What are Vedic Rashi and Nakshatra and their Importance?

Many of us, while reading our horoscopes, may have come across jargons such as Rashi, Nakshatra, Lagna, yoga, Dasha, dosha, etc. and would have wondered what these terms mean. These terms, along with many other terms, form the crux of our horoscope and our destiny. We can’t help but be confused and left wondering when our astrologer says that our Nakshatra is in this Rashi and hence the effects will be so on and so forth. This article intends to clarify what Rashi and Nakshatra in Vedic astrology imply and also explain their significance in the predictions.

Understanding Rashi and Nakshatra in Vedic astrology

What is Rashi? Well, Rashi is the zodiac sign in which the Moon is placed at the time of the birth of an individual. In Vedic astrology, Rashi is the moon sign which is used as a reference for analysis of transits, planetary dasha, etc. 

According to Vedic astrology, the 12 zodiac signs are divided into 12 main Rashis which help study the planetary effects positioned in these Rashis. During ancient times, astrologers or seers broke down the zodiac into 27-star constellations known as Nakshatras. Each nakshatra has a span of 13 degrees and 20 minutes. Further, each of the nakshatras aresubdivided into 4 quarters, or Padas of 3 degrees and 20 minutes.So, the first zodiac sign Aries will contain entire 4 quarters or Padas of the firststar constellation Ashwini with a total span of 13 degrees and 20 minutes, entire 4 Padas of the second start constellation Bharani again with a total span of 13 degrees and 20 minutes and the first Pada of the third constellation of Kritthika Nakshatra with a span of 3 degrees and 20 minutes. Thus each Rashi contains a total of 9 (4+4+1) padas. The Nakshatras are further classified into three main groups –Deva (divine), Manusha (human) and Rakshasa (demonic). The nakshatras have different ruling deities, owned by different planets, and exhibit different qualities. Astrological analysis, as per the Indian astrology system, thus studies the nakshatras and the Padas while studying the effects of planets placed in a particular Rasi or zodiac sign.

Rashis and their Significance

Below are the 12 Vedic astrological rashis, as per Indian astrology. Each of these rashis have different characteristics which define the physical and emotional traits, health, finance, love and marriage, professions, lucky numbers, lucky stones, colour, etc. of an individual born under specific rashis. These are clearly defined in our horoscopes, helping us understand ourselves and our destinies better. 

1. Mesh (Aries)
2. Vrishabha (Taurus)
3. Mithuna (Gemini)
4. Karka (Cancer)
5. Simha (Leo)
6. Kanya (Virgo)
7. Tula (Libra)
8. Vrischika (Scorpio)
9. Dhanur (Sagittarius)
10. Makara (Capricorn)
11. Kumbha (Aquarius)
12. Meena (Pisces)

As per Vedic astrology, an individual’s online horoscope is prepared based on the birth Rashi in which the Moon is placed at the time of birth. A horoscope thus prepared will contain three major charts which check the strength of the planets. These charts are the ascendant chart, the birth Rashi chart and the Navamsha chart. Of these, the birth Rashi chart is considered to be more effective than the ascendant chart, which helps in the accurate daily and weekly predictions.

Let us understand the 12 birth Rashis when Moon is placed in different signs:

• • Mesha (Aries):  The Mesha birth rashi is ruled by Mars. This makes the individuals born under this birth Rashiimpulsive, ambitious and enterprising. They are also noted to have independent thinking and reasoning.

• Vrishabha (Taurus): Vrishabha is ruled by Venus, which makes the native influential. The Moon in Taurus makes the individual liberal and versatile. withleadership qualities.

• Mithuna (Gemini):  Mithuna is ruled by Mercury. Moon in Gemini makes the individual creative, persuasive, and withan inclination towards knowledge of scriptures.
• Karka (Cancer):Birth Rashi as Cancer sign is considered to be the most fortunate sign ofall. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, which endows the individual with a charming personality, wealth, sensitivity, prudent, frugal and conventional.
• Simha (Leo): Birth Rashiin Leo is ruled by the Sun. Natives born under Leo as birth Rashi are bold, fiery, liberal, generous, ambitious, and aristocratic.
• Kanya (Virgo):  The Kanya Rashi is also ruled by Mercury. Moon in Kanya Rashi indicates that the individual is virtuous, conservationist, accomplished in arts like music and dancing, etc.
• Tula (Libra):  The birth Rashi Tula is an air sign. Natives born in Tula Rashi are learned, wealthy, amicable, aspiring and withan affinity for arts. 
• Vrischika (Scorpio):  Vrischika is also ruled by Mars. The Moon in VrishchikaRashi makes the native straightforward, open-minded, wealthy, impulsive and obstinate.
• Dhanu (Sagittarius): DhanuRashi is ruled by Jupiter which makes this a fiery sign. Natives born in DhanuRashi are inventive, intellectuals, good orators, patrons of arts and literature, possessa reflective attitude.
• Makara (Capricorn):  Makara Rashi is ruled by Saturn. The Moon in Makara Rashi makes the individual perceptive, clever, active, learned, strategic, and inconsistent.
• Kumbha (Aquarius):  The Kumbha Rashi is also ruled by Saturn. Individuals born under this Rashi are artistic, diplomatic, lonely, esoteric, pure-minded and sensual. 
• Meena (Pisces):  Meena Rashi is also ruled by Jupiter. The Moon in Meena Rashi makes the individual learned, adventurous, subservient, and spiritually inclined.

Nakshatras and their Lords and deities.

The star constellation in which the Moon was placed at the time of birth of an individual is known as Janma Nakshatra in Vedic astrology and is considered to be very important. Presented below are the 27 Nakshatras and their lords and deities.

Significance of Vedic Rashi and Nakshatra

As per the Indian Vedic astrology, our personality traits are better understood through our Nakshatras and the Rashis. The use of Nakshatra in Vedic astrology holds greater significance than zodiac signs. Ancient Indian seers indicate that the Nakshatras represented the abodes into which the fruits of our labour (Karma) was transferred and stored. The Vedic astrology practices the system of planetary periods called Dasha periods based on the Nakshatra at the time of birth. These Dasha periods provide a comprehensive and easy system foranalysing the planetary effects on our lives. The Dasha periods indicate the most accurate systems of how the planets influence us during the different stages of our lives. With the help of this system, an experienced Vedic astrologer can accurately predict the future events of our lives and help us to understand our future better. 

Get to know your Rashi and Nakshatra

With digitization, it has now become easier for us to access our horoscopes online and get a better understanding of our Nakshatras and Rashi. Many companies such as Clickastro provide astrology-related software services, apps and websites which make it easy for us to obtain our horoscopes within minutes. The software essentially helps make complex calculations easier and error-free. The accuracy of the predictions has been acknowledged and approved by well-known astrologers. This has made it easier for us to obtain accurate predictions,within seconds,from the comforts of our home, any time anywhere. Clickastro’s positive astrology helps us make prudent decisions in our lives and offers a better insight into the future events of our life such as career, wealth, love and relationships, etc.