Sun signs and moon signs

Nowadays, almost every publication carries weekly predictions based on zodiac signs. Sun sign predictions are very common even in the Western media. In India, most of the English news papers and magazines regularly publish weekly predictions based on sun signs. However, the vernacular media seems to be in favor of the moon signs. One of the major differences between the western type of astrology and the eastern (vedic) type of astrology is that the western type gives more importance to the sun signs whereas, in case of vedic astrology, it is the moon sign which is more important. In fact, some vedic astrologers are of the opinion that if the moon is strong enough in a person's birth chart, then that sign can be considered in place of the ascendant for analysis.

Both are general predictions made for a large group of people, approximately one twelfth of the entire population under each sign. These predictions are based on the position of only one graha – either sun or moon – in the horoscope.  Even then, the moon sign predictions seem to be more accurate among the two. This is because of the fact that the moon plays a more decisive role in moulding a person's personality traits. Sun changes its position once in every thirty days approximately whereas the moon changes its position in every two and a quarter of days making it one of the fastest moving planets.

If you want to follow these weekly predications, you must know which zodiac sign - either sun or moon - you belong to. The aim of this blog is to help you in finding your sun sign and your moon sign.

How to find out your sun sign?

Western style predictions are based on the sun signs (Star signs). The zodiac sign, sun was occupying, at the time of a person's birth is his sun sign. Finding out one's sun sign is very easy. Please refer the chart given below.

Date of Birth	Sun Sign (Zodiac Sign)	Symbol
March 21 to April 19	Aries	^
April 20 to May 20	Taurus	_
May 21 to June 20	Gemini	`
June 21 to July 22	Cancer	a
July 23 to August 22	Leo	b
August 23 to September 22	Virgo	c
September 23 to October 22	Libra	d
October 23 to November 21	Scorpio	e
November 22 to December 21	Sagittarius	f
December 22 to January 19	Capricorn	g
January 20 to February 18	Aquarius	h
February 19 to March 20	Pisces	i

How to find out your moon sign?

In vedic astrology, we give more importance to the moon signs. The zodiac sign, moon was occupying, at the time of a person's birth is his moon sign (Kooru). Gochara Phala or Kooru phala predictions are based on the moon signs. As you know, there are twenty seven stars and these twenty seven stars are equally distributed among the twelve rasis. Duration of one rasi is the total duration of two and a quarter stars. This makes finding the moon sign a little tricky. Some stars lie completely inside one rasi. These are Aswathi, Bharani, Rohini, Thiruvathira, Pooyam, Ayillyam, Makam, Pooram, Atham, Chothi, Anizham, Ketta, Moolam, Pooradam, Thiruvonam, Chathayam, Uthrattathi and Revathi. 

Moon signs of the persons who are born under these stars can be obtained directly from the chart given below. For others, you have to find out the pada (Part) under which you were born. Each star is divided in to four equal parts called padas. The best way is to make a rasi chart and see where the moon is placed. The rasi in which moon was occupying at the time of your birth is your moon rasi. 

For making the rasi chart, go to a knowledgeable astrologer or download it from a reliable website.

Birth Star	Moon Sign
Aswathi, Bharani, Karthika (First pada)	Medam (Aries, मेष, Meṣa, மேஷம், മേടം)
Karthika (Last three padas), Rohini, Makayiram (First Two padas)	Idavam (Taurus, वृषभ, Vrishabha, ரிஷபம், ഇടവം)
Makayiram (Last Two padas), Thiruvathira, Punartham (First three padas)	Midhunam (Gemini, मिथुन, Mithuna, மிதுனம், മിഥുനം).
Punartham (Fourth pada), Pooyam, Ayillyam	Karkadakam (Cancer, कर्क, Karka, கடகம், കർക്കടകം)
Makam, Pooram, Uthram (First pada)	Chingam (Leo, सिंह, Siṃha, சிம்மம், ചിങ്ങം)
Uthram (Last three padas), Atham, Chithira (First Two padas)	Kanni (Virgo, कन्या, கன்னி, കന്നി)
Chithira (Last Two padas), Chothi, Vishkham (First three padas)	Thulaam (Libra, तुला, துலாம், തുലാം)
Vishakham (Fourth pada), Anizham, Ketta	Vṛischikam (Scorpio, वृश्चिक, விருச்சிகம், വൃശ്ചികം)
Moolam, Pooradam, Uthradam (First pada)	Dhanu  (Sagittarius, धनुष, தனுசு, ധനു)
Uthradam (Last three padas), Thiruvonam, Avittam (First two padas)	Makaram (Capricorn, मकर, மகரம், മകരം)
Avittam (Last two padas), Chathayam, Pooruruttathi (First three padas)	Kumbham (Aquarius, कुम्भ, கும்பம், കുംഭം)
Pooruruttathi (Fourth pada), Uthrattathi, Revathi	Meenam (Pisces, मीन, மீனம், മീനം)

Name of the Twenty Seven Stars
	Star	മലയാളം	संस्कृतम्	தமிழ்
1	Aswathi	അശ്വതി	अश्विनी	அஸ்வினி
2	Bharani	ഭരണി	भरणी	பரணி
3	Karthika	കാർത്തിക	कृत्तिका	கார்த்திகை
4	Rohini	രോഹിണി	रोहिणी	ரோகிணி
5	Makayiram	മകയിരം	म्रृगशीर्षा	மிருகசீரிடம்
6	Thiruvathira	തിരുവാതിര	आद्रा	திருவாதிரை
7	Punartham	പുണർതം	पुनर्वसु	புனர்பூசம்
8	Pooyam	പൂയം	पुष्य	பூசம்
9	Ayillyam	ആയില്യം	आश्लेषा	ஆயில்யம்
10	Makam	മകം	मघा	மகம்
11	Pooram	പൂരം	पूर्व फाल्गुनी	பூரம்
12	Uthram	ഉത്രം	उत्तर फाल्गुनी	உத்திரம்
13	Atham	അത്തം	हस्त	அஸ்தம்
14	Chithira	ചിത്തിര	चित्रा	சித்திரை
15	Chothi	ചോതി	स्वाती	சுவாதி
16	Vishakham	വിശാഖം	विशाखा	விசாகம்
17	Anizham	അനിഴം	अनुराधा	அனுஷம்
18	Ketta	തൃക്കേട്ട	ज्येष्ठा	கேட்டை
19	Moolam	മൂലം	मूल	மூலம்
20	Puradam	പൂരാടം	पूर्वाषाढा	பூராடம்
21	Uthradam	ഉത്രാടം	उत्तराषाढा	உத்திராடம்
22	Thiruvonam	തിരുവോണം	श्रवण	திருவோணம்
23	Avittam	അവിട്ടം	धनिष्ठा	அவிட்டம்
24	Chathayam	ചതയം	शतभिषक्	சதயம்
25	Pururuttathi	പൂരുരുട്ടാതി	पूर्वभाद्रपदा	பூரட்டாதி
26	Uthrattathi	ഉത്രട്ടാതി	उत्तरभाद्रपदा	உத்திரட்டாதி
27	Revathi	രേവതി	रेवती	ரேவதி

The Rasi Chart

Lord Murukan

A rasi chart is a simple diagram which shows the exact positions of various planets at the time of a person’s birth. This is the most fundamental document and with the help of this, a learned astrologer can analyze a person’s life and predict his future. The design of the chart varies from place to place but basically it is an arrangement of 12 cells denoting the 12 zodiac signs. I have seen up to four types of charts in India. Out of these, the most common are South Indian and North Indian types. Here, in this blog, we will be discussing the south Indian style only.

Rasis have several characteristics. When you consider a rasi during an analysis, these characteristics of that particular rasi also, are to be taken in to account. This is not to be confused with the general characteristics of persons born in a particular rasi.

The first rasi - the second cell from the top left corner - is the Medam Rasi. The Medam Rasi (Aries, मेष, Meṣa, மேஷம், മേടം) is ruled by the planet Mars (Rasi adhipa) and its symbol is Ram. Fire is the basic element (Pancha mahabhoothas or the five basic elements) associated with this rasi. This is a movable rasi (Chara rasi).

Rasi chart - South Indian

The second one is Idavam (Taurus, वृषभ, Vrishabha, ரிஷபம், ഇടവം). Ruler of this rasi is Venus and symbol is Bull. Earth is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is a fixed (Sthira) rasi.

Third one is Midhunam (Gemini, मिथुन, Mithuna, மிதுனம், മിഥുനം). Ruler of this rasi is Mercury and symbol is twins. Air is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is an ubhaya (Dual nature) rasi.

Fourth one is Karkadakam (Cancer, कर्क, கடகம், കർക്കടകം) Ruler of this rasi is Moon and symbol is Crab. Water is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is a movable rasi (Chara rasi).

Fifth one is Chingam (Leo, सिंह, சிம்மம், ചിങ്ങം) Ruler of this rasi is Sun and symbol is Lion. Fire is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is a fixed (Sthira) rasi.

Sixth one is Kanni (Virgo, कन्या, கன்னி, കന്നി) Ruler of this rasi is Mercury and symbol is a Maiden. Earth is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is an ubhaya (Dual nature) rasi.

Seventh one is Thulaam (Libra, तुला, துலாம், തുലാം) Ruler of this rasi is Venus and symbol is Weighing balance (Scales). Air is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is a movable rasi (Chara rasi).

Eighth one is Vṛischikam (Scorpio, वृश्चिक, விருச்சிகம், വൃശ്ചികം) Ruler of this rasi is Mars and symbol is Scorpion. Water is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is a fixed (Sthira) rasi.

Rasi chart - North Indian

Ninth one is Dhanu (Sagittarius, धनुष, தனுசு, ധനു) Ruler of this rasi is Jupiter and symbol is centaur with bow and arrow. Fire is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is an ubhaya (Dual nature) rasi.

Tenth one is Makaram (Capricorn, मकर, மகரம், മകരം) Ruler of this rasi is Saturn and symbol is Mountain goat. Earth is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is a movable rasi (Chara rasi).

Eleventh one is Kumbham (Aquarius, कुम्भ, கும்பம், കുംഭം) Ruler of this rasi is Saturn and symbol is Water pourer. Air is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is a fixed (Sthira) rasi.

Twelfth one is Meenam (Pisces, मीन, மீனம், മീനം) Ruler of this rasi is Jupiter and symbol is a set of two fishes. Water is the basic element associated with this rasi and this is an ubhaya (Dual nature) rasi.

These are the basic characteristics of the twelve rasis. In the coming chapters, we will discuss these in detail.