Significations of the Signs according to Parasara and Jaimini
by Laura Barat © 2018
Aries – The Sign of the Ram
“Red colored, large limbed, four-footed, valorous by night, dwelling in the East, a relative of kings, moving in rocky places, endowed with Rajas, back rising and fiery is the Ram ruled by Mars†BPHS, 4 – Rasi Characteristics, 6-7
“Aries – five rats and cats†Upadesha Sutras 1.2.2
Aries makes a taller person with long limbs. As a fire sign, Aries rules the eastern direction and he lives in ‘rocky places’ which usually translates as the mountains, much like rams live in the mountains. Aries is ‘endowed with rajas’ or the motivation of activity for activity’s sake, the activity of Aries is that of adventure and new experiences as being the first sign and beginning of Spring. Aries in concerned with doing and focuses strongly on goals. Fire signs are ruled by intuition as fire is inherent in everything as the spark of life. Only when fire gets out of control do we see it. Fire Signs need inspiration and planets in fire signs act on their inspirations.
As far as caste, Aries is a Kshatriya or warrior sign. All fire signs are of the warrior caste.
All Signs are either night-strong or day-strong. Night strong Signs like Aries are motivated by concepts and ideas in addition to finding more inspiration and energy at night.
Aries is back rising and night strong. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and full of inspiration, ideas and energy, but being back rising it will take longer than usual to bring those ideas into concrete manifestation because Aries is so passionate about what he wants and also a bit clumsy, because he is young and green.
Aries is a four-footed Sign. Four-footed animals are the strongest and most powerful so four-footed Signs can take on a lot of responsibility and see the job through to the end. Four-footed signs are more concerned with activity and accomplishment rather than reflection and emotional satisfaction.
The color of Aries is red just like its ruler, Mars. Aries rules the head of the Time Man, Kala Purusha, where the Sun is exalted. The Sun is where we get our inspiration from and so is the head.
Aries is a movable or cardinal Sign. These signs like constant change, like to initiate and are often full of ideas. Moveable, cardinal Signs are the idea people.
Aries acts on impulse and enjoys the challenge of overcoming obstacles.
Aries is a masculine Sign and his happiness and life satisfaction is dependent upon action that he completes in this world.
According to Jaimini, Aries means 5 rats and cats. What he mentions about each of the Signs is a challenge for that Sign, especially if the Atmakaraka occupies that Sign. Rats are thieves, so oftentimes, Aries will have problems with thieves whether stealing their possessions or ideas. Rats and cats both have connotations around cleanliness, rats going into those places that are characterized by dirt, filth or decomposition. Cats are concerned with the cleanliness of their bodies, so someone who has strong Aries placements can either be fastidious about their cleanliness or completely neglectful of it. Cleanliness and tidiness consists of small, habitual actions we take to maintain our environment. Small actions or actions that seem tedious can irritate the Aries because it is such a Sign of doing and initiating. On the other hand, big problems do not irritate the Aries because he sees the big picture. The planet of tedious, boring tasks is Saturn and he is debilitated in Aries.
Taurus – Sign of the Bull
“While ruled by Venus, long, four-footed, night strong, southernly, village living, a merchant, earthy, Rajas and back rising is the Bull.†BPHS,4 Rasi Characteristics, 8
“In that place, Taurus, a quadruped.†Upadesha Sutras 1.2.3
Taurus is long-bodied and can make a person tall, especially if it’s their Ascendant. Ascendant Lord in Taurus can do it as well.
Taurus is four-footed and night-strong, just like Aries, so Taurus gets his inspiration and energy more at night than during the day. Taurus is four-footed, so is powerful and able to take on a lot of responsibility.
Taurus being an Earth Sign rules the southern direction.
Taurus lives in towns and cities.
Taurus likes exchange and trade and can do very well in business ventures.
Taurus is motivated by the guna of Rajas which is activity for activity’s sake.
Taurus is back rising, so while having many ideas, it takes them longer than front-rising Signs to implement their ideas to concrete manifestation.
In the Jaimini quote, he says Taurus is a quadruped and quadrupeds are associated with wealth. Taurus has a primary concern with material security and comfort. If the Atmakaraka or the natural Atmakara (the Sun) or the Moon occupies Taurus, generally speaking the person will want to develop material security and comfort in their life.
Taurus rules the face and neck. Taurus, ruled by Venus, is the Sign of choices. We turn our neck left and right to see the choices available to us and must consider which one is the best. Taurus ruling the face shows Taurus is a Sign concerned with satisfying the senses in a healthy, productive way.
Gemini – The “Pair†Sign
“Front rising, a pair of humans with mace and with lute, western, airy, two-footed, night strong, village roaming, Vata, normal limbed and grass colored is the Pair ruled by Mercury.†BPHS 4 – Rasi Characteristics 9 – 10
In Gemini – itches and stoutness/density.†Upadesha Sutras 1.2.4
In Hindu astrology, rather than ‘twins’, Gemini is represented by a woman playing a flute and a man holding a club. It represents the most feminine and masculine parts of ourselves, thoroughly dual indeed. The Sanskrit name of Gemini is Maithuna which means sexual intercourse.
Gemini is front rising meaning they can quickly utilize their skills to concretely manifest what they want in the world. Gemini is two-footed, in the human realm, so can quickly adapt to changing circumstances and are full of ideas and varying interests. Gemini is night strong so they live more in a world of ideas than of concrete manifestation with thinking rather than doing being more of their modus operandi. Gemini lives in towns and cities, is Vata, or primarily airy, meaning they are very changeable.
Gemini is normal-limbed, not too tall or too short, fat or skinny. In fact, it is Mercury, the ruler of Gemini which gives the most symmetrical, well-proportioned body. Gemini is grass colored, so the color of Gemini is green. The Signs have colors, planets do not. The Sign is very helpful in determining colors when it is influencing something.
Gemini is an air sign so therefore found in the western direction.
According to Jaimini, Gemini causes ‘itches and stoutness/density’ and this has been observed to give weight problems or fluctuation of weight throughout life, not only with obesity but with emaciation as well. Gemini gives ‘itches’ which will translate into skin problems such as eczema, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, vitiligo, etc.
Cancer – The Crab
“Pink, moving in water, a Brahmin, vigorous at night, many moving legs, a stout body, endowed with Sattva, watery and back rising is thought the Crab Sign ruled by the Moon.†BPHS 4, Rasi Characteristics, 10 – 11
“In Cancer – at a distant place, water/frigidity, leprosy, etc.†Upadesha Sutras 1.2.5
The color of Cancer is pink. Cancer is ‘moving in water’ and water is emotion and the subconscious of which Cancer is heavily influenced by. Cancer, like Scorpio and Pisces is a Brahmin Sign giving them the highest caste. Brahmin castes can see the big picture as well as the ‘unconsciousness’ part of reality. Cancer and Pisces are both Sattvic Signs so their motivation is inspiration and truth.
Cancer is a many-footed Sign indicating its tenacity and staying power. They tend to hang-on in their relationships with others through many trials because this is how they grow in understanding of themselves.
Cancer gives a stouter body, shorter and more robust.
Cancer lives in the world of emotions so is more vigorous at night.
Cancer lives in watery places, near the ocean, lakes, ponds, swamps or rivers.
Cancer is back rising so it takes longer for them to implement their ideas into the manifest world.
Cancer like Aries, Libra and Capricorn is a cardinal or moveable Sign. These signs are the beginning of the seasons and they initiate things.
In Upadesha sutras, Jaimini says that Cancer is at a distant place. Believe it or not, Cancer is the Sign more than any other Sign that rules foreign countries. If it is influencing residency in the chart, the person could live in a foreign country, if it influences the spouse, the person could marry a foreigner. It seems counter-intuitive to designate Cancer as a Sign of foreign residence but Jaimini is clear that it is.
Cancer can give diseases related to water and water retention or swelling, inflammation. Many of the diseases for a Cancer are emotionally based. Cancer rules the chest cavity which contains the lungs and heart, so a lot of the diseases in this part of the body, like asthma and heart disease originate from emotional negativity. Leprosy is a blood disorder and designates any disorder related to the blood which is ruled by the Moon having his home in Cancer.
Leo – The Lion
“The Lion, ruled by the Sun, is Sattva, four-footed, a Kshatriya, living in woods, front rising, large limbed, violet, eastern and vigorous during the day.†BPHS 4, Rasi Characteristics 12
“In Leo – Remaining wild beasts of prey. Remaining in one’s own place.†Upadesha Sutras 1.2.6
Leo is a Sattvic Sign meaning its motivation comes from inspiration and truth.
Leo is four-footed giving it great strength and power to carry out many responsibilities and take on big projects.
Leo’s caste is warrior or Kshatriya and excels at having a righteous purpose they can defend or an inspiration for which they will fight.
Leo lives in the forest and is front-rising, meaning they can quickly use their skills and talent to implement their ideas into the world.
Leo is tall and its color is violet.
Leo gets his strength and energy mainly in daylight, meaning it lives in the world of practical action and skill.
Leo, being a fire Sign, is in the east.
The part of the body that Leo rules is the abdominal cavity which houses many of our vital organs such as the liver and intestines, so Leo is a Sign of strength and vitality. If identity factors are in Leo unafflicted, the person is robust, inspired and vital when pursuing what they are inspired to do.
In Jaimini Sutras, Leo is ‘remaining wild beasts of prey’. Wild beasts of prey are large cats, especially lions that symbolize the top of the food chain, the leader or King of the Jungle as they say. Leo will encounter situations in which the native will be a leader, whether they are an effective leader or a poor one will depend on the afflictions to the atmakaraka, Sun or Ascendant placed in Leo.
Leo is ruled by the Sun which will give consistency in action and thought depending on the benefic or malefic influence.
Leo, being constant, remains in his place. It is very much a Sign of one’s own country or home town.
Virgo – The Young Girl
“Living in mountains is the Girl Rasi, who, endowed with strength during day is front rising, medium limbed, two-footed moving in the south with grain and fire, a Vaishya, clear/transparent, stormy, young, connect with Tamas, existing in children and ruled by Mercury.†BPHS 4, Rasi Characteristics 13 – 14
“Virgo – Like Gemini as well as small fire.†Upadesha Sutras 1.2.7
Virgo lives in the mountains and foothills.
Virgo is day-strong, a Sign that lives in the light of concrete reality and practicality.
Virgo is front-rising allowing them to implement their skills and talents rather quickly.
Virgo has an average height body.
Virgo’s direction is South and it is two-footed, meaning they are strong enough to take on responsibilities but light enough to be able to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
Virgo is the Sign of the harvest, so ‘moving in grain’ is a given.
Virgo’s caste is Vaishya, so the person is concerned with promoting their skills and talents in the world that will benefit themselves and others.
Virgo’s color is clear or transparent.
Virgo is young and existing in children, so Virgo has a childlike, innocent worldview. This is why Virgo makes the best of friends as it is ruled by Mercury, the planet of friends. The youth of Virgo gives a childlike wonder to all of nature and makes Virgo spiritual in a simple, unsophisticated sense where they don’t have to do much to feel the basic truths behind all creation.
In Jaimini Sutras, it states Virgo is like Gemini, so Virgo can give skin problems like rosacea, psoriasis, acne, vitiligo, etc. Virgo can also give extreme weight fluctuations. The ‘small fire’ Jaimini mentions has to do with digestive problems and also heat related health issues such as any type of inflammation. Virgo is the 6th Sign corresponding to the 6th House of Health, so afflicted planets in Virgo can cause health problems in whatever systems and organs that planet signifies.
Virgo rules over the lower back and this is an area that is extremely vulnerable to injury. Afflicted planets in Virgo can give lower back problems.
Libra – The Scales
“Front rising, the Balance Scale is rich in vigour during the day, blue, endowed with Rajas, western, moving on land, killing/destroying, a Sudra, medium bodied, two-footed and ruled by Venus.†BPHS, 4 – Rasi Characteristics, 15-16
“In Libra – Trade.†Upadesha Sutras 1.2.8
Libra is front-rising so they can readily and easily implement their skills and talents into the world.
Libra gets its strength and vitality in the day-time making them more concerned with practicality and action rather than thoughts and ideas.
The color of Libra is blue.
Libra is a rajasic Sign, so its primary motivation is activity and habit.
Libra rules the West and is ‘moving on land’ which doesn’t put Libra in the vicinity of water or in the forest/woods or mountains, so Libra likes to live in towns and cities that are inland.
Libra is killing/destroying. What does this mean? Well, it has to do with the myth of the avatar of Venus, Parasurama. And the fact that Saturn, the planet of death, is exalted in Libra. Without going into too much detail about the myth, which I explain in my “Myths of the Planets†course, Parasurama was a great warrior and wanted to avenge the deaths of some of his family so he killed 10,000 warriors and a few kings singlehandedly. He then did austerities and cleansing rituals to cleanse the negative karma he accumulated. Libra is the root trine Sign of Venus, the root trine of a planet is the Sign where it gets its power. Saturn, the planet of death, is exalted in Libra and many generals and military leaders, people who have the responsibility of killing a lot of people, have prominent planets in Libra. In fact, several serial killers have prominent but afflicted planets in Libra. So this is why Parasara says Libra is ‘killing/destroying’. Libra is also the beginning of autumn when everything begins to die.
Libra is two-footed which makes him adaptable to most situations.
Libra’s caste is a Sudra. In fact all Air Signs are sudras and this seems counter-intuitive because Air Signs all have humans instead of animals as their representatives. This is due to the distance a human is away from the Source. Simple animals like crabs, scorpions and fish are Brahmin Signs because they are closest to the Source without well developed instincts and emotions of animals and humans. These animals are the least individualized. Humans on the other hand, are the most individualized and the furthest from the Source.
Libra has a medium-sized body and rules the hips and those organs in the pelvic cavity.
According to Upadesa Sutras, Libra involves a person with trade and business. Libra is the Scales so must weigh what is more valuable and make a decision based upon that, something involved with trade in all forms.
Scorpio – The Scorpion
“Small limbed, many footed, a Brahmin, in a hole, abiding in the north, rich in vigour during the day, orange, exposed to water and land, bristles abounding and very sharp pointed is the Scorpion ruled by Mars.†BPHS,4 – Rasi Characteristics 16-17
“Scorpio – demons, water, serpents/Vishnu and deprivation of that contained in the breast.†Upadesha Sutras 1.2.9
Scorpio is short and many footed so will be tenacious in any kind of relationship or with subjects in which they are interested.
Scorpio is of Brahmin caste and lives under the ground. Scorpio influencing the home can make the person live in a basement apartment or underground in some fashion.
Scorpio is day strong therefore easily and readily uses their skills in the world without delay.
Scorpio’s color is orange.
Scorpio can live on water and land, so towns and cities that are near water or in swampy areas.
Scorpio has ‘bristles abounding’ and is ‘very sharp pointed’. Scorpio is ruled by Mars, a no-nonsense, get to the point planet. Mars is sharp and aggressive in his dealings but Scorpio is also a very emotionally vulnerable Sign and projects a sharp exterior to protect its vulnerability.
In Jaimini Sutras, Scorpio is described as having demons which represent the inner demons, insecurities, fears that are part and parcel of the 8th Sign Scorpio. Water represents the turbulent emotional world which the Scorpio must navigate.
Serpents/Vishnu represent transformation of the inner life and unmet needs which Scorpio always does to some degree and which doesn’t allow for much peace in their turbulent emotional world.
“Deprivation of that contained in the breast†is mother’s milk. It can mean that someone with their AK in Scorpio didn’t receive enough breast milk but it usually means the person did not receive the nurturing and motherly love they needed resulting in emotional traumas that the Scorpio must work through.
Scorpio rules the genitals of the body, the uncovered parts that are vulnerable and not covered with any bone or muscle.
Sagittarius – The Bow
“Back rising is the Bow owned by Jupiter, Sattvik, golden, vigorous at night, fiery, a Kshatriya, two-footed at the beginning, four-footed at the end, regular limbed, bearing a bow, standing in the east, moving on the ground and made splendid by Brahma.†BPHS, 4 – Rasi Characteristics 17-19
“In Sagittarius – while proceeding, a fall from a vehicle and a height.†Upadesha Sutras 1.2.10
The Bow references the purposefulness behind Sagittarius, they see a long range goal and take action to fulfill it. Sagittarius is the 9th Sign corresponding to the 9th House of Dharma, Philosophy and Higher Knowledge. So this is why he is “made splendid by Brahma’.
With back rising, it takes more time for the Sagittarius to implement their ideas into the world.
Sag is a Sattvik Sign so it is primarily motivated by inspiration and Truth.
The color of Sagittarius is gold.
Sag is vigorous at night so he lives more in the world of ideas than the world of practicality.
Sagittarius has a medium-sized body and is of warrior caste, the caste that looks to lead and protect his fellow man.
The first half of Sagittarius is two-footed so it is adaptable and the second half is four footed which has tremendous strength to carry out responsibilities but is not that adaptable.
Sagittarius stands in the East.
Sag moves on ground showing more concern with power and authority than emotions and psychology.
According to Jaimini, Sagittarius is one of the Signs that can cause accidents. “A fall from a vehicle or height†can also mean the person falls from grace or a career height rather than an accident. This is because Sagittarius aims high with his goals and the ‘fall’ is meant to give him more realistic goals and understand his limits.
Capricorn – The Crocodile
“Ruled by Saturn, Tamasic, earthy, southern, vigorous at night, back rising, large-limbed, spotted/many colored, moving in watery ground, four-footed at the beginning and without feet at the end is imagined the water goer.†BPHS,4 –Rasi Characteristics 19-20
“Aquatic animals, things moving in the air/planets/birds/demons, villages/kapha, itches, defects/guilt and tumors/joints in Capricorn.†Upadesha Sutras 1.2.11
In the Vedic system, Capricorn is a crocodile rather than a goat. Crocodiles live in swamps and Capricorn is the Sign of swampy land.
Capricorn is a tamasic Sign so it is primarily motivated by the need for security. As an Earth Sign, Capricorn rules the southern direction. Capricorn gives a taller, larger body.
The color of Capricorn is multi-colored.
Capricorn moves in watery ground, like a crocodile in a swamp. Swampy places like Florida are ruled by Capricorn.
Capricorn is vigorous at night so more concerned with the world of ideas than practicality. Capricorn is back rising so his skills and talents take a little more time to manifest in the world.
Capricorn is four footed in the first half, so he is very powerful to handle large responsibilities and tasks. In the second half, he is footless so moving in a world of water or the inner world of emotion, psychology, fantasies and dreams.
According to Jaimini, Capricorn is a Sign that can cause cancer and arthritis. “Aquatic animals†as well as ‘demons’ are descriptive of the inner turmoil a Capricorn experiences. “Things moving in the air†are thoughts that can create mental imbalances.
Capricorn lives in villages and is disturbed by Kapha which is water diseases resulting from imbalanced or oversensitive emotions.
Capricorn is very much a Sign that is ruled by fate, it is the first Sign to rule a part of the body, the thighs, that doesn’t have part of the spine attached to it. Capricorn believes itself to be using its will and making decisions and becomes frustrated when it doesn’t receive the fruits of its labor. This will tie in with ‘defects/guilt’ that a Capricorn will experience as a result of having their will thwarted.
Aquarius – The Pitcher
“Kumbha is a jar holding man, deep brown in complexion, medium bodied, two-footed, vigorous during day, standing in the middle of water, airy, front rising, Tamasic, a Sudra, abiding in the western region and lorded by the son of the Sun (Saturn).†BPHS, 4 – Rasi Characteristics, 21-22
“Maker of ponds/tanks/things related to shores – in Aquarius.†Upadesa Sutras, 1.2.12
Aquarius’ color is brown, possesses an average size body and is adaptable due to being two-footed.
Aquarius acquires vigor during the day so is more concerned with practicality than ideas.
Aquarius ‘stands in the middle of water’ and therefore signifies islands. Aquarius is an air sign and rules the western direction.
Aquarius is Tamasic so it is motivated by a need for security and to avoid pain. Aquarius is front rising so can easily implement its skills and talents in the world.
Aquarius is an air sign and like all air signs, is represented by a human but is of Sudra caste. The reason is because humans are the most individualized of the creatures so are farthest from the source, thus they are known as Sudra.
According to Jaimini Sutras, Aquarius lives on the shore, is a maker of ponds or tanks or even pools. Aquarius can make anything that is related to a shore, like docks, etc. So Aquarius lives on an island or shore and is involved with containment of water or water in general.
Aquarius rules the shanks of the body and the bottom half of the knee.
Pisces – The Fish
“Two fish sticking to each other tail with face, the Fish Rasi is day strong, watery, richly endowed with Sattva, self-abiding, moving in water, footless, medium bodied, standing in the north, rising both ways and ruled by Jupiter.†BPHS,4 -Rasi Characteristics, 22-24
“In Pisces – Elevation, perpetual dharma and kaivalyam.†Upadesa Sutras, 1.2.13
Pisces can feel lost sometimes and confused by their life’s path. This is because it is the Sign of Surrender and takes awhile for the Pisces to understand and in fact, what they are supposed to surrender to. A Pisces is going in every direction at once and is moved around by the tide of emotion, feelings, the subconscious and their connection to the Source as being the last Sign of the Zodiac and a Sign of liberation according to Jaimini.
Counter-intuitively, Pisces is day-strong so more concerned with concrete reality than the world of ideas. Pisces is submerged constantly in the world of feelings and looks to implement their deep understanding into everyday, mundane life.
Pisces is Sattvic so is motivated by inspiration and truth. Pisces is self-abiding meaning they can abide in the Self, the connection to the Source if the Sign is unafflicted.
Pisces lives in water, so Pisces influencing the home and environment can make the person live near the ocean, a lake or river. Pisces is footless so can easily navigate the world of emotion and the subconscious.
Pisces has a medium-sized body and rules over the northern direction.
Pisces is back and front rising since it is two fish face-to-tail.
Pisces rules the feet of the Time Man, Kala Purusha.
According to Jaimini Sutras, Pisces is the Sign of Liberation. Jaimini says when the atmakaraka occupies  Pisces in the Navamsa the person achieves liberation. He then goes on to modify that statement a bit, but what it means is the Pisces AK is looking for a way to escape, some people do it through spirituality, others do it through drugs and drink, others do it through sex and co-dependent relationships. Pisces wants to feel connection and transcendence and may go about that in destructive ways, depending on the strength and aspects to the Atmakaraka.
