Rāśi – the zodiac signs
The sidereal zodiac is an imaginary belt of 360 degrees (like the tropical zodiac), divided into 12 equal parts. Each twelfth part (of 30 degrees) is called a sign or rāśi (Sanskrit: rāśi, ‘part’). Jyotiṣa and Western zodiacs differ in the method of measurement. While synchronically, the two systems are identical, Jyotiṣa uses primarily the sidereal zodiac (in which stars are considered to be the fixed background against which the motion of the planets is measured), whereas most Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac (the motion of the planets is measured against the position of the Sun on the Spring equinox). This difference becomes noticeable over time. After two millennia, as a result of the precession of the equinoxes, the origin of the ecliptic longitude has shifted by about 22 degrees. As a result the placement of planets in the Jyotiṣa system is consistent with the actual zodiac, while in western astrology the planets fall into the following sign, as compared to their placement in the sidereal zodiac, about two thirds of the time.
| Number | Sanskrit Name | Western/Greek Name | Tattva (Element) | Quality | Ruling Planet |
| 1 | Meṣa (मेष) ram | Aries (ram) | Tejas (Fire) | Chara (Movable) | Mars |
| 2 | Vṛṣabha (वृषभ) bull | Taurus (bull) | Pṛthvi (Earth) | Sthira (Fixed) | Venus |
| 3 | Mithuna (मिथुन) twins | Gemini (twins) | Vāyu (Air) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Mercury |
| 4 | Karkaṭa (कर्कट) crab | Cancer (crab) | Jala (Water) | Chara (Movable) | Moon |
| 5 | Siṃha (सिंह) lion | Leo (lion) | Tejas (Fire) | Sthira (Fixed) | Sun |
| 6 | Kanyā (कन्या) girl | Virgo (virgin) | Pṛthvi (Earth) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Mercury |
| 7 | Tulā (तुला) balance | Libra (balance) | Vayu (Air) | Chara (Movable) | Venus |
| 8 | Vṛścika (वृश्चिक) scorpion | Scorpio (scorpion) | Jala (Water) | Sthira (Fixed) | Mars |
| 9 | Dhanus (धनुष) bow | Sagittarius (archer) | Tejas (Fire) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Jupiter |
| 10 | Makara (मकर) sea-monster | Capricorn (goat-horned) | Pṛthvi (Earth) | Chara (Movable) | Saturn |
| 11 | Kumbha (कुम्भ) pitcher | Aquarius (water-bearer) | Vayu (Air) | Sthira (Fixed) | Saturn |
| 12 | Mīna (मीन) fish | Pisces (fish) | Jala (Water) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Jupiter |
The zodiac signs in Hindu astrology correspond to parts of the body:
| Sign | Body Region |
| Meṣa (Aries) | Head |
| Vṛṣabha (Taurus) | Face |
| Mithuna (Gemini) | Arms |
| Karka (Cancer) | Chest |
| Siṃha (Leo) | Stomach |
| Kanyā (Virgo) | Back, Intestines |
| Tula (Libra) | Sexual Organs, Waist |
| Vṛścika (Scorpio) | Hidden parts, Anus |
| Dhanus (Sagittarius) | Thighs |
| Makara (Capricorn) | Knee |
| Kumbha (Aquarius) | Lower Legs |
| Mīna (Pisces) | Feet |
