Author: Sanjay Rath

राशिस्वामिनः। rāśisvāminaḥ |
मेषवृश्चिकयोभौंमः शुक्रो बृषतुलाधिपः।
बुधः कन्यामिथुनयोः प्रोक्तः कर्कस्य चन्द्रमाः॥
स्यान्मीनधनुषोजीवः शनिर्मकरकुंभयोः।
सिंहस्याधिपतिः सूर्यो राश्यधीशाः प्रकीर्तिताः॥
meṣavṛścikayobhauṁmaḥ śukro bṛṣatulādhipaḥ |
budhaḥ kanyāmithunayoḥ proktaḥ karkasya candramāḥ ||
syānmīnadhanuṣojīavaḥ śanirmakarakuaṁbhayoḥ |
siṁhasyādhipatiḥ sūryo rāśyadhīśāḥ prakīrtitāḥ ||
The lordship of the signs. Aries and Scorpio have Mars as their lord, Venus lords over Taurus and Libra; Mercury lords Virgo and Gemini while the Moon lords Cancer, Jupiter lords Pisces and Sagittarius while Satum lords Capricorn and Aquarius. The Sun is not only the lord of Leo but also the king of the zodiac (rasyadhisah).

By implication, planets as lords of houses derive their strength not only from their own selves but also must obey the dictat of the Sun (Atmakaraka)

नक्षत्रपादैः राशिविचारः।
nakṣatrapādaiḥ rāśivicāraḥ |

Translation: The signs were created from the pada of the nakşatra (constellations). Every naksatra has four pada each measuring 3°20′. The span of naksatra is 4×3°20’=13°20. The span of a rasi is 30°. Nine nakşatra-pada join to create a rasi 9×3°20’=30°. The important concept explained here is the power of mind over matter. The 360° nakşatra-belt is called the bha-chakra, and the zodiac is derived from this bha-chakra of the naksatra. In other words, naksatra chakra is creator of the rasi chakra. By implication, the mind which works through the nakşatra chakra is superior to the body and all matter that is created through the rasi chakra.

राशिनामानि। rāśināmāni |
मेषो वृषोऽथ मिथुनः कर्कटः सिंहकन्यके।
तुलाऽथ वृश्चको धन्वी मकरः कुंभमीनकौ॥
meṣo vṛṣo’tha mithunaḥ karkaṭaḥ siṁhakanyake |
tulā’tha vṛścako dhanvī makaraḥ kuṁbhamīnakau ||

Translation: Popular names of the Rashi are Mesa (Aries), Vrşa (Taurus), Mithuna (Gemini), Karkața (Cancer), Simha (Leo), Kanya (Virgo), Tula (Libra), Vrscika (Scorpio), Dhanus (Sagittarius), Makara (Capricorn), Kumbha (Aquarius) and Mina (Pisces)

Rasi: Sun Signs

The word rasi refers to a quantity of something, and is a measure of this quantity implying something tangible. it means a heap, mass or pile of anything. For example, dhana (wealth) rasi can mean the quantum of wealth. It also means a group or multitude of beings like animals or men. it is a quantity indicated by a number. For example Vrsabha (bull) rasi can mean a herd of bulls or cattle thereby referring to such a group of animals.