Zodiac Signs and Dates: The Complete Guide to All 12 Horoscope Signs

There are 12 zodiac signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. In Western astrology, Aries starts around 21 March. In Vedic astrology, which follows the stars, every sign starts about 24 days later. Aries begins around 14 April.

"What's my zodiac sign?" is one of the first things people ask about astrology. It sounds easy. Just check your birthday, right? But there's a twist most websites skip. There are two zodiacs, and in India, your "sign" often means something different from what a Western horoscope column means.

This guide covers all 12 zodiac signs with both Western and Vedic dates. You'll also find their elements, qualities, ruling planets and main traits, a month-by-month lookup, what cusps really are, and how your Sun, Moon and rising signs differ.

The 12 Zodiac Signs at a Glance

Dates can shift by a day or so from year to year. Western astrology also gives three signs a modern co-ruler: Pluto for Scorpio, Uranus for Aquarius and Neptune for Pisces. Vedic astrology sticks to the traditional rulers only.

Look at the Vedic start date for Capricorn: 14 January. That's Makar Sankranti, the day the Sun enters Capricorn in the Vedic zodiac. It's one of the few Indian festivals that follows the solar calendar. It's also a simple, everyday proof that the Vedic zodiac runs on different dates.

Why Are There Two Sets of Zodiac Dates?

The zodiac is a band of sky that the Sun, Moon and planets seem to travel through. It's split into 12 equal parts of 30 degrees each. The big question is: where do you start counting?

The tropical zodiac (Western) starts Aries at the spring equinox, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator around 21 March. It follows the seasons.

The sidereal zodiac (Vedic) starts Aries at a fixed point among the stars. It follows the real constellations.

Two thousand years ago, these two starting points were almost the same. But the Earth's axis wobbles very slowly, and this wobble is called precession. It moves the equinox backward against the stars by about one degree every 72 years. Today the gap between the two systems is about 24 degrees. This gap is called the ayanamsa. It's the reason most people's Vedic Sun sign is one sign earlier than their Western one.

Neither system is "wrong". They simply answer different questions. The tropical zodiac tracks the seasons. The sidereal zodiac tracks the stars. Vedaz uses the sidereal zodiac with the Lahiri ayanamsa, which is the official standard in India.

Your Three Key Signs: Sun, Moon and Rising

When people say "my sign", they could mean one of three things.

Sun sign: The sign the Sun was in when you were born. You can find it from your birthday alone. Most Western horoscopes use it, and so do the date tables in this guide.

Moon sign (rashi): The sign the Moon was in when you were born. The Moon changes sign every 2 to 3 days, so you need your birth date, and ideally your birth time, to find it. In Indian astrology, "rashi" means your Moon sign. Daily rashifal is written for Moon signs.

Rising sign (lagna or Ascendant): The sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the moment you were born. It changes about every two hours, so you need an exact birth time. Many astrologers see it as the most personal of the three.

Together, these are often called your Big Three. You can find all three for free by entering your birth details in the Vedaz kundli calculator.

Elements and Qualities: The Hidden Pattern of the Zodiac

Every sign has one of four elements and one of three qualities. This pattern explains a lot about how signs behave and how they get along.

The four elements

The three qualities

Signs with the same element usually understand each other easily. Fire and air feed each other. Earth and water support each other.

The 12 Zodiac Signs Explained

♈ Aries (Mesh): The Pioneer

Fire · Cardinal · Mars. Aries is the first sign, and it acts like it. Aries people are bold, direct, competitive and quick to get started. They love a challenge and hate waiting. Their growth area is patience and finishing what they begin. In Vedic astrology, the Sun is at its strongest (exalted) in Aries, a sign of energy and leadership.

♉ Taurus (Vrishabh): The Builder

Earth · Fixed · Venus. Taurus values security, comfort and beauty. They are steady, loyal and sensual. They build slowly and hold on to what they build. Taurus enjoys good food, music and time in nature. Their growth area is being flexible when change is needed. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, which makes it an emotionally steady sign in Vedic astrology.

♊ Gemini (Mithun): The Communicator

Air · Mutable · Mercury. Gemini is curious, witty and versatile. They love collecting information and connecting people. They do well in conversation, writing, media and trade. Their growth area is depth and follow-through. The twin symbol reflects their ability to see both sides of any question.

♋ Cancer (Kark): The Nurturer

Water · Cardinal · Moon. Cancer is protective, intuitive and deeply attached to home and family. Behind the hard shell is a very sensitive heart. Cancer remembers everything and cares fiercely. Their growth area is letting go of the past and setting boundaries. Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, which means wisdom shown through care.

♌ Leo (Simha): The Leader

Fire · Fixed · Sun. Leo is warm, generous, creative and born to be seen. Leos lead with heart and loyalty, and they love to celebrate other people. Their growth area is sharing the spotlight and taking criticism with grace. Since this is the Sun's own sign, Leo is known as the sign of the king.

♍ Virgo (Kanya): The Analyst

Earth · Mutable · Mercury. Virgo notices the small details others miss. They are practical, helpful and precise, and they are great at improving systems and serving others. Their growth area is self-criticism and perfectionism. Mercury is exalted in Virgo, which gives sharp, clear thinking.

♎ Libra (Tula): The Diplomat

Air · Cardinal · Venus. Libra looks for balance, fairness and harmony. Libras are charming and social, natural peacemakers with an eye for beauty. Their growth area is making decisions. Saturn is exalted in Libra, a sign of justice and fair dealing. Read more in our Tula rashi guide.

♏ Scorpio (Vrishchik): The Transformer

Water · Fixed · Mars. Scorpio is intense, loyal, private and sharp at reading people. They go deep into everything they do. They stay strong in a crisis and can completely reinvent themselves. Their growth area is trust and letting go. Explore more in our Scorpio astrology guide.

♐ Sagittarius (Dhanu): The Seeker

Fire · Mutable · Jupiter. Sagittarius is hopeful, thoughtful and loves adventure. They are always searching for meaning, whether through travel, study or faith. They are honest, sometimes to the point of being blunt. Their growth area is tact and commitment. In Vedic astrology, Dhanu is linked with teachers and dharma.

♑ Capricorn (Makar): The Achiever

Earth · Cardinal · Saturn. Capricorn is ambitious, disciplined and responsible. They climb steadily toward long-term goals. They are reliable and practical, and often seem wise beyond their years. Their growth area is rest and opening up emotionally. Mars is exalted in Capricorn, which means strong energy guided by discipline.

♒ Aquarius (Kumbh): The Visionary

Air · Fixed · Saturn. Aquarius is independent, inventive and cares about people as a whole. They think about the future and the bigger picture. They make loyal friends and have original minds. Their growth area is emotional closeness. See our Kumbh rashi guide.

♓ Pisces (Meen): The Dreamer

Water · Mutable · Jupiter. Pisces is kind, imaginative and spiritual. They feel everything and soak up the moods of people around them. They are artistic and intuitive. Their growth area is boundaries and practical thinking. Venus is exalted in Pisces, which stands for love in its most selfless form.

Zodiac Signs by Month (Western Dates)

Zodiac Signs by Month (Vedic Sun Dates)

Each Vedic date marks a Sankranti, the day the Sun moves into a new sign. Mesh Sankranti in mid-April is celebrated as the solar new year across much of India, as Baisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu, Pohela Boishakh and Bihu.

Zodiac Signs in Hindi and Indian Languages

What If You Were Born on a Cusp?

Say your birthday falls right between two signs, like 20 April or 22 November. You may see yourself called a "cusp" sign. But at any given moment, the Sun is in one sign or the other, never both. The exact time of the change shifts a little each year and depends on your time zone. To know for sure, you need your birth date, time and place. A free birth chart can work it out in seconds.

Some people born near a cusp do feel they have traits of both signs. This is often because other planets, like Mercury, Venus, the Moon or the Ascendant, sit in the neighbouring sign.

Zodiac Compatibility: A Quick Overview

Sign-level compatibility is a fun place to start:

• Same element: Usually an easy, natural understanding (for example, Aries and Leo, or Taurus and Virgo).
• Friendly elements: Fire with air, and earth with water, often energise or steady each other.
• Opposite signs: Aries and Libra, or Taurus and Scorpio, for example. They bring strong attraction and balance, along with lessons in compromise.
• Square signs (three signs apart): These can cause friction, but that friction can turn into growth.

For serious relationships, though, Vedic astrology looks well beyond Sun signs. It checks the Moon nakshatras, the 7th house, Venus and the full chart. Try kundli matching or explore pair readings on Vedaz compatibility.

The Bottom Line

The 12 zodiac signs are the alphabet of astrology. Knowing your Sun sign is a good start. But in the Vedic system, your Moon sign and rising sign tell a fuller story. And the sidereal dates explain why your "Indian sign" may be different from your Western one.

Find your real Sun, Moon and rising signs with a free birth chart. You can also read your daily horoscope or ask Vedaz what your Big Three say about you.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the 12 zodiac signs in order?

Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. In Vedic astrology they are Mesh, Vrishabh, Mithun, Kark, Simha, Kanya, Tula, Vrishchik, Dhanu, Makar, Kumbh and Meen.

2. How do I know my zodiac sign?

For a Western Sun sign, match your birthday to the tropical dates above. For a Vedic sign, use the sidereal dates. Even better, make a birth chart to find your Moon sign (rashi) and rising sign, which matter more in Indian astrology.

3. Why are Vedic zodiac dates different from Western dates?

Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is based on fixed stars. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, which is based on the seasons. Because of the Earth's slow wobble (precession), the two are now about 24 degrees apart. That moves the dates by about 24 days.

4. What is my rashi if I know my zodiac sign?

Not always the same. Your rashi is your Moon sign. It depends on where the Moon was at your birth, not on your Sun sign. You need your birth details to find it.

5. Which zodiac sign is the rarest?

It depends on birth patterns by month, and those differ from country to country. There is no sign that is the rarest everywhere. Some studies of birth data suggest that winter-month signs are slightly less common in certain countries.