The 12 Rasis

A Rasi is the Vedic equivalent of a Moon sign — the zodiac sign occupied by the Moon at the moment of your birth. In Tamil Vedic astrology, the 12 Rasis form the backbone of the birth chart and are used for everything from daily forecasts to marriage compatibility analysis.

Each Rasi corresponds to 30 degrees of the ecliptic and is associated with a ruling planet, one of the four classical elements (Fire, Earth, Air, or Water), and a quality of expression. The Tamil names for the Rasis are distinct from their Sanskrit counterparts and have been used in South Indian astrological practice for thousands of years.

An important distinction: Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is anchored to the actual positions of stars in the sky. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, which is fixed to the seasons and drifts relative to the stars over centuries. Because of this difference — known as the ayanamsha — your Vedic Rasi may differ from your Western sun sign by one or even two signs. For a full explanation, see our guide to Vedic vs Western Astrology.

Your Rasi is calculated from the Moon's position, not the Sun's. This makes it a more personal and emotionally resonant placement than the Sun sign familiar from Western horoscopes. The Moon changes signs roughly every two and a half days, so even people born in the same week may have different Rasis.

To find your Rasi, generate your Vedic Birth Chart — your Moon's Rasi will be shown prominently in your results alongside your Nakshatra birth star.