Signs ( Rashis) with Characteristics
Significations of Signs ( Rashi’s):-
As already explained there are 12 parts of a zodiac known as Rashis or Signs. These Rashis are owned by different planets, like Sun and Moon own Leo and Cancer, Mars owns Aries and Scorpio , Mercury owns Gemini and Virgo, Jupiter owns Sagittarius and Pisces, Venus owns Taurus and Libra, when Saturn owns Capricorn and Aquarius. Sun and Moon are called as ‘Ekadipati’ as they each own one rashi only.
These rashis have further significations for purposes of predictions and the effects of various planets in these rashis count a lot in astrological assessments. It is as such necessary to know various characteristics of these rashis (signs).
Nature of Rashis:-
These 12 rashis are classified in three groups as per their nature, viz, Movable, Fixed and Dual.
| Nature | Rashi |
| Movable (Char) | Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn, 1,4,7,10 |
| Fixed (Sthir) | Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, 2,5,8,11 |
| Dual (Dwiswabhava) | Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces, 3,6,9,12 |
Tatwas of Rashis:-
These 12 rashis are classified in four groups as per their Tatwas, Fiery, Earthy, Airy and Watery.
| Rashis | Tatwas |
| Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, 1,5,9 | Fiery (Agni) |
| Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, 2,6,10 | Earthy (Prithvi) |
| Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, 3,7,11 | Airy (Vayu) |
| Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, 4,8,12 | Watery (Jal) |
Sex of Rashis:-
These 12 rashis are classified in two groups as per their Sex, (Male and Female).
| Rashis | Sex | Tatwas | Reaction |
| Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius | Male | All Agni and Vayu Rashis, and all odd rashis. | These male signs are dominating and aggressive. |
| Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces | Female | All Jal and Prithvi rashis and all even signs | These female signs are mild and submissive in nature. |
Directions and the cast of Rashis:-
These 12 rashis are classified in four groups as per their Directions, East, South, West, and North, when as their cast these are again classified in four groups, like, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
| Rashis | Tatwa | Direction | Cast |
| Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, | Agni | East | Kshatriyas |
| Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn | Prithvi | South | Vaishyas |
| Gemini, Libra, Aquarius | Vayu | West | Shudras |
| Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces | Jal | North | Brahmin’s |
Body parts & the shapes represented by these Rashis:-
| Sign | Parts of Body |
| Aries | Head |
| Taurus | Face and Neck |
| Gemini | Arms, Upper Chest, Shoulders |
| Cancer | Chest, Breast, Lungs, Upper portion of Stomach |
| Leo | Heart, Lower portion of Stomach below chest and above Naval |
| Virgo | Upper Abdomen, Hips upper & below Navel |
| Libra | Lower Abdomen |
| Scorpio | Genitals, Anus, Other Private Parts |
| Sagittarius | Thighs |
| Capricorn | Knees and Back |
| Aquarius | Ankles, Calves of Legs |
| Pisces | Feet |
Constituent Character of Rashisr, (Dhatu, Moola, Jeeva status) of Rashis:-
These 12 rashis are classified in three groups as per their constituent character, which is Dhatu, Moola and Jeeva.
| Signs | Character-Constituent |
| 1,4,7 and 10 | Dhatu (Mineral) |
| 2,5,8 and 11 | Vegetable (Moola) |
| 3,6,9 and 12 | Animal (Jeeva) |
Biological Character of Rashis:-
These 12 rashis are classified in four groups as per their biological character, which is Quadruped, Biped, Insect, Jalchara.
| Signs | Character |
| 1,2, 5, posterior half of 9 and anterior half of 10 | Quadrupeds |
| 3,6,7,11 and the anterior half of 9 | Bipeds |
| 8 | Insect |
| 4, 12 and posterior half of 10 | Jalchara |
Appearances and residing places of Rashis (Signs)
Brihat Prashara Hora Sahastra mentions that Sri Vishnu is invisible and time personified. His limbs are the twelve Rashi’s (Signs) commencing from Aries ( Mesha) up to Pisces ( Meena). These rashis are actually a cluster of stars, which are named after the shapes which ancient seers saw in them. There characteristics of their appearance and habitats are mentioned as under:-
Aries (Mesha):- Aries (Mesha) resembles a Ram. It is blood red in complexion. It has a big physique with round eyes. It is quadruped sign and wanders in hills and regions having precious stones and wealth. Aries sign wanders around lands full of grass and around lakes. It predominates in “Rajoguna”, when this sign is a cause of great activities in the human beings. It denotes courage and a great activity. It is strong during night. It is a Prishtodaya sign that is rising with its back, being fiery. It is ruled by Mars. It is symbolized by the image of a ram shown above :-
Taurus ( Vrisha) :- Taurus (Vrisha) resembles a bull. Its complexion is while. It is a long and a quadruped sign. Its places of residences are cow houses and farmlands. It is a Prishtodaya sign that is rising with its hind side. It is strong during night. It represents villages and businesspersons. It is ruled by Venus. It is symbolized by the image of a ram shown above :-
Gemini (Methuna):- Gemini ( Methuna) resembles a man and a woman, holding a mace and a flute. It is also represented by a man and a woman bearing a trumpet and a harp. It is a biped sign and strong in nights. It is a Shreeshodhya sign rising with its head. It lives in couches and the lounges, places of dancers, singers, artists, the places of sexual pleasures, gambling dens, indoor sports, etc. It has an even body and has green color. It is windy in its characteristics. Mercury rules it. A man and a woman bearing a trumpet and a harp as shown above represent it.
Cancer ( Karkata):- Cancer( Karkata) resembles a crab living in water. It is a centipede sign and has many feet and a bulky body. It is strong in nights. It is satwick in its character and is a watery sign. It is a Prishtodaya sign that is rising with its hind side. Its habitat is water filled places like gardens, river banks and wanders in forests. It has a whitish red color. It is ruled by Moon. It is symbolized by the image of a crab shown above:-
Leo (Simha):- Leo (Simha) is represented by a lion. It is a quadruped sign and equally a royal sign too. It is a Shreeshodhya sign rising with its head. It is strong during the day. It has a large white body. It has a satwick character. Its abode mostly is deep forests and mountains. It is ruled by Sun. It has a pale white color. It is symbolized by the image of a lion shown above :-
Virgo (Kanya):- Virgo (Kanya) is represented by a woman sailing in a boat, holding corn and a lamp in her hand in its appearance. It is a Shreeshodhya sign rising with its head. It is a biped sign. It is strong during daytime. It is virgin and has a Tamsick character (a disposition of demons). It resides in the places of enjoyment of women, pasturelands, lands full of water. It is multicolored with dark hair, is of dark color and dark eyes with good mental parameters. This sign is ruled by Mercury. It is symbolic image is shown above-
Libra (Tula):- Libra (Tula) is represented by a man with a balance in his hand in its appearance. It resides in markets, towns and buildings, places of business, offices and merchants houses. It resides in rich man’s places. It is fair in complexion, with a slender body. It is a Shreeshodhya sign rising with its head. It is strong during the day. It has a predominant Rajoguna. Venus rules Libra. It is symbolic image is shown above –
Scorpio ( Vrishchika):- Scorpio ( Vrishchika) is represented by a Scorpio in its appearance. It moves in crevice, pits, holes and water. It is a centipede sign. It is strong during daytime. It is reddish brown in color. It has a broad chest, with broad eyes. It is very sharp and passionate. It is a Shreeshodhya sign rising with its head. Mars rules Scorpio. It is symbolic image is shown above :-
Sagittarius (Dhanu):- Sagittarius ( Dhanu) is represented by a man armed with a bow and arrow, being radiant in its disposition. It resides in the places of authority, king’s residences, with elephants and chariots at its command, resorts and splendorous places. It is a royal sign, when it is biped in the first half and quadruped in the second half. It is powerful in the night and is Satwick in its characteristics. It is evenly build, with a long face and neck. It is liberal and cheerful. It is brownish in color. It is a Prishtodaya sign that is rising with its hind side. Its lord is Jupiter. It is symbolic image is shown above :-
Capricorn (Makara):- Capricorn (Makara) is represented by a picture like that of deer, with shoulders like those of a bull and eyes like those of an elephant. It moves in rivers, forests, water bodies and resides in oceans. It is strong in the nights and rises with its back (Prishtodaya sign). It has ‘Tamoguna’ characteristics. Its color is variegated. Its first half is quadruped and the second half is footless moving in water. Saturn is the lord of this sign. It is symbolic image is shown above :
Aquarius ( Kumbha) is represented by a water bearer, wearing wet clothes and holding on his shoulder an empty pitcher. It resides in places frequented by potters, storehouses of pots, deep-water spots, places that are liquor-manufacturing spots and in drinking dens. It is deep brown in complexion. It is medium built. It is a biped sign. It is strong during the day. It is a Shreeshodhya sign that is rising with its head. It is Tamsick in its characteristics. Its lord is Saturn. It is symbolic image is shown above:-
Pisces ( Meena):- Pisces ( Meena) is represented by two fishes with their tails and heads in reverse position. It moves in the places of pilgrimages, holy places, rivers and oceans, where there are places of worships. It likes pious places, temples, and places of worships. It has violet color. This sign is strong at night. It has Satwak Guna as its characteristics. It denotes resoluteness. It is Ubhayodaya sign, which means rises with both head and back. It is footless and has a medium structure. It has a shining body. Jupiter is the lord of this sign. It is symbolic image is shown above:-
| Signs ( Rashi’s) | Shape represented | |
| Aries | Ram | |
| Taurus | Bull | |
| Gemini | A man and a woman, bearing a trumpet and harp | |
| Cancer | Crab which lives in water. | |
| Leo | Lion which resides in the mountains | |
| Virgo | A woman sailing in a boat, holding corn and a lamp in her hand, inhibits women’s pleasure rooms. | |
| Libra | A person with scale and balance in hand, and resides in lanes, markets, towns and buildings. | |
| Scorpio | Scorpio in appearance. It moves in crevices and pits. Its areas of residence include poisons, animal excreta, stones and insects. | |
| Sagittarius | Man armed with bow and arrow. Trained in horse riding and handling of arms and performing daring jobs and brave deeds. It resides in elephants and chariots. | |
| Capricorn. | Deer, with shoulders like those of a bull and eyes like those of an elephant. Moves in rivers and resides in oceans. | |
| Aquarius | Man, wearing wet clothes and holding on his shoulder an empty pitcher. It moves in gambling houses and resides in dinking dens | |
| Pisces | Two fishes with their tails and heads in reverse position. It moves in the places of pilgrimages and oceans. It likes pious places, temples, and places of worships. |