Rashi

Rashi refers to the twelve zodiacal signs through which the grahas move. These are the same twelve signs as in Western astrology (Aries through Pisces), but Jyotish uses the sidereal zodiac, which accounts for the precession of the equinoxes and aligns with the actual constellations.

Each rashi has: an element (tattva), a modality (guna), a ruling planet (lord), and specific characteristics. The signs provide the environment or context in which planets express themselves - a planet’s nature is modified by the sign it occupies.

The twelve 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). Understanding rashis helps interpret how planetary energies manifest.