Zodiacal Rasis Described

1-2. Importance of Hora. The word Hora is derived from Ahoratr after dropping the first and last syllables. Thus Hora (Lagnas) remains in between Ahoratr (i.e. day and night) and after knowing Hora the good and bad effects of a native be known. Śrī Vishnu, the Invisible is Time personified. His limbs are the 12 Rāśis, commencing from Mesh.


3. Names of Rāśis. The 12 Rāśis of the zodiac in order are Mesh, Vrishabh, Mithun, Kark, Simh, Kanya, Tula, Vrischik, Dhanu, Makar, Kumbh and Meen.


4-4½. Limbs of Kaal Purush. Kaal Purush (or Time personified) has his limbs, as under with reference to the 12 Rāśis, respectively: Head, face, arms, heart, stomach, hip, space below navel, privities, thighs, knees, ankles and feet.


5-5½. Classification of Rāśis. Movable, Fixed and Dual are the names given to the 12 Rāśis in order. These are again known, as malefic and benefic, successively. Similarly are male and female. Mesh, Simh and Dhanu are bilious. Vrishabh, Kanya and Makar are windy. Mithun, Tula and Kumbh are mixed, while the rest are phlegmatic.


6-7. Mesh described. The Mesh is blood-red in complexion. lt has a prominent (big) physique. It is a quadruped Rāśi and strong during night. It denotes courage. It resides in the East and is related to kings. It wanders in hills and predominates in Rajo-Gun (the second of the three constituent qualities and the cause of great activity in living beings). It rises with its back (a Prishtodaya Rāśi) and is fiery. Its ruler is Mangal.


8. Vrishabh described. Vrishabh’s complexion is white and it is lorded by Śukr. It is long and is a quadruped Rāśi. It has strength in night and resides in the South. It represents villages and businessmen. An earthy Rāśi, Vrishabh rises with its back.


9-9½. Mithun described. The Rāśi Mithun rises with its head and represents a male and a female, holding a mace and lute. It lives in the West and is an airy Rāśi. It is a biped Rāśi as well and is strong in nights. It lives in villages and is windy in temperament. It has an even body with a green (grass like) hue. Its ruler is Budh.


10-11. Kark described. The Rāśi Kark is pale-red. It resorts to forests and represents Brahmins. It is strong in nights. It has many feet (i.e. it is a centipede Rāśi) and has a bulky body. It is Sattvic in disposition (seen in gods) and it is a watery Rāśi. It rises with its back and is ruled by Candr.


12. Simh described. Simh is ruled by Sūrya and is Sattvic. It is a quadruped Rāśi and a royal Rāśi. It resorts to forests and rises with its head. It has a large, white body. It resides in the East and is strong during daytime.


13-14. Kanya described. This Rāśi is a hill-resorter and is strong in daytime. It rises with its head and has a medium build. It is a biped Rāśi and resides in the South. It has grains and fire in its hands. It belongs to the business community and is variegated. It relates to hurricanes (‘Prabharanjani’). It is a Virgin and is Tamasic (a disposition of demons). Its ruler is Budh.


15-16½. Tula described. Tula is a Seershodaya Rāśi, rising with its head; Tula is strong in daytime. It is black in complexion and is predominant with Rajo-Gun. It relates to the western direction and resorts to land. It is destructive, or mischievous (‘Dhatin’). It represents Sudras, or the 4^th Varna. It has a medium build physique and is a biped Rāśi. Its Lord is Śukr. Vrischik described. Vrischik has a slender physique and is a centipede Rāśi. It denotes Brahmins and resides in holes. Its direction is North and it is strong in daytime. It is reddish-brown and resorts to water and land. It has a hairy physique and is very sharp (or passionate). Mangal is its ruler.


17-18½. Dhanu described. The Rāśi Dhanu rises with its head and is lorded by Guru. It is a Sattvic Rāśi and is tawny in hue. It has strength in night and is fiery. A royal Rāśi, Dhanu is biped in first half. Its second half is quadruped. It has an even build and adores an arch. It resides in the East, resorts to land and is splendourous.


19-20. Makar described. Makar is lorded by Śani and has predominance of Tamo-Gun (a disposition, seen in demons). It is an earthy Rāśi and represents the southern direction. It is strong in nights and rises with back. It has a large body. Its complexion is variegated and it resorts to both forests and lands. Its first half is quadruped and its second half footless, moving in water.


21-21½. Kumbh described. The Rāśi Kumbh represents a man holding a pot. Its complexion is deep-brown. It has medium build and is a biped Rāśi. It is very strong in daytime. It resorts to deep water and is airy. It rises with its head and is Tamasic. It rules Sudras, the 4^th Varna and the West. Its Lord is Śani, Sūrya’s offspring.


22-24. Meen described. Meen resembles a pair of fish, one tailed with the head of the other. This Rāśi is strong at night. It is a watery Rāśi and is predominant with Sattva-Gun. It denotes resoluteness and is a water-resorter. It is footless and has a medium build. It rules the North and rises with both head and back. It is ruled by Guru. This is how the twelve Rāśis, each of 30 degrees extent, are described to evaluate gross and specific effects.