The Classification of the Zodiac Signs in Vedic Astrology
In Vedic astrology, the zodiac signs are crucial in revealing individuals’ inner traits and characteristics. Each of the twelve zodiac signs provides general descriptions based on one’s date of birth, influencing personality and life events.
Understanding how celestial signs impact earthly lives requires knowledge of their specific characteristics. This page categorizes the signs into various groups, each associated with particular traits.
Table of Contents
Masculine and Feminine Zodiac Signs in Vedic Astrology
In Vedic astrology, each zodiac sign is classified as either masculine or feminine, reflecting its inherent energy. These gender classifications do not refer to actual gender but rather describe the type of energy a sign predominantly expresses. Understanding this helps interpret how each sign influences an individual’s personality, behavior, and interactions.
Masculine Zodiac Signs
- Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius.
Masculine Signs are active, assertive, and outwardly focused, often associated with dynamic energy and action.
Feminine Zodiac Signs
- Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces.
Feminine signs are more receptive, nurturing, and inwardly focused, associated with introspection and emotional depth.
These classifications, established over two thousand years ago, highlight the complementary nature of the signs rather than implying any inherent positivity or negativity. This framework helps in understanding the diverse and balanced nature of astrological influences.
By exploring these groups, you can gain deeper insights into how your zodiac sign shapes your personality and life path.
What are the Zodiac Signs' Triplicities (Elements)?
The twelve zodiac signs in Vedic astrology are categorized into four groups, each containing three signs. These groups, known as triplicates, correspond to the four classical elements: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. Each element signifies fundamental characteristics of the signs within its group:
Fire Zodiac Signs
- Aries, Leo and Sagittarius
Fire signs are known for their vibrant energy, enthusiasm, and passion. These signs are natural leaders who thrive on action, often driven by a deep sense of purpose and adventure. Fire signs are creative, confident, and bold, with a dynamic approach to life that inspires others. However, their intensity can sometimes lead to impulsive decisions or impatience. They are motivated by excitement and seek challenges that fuel their ambition and personal growth, making them highly driven and inspiring individuals.
Earth Zodiac Signs
- Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces
Earth signs are known for being grounded, practical, and reliable. They are connected to the physical world and value stability, security, and hard work. They are deeply rooted in reality and approach life cautiously and patiently. Earth signs excel in creating tangible results, whether in work, relationships, or personal goals. Their reliability makes them excellent problem-solvers who often take a systematic, step-by-step approach to challenges. They also appreciate material comforts and beauty, striving for long-term success and well-being.
Air Zodiac Signs
- Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
Air signs are known for their intellectual curiosity, strong communication skills, and social nature. They thrive on ideas, concepts, and conversations, often bringing fresh perspectives. Highly adaptable, air signs value freedom of thought and are natural problem-solvers who enjoy engaging in mental exploration. They excel in connecting with others, building networks, and exchanging ideas, making them great collaborators. Emotionally, they tend to be more rational and seek balance in their relationships.
Water Zodiac Signs
- Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces
Water signs are deeply emotional, intuitive, and nurturing. They possess a natural ability to empathize with others, often acting as caregivers and healers. These signs are in tune with their and others’ emotions, making them highly sensitive and compassionate. Water signs thrive in emotional depth, seeking meaningful connections in relationships. Their intuition helps them understand situations beyond logic, and their nurturing nature provides comfort and support to those around them, creating bonds based on trust and emotional insight.
Understanding these elemental groups helps grasp each zodiac sign’s core nature and behavior.
What are the Quadruplicates (Quality) in Vedic Astrology?
The twelve zodiac signs in Vedic astrology are divided into three groups, each containing four signs. These groups, known as quadruplicities, correspond to three qualities: Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable. Each quality represents how signs interact with the outer world:
Cardinal Zodiac Signs
- Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn
Cardinal signs are known as initiators and natural leaders. They represent the start of each season, symbolizing fresh beginnings, action, and ambition. Cardinal signs are highly enterprising, ready to take charge and forge new paths. Their outgoing nature makes them excellent at starting projects, but they may sometimes struggle with follow-through. These signs are characterized by their dynamism and drive, often inspiring others with their enthusiasm and ability to take decisive action.
Fixed Zodiac Signs
- Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius
Fixed signs represent stability, determination, and persistence. They are resistant to change, preferring to build and improve on existing foundations rather than initiate new ideas. Fixed signs are known for their reliability and strong sense of purpose, making them excellent finishers. Their perfectionist tendencies drive them to see projects through to completion with care and precision. However, their resistance to change can sometimes make them inflexible or stubborn, especially when faced with unexpected shifts in plans or new perspectives.
Mutable Zodiac Signs
- Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces
Mutable signs represent adaptability and flexibility in the zodiac. These signs are quick to adjust to changing circumstances, making them versatile and open-minded. They thrive in transitions, easily embracing new ideas, perspectives, and environments. Mutable signs are natural problem solvers and often act as mediators, blending different viewpoints. While their adaptability is a strength, they can sometimes struggle with indecisiveness or lack of focus due to their ever-changing nature.
Each zodiac sign is a unique combination of quality, element, and gender, ensuring no two signs share the same characteristics. For instance, Leo is a Masculine, Fire, Fixed sign, with no other sign sharing this exact combination. This diversity in combinations provides a rich tapestry of personality traits and behaviors in astrology.
Zodiac Sign Polarity in Vedic Astrology
Finally, the twelve zodiac signs are divided into six pairs, each called a polarity, representing opposite characteristics. Each sign has an opposite sign located directly across the zodiac wheel. These polarities highlight contrasting traits and complement each other, offering a balance of energies:
- Aries and Libra: Aries represents individuality and the “self,” driven by personal ambition and independence. Libra focuses on relationships and partnerships, seeking balance and harmony with others.
- Taurus and Scorpio: Taurus symbolizes personal possessions, stability, and material comforts. Scorpio, by contrast, deals with shared resources, legacies, and emotional transformation through deep, intimate connections.
- Gemini and Sagittarius: Gemini is concerned with self-expression, communication, and learning on a smaller, everyday scale. Sagittarius expands these ideas, focusing on philosophy, higher learning, and broadening perspectives globally or spiritually.
- Cancer and Capricorn: Cancer governs the home, family, and emotional security, while Capricorn represents public life, career, and ambitions, seeking recognition in the outer world.
- Leo and Aquarius: Leo thrives on personal pleasure, creativity, and self-expression. On the other hand, Aquarius looks outward, focusing on collective ideals, humanitarian efforts, and the greater good of society.
- Virgo and Pisces: Virgo emphasizes work, self-improvement, and practical details, while Pisces represents dreams, spirituality, and the unconscious, often blurring boundaries and embracing the mystical or illusory.
Understanding these polarities helps to recognize the balance and interaction of energies within the zodiac.
Property Characteristics of the Zodiac Signs in Vedic Astrology
To fully understand the zodiac signs and personal traits, it’s essential to explore how the 12 zodiac signs are divided and categorized based on their specific properties. Each 30-degree sign is further subdivided into smaller sections, allowing for a more specialized and accurate analysis.
Many people may feel their zodiac description doesn’t fully capture their personality. This is because daily horoscopes offer only a surface-level view. By examining the deeper classifications within each sign, you can better understand the personality and behaviour of yourself and others.
This site aims to provide a more detailed approach, using terms from Vedic astrology to offer unique insights. These nuances help you explore your character in greater depth, using the wisdom of this ancient system to provide precise predictions and personal insights.
What are the Odd and Even Signs in Vedic Astrology?
The zodiac signs are categorized as odd and even based on their sequence in the zodiac wheel:
Odd Zodiac Signs (Masculine)
Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius.
Even Zodiac Signs (Feminine)
Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces.
The odd-numbered zodiac signs are aligned with masculine energy, symbolizing action, assertiveness, and outward expression. These signs are dynamic, initiating, and more focused on external achievements. They are often linked to leadership, confidence, and proactive behavior.
The even-numbered zodiac signs embody feminine energy, representing receptivity, nurturing, and inward reflection. These signs focus on emotional depth, intuition, and sensitivity, fostering growth through nurturing reflection and subtle influence rather than overt action.
What Does Hora Mean in Vedic?
In Vedic astrology, each zodiac sign is further divided into two equal parts called Horas. Each Hora spans 15 degrees of the 30-degree sign, resulting in more precise astrological readings. The Sun and the Moon rule these Horas, and their influence depends on whether the sign is odd or even.
For all odd signs, the first Hora is ruled by the Sun and the second by the Moon. This order is reversed for even signs, with the first Hora ruled by the Moon and the second by the Sun.
Hora Rulership
Odd Signs
First Hora (0°-15°): Ruled by the Sun - Second Hora (15°-30°): Ruled by the Moon
Even Signs
First Hora (0°-15°): Ruled by the Moon - Second Hora (15°-30°): Ruled by the Sun
This division results in a total of 24 Horas in the zodiac, 12 of which are governed by the Sun and 12 by the Moon.
The Sun and Moon impart different qualities to the Horas they govern, providing additional layers of interpretation in a birth chart. The Sun’s Hora is associated with vitality, ambition, and outward expression, while the Moon’s Hora influences emotions, intuition, and inward reflection.
Understanding which Hora your sign falls into can provide deeper insights into your personality and destiny, as the Sun and Moon impart different qualities and energies.
By exploring the concept of Horas, you can gain a more nuanced understanding of Vedic astrology and its intricate character analysis system. This knowledge can help you appreciate the finer details of your astrological profile and how these cosmic influences shape your life.
Drekkana in the Vedic Zodiac
In Vedic astrology, each zodiac sign is divided into three equal parts of ten degrees, called Drekkanas or Decanates. These divisions provide deeper insights into each sign’s characteristics, particularly concerning siblings, courage, and bravery. Each zodiac sign (30 degrees) is divided into three equal parts of 10 degrees each, resulting in 36 Drekkanas for the 12 zodiac signs. These divisions offer a more detailed look at specific areas of life and are used for finer astrological interpretations.
Drekkana Rulership
First Drekkana (0°-10°)
This is governed by the ruler of the sign itself. For example, in Aries, Mars rules the first Drekkana.
Second Drekkana (10°-20°)
Governed by the ruler of the fifth sign from the original. In Aries, this is Leo, ruled by the Sun.
Third Drekkana (20°-30°)
Governed by the ruler of the ninth sign from the original. In Aries, this is Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter.
By understanding the Drekkanas, you can better interpret the zodiac signs, enhancing the overall astrological analysis. This approach allows a more detailed exploration of personality traits and life influences, strengthening the overall reading of a natal chart.
What is Navamsa in Vedic?
In Vedic astrology, each zodiac sign is further divided into nine equal parts called Navamsas. Each Navamsa measures 3 degrees and 20 minutes and is derived from dividing the sign’s 30 degrees by 9, giving a total of 108 Navamsas in the zodiac.
Grouping and Counting Navamsas
To understand the distribution of Navamsas across zodiac signs, we group the signs into four categories based on their qualities:
- Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
- Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
- Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
- Water Sign: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
The distribution of Navamsas across zodiac signs follows a specific pattern:
Cardinal Zodiac Signs
Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. The Navamsas in cardinal signs start from the 5th sign from the starting sign.
Fixed Zodiac Signs
Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. The Navamsas in fixed signs start from the same sign.
Mutable Zodiac Signs
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. The Navamsas in mutable signs start from the 9th sign from the starting sign.
An Example of Navamsa Characteristics
For example, in Aries:
- The first Navamsa is ruled by Aries (0°-3°20′)
- The second by Taurus (3°20′-6°40′)
- The third by Gemini (6°40′-10°)
- And so on, until all nine parts are covered.
This division provides a detailed and nuanced understanding of each zodiac sign, enhancing the precision of astrological readings and personal insights.
What Does the Navamsa Chart Show?
Navamsa often called the D9 chart, is one of Vedic astrology’s most important divisional charts. Derived by dividing each zodiac sign into nine equal parts, it offers a deeper understanding of a person’s life, particularly concerning marriage, spirituality, and overall potential.
The Navamsa chart refines the insights from the birth chart (Rasi chart) by focusing on the subtler influences of planets. It reveals the underlying strength of planets and how they impact various aspects of life, especially relationships and spiritual growth.
- Marriage and Relationships: Navamsa is essential for analyzing marital life and compatibility. It reveals the spouse’s quality and nature, the strength of the marriage bond, and potential issues.
- Spiritual Growth: Navamsa highlights spiritual inclinations and the quest for higher knowledge and purpose.
- Planetary Strength: Navamsa assesses planets’ true strength and influence in the natal chart. A planet’s position in the Navamsa can modify its effects in the natal chart.
- Professional Life: Navamsa provides insights into career growth and achievements, especially related to efforts and divine blessings.
Dwadasamsa Zodiac Characteristic
A Sign is further divided into 12 equal parts termed Dwadasamsa, each subdivision getting an angle of 2.25 degrees. There is no complexity regarding the names of these 12 parts, as the Dwadasamsa in each sign begins with the same sign and ends with the one that is 12th from it. That is to say, in Aries, the 12 parts are counted from Aries onwards, ending in Pisces; in Taurus, the first part is Taurus itself and the last Aries and so on. This comes under the Dwadasamsa characteristic of the zodiac sign.
Trisamsa in the Zodiac
This is a one degree position of a Sign. Hence, there should be 30 such parts of degree portions belonging to 30 planets, which is impractical. Their Lords are only the five planets, viz. Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. The Sun and the Moon have no play in this. With regard to the distribution of these Signs, there is a difference with respect to odd and even Signs.
In the odd signs, i.e. 1, 3,5,7,9 and 11, the distribution is as follows: The first 5 degrees belong to Mars, the next 5 degrees to Saturn, the next 8 to Jupiter, the next 7 to Mercury and the last 5 to Venus. In the even signs, this order is reversed: The first 5 degrees go to Venus, the next 7 to Mercury, the next 8 to Jupiter, the next 5 to Saturn, and the Last 5 to Mars.
Author Bio - Jayanti Ghosh and Soumen Ghosh
Embark on a journey of astrological discovery with confidence, guided by our resident Vedic astrology experts, Jayanti Ghosh and Soumen Ghosh, who have over 20 years of experience in Vedic astrology. Our content is meticulously curated, drawing from esteemed astrological texts and research from prominent astrologers like B.V. Raman and Dr David Frawley.
Learn More About Vedic Astrology
History of Vedic Astrology
Three main branches of Astrology exist to date. Though there are a few more, people are mostly familiar with the names of Western, Indian, and Chinese Astrology. We find the presence of it for the first time in Mesopotamia and the Babylonia (then Chaldea) in and around 3600 B.C. In that era, the subject was being used to predict or forecast the weather or the possibility of disaster and even to find the chances of wars that might occur in the future.
Vedic Astrology Basics
People interested in studying or learning about astrology basics generally need help understanding all the words found on the pages, either on a website or in related books. There are many terminologies used in astrology basics which are not found in the lexicons that we commonly use in our day-to-day life, and even if the words are available, you will find the meanings described from an astronomical point of view rather than an astrological one. It may cause problems, when you study your natal chart prepared by an astrologer.
Significance of the Planets
In Vedic astrology, the significance of planets is paramount as they play a pivotal role in shaping the course of an individual's life. Each planet represents specific qualities, energies, and influences that contribute to the overall astrological profile. The positions of these celestial bodies at the time of one's birth are meticulously analyzed to derive insights into personality traits, relationships, career paths, and various life events. The nine planets, or Navagrahas, are considered cosmic forces that exert both positive and challenging influences, guiding individuals on their karmic journey.
Understand a Vedic Natal Chart
The horoscope or astrology natal chart, astrology birth chart, or astrology chart is a diagram which reflects the picture of the relevant celestial bodies at the time of one’s birth. It shows in which signs the nine planets were positioned at that particular time and place. It also states another important aspect of astrology called the Lagna or Ascendant. The astrology chart plays a significant role in analyzing an individual’s life. The ascendant is calculated based on one’s place and time of birth. The ascendant is your individual 1st house and may fall in any of the 12 signs. From there, the other houses are marked.
