Dividing the Celestial Sphere in Vedic Astrology: Rashis, Nakshatras, and Charans

Introduction

Vedic astrology, a profound system of understanding the cosmos and its influence on human life, employs a unique method of dividing the celestial sphere. This intricate division into Rashis, Nakshatras, and Charans forms the foundational framework for astrological analysis. Let’s delve into the details of this celestial map.

The Zodiac in Vedic Astrology: Rashis

The zodiac, a band of constellations through which the Sun appears to move over a year, is central to Vedic astrology. This celestial belt is divided into twelve equal parts, known as Rashis or Zodiac Signs.

Each Rashi is associated with specific qualities, elements, and planetary influences. For instance, Aries is a fiery, impulsive sign ruled by Mars, while Taurus is grounded, sensual, and governed by Venus. These characteristics provide insights into an individual’s personality and life tendencies.

Number	Hindi Name	English Equivalent	Ruling Planet	Element	Key Qualities
1	मेष (Mesh)	Aries	Mars	Fire	Energetic, adventurous, bold, and competitive.
2	वृष (Vrish)	Taurus	Venus	Earth	Stable, practical, patient, and indulgent.
3	मिथुन (Mithun)	Gemini	Mercury	Air	Curious, communicative, adaptable, and witty.
4	कर्क (Kark)	Cancer	Moon	Water	Emotional, nurturing, protective, and intuitive.
5	सिंह (Singh)	Leo	Sun	Fire	Confident, charismatic, creative, and loyal.
6	कन्या (Kanya)	Virgo	Mercury	Earth	Analytical, meticulous, organized, and reliable.
7	तुला (Tula)	Libra	Venus	Air	Diplomatic, social, balanced, and charming.
8	वृश्चिक (Vrischik)	Scorpio	Mars	Water	Intense, determined, secretive, and passionate.
9	धनु (Dhanu)	Sagittarius	Jupiter	Fire	Optimistic, adventurous, philosophical, and free-spirited.
10	मकर (Makar)	Capricorn	Saturn	Earth	Disciplined, ambitious, responsible, and patient.
11	कुंभ (Kumbh)	Aquarius	Saturn	Air	Innovative, independent, humanitarian, and unconventional.
12	मीन (Meen)	Pisces	Jupiter	Water	Compassionate, artistic, intuitive, and dreamy.

Rashis: A Brief Overview

Aries (Mesh)

• Ruled by Mars
• Symbol: ♈
• Key Traits: Dynamic, Energetic, Trendsetters, Impulsive, Courageous, Independent, Dominating, Very Good Leaders, Commander-in-chief, Straightforward, Aggression comes and goes fast, regret later and ask for forgiveness, Clean Hearted, fearless, Faces challenges with boldness, Persistent & Hardworking, Independent, Freedom, Friendly leader, Generous, Lack of Patience, Very Impulsive Decisions, Strong Personality, Competitive Nature, Daredevils, Intelligent, Egoistic, Craves appreciation, Attention Seeker, trusts people blindly hence gets cheated often, Do not rely on other people’s opinions and rely on their own experience. Dislike Criticism, directions form others, Very Ambitious, Childlike Heart and Honest.
• Kaalpurush: 1st House
• Element: Fire
• Gender: Male
• Title: Movable
• Caste Kshatriya
• Guna: Rajas
• Color: Blood Red
• Exlaltation: Sun (10 degrees)
• Debilitation: Saturn (20 degrees)
• Direction: East
• Paad: Quadruped
• Time of strength: Day
• Rising: Prishtodaya
• Body parts: Head, Brain, Forehead
• Nakshatra: Ashwini, Bharani and Kritika
• Letters: chu, che, cho, la, li, lu, le, lo, A

Taurus (Vrishabha)

• Ruled by Venus
• Symbol: ♉︎
• Key Traits: High Potential, Sensual, Reliable, Patience, Stubborn, Life divided into 2 parts, life changing events, Financially good and Likes to accumulate wealth, Strong conviction on their own point of view, good orators/singers, Slow, Steady not impulsiive, don’t get angry so easily, when angry do not forgive easily and never trusts again. Loves Luxuries, laid back lifestyle, obese, love being at home and family orientated.
• Element: Earth
• Gender: Female
• Title: Fixed
• Caste Vaishya
• Guna: Tama
• Color: White
• Symbol: Bull
• Exlaltation: Moon (3 degrees)
• Debilitation: None
• Qualities: Fixed, Feminine
• Direction: South
• Time of Strenght:
• Body Parts:Eyes, tongue, Neck
• Rising: Prishtodaya
• Paad: Quaruped
• Nakshatra: Kritika, Rohini & Mrigshira
• Letters: E, U, Ae, Ao, Va, Vi, Vu, Ve, Vo.

Gemini (Mithun)

• Ruled by Mercury
• Symbol: ♊ 
• Qualities: Mutable, Masculine
• Lord of Sign: Mercury
• Element: Airy
• Gender: Male
• Title: Dual
• Caste: Shudra
• Guna: Satvik
• Colour: Green
• Exaltation: No
• Debilitation: No
• Direction: West
• Paad: Biped
• Time of strength: Night
• Rising: Shirshodaya
• Body parts: Hands, shoulders, and arms
• Nakshatra: Mrigashira, Ardra, Punarvasu
• Adobe: Town, garden, bedroom
• Letters: Ka, Ki, Ku, Gha, Chha, Ke, Ko, Ha
• Key Traits: Communicative, intelligent, adaptable, restless,
• Needs a partner or companion, good sense of humor, talkative, intelligent but struggles to properly channel energy, versatile but a jack of all trades, master of none, often confused and needs a mentor, attracted to the opposite gender, not reliable, finds shortcuts, mixes easily with others, gets bored easily, has a low attention span and often switches subjects, mischievous but has good grasping power and is curious, appears young, lacks patience and persistence, can multitask, gets bored by routine tasks easily, has good convincing power, excels in sales/marketing and dealing with people, usually does not sleep well as they are highly imaginative and often lost in their own world.

Cancer (Kark)

• Lord of Sign: Moon
• Symbol: ♋︎
• Element: Water
• Gender: Female
• Title: Movable
• Caste: Brahmin
• Guna: Rajas
• Color: White, Pink
• Exaltation: Jupiter (4°)
• Debilitation: None
• Direction: North
• Paad: Jalchar
• Time of strength: Night
• Rising: Back
• Body parts: Chest, Breasts
• Nakshatras: Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha
• Letters: Hi, Hu, He, Ho, Da, Di, Du, De, Do
• Key Traits: Emotional, imaginative, mood swings, caring motherly nature, instability, inconsistency (lack of discipline), can hide feelings then tell everything to everybody and regret, good and sound sleep, true emotions and compassionate nature (clear water), gets hurt easily and goes into hiding when hurt, tendency to be obese, perfect homemakers who love cooking and caring for others, loves staying at home, has emotional bonds with things/people and doesn’t give up easily (like a crab), generous and kind nature, loves comforts, cough and cold prone, dislikes being alone and enjoys socializing, loves traveling and changes, has maternal instincts, likes feeding other people, frugal in spending money, good at accumulation, attached to their mother, Nurturing, emotional, protective, moody

Leo (Simha)

• Ruled by Sun
• Element: Fire
• Symbol: ♌︎
• Qualities: Fixed, Masculine
• Gender: male
• Title: Fixed
• Caste: Kshatriya
• Guna: Satvik,
• Colour: Pale White
• Exaltation: None
• Debiliation: None
• Direction: East
• Paad: Quadruped
• Time of Strength: Day
• Body Parts: Stomach, Chest Spine
• Nakshatra: Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttar Phalguni
• Letters: M, Mi, Mu, Me, Mo, Ta, ti, Tu, Tc
• Key Traits: Regal appearance, Royal nature, Born leaders, Confident, creative, generous, proud, stay calm but can stay angry for a long time once upset, like solitude, don’t like working under someone, can not take orders, have their own terms and conditions, they are generous leaders, Unique and not follow crowd, they are ambitious, value prestige over money, bossy nature, they good leaders, Responsible and Graceful, Fixed Anger, But not Revengeful, Few yet Loyal Friendship, Small Talks do not appreciate, Strict Parents, Classy, prefer quality over quantity, Brave , Risk takers, Prone to Flattery, Help other but find it difficult to take help or advice from others, they have high self-respect and ego.

Virgo (Kanya)

• Ruled by Mercury
• Symbol: ♍︎
• Element: Earth
• Gender: Feminine
• Title: Dual
• Caste: Vaishya,
• Guna: Sttva
• Colour: Multi Coloured
• Exaltation:  Mercury (15 degrees)
• Debiliation: Venus (27 degrees)
• Direction: South
• Paad: Biped
• Rising: Sheeshodaya
• Time of Strength: Day
• Body Parts: Stomach, Abdomen
• Nakshatra: Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra
• Letters: To, P, Pi, Pu, Sh, Thh, Pe, Po
• Kaalpurush: 6th house routine, service, perfectionist
• Qualities: Mutable (associated with adaptability, flexibility, and change.)
• Key Traits: Accumulate Knowledge, Analytical power, Scholar, love Reading, Passion for Learning, Overthinking before taking decisions, Extremely organized, pay attention to details, goes indepth, Polite & Sweet Nature, practical, helpful, critical, perfectionists, Workaholics, Always worried about something, Good problem solvers for others as well with helping attitude, good at finding faults, Criticism, Adaptable, Empathetic, Very good Orators, Selfish nature, Practical and make calculative moves, excellent communication skills, and influence people with good convincing power, artistic inclination,

Libra (Tula)

• Lord of Sign: Venus
• Element: Airy
• Gender: Male
• Title: Movable
• Caste: Shudra
• Guna: Rajas
• Colour: Black
• Exaltation: Saturn (20°)
• Debilitation: Sun (10°)
• Direction: West
• Paad: Biped
• Time of strength: Day
• Rising: Seershodaya
• Body parts: Internal reproductive organs, region below navel
• Nakshatras: Chitra, Swati, Vishakha
• Letters: Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro, Taa, Ti, Tu, Te
• Key Traits:
• Key Traits: Diplomatic, harmonious, indecisive, charming,
• Love peace and harmony, good at seeing both sides of a coin, intelligent and have practical knowledge, artistic and respect beauty, very good in communication with others, love traveling and enjoy their life at the fullest, spendthrifts and like classy lifestyle, get attention of opposite gender, good with public relations and have business mindset, doesn’t take instant decisions, good at strategy making and planning, good mediators/diplomats, respect knowledgeable people and knowledge, search for a balance between personal and professional life.

Scorpio (Vrishchik)

• Lord of Sign: Mars
• Element: Water
• Gender: Female
• Title: Fixed
• Caste: Brahmin
• Guna: Tamas
• Color: Bronze
• Exaltation: None
• Debilitation: Moon (3°)
• Direction: North
• Paad: Quadruped
• Time of strength: Day
• Rising: Sheeshodaya
• Body parts: Reproductive organs, Urinary organs
• Nakshatra: Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshta
• Letters: To, N, Ni, Nu, Ne, Yo, Ya, Yi, Yu
• 4
• Element: Water
• Qualities: Fixed, Feminine
• Key Traits: Intense, passionate, mysterious, jealous, Love secrecy, very hard to figure out what’s running inside their head, good researchers, love extremes, stubborn, straightforward, hate flattery, stable emotions: can’t forget things easily, jealousy/competitive nature and revengeful tendency, have higher chances of going on the wrong path, Scorpio doesn’t attack from the front but attacks from the back, good at destructive tasks, have an inclination towards the occult, passionate and hardworking, have faith in themselves, they get aggressive quickly, advice: to express their feelings with others.

Sagittarius (Dhanu)

• Lord of Sign: Jupiter
• Element: Fire
• Gender: Male
• Title: Dual
• Caste: Kshetriya
• Guna: Satvik
• Colour: Golden
• Exaltation: None
• Debilitation: None
• Direction: East
• Paad: Biped (first half), Quadruped (second half)
• Time of strength: Night
• Rising: Prishtodaya
• Body parts: Thighs, Hip bone
• Nakshatra: Moola, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha
• Letters: Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi, Bhu, Dha, Pha(F), Bhe
• Qualities: Mutable, Masculine
• Key Traits: Optimistic, adventurous, philosophical, restless, Ethical, truthful, and honest, can justify their anger, knowledgeable and focused, very straightforward, blunt speech, good intentions but bad at delivery, big-hearted, helping and compassionate personality, confident, determined, and fight for their rights, good counselors and guides, don’t like taking help, demands respect from society and loves the limelight, religious, can’t stand false accusations, risk takers and think after doing, can’t keep secrets and are very bad liars, can’t understand that they’re wrong, responsible.

Capricorn (Makar)

• Ruled by Saturn
• Element: Earth
• Symbol: ♋︎
• Qualities: Cardinal, Feminine
• Key Traits: Ambitious, disciplined, patient, reserved, Slow and steady, constant hard work, humble and grounded, serious in work, good followers, generally avoid fights, adaptable, practical, mind their own business, duty and responsibility, spend very wisely and save for future needs, good listeners, anti-social and like their own company, pessimistic, very career conscious and should remain working after retirement.

Aquarius (Kumbh)

• Ruled by Saturn and Uranus
• Element: Air
• Qualities: Fixed, Masculine
• Key Traits: Independent, innovative, humanitarian, detached

Pisces (Meen)

• Ruled by Jupiter and Neptune
• Element: Water
• Qualities: Mutable, Feminine
• Key Traits: Compassionate, imaginative, intuitive, escapist

Note: These are general traits and individual variations may occur based on other planetary placements in the birth chart.

Nakshatras: Lunar Mansions

Within the twelve Rashis, Vedic astrology further divides the celestial sphere into 27 Nakshatras, or lunar mansions. Each Nakshatra spans approximately 13 degrees and 20 minutes.

Number	Name	Deity	Ruling Planet
1	Ashwini	Ashwini Kumaras	Ketu
2	Bharani	Yama	Venus
3	Krittika	Agni	Sun
4	Rohini	Brahma	Moon
5	Mrigashira	Soma	Mars
6	Ardra	Rudra	Rahu
7	Punarvasu	Aditi	Jupiter
8	Pushya	Brihaspati	Saturn
9	Ashlesha	Naga	Mercury
10	Magha	Pitra	Ketu
11	Purva Phalguni	Aryama	Venus
12	Uttara Phalguni	Bhaga	Sun
13	Hasta	Savitr	Moon
14	Chitra	Tvashtri	Mars
15	Swati	Vayu	Mercury
16	Vishakha	Indra & Agni	Jupiter
17	Anuradha	Mitra	Saturn
18	Jyeshta	Rudra	Mars
19	Mula	Nirriti	Ketu
20	Purva Ashadha	Apas	Venus
21	Uttara Ashadha	Vasava	Sun
22	Shravana	Vishnu	Moon
23	Dhanishtha	Vasu	Mars
24	Shatabhisha	Varuna	Mercury
25	Purva Bhadrapada	Ahirbudhnya	Jupiter
26	Uttara Bhadrapada	Aja Ekapad	Saturn
27	Revati	Pushan	Mercury

Nakshatras are considered more potent than Rashis in determining individual characteristics and life events. Each Nakshatra is associated with a specific deity, ruling planet, and symbol, providing deeper insights into an individual’s nature and destiny.

Nakshatras: The Lunar Mansions of Vedic Astrology

Nakshatras, the lunar mansions, are considered the building blocks of Vedic astrology. They provide a more nuanced understanding of an individual’s personality, potential, and life path compared to the Rashis. Let’s explore each Nakshatra in detail.

Note: While this overview provides essential information, a comprehensive analysis of each Nakshatra would require a significantly longer format. This response aims to provide a foundational understanding.

Ashwini (1st Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Ketu
• Associated with new beginnings, energy, and vitality.
• Individuals born under Ashwini are often pioneers and possess strong willpower.
• Physical characteristics: Often tall, athletic build with bright eyes.

Bharani (2nd Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Venus
• Associated with transformation, change, and adaptability.
• Individuals born under Bharani are often resourceful and can handle challenges.
• Physical characteristics: Medium height, attractive features, and pleasant voice.

Krittika (3rd Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Sun
• Associated with leadership, creativity, and ambition.
• Individuals born under Krittika possess strong personalities and can be influential.
• Physical characteristics: Tall, strong build, sharp features, and piercing eyes.

Rohini (4th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Moon
• Associated with nurturing, comfort, and prosperity.
• Individuals born under Rohini are often caring, compassionate, and enjoy the finer things in life.
• Physical characteristics: Attractive, rounded features, and a pleasant demeanor.

Mrigashira (5th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Mars
• Associated with energy, passion, and determination.
• Individuals born under Mrigashira are often courageous, independent, and competitive.
• Physical characteristics: Tall, athletic build, sharp features, and intense eyes.

Ardra (6th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Rahu
• Associated with transformation, challenges, and spiritual growth.
• Individuals born under Ardra often experience intense emotions and can be mysterious.
• Physical characteristics: Tall, lean build, piercing eyes, and magnetic personality.

Punarvasu (7th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Jupiter
• Associated with wisdom, knowledge, and spirituality.
• Individuals born under Punarvasu are often philosophical, optimistic, and have a strong sense of justice.
• Physical characteristics: Tall, well-proportioned body, intelligent eyes, and a pleasant smile.

Pushya (8th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Saturn
• Associated with nurturing, abundance, and stability.
• Individuals born under Pushya are often caring, practical, and have a strong work ethic.
• Physical characteristics: Medium build, round face, and a calm demeanor.

Ashlesha (9th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Mercury
• Associated with intelligence, communication, and adaptability.
• Individuals born under Ashlesha are often quick-witted, resourceful, and have a sharp mind.
• Physical characteristics: Medium build, sharp features, and expressive eyes.

Magha (10th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Ketu
• Associated with leadership, authority, and power.
• Individuals born under Magha often possess strong leadership qualities and can be influential.
• Physical characteristics: Tall, commanding presence, strong features, and a magnetic personality.

Purva Phalguni (11th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Venus
• Associated with love, beauty, and social grace.
• Individuals born under Purva Phalguni are often charming, popular, and enjoy the finer things in life.
• Physical characteristics: Attractive, well-proportioned body, and a pleasant smile.

Uttara Phalguni (12th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Sun
• Associated with creativity, confidence, and ambition.
• Individuals born under Uttara Phalguni often possess strong creative abilities and can be successful in their careers.
• Physical characteristics: Tall, strong build, charismatic personality, and a confident demeanor.

Hasta (13th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Moon
• Associated with skill, craftsmanship, and precision.
• Individuals born under Hasta are often talented, versatile, and have a keen mind.
• Physical characteristics: Slender build, sharp features, and expressive hands.

Chitra (14th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Mars
• Associated with creativity, artistry, and individuality.
• Individuals born under Chitra are often unique, charismatic, and have a strong sense of self.
• Physical characteristics: Attractive, magnetic personality, and piercing eyes.

Swati (15th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Mercury
• Associated with communication, intelligence, and adaptability.
• Individuals born under Swati are often quick-witted, versatile, and have a strong desire for knowledge.
• Physical characteristics: Slender build, sharp features, and expressive eyes.

Vishakha (16th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Jupiter
• Associated with balance, harmony, and social skills.
• Individuals born under Vishakha are often diplomatic, fair-minded, and have a strong sense of justice.
• Physical characteristics: Strong build, attractive features, and a pleasant demeanor.

Anuradha (17th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Saturn
• Associated with responsibility, discipline, and stability.
• Individuals born under Anuradha are often reliable, hardworking, and have a strong sense of duty.
• Physical characteristics: Strong build, determined look, and a practical approach.

Jyeshta (18th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Mars
• Associated with transformation, intensity, and power.
• Individuals born under Jyeshta often possess strong leadership qualities and can be influential.
• Physical characteristics: Strong build, piercing eyes, and a magnetic personality.

Mula (19th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Ketu
• Associated with transformation, detachment, and spirituality.
• Individuals born under Mula often have a deep spiritual inclination and can be mysterious.
• Physical characteristics: Lean build, intense eyes, and a magnetic personality.

Purva Ashadha (20th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Venus
• Associated with love, beauty, and social grace.
• Individuals born under Purva Ashadha are often charming, popular, and enjoy the finer things in life.
• Physical characteristics: Attractive, well-proportioned body, and a pleasant smile.

Uttara Ashadha (21st Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Sun
• Associated with leadership, ambition, and success.
• Individuals born under Uttara Ashadha often possess strong leadership qualities and can be successful in their careers.
• Physical characteristics: Tall, strong build, charismatic personality, and a confident demeanor.

Shravana (22nd Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Moon
• Associated with spirituality, intuition, and healing.
• Individuals born under Shravana often possess strong psychic abilities and a deep connection to the divine.
• Physical characteristics: Attractive, graceful, and a gentle demeanor.

Dhanishtha (23rd Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Mars
• Associated with music, art, and creativity.
• Individuals born under Dhanishtha often possess artistic talents and a love for beauty.
• Physical characteristics: Attractive, energetic, and a magnetic personality.

Shatabhisha (24th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Mercury
• Associated with research, analysis, and healing.
• Individuals born under Shatabhisha often possess a keen intellect and a desire to understand the world.
• Physical characteristics: Slender build, sharp features, and a curious mind.

Purva Bhadrapada (25th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Jupiter
• Associated with spirituality, philosophy, and wisdom.
• Individuals born under Purva Bhadrapada often have a deep spiritual inclination and a love for learning.
• Physical characteristics: Tall, dignified, and a philosophical outlook.

Uttara Bhadrapada (26th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Saturn
• Associated with detachment, spirituality, and transformation.
• Individuals born under Uttara Bhadrapada often have a strong sense of purpose and can be pioneers.
• Physical characteristics: Tall, lean build, intense eyes, and a determined look.

Revati (27th Nakshatra)

• Ruled by Mercury
• Associated with dreams, imagination, and creativity.
• Individuals born under Revati often have a vivid imagination and a love for beauty.
• Physical characteristics: Attractive, charming, and a dreamy personality.

This overview provides a glimpse into the complex and fascinating world of Nakshatras. It’s essential to remember that these are general characteristics, and the actual manifestation of these traits depends on the interplay of various planetary influences in an individual’s birth chart. A comprehensive astrological analysis considers the position of planets in Rashis, Nakshatras, and houses to provide a holistic understanding of an individual’s personality and potential.

Charans: Quarters of a Nakshatra

To further refine the analysis, each Nakshatra is divided into four equal parts called Charans. While not as prominently used as Rashis and Nakshatras, Charans offer an additional layer of precision in astrological interpretations.

Conclusion

The division of the celestial sphere into Rashis, Nakshatras, and Charans is a cornerstone of Vedic astrology. By understanding these divisions and their associated qualities, astrologers can construct a comprehensive astrological profile of an individual. This knowledge serves as a foundation for various predictive techniques and remedial measures in Vedic astrology.