राशि
The Twelve Rāśis
Signs of the sidereal zodiac
The twelve rāśis divide the ecliptic into equal portions of 30° each, forming the fundamental framework of the Jyotiṣa horoscope. Each rāśi carries a distinct quality determined by its element (tattva), modality (guṇa of motion), and ruling planet (svāmī). Planets placed in a rāśi take on its coloring and are judged by the strength and condition of the rāśi's lord. Sidereal positions computed with the Lahiri ayanamsa.
मेष
Meṣa
Aries
वृषभ
Vṛṣabha
Taurus
मिथुन
Mithuna
Gemini
कर्क
Karka
Cancer
सिंह
Siṃha
Leo
कन्या
Kanyā
Virgo
तुला
Tulā
Libra
वृश्चिक
Vṛścika
Scorpio
धनुस्
Dhanus
Sagittarius
मकर
Makara
Capricorn
कुम्भ
Kumbha
Aquarius
मीन
Mīna
Pisces
The Classical Framework
The rāśi system forms the fundamental grid of classical Jyotiṣa. Each of the twelve signs spans 30° of the sidereal ecliptic, beginning at 0° Meṣa (sidereal Aries). The signs are classified by their element (Fire, Earth, Air, Water), quality (Cardinal/Movable, Fixed, Dual/Mutable), and the natural hierarchy of their ruling planets. Parāśara's Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra provides the authoritative classical treatment of rāśi qualities, exaltations, debilitations, and their role in determining planetary dignity.
In Jyotiṣa, every planet occupies a rāśi at any given moment; the rāśi provides the context in which the planet expresses its nature. A planet in its own sign (svarāśi) or exaltation sign (uccā) operates with enhanced strength; a planet in its debilitation sign (nīca) faces structural challenges. Understanding rāśi qualities is therefore foundational to all chart interpretation — natal, horary (Praśna), or electional (Muhūrta).
The positions used throughout this site employ sidereal coordinates with Lahiri ayanamsa — the standard in modern Indian Jyotiṣa — which currently differs from the tropical zodiac (used in Western astrology) by approximately 23–24°.