Rasis (or the 12 signs of Zodiac)

Introduction:

We learnt that the zodiac of 360º is divided into 12 equal parts of 30º. We learnt

these are called rasis (signs). Different rasis have different properties and they stand for different things. We will learn them in this small chapter.

Characteristics of Rasis:

Limbs of Vishnu:

The whole zodiac is nothing but a manifestation of Lord Vishnu’s body. Aries is the

head. Taurus is the face. Gemini is the arms. Cancer is the heart. Leo is the stomach.

Virgo is the hip. Libra is the space below the navel. Scorpio is the private parts.

Sagittarius is the thighs. Capricorn is the knees. Aquarius is the ankles. Pisces is the feet.

Odd and Even:

(1) Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius are called odd rasis or vishama rasis or oja rasis. They are also known as male rasis.

(2) Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces are called even rasis or sama rasis or yugma rasis. They are also known as female rasis.

This division is used in some dasas and in the determination of the sex of children.

Odd-footed and Even-footed: 

(1) Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius are called odd-footed rasis or vishamapada rasis ojapada rasis.

(2) Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces are called even-footed rasis or samapada rasis or or yugmapada rasis.

Movable, Fixed and Dual:

(1) Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are known as chara rasis or movable rasis. They are ruled by

Brahma, the Creator. Their nature is to move and to be dynamic.

(2) Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are known as sthira rasis or fixed rasis. They are ruled by

Shiva, the Destroyer. Their nature is to be stable and constant.

(3) Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces are known as dwiswabhava rasis or dual rasis. They are ruled

by Vishnu, the Sustainer.3 They are stable sometimes and dynamic sometimes.

Rasis & Five Elements:

According to Hindu philosophy, this world is made up of 5 elements – fire, water,

air, earth and ether. Water is a substance with a flexible state. Air is a substance with

a varying state. Earth is a substance with a constant and solid state. Fire is a

substance that transforms the state of things. Ether is something that is present

everywhere.

(1) Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are called agni rasis or fiery rasis.

(2) Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are called bhoo rasis or earthy rasis.

(3) Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are called vaayu rasis or airy rasis.

(4) Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are called jala rasis or watery rasis.

(5) The 5th element of aakaasa or ether is present in every rasi.

Pitta, Vaata and Kapha:

Ayurveda is India’s Vedic medical system that recognizes human body and everything else in the universe as having 3 natures that are formed with the above 5 elements:

Pitta or bilious nature is a combination of the elements of fire and water. It shows

things that result in transformation in a system. In a human body, for example, it may

show digestion, etc.

Vaata or windy nature is a combination of the elements of air and ether. It shows

things that move in and out of a system. In a human body, for example, it may show

breathing etc.

Kapha or phlegmatic nature is a combination of the elements of earth and water. It

shows things that bind a system together. In a human body, for example, it may show

bones, muscles, fat etc. It shows things that give structure to a system.

Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are of pitta nature. Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are of vaata nature. Cancer, Scorpio, and Pi are of kapha nature. Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are of a mixed nature.

Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas: In Hindu philosophy, everything in this universe has one of 3 gunas (qualities). They are called trigunas. Sattwa (purity) is a quality that gives truthfulness and purity. Rajas or rajo guna (energy) is a quality that makes one energetic and passionate. Tamas or tamo guna (darkness) is a quality that makes one depraved. (1) Saattwik signs, i.e. signs with sattwa guna, are – Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius, Pisces. (2) Raajasik signs, i.e. signs with rajo guna, are – Aries, Taurus, Libra, Scorpio. (3) Taamasik signs, i.e. signs with tamo guna, are – Gemini, Virgo, Capricorn, Aquarius. Rasis and Directions: (1) Ar, Le, and Sg show east. (2) Ta, Vi, and Cp show south. (3) Ge, Li, and Aq show west. (4) Cn, Sc, and Pi show north. Rasis and Colors: Ar shows a blood-red color. Ta shows white. Ge shows grass green. Cn shows pale red. Le shows white. Virgo is variegated. Libra shows black. Scorpio shows reddish brown. Sagittarius shows the color of the husk of grass. Capricorn is variegated. Aquarius shows a brown color (that of a mongoose). Pisces shows cream color or the color of fish. Day and Night: (1) Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Sagittarius, and Capricorn are nighttime rasis – they are strong during the night time. They are nishaa rasis. (2) Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Aquarius, and Pisces are daytime rasis – they are strong during the daytime. They are divaa rasis. Out of the two rasis owned by a planet, one is a day sign and one is a night sign. Moon governs all the nishaa rasis and Sun governs all the divaa rasis. Rising of rasis: Some rasis rise with their head. They are called “Seershodaya rasis”. Some rasis rise with their feet. They are called “Prishthodaya rasis”. (1) Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Aquarius are Seershodaya rasis. (2) Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius, Capricorn are Prishthodaya rasis. (3) Pisces rises with both its head and feet. It is said that planets in Seershodaya rasis give their results in the first half of their dasas and planets in Prishthodaya rasis give their results in the second half of their dasas. Varna or Class: In Hinduism, people are divided into 4 varnas or classes

(1) Brahmanas, (2) Kshatriyas, (3) Vaisyas and (4) Sudras.

Brahmanas pursue knowledge and work as priests or ministers. Kshatriyas are valiant and they

become kings, army chiefs, and soldiers. Vaisyas are the traders and suppliers of various services.

Sudras execute various menial tasks. (1) Brahmanas (scholars) are represented by watery signs – Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. (2) Kshatriyas (warriors) are represented by fiery signs – Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. (3) Vaisyas (traders) are represented by earthy signs – Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. (4) Sudras (workers) are represented by airy signs – Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.

Indications of Rasis:

Aries: Dynamic, enterprising, valiant, ruddy, head, forests, large forehead, hasty,

impulsive, restless, thick eyebrows, leadership, overbearing, dry, lean, tall.

Taurus: Beautiful, face, stable, sluggish, loyal, meadows, plains, luxury halls,

dining halls, eating places, fine teeth, large eyes, luxurious, faithful, thick hair, stout.

Gemini: Chest, garden, communication, journalism, schools, colleges, study rooms,

cables, telephone, newspapers, tall, well-built, prominent cheeks, thick hair, broad

chest, curious, learned, jovial.

Cancer: Heart, breast, watery fields, rivers, canals, kitchen, food, attractive, small

build, emotional, deeply attached, mother-like, sensitive.

Leo: Stomach, digestion, navel, mountains, forests, caves, deserts, palaces, parks,

forts, boilers, steel factories, thin, dry, hot, royal, self-pride, insolent, domineering.

Virgo: Hip, appendix, lush gardens, fields, orchards, libraries, bookstores, farms,

intelligent, sharp, orator, nervous, physically weak, discretion, tactfulness.

Libra: Groins, Businessmen, markets, trade centers, banks, hotels, amusement

parks, entertainment, toilets, cosmetics, balanced, wise, good talker.

Scorpio: Private parts, holes, deep caves, mines, garrages, small build, dusky

complexion, bright eyes, secretive, scheming, occult, best friend or worst enemy,

peevish, sensitive.

Sagittarius: Thighs, royal, attorneys, government offices, aircraft, falling, sparse

hair, muscular, deep eyes, uproght, honest, genial, gambler.

Capricorn: Knees, marsh lands, watery places, alligators, beasts, bushes, slender

buils, long neck, prominent teeth, witty, perfectionist, patient, organizer, cautious,

secretive, pragmatic.

Aquarius: Ankles, charity, philosophy, tall, bony, small eyes, mountain spring,

places with water, ill-formed teeth, coarse hair, hard-working, stoic, honest.

Pisces: Feet, oceans, seas, prisons, hospitals, hermitages, short, plump, large eyes,

large eyebrows, lazy, emotional, timid, honest, irresolute, talkative, intuitive.