The Wheel of Astrological Syllables (Unknown) - Page 13

⚠The right side of the manuscript folio is significantly stained, which has caused minor ink bleeding and blurring in some areas.

Section 4

Now, the Zodiac Signs

original: "Atha Rāśayaḥ". In Sanskrit astrology, a Rashi is a 30-degree segment of the ecliptic, equivalent to the Western signs of the Zodiac.

1. Aries, 2. Taurus, 3. Gemini, 4. Cancer, 5. Leo, 6. Virgo, 7. Libra, 8. Scorpio, 9. Sagittarius, 10. Capricorn, 11. Aquarius, 12. Pisces.

The manuscript lists these using their Sanskrit names: 1. Mesha, 2. Vrisha, 3. Mithuna, 4. Karka, 5. Simha, 6. Kanya, 7. Tula, 8. Vrishchika, 9. Dhanu, 10. Makara, 11. Kumbha, 12. Meena.

Phonetic Syllables Associated with Each Sign

These syllables, known as 'Aksharas', are used to name a child. The syllable is determined by which 'quarter' of a lunar mansion the moon was in at the time of birth, which in turn falls into one of these twelve solar signs.

Syllables	Zodiac Sign (Rāśi)
Chu, Che, Cho, La, Li, Lu, Le, Lo, A	Mesha Aries. These syllables correspond to the Nakshatras Ashwini, Bharani, and the first quarter of Krittika.
I, U, E, O, Va, Vi, Bu, Ve, Vo	Vrisha Taurus. These correspond to the remaining quarters of Krittika, Rohini, and the first half of Mrigashira.
Ka, Ki, Ku, Gha, Nga, Chha, Ke, To, Da	Mithuna Gemini. These correspond to the latter half of Mrigashira, Ardra, and the first three-quarters of Punarvasu.
Hi, Hu, He, Ho, Ga, Di, Du, De, Do	Karkata Cancer. These correspond to the last quarter of Punarvasu, Pushya, and Ashlesha.
Ma, Mi, Mu, Me, Mo, Ta, Ti, Tu, Te	Simha Leo. These correspond to Magha, Purva Phalguni, and the first quarter of Uttara Phalguni.
To, Pa, Pi, Pu, Sha, Na, Tha, Pe, Po	Kanya Virgo. These correspond to the remaining quarters of Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, and the first half of Chitra.
Ra, Ri, Re, Ro, Ta, Ni, Tu, Ne	Tula Libra. These correspond to the latter half of Chitra, Swati, and the first three-quarters of Vishakha.
No, Ni, Nu, Ne, No ...?	The text cuts off here, but these syllables initiate the sign of Vrishchika (Scorpio), starting from the final quarter of Vishakha.