Same sky. Different zodiac.
Your Vedic Moon sign shows where the Moon sat in the sidereal zodiac when you were born. Everything is calculated in your browser, with no birth data sent or stored.
Atmakaraka · SunMoon in Dhanishta, pada 4
Your Vedic chart
In Vedic astrology your Moon sign is called your rashi: the sidereal sign the Moon occupied at your birth. Because the sidereal zodiac is aligned with the fixed stars instead of the seasons, your rashi is often different from your Western Moon sign. In our test of 4,000 random moments from 1950 to 2010, it differed on 78.4% of them.
The gap between the Western and the sidereal zodiac is the ayanamsa, and this calculator uses the Lahiri ayanamsa, which is 24°14′ in October 2026. If your Western Moon sits in the first 24° of a sign, it's usually in the previous sign in the sidereal zodiac. In our example chart for March 14, 1991, at 4:18 AM in Chicago, a Western Moon at 0°04′ Pisces becomes 6°20′ Aquarius.
Jyotish, the traditional name of Vedic astrology, reads the Moon sign as the indicator of your mind and feelings. While Western readings often start with the Sun, Jyotish looks first at how the Moon filters your daily experience. Tradition links the rashi with your emotional habits, memory, and what helps you feel settled.
Charts are also read from the Moon as a second starting point, called Chandra lagna. The sign holding the Moon counts as the first house, and the other signs follow in order. Many readings look at a chart both from the lagna and from the Moon.
The lagna is your rising sign, the sign on the eastern horizon at your birth. The lagna and the rashi answer different questions. The lagna sets the twelve whole-sign houses and shows how you meet the world, while the rashi describes the mind. The tradition uses both rather than choosing one.
The two placements also differ in whether they need a clock time. Because the lagna changes about every two hours on average, it needs an exact birth time and city. The Moon moves much more slowly through a sign, so finding your rashi usually doesn't need an exact birth time.
Within the twelve signs, the Moon also sits in one of 27 nakshatras, which are lunar segments of 13°20′ each. Each nakshatra is divided into four padas, which are quarters of 3°20′ each. The Moon moves about 13° a day, so its nakshatra changes about once a day. The site shows your Moon's nakshatra and pada in the result, such as Dhanishta nakshatra, pada 4 in our Chicago example chart.
The Moon changes sign about every two and a half days. On 43.3% of dates in our test of 4,000 random moments, the Moon changed sign during the day. On the remaining dates in the sample, the Moon stayed in one sign for the entire day.
If you don't know your birth time, the site shows no lagna and no houses, and lists what stays the same all day. When the Moon stayed in a single sign on your date, you'll see that rashi right away. When the Moon changed sign during the day, the site shows both signs with the time of the change.
| Sign | Sanskrit name | Ruler | The Moon here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Mesha | Mars | Quick feelings that clear up fast |
| Taurus | Vrishabha | Venus | Grounded feelings that settle through familiarity |
| Gemini | Mithuna | Mercury | Lively mind comforted by conversation |
| Cancer | Karka | Moon | Deeply nurturing feelings rooted in belonging |
| Leo | Simha | Sun | Generous feelings anchored by mutual respect |
| Virgo | Kanya | Mercury | Careful mind comforted by practical order |
| Libra | Tula | Venus | Balanced mind comforted by shared harmony |
| Scorpio | Vrishchika | Mars | Private feelings with rare emotional depth |
| Sagittarius | Dhanu | Jupiter | Candid mind comforted by broad horizons |
| Capricorn | Makara | Saturn | Measured feelings comforted by clear responsibility |
| Aquarius | Kumbha | Saturn | Detached mind comforted by honest friendship |
| Pisces | Meena | Jupiter | Imaginative mind comforted by quiet refuge |
Quick feelings that clear up fast
Having the Moon in Mars's sign of Aries points to an active mind and immediate feelings. You're comforted by movement and honest action rather than sitting around talking through every mood. Brisk exercise or a short walk often helps you reset when impatience starts to build.
Grounded feelings that settle through familiarity
In Taurus, the Moon is exalted, which tradition links with a steady mind and lasting emotional calm. Your feelings develop slowly, and you find comfort in good food, art, and familiar surroundings. When you're reluctant to let go of an old habit, try changing one small piece.
Lively mind comforted by conversation
Placing the Moon in Gemini links your emotional life with Mercury's love of learning and speech. Your mind moves quickly across topics, and you're comforted by books, conversation, and fresh ideas. Writing down what you feel can quiet your thoughts when talking only adds more noise.
Deeply nurturing feelings rooted in belonging
Because Cancer is the Moon's own sign, tradition reads this placement as emotionally receptive and nurturing. Your mind holds on to memories closely, and comfort comes from home and trusted closeness. It's helpful to ask directly for support instead of assuming others already sense your mood.
Generous feelings anchored by mutual respect
When the Moon sits in the Sun's sign of Leo, feelings tend to be warm and proud. Your mind values loyalty and integrity, and you're comforted by spaces where effort is appreciated. Letting close friends see when you're tired or uncertain can actually deepen the trust between you.
Careful mind comforted by practical order
A Virgo Moon brings Mercury's analytical streak to the way your mind processes daily feelings. You often show care through practical help, and you're comforted by clean spaces and clear plans. Noticing when a feeling simply needs acceptance rather than fixing can ease unnecessary mental strain.
Balanced mind comforted by shared harmony
Libra is ruled by Venus, and the Moon here inclines your mind toward fairness and peace. Unspoken tension bothers you quickly, while beauty, art, and thoughtful conversation bring you real comfort. You may feel steadier if you state your own preference before asking what everyone else wants.
Private feelings with rare emotional depth
Scorpio is the sign where the Moon is debilitated, making it less at ease with casual exchanges. Your feelings run deep and stay private, and you find comfort where trust runs deep. Sharing a small concern early can keep your mind from carrying heavy feelings alone.
Candid mind comforted by broad horizons
Jupiter's influence on a Sagittarius Moon gives the mind an honest and philosophical bent. Your feelings lift when you're learning something new, and comfort comes from open space and candor. Sitting with a difficult mood for a moment before looking for the silver lining helps.
Measured feelings comforted by clear responsibility
In Saturn's sign of Capricorn, the Moon inclines the mind toward steadiness and practical composure. You tend to treat feelings privately, and you're comforted by competence, clear duties, and earned respect. Allowing yourself rest without having to earn it first can soften a demanding inner standard.
Detached mind comforted by honest friendship
Saturn governs Aquarius, where the Moon often reads as observant and objective in mood. You'll often step back to think through feelings, finding comfort in kindred friends and mental room. When someone close wants emotional reassurance, naming what you feel before explaining why goes far.
Imaginative mind comforted by quiet refuge
Resting in Jupiter's sign of Pisces, the Moon brings an imaginative mind and permeable feelings. You easily absorb what others feel, and comfort comes from solitude, music, and unhurried reflection. It's worth checking whether a heavy mood is really yours or picked up from nearby.
In Jyotish the rashi carries central weight, alongside the lagna, for temperament and emotional habits. The Sun is still read closely as part of the full chart. It's less a ranking than a different starting point from Western astrology.
Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac measured from the spring equinox, while Jyotish uses the sidereal zodiac measured from the fixed stars. The two zodiacs are separated by the ayanamsa, which was 23°09′ on January 1, 1950, and is 24°14′ in October 2026. Because of that gap, the Vedic Moon sign differed from the Western one on 78.4% of the moments in our test.
Usually you can, because the Moon spends about two and a half days in each sign. In our test, the Moon changed sign during the day on 43.3% of dates and changed nakshatra on 95.9% of dates. When a change happens on your birth date, the site shows both signs and the exact minute of the shift.
Each of the twelve signs has a traditional Sanskrit name, and the table on this page lists them. For example, Aries is Mesha and Taurus is Vrishabha.