leads with your Moon sign (chandra rashi), the seat of the mind, rather than the Sun.
- Aries (Mesha)Fire · ruled by Mars · initiative, courage, directness
- Taurus (Vrishabha)Earth · ruled by Venus · steadiness, beauty, accumulation
- Gemini (Mithuna)Air · ruled by Mercury · curiosity, exchange, wit
- Cancer (Karka)Water · ruled by Moon · nurture, memory, home
- Leo (Simha)Fire · ruled by Sun · dignity, creativity, heart
- Virgo (Kanya)Earth · ruled by Mercury · discernment, service, refinement
- Libra (Tula)Air · ruled by Venus · harmony, fairness, partnership
- Scorpio (Vrishchika)Water · ruled by Mars · depth, intensity, transformation
- Sagittarius (Dhanu)Fire · ruled by Jupiter · aim, meaning, expansion
- Capricorn (Makara)Earth · ruled by Saturn · ambition, structure, endurance
- Aquarius (Kumbha)Air · ruled by Saturn · community, principle, reform
- Pisces (Meena)Water · ruled by Jupiter · compassion, imagination, dissolution
Sun sign vs. Moon sign
Your Sun sign describes the engine; the Moon sign describes the driver's mood. Vedic timing — Sade Sati, transits, dashas — is counted from the Moon, which is why knowing your sidereal Moon sign matters more here than your birthday column ever did.