Your zodiac sign by birth date is the sign the Sun was in when you were born. But there are two sets of dates, one used in Western astrology and one in Vedic (Indian) astrology, and they differ by about three weeks. This page lists all 12 zodiac signs by name with both sets of dates and their Hindi names, explains why the dates differ, and shows which sign Indian astrology actually uses for your rashi.
Find all your signs at once. The free Kundli calculator shows your Vedic Sun sign, your Moon sign (rashi) and your Lagna from your date, time and place of birth. No sign-up.
The 12 zodiac signs by name
| # | English | Hindi | Symbol | Lord | Element |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aries | Mesh | ♈ Ram | Mars | Fire |
| 2 | Taurus | Vrishabh | ♉ Bull | Venus | Earth |
| 3 | Gemini | Mithun | ♊ Twins | Mercury | Air |
| 4 | Cancer | Kark | ♋ Crab | Moon | Water |
| 5 | Leo | Singh | ♌ Lion | Sun | Fire |
| 6 | Virgo | Kanya | ♍ Maiden | Mercury | Earth |
| 7 | Libra | Tula | ♎ Scales | Venus | Air |
| 8 | Scorpio | Vrishchik | ♏ Scorpion | Mars | Water |
| 9 | Sagittarius | Dhanu | ♐ Archer | Jupiter | Fire |
| 10 | Capricorn | Makar | ♑ Sea-goat / crocodile | Saturn | Earth |
| 11 | Aquarius | Kumbh | ♒ Water-bearer | Saturn | Air |
| 12 | Pisces | Meen | ♓ Fish | Jupiter | Water |
More on the names and their meanings in 12 Rashi Names in English and Hindi.
Zodiac sign dates: Western and Vedic
| Sign | Western (tropical) dates | Vedic (sidereal) Sun dates |
|---|---|---|
| Aries (Mesh) | 21 March – 19 April | 14 April – 14 May |
| Taurus (Vrishabh) | 20 April – 20 May | 15 May – 15 June |
| Gemini (Mithun) | 21 May – 20 June | 15 June – 16 July |
| Cancer (Kark) | 21 June – 22 July | 16 July – 17 August |
| Leo (Singh) | 23 July – 22 August | 17 August – 17 September |
| Virgo (Kanya) | 23 August – 22 September | 17 September – 17 October |
| Libra (Tula) | 23 September – 22 October | 17 October – 16 November |
| Scorpio (Vrishchik) | 23 October – 21 November | 16 November – 16 December |
| Sagittarius (Dhanu) | 22 November – 21 December | 16 December – 14 January |
| Capricorn (Makar) | 22 December – 19 January | 14 January – 13 February |
| Aquarius (Kumbh) | 20 January – 18 February | 13 February – 15 March |
| Pisces (Meen) | 19 February – 20 March | 15 March – 14 April |
The Vedic dates are the 2026 sankranti dates for India; NavAstro's chart engine and Drik Panchang agree on them. The day the Sun changes sign, its sankranti, can move by a day from year to year, so if you were born on a date at the edge of a sign, check your chart. You'll recognise two of these dates: Makar Sankranti (mid-January) and Mesh Sankranti or Baisakhi (mid-April) are the days the Sun enters Capricorn and Aries in the Vedic zodiac.
Why the dates differ
Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, which starts Aries at the spring equinox (about 21 March) every year. Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is fixed to the stars.
Because the Earth's axis wobbles slowly (precession), the equinox drifts backwards against the stars by about 1° every 72 years. The two zodiacs lined up roughly 1,700 years ago; today they are about 24° apart. That gap is called the ayanamsa, and it's why the Vedic Sun dates run about 24 days later than the Western ones.
Neither is "wrong". They measure different things: the tropical zodiac follows the seasons, the sidereal follows the constellations.
Indian astrology uses your Moon sign, not your Sun sign
Here's the bigger difference. When an Indian astrologer or rashifal says "your sign", it usually means your rashi, the Moon sign, not the Sun sign. The Moon changes sign every 2¼ days, so your rashi can't be found from a table of dates; you need your birth time and place too.
A real example from NavAstro's calculator, for an example birth (not a real person): 12 August 1994, 6:40 am, Lucknow.
| Sign | |
|---|---|
| Western Sun sign (by date) | Leo |
| Vedic Sun sign | Cancer (Kark), the Sun at 25.4° |
| Moon sign, the rashi | Virgo (Kanya) |
| Lagna (rising sign) | Leo (Singh) |
So in Vedic astrology, this person reads the Kanya rashifal, not Singh. See Kanya Rashi in English and Find Your Moon Sign.
Frequently asked questions
What is my zodiac sign by date of birth? In Western astrology, look up your birth date in the "Western" column above. In Vedic astrology, use the "Vedic" column for your Sun sign, but note that Indian rashifals use your Moon sign, which needs a kundli.
Why is my sign different in Indian astrology? Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, about 24° behind the Western one, and it reads your Moon sign rather than your Sun sign.
Which zodiac sign is in April? Western: Aries until 19 April, then Taurus. Vedic: the Sun is in Pisces (Meen) until about 14 April, then Aries (Mesh).
Can I find my rashi from my birth date alone? Usually, but not always. The Moon spends about 2¼ days in each sign, so on days it changes sign you need the birth time.
Related reading: 12 Rashi Names in English and Hindi · Find Your Moon Sign · Rashifal 2027 · Find your signs in the free Kundli calculator
This article is for general information about Vedic astrology. It is not professional advice.