Rāśi
राशि
The Vedic zodiac sign system comprising twelve signs, each associated with specific initial syllables used to guide the naming of a newborn child.
The rāśi system divides the ecliptic into twelve equal segments of 30° each, calculated using the sidereal (star-based) system rather than the tropical (season-based) system. Each rāśi is assigned a group of phonetic syllables, and the child's rāśi is determined by the nakṣatra of the Moon at birth.
Rāśi and Naming Syllables
The twelve rāśis — Meṣa (Aries), Vṛṣabha (Taurus), Mithuna (Gemini), Karkaṭa (Cancer), Siṃha (Leo), Kanyā (Virgo), Tulā (Libra), Vṛścika (Scorpio), Dhanu (Sagittarius), Makara (Capricorn), Kumbha (Aquarius), and Mīna (Pisces) — each contain two or three nakṣatras. The naming syllables for each rāśi are derived from the combined syllable sets of its constituent nakṣatras.
Cultural Significance
The rāśi-based naming system serves a dual purpose: it creates a phonetic bond between the child and their astrological identity, and it allows anyone familiar with the system to infer a person's approximate birth period from their first name. In many Indian communities, particularly in Gujarat and Maharashtra, asking someone's rāśi is a common social practice. Matrimonial compatibility assessments also rely heavily on rāśi matching.