Rāshi – the signs (zodiac)

Number
Sanskrit Name
Western Name
Element
1
Meṣa "ram"
Aries (Κριός "ram")
Fire
2
Vṛṣabha "bull"
Taurus (Ταύρος "bull")
Earth
3
Mithuna "twins"
Gemini (Δίδυμοι "twins")
Air
4
Karka "crab"
Cancer (Καρκίνος "crab")
Water
5
Siṃha "lion"
Leo (Λέων "lion")
Fire
6
Kanyā "girl"
Virgo (Παρθένος "virgin")
Earth
7
Tula "balance"
Libra (Ζυγός "balance")
Air
8
Vṛścika "scorpion"
Scorpio (Σκόρπειος "scorpion")
Water
9
Dhanus "bow"
Sagittarius (Τοξότης "archer")
Fire
10
Makara "sea-monster"
Capricorn (Αἰγόκερως "goat-horned")
Earth
11
Kumbha "pitcher"
Aquarius (Ὑδροχόος "water-pourer")
Air
12
Mīna "fish"
Pisces (Ἰχθείς "fish")
Water
A zodiac divides the 360 degrees of the ecliptic into 12 equal parts. Each twelfth part (of 30 degrees) is called a sign or rāshi[6]. Whereas Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac (where the signs are measured from the point of the Spring Equinox on the ecliptic), the Jyotisha system favors the sidereal zodiac (where the signs are aligned with their eponymous constellations). The difference, due to the precession of the equinoxes, becomes noticeable over time. After two millennia, the origin of the ecliptic longitude has shifted by about 22 degrees. As a result the assignment of planets to their sign positions in the Jyotisha 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. The Sanskrit names of the signs are direct translations of the Greek names (dhanus meaning "bow" rather than "archer", and kumbha meaning "water-pitcher" rather than "water-carrier").