Encyclopedia of Vedic Astrology: Planetary Transit: Basic Rules of Transit, Chapter II, Part - 2

Continuation…

Dr. Shanker Adawal

2.3 Signs and Nakshtras

2.3.1 The zodiac of 360 degrees is divided into 12 parts called signs, which are of 30 degrees spans (approximately) each. The minor variations are due to latitude of birth place and the time of the year. The sign placed in a house modifies the significations of the house and the lord of the sign is called the house lord as well. The significations and strength of the planets posited in a sign also get modified by the sign and the sign lord is called the depositor of the planet. The sign in which the Moon is placed at birth is popularly called the Rashi of the native. Rashi literally means a cluster or heap. In Vedic astrology, signs are identified by Nakshtras or constellations (which contain a heap or cluster of stars, forming a particular geometric pattern), the word Rashi,has come to mean a sign and when only the Rashi of a native is referred to, it means the Moon-sign. The predictions based on natal chart or the transit, depend largely on the Moon-sign, which plays an important role in preparing transit chart and its evaluation thereafter. The signs also indicate various body parts & glands. Therefore while predicting effects on them a combination of house and sign should be coordinated.

2.3.2 Depending upon various traits, for astrological studies and analysis, the signs are grouped under various heads as under;

i). As per Mobility: Aries, Cancer, Libra & Capricorn are Mobile, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio & Aquarius are fixed; and Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius & Pisces are common/ dual.

ii) As per Basic Element: Aries: Leo & Sagittarius are Fiery, Taurus, Virgo & Capricorn as Earthy, Gemini, Libra & Aquarius as Airy; and Cancer, Scorpio & Pisces are watery signs.

iii) As per Usefulness: Cancer, Scorpio, Aquarius & Pisces are Fruitful, Taurus, Libra, Sagittarius & Capricorn are Semi-fruitful; and Aries, Gemini, Leo & Virgo are Barren signs.

iv) As per Mode of Rising: Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio & Aquarius are Shirshodaya; Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius, & Capricorn are Prishtodaya; and Pisces is Ubhayodaya sign.

v) Sex & Beneficience: All odd signs (Aries, Gemini etc.) are considered male, positive and Malefic signs, whereas all even signs (Taurus, Cancer etc.) are considered female, negative and benefic signs.

vi) Based on Feet: Gemini, Virgo, Libra, 1^st half of Sagittarius, & Aquarius are bi-ped or human signs and are considered strong in lagna; Taurus, Leo, 2^nd half of Sagittarius & 1^st half of Capricorn are quadripad or animal signs and are strong in 10^th house; Cancer, 1^st half of Capricorn & Pisces are watery signs and are strong in 4^th house; Scorpio is a Keet sign considered strong in 7^th house.

2.3.3 Nakshtra or Lunar Mansion: Each sign has a 30 degree span containing two and a quarter Nakshtras. There are 27 Nakshtras or constellations forming a particular geometric pattern in the zodiac. Each Nakshtra has a span of 13 degrees 20 minutes with four quarters of 3 degrees 20 minutes each. Thus each Nakshtra further fine tunes the results of houses, signs and planets. While shadow planets, Rahu & Ketu do not own any sign/ house, they do own Nakshtras and play an important role in dasha system, more so, if the Moon happens to position in their Nakshtra. The lord of Nakshtra of a mid-point of a house/ Brava has very influential effects on the prediction of natal / transit chart. The Nakshtra lord of the any planet also modifies its results accordingly. The average time for the Moon to traverse a Nakshtra is one day only. Hence they are called Lunar mansion also. But by the time the Moon completes one round, the Earth has moved ahead, so to come back to its original position, it takes additional two and a quarter day.

Table No. 1: Signs, Nakshtras and their Lords

S. No.	Sign / its Lord	Nakshtras	Nakshtra Span Upto s o’	Nakshtra Lord
1.	Aries/Mars	1.    Ashwani	0 13 20	Ketu
		2.    Bharini	0 26 40	Venus
		3.    Krittika	1 00 00	Sun
2.	Taurus/Venus	Krittika	1 10 00	Sun
		4.    Rohini	1 23 20	Moon
		5.    Mrigshira	2 00 00	Mars
3.	Gemini/Mercury	Mrigshira	2 06 40	Mars
		6.    Ardra	2 20 00	Rahu
		7.    Punurvasu	3 00 00	Jupiter
4.	Cancer/Moon	Punurvasu	3 03 20	Jupiter
		8.    Pushya	3 16 40	Saturn
		9.    Ashlesha	4 00 00	Mercury
5.	Leo/Sun	10.  Magha	4 13 20	Ketu
		11.  P. Phal.	4 26 40	Venus
		12.  U. Phal.	5 00 00	Sun
6.	Virgo/Mercury	U. Phalguni	5 10 00	Sun
		13.  Hasta	5 23 20	Moon
		14.  Chitra	6 00 00	Mars
7.	Libra/Venus	Chitra	6 06 40	Mars
		15.  Swati	6 20 00	Rahu
		16.  Vishakha	7 00 00	Jupiter
8.	Scorpio/Mars	Vishakha	7 03 20	Jupiter
		17.  Anuradha	7 16 40	Saturn
		18.  Jyestha	8 00 00	Mercury
9.	Sagittarius/Jupiter	19.  Moola	8 13 20	Ketu
		20.  P. Ashadha	8 26 40	Venus
		21.  U. Ashadha	9 00 00	Sun
10.	Capricorn/Saturn	U. Ashadha	9 10 00	Sun
		22.  Shravana	9 23 20	Moon
		23.  Dhanishta	10 00 00	Mars
11.	Aquarius/Saturn	Dhanishta	10 06 40	Mars
		24.  Shatbhisha	10 20 00	Rahu
		25.  P. Bhadrapad	11 00 00	Jupiter
12.	Pisces/Jupiter	P. Bhadrapad	11 03 20	Jupiter
		26.  U. Bhadrapad	11 16 40	Saturn
		27.  Revati	12 00 00	Mercury

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Dr. Shanker Adawal

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