Kumbha rashi in English is Aquarius, the eleventh sign of the zodiac. Kumbha means "pitcher" or "water pot" in Sanskrit, the same image as the Western water-bearer. This guide covers the meaning and symbol of Kumbh rashi, its lord and nakshatras, the traits linked with it, the name letters, and where Kumbh rashi stands in its Sade Sati right now.
Check if you're Kumbh rashi. Your rashi is your Moon sign. Enter your birth details in the free Kundli calculator and look at "Rashi" in the result. No sign-up.
Kumbha rashi at a glance
| English name | Aquarius |
| Hindi | कुंभ (Kumbh, Kumbha) |
| Symbol | ♒; in Indian tradition, a man carrying a water pot |
| Meaning | Pitcher, water pot |
| Number in the zodiac | 11 |
| Lord | Saturn (Shani); some modern astrologers add Rahu as co-lord |
| Element | Air |
| Nature | Fixed (sthira) |
| Nakshatras | Dhanishta (padas 3–4), Shatabhisha (all 4), Purva Bhadrapada (padas 1–3) |
| Name letters | Gu, Ge, Go, Sa, Si, Su, Se, So, Da |
| Saturn's moolatrikona | 0°–20° Kumbh |
| Day | Saturday |
Kumbh is one of Saturn's two signs, and its moolatrikona, the sign where Saturn acts most like itself. Here Saturn's discipline turns toward society: groups, systems and ideals, rather than Makar's personal ambition.
Kumbha rashi vs Aquarius zodiac
"My rashi is Kumbh" means the Moon was in Aquarius at birth, in the Vedic (sidereal) zodiac. A Western Aquarius has the Sun in Aquarius in the tropical zodiac. They're different:
- Western Aquarius (Sun): about 20 January – 18 February.
- Sun in Vedic Kumbh: about 13 February – 15 March.
- Kumbh rashi (Moon): any date. The Moon passes through Kumbh for about 2¼ days every month.
So a Western Pisces born on 1 March has the Sun in Vedic Kumbh, but their rashi could be any of the twelve signs. See Zodiac Signs by Birth Date.
Kumbha rashi nature and traits
With the Moon in Saturn's air sign, the mind is cool, principled and future-minded:
- Strengths: independent, inventive, fair-minded, loyal to friends and causes, good at seeing the big picture and how systems work. Shatabhisha, "a hundred healers", adds an interest in medicine, research and technology.
- Challenges: emotional distance, stubbornness (it's a fixed sign), a tendency to live in ideas rather than feelings, and difficulty asking for help.
- In relationships: needs friendship and freedom inside the relationship, and a partner who respects their space.
- At work: suits technology, science, research, engineering, social work, NGOs, networks and large organisations.
These are Moon-sign tendencies; the Lagna and the rest of the chart change them.
Kumbh rashi and Sade Sati: where it stands
Kumbh rashi has been in Sade Sati since January 2020, when Saturn entered Makar, the 12th from Kumbh. The phases:
| Phase | Saturn in | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Rising | Makar (12th from Moon) | January 2020 – April 2022, and again July 2022 – January 2023 |
| Peak | Kumbh (over the Moon) | April – July 2022, then January 2023 – March 2025 |
| Setting (now) | Meen (2nd from Moon) | March 2025 – 2 June 2027 |
| A break | Saturn in Aries | 3 June – 19 October 2027 |
| Setting, last stretch | Meen again | 20 October 2027 – 22 February 2028 |
| Sade Sati ends | Saturn enters Aries for good | 23 February 2028 |
The setting phase classically falls on money, family and speech (the 2nd house from the Moon). Full dates for every rashi are in Shani Gochar 2027 and the year ahead in Kumbh Rashifal 2027. Check your own phases, by your exact Moon degree, with the free Sade Sati calculator.
Kumbh as a house sign
Kumbh doesn't only matter as a rashi. Wherever Aquarius falls in your chart, Saturn rules that house. In the example chart used on this blog (12 August 1994, 6:40 am, Lucknow, not a real person), Kumbh is the 7th house, and Saturn sits there in its own sign. Saturn in its own sign in a kendra forms Shasha yoga, and it makes the person's approach to marriage and partnership serious, loyal and slow to commit. See Yoga in Kundli.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kumbha rashi in English? Aquarius. Kumbha means "pitcher" or "water pot" in Sanskrit, matching Aquarius's water-bearer.
Who is the lord of Kumbh rashi? Saturn (Shani). Some modern astrologers also treat Rahu as a co-ruler, but the classical lord is Saturn.
When will Kumbh rashi's Sade Sati end? On 23 February 2028, when Saturn enters Aries for good. There's also a break from 3 June to 19 October 2027.
Which name letters are for Kumbh rashi? Gu, Ge, Go, Sa, Si, Su, Se, So and Da.
Related reading: 12 Rashi Names in English and Hindi · Kumbh Rashifal 2027 · Shani Gochar 2027 · Check your Sade Sati with the free Sade Sati calculator
This article is for general information about Vedic astrology. It is not professional advice.