What is Rashi (Moon Sign)?
In Vedic astrology, Rashi (राशि) refers to the zodiac sign occupied by
the Moon at the time of your birth. Also known as Chandra Rashi or
Moon Sign, it forms the foundation of your Vedic horoscope and is used
for all major astrological calculations and predictions.
There are 12 Rashis in the zodiac, each spanning exactly 30 degrees.
Unlike Western astrology which primarily uses the Sun Sign, Vedic astrology considers
the Moon Sign as the primary indicator of your personality, emotions, and life path.
How is Rashi Calculated?
Your Rashi is determined by the exact position of the Moon at your birth moment.
Here's what our calculator considers:
- Birth Date & Time: The Moon moves approximately 13 degrees per day, so your exact birth time is important for precise calculation
- Birth Location: Timezone and geographical coordinates affect the local time calculation
- Lahiri Ayanamsa: We use the Lahiri Ayanamsa (True Chitrapaksha) for sidereal calculations, which differs from Western tropical zodiac by approximately 24 degrees
The 12 Rashis and Their Elements
The 12 Rashis are grouped into four elements, each governing three signs:
- Fire Signs (Agni Tattva): Mesha (Aries), Simha (Leo), Dhanu (Sagittarius) - Energetic, passionate, and action-oriented
- Earth Signs (Prithvi Tattva): Vrishabha (Taurus), Kanya (Virgo), Makara (Capricorn) - Practical, grounded, and material-focused
- Air Signs (Vayu Tattva): Mithuna (Gemini), Tula (Libra), Kumbha (Aquarius) - Intellectual, communicative, and social
- Water Signs (Jala Tattva): Karka (Cancer), Vrishchika (Scorpio), Meena (Pisces) - Emotional, intuitive, and spiritual
Importance of Rashi in Daily Life
Your Moon Sign influences many aspects of Vedic astrology practice:
- Daily Horoscope (Rashifal): Your daily, weekly, and monthly predictions are based on Moon Sign, not Sun Sign
- Planetary Transits: When planets like Saturn (Shani), Jupiter (Guru), or Rahu transit through your Rashi, significant life events occur
- Sade Sati: Saturn's 7.5-year transit is calculated from your Moon Sign
- Gemstone Recommendations: Your lucky gemstone is often determined by your Moon Sign's ruling planet
- Marriage Compatibility: Rashi matching is a key component of Kundali Milan for marriage
The Three Qualities (Gunas)
Each Rashi is also classified by quality:
- Cardinal (Chara): Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn - Initiative, leadership, starting new things
- Fixed (Sthira): Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius - Stability, persistence, determination
- Mutable (Dwiswabhava): Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces - Adaptability, flexibility, change
Rashi and Nakshatra Relationship
Each Rashi contains approximately 2.25 Nakshatras. While Rashi provides a broader understanding of
your emotional nature, Nakshatra offers more specific personality details and is used for Dasha
calculations and baby naming. Together, they provide a comprehensive picture of your lunar influences.
How the Rashi Calculator Works
Our Rashi calculator uses the Swiss Ephemeris for astronomical calculations,
which provides the same accuracy as NASA's planetary data. Here's how it works:
- Enter your date of birth, time of birth, and place of birth
- The calculator converts your local time to Universal Time (UTC)
- Using precise ephemeris data, it calculates the Moon's tropical longitude
- The Ayanamsa (precession correction) is applied to get the sidereal position
- The sidereal Moon position determines your Rashi (Moon Sign)
We use the Lahiri Ayanamsa (True Chitrapaksha), which is the
official standard adopted by the Indian government and most Vedic astrologers. This ensures
your Rashi calculation matches traditional Panchangam (Hindu almanac) calculations.
