The 12 Rashis: lords, elements and nature of each Moon sign
AstroVeds · Updated 12 November 2026
Your rashi in Indian astrology is your Moon sign: the sign the Moon was in when you were born. Daily, weekly and yearly Rashiphal, Sade Sati and Kundli matching are all read from it. Here are the twelve rashis with their lords, elements and nature.
Rashi (Moon sign) vs zodiac (Sun sign)
Western horoscopes use the Sun sign, which depends only on your birth date. Vedic astrology uses the Moon sign, which changes every two and a half days, so you need your birth date, time and place to know it for certain. It is also worked out on the sidereal zodiac (with the Lahiri ayanamsa), so it is often one sign behind the Western one.
The 12 rashis
- Aries (मेष) — lord: Mars, element: Fire. Nature: bold, quick to start, competitive.
- Taurus (वृषभ) — lord: Venus, element: Earth. Nature: steady, practical, fond of comfort and beauty.
- Gemini (मिथुन) — lord: Mercury, element: Air. Nature: curious, talkative, quick-witted.
- Cancer (कर्क) — lord: Moon, element: Water. Nature: caring, emotional, attached to home and family.
- Leo (सिंह) — lord: Sun, element: Fire. Nature: confident, generous, born to lead.
- Virgo (कन्या) — lord: Mercury, element: Earth. Nature: careful, analytical, service-minded.
- Libra (तुला) — lord: Venus, element: Air. Nature: balanced, diplomatic, drawn to partnership.
- Scorpio (वृश्चिक) — lord: Mars, element: Water. Nature: intense, private, determined.
- Sagittarius (धनु) — lord: Jupiter, element: Fire. Nature: optimistic, principled, fond of learning and travel.
- Capricorn (मकर) — lord: Saturn, element: Earth. Nature: disciplined, ambitious, patient.
- Aquarius (कुंभ) — lord: Saturn, element: Air. Nature: independent, humane, inventive.
- Pisces (मीन) — lord: Jupiter, element: Water. Nature: gentle, imaginative, spiritual.
The four elements
Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) are energetic and direct; earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) practical and steady; air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) social and thoughtful; water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) emotional and intuitive. A chart's balance of elements colours the whole personality, not just the Moon sign.
Try it yourself
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my rashi?
Make your free Kundli with your birth date, time and place; your rashi is shown on the first tab. If you don't know your birth time, the rashi from your name's first syllable is the traditional fallback.
Is my rashi the same as my zodiac sign?
Usually not. The zodiac sign in newspapers is the Western Sun sign; your rashi is the Vedic Moon sign.
Which rashi is the best?
None. Every rashi has strengths and weaknesses, and the whole birth chart matters far more than the Moon sign alone.