Aries/ The Ram ( Mesha Rasi ) Western astrology details

 

Aries/ The Ram ( Mesha Rasi ) Western astrology details 

Aries (♈)  (meaning "ram") is the first astrological sign in the zodiac, spanning the first 30 degrees of celestial longitude (0°≤ λ <30°). Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transits this sign from approximately March 20 to April 21 each year. This time duration is exactly the first month of the Solar Hijri calendar. The symbol of the ram is based on the Chrysomallus, the flying ram that provided the Golden Fleece.

According to the tropical system of astrology, the Sun enters the sign of Aries when it reaches the March equinox, which time systems and the western calendar are rooted in, so as to occur on average on March 21. Because the Earth takes approximately 365.25 days to go around the Sun, the precise time of the equinox is not the same each year, and generally will occur about six hours later from one year to the next. February 29 of a leap year causes that year's vernal equinox to fall about eighteen hours earlier compared with the previous year. Since 1900 the vernal equinox date has ranged from March 20 at 08h (2000) GMT to March 21 at 19h (1903) GMT. March 19 at 23:20 will occur in 2044 UT1. In contrast, under the sidereal zodiac, the sun currently transits Aries from April 15 to 14 May (approximately).

Aries is the first fire sign in the zodiac, the other fire signs being Leo and Sagittarius. Individuals born between these dates, depending on which system of astrology they subscribe to, may be called Arians or Ariens.

The equivalent in the Hindu solar calendar is Meṣha.

 

Mesha Rasi (Aries/ The Ram ) Vedic Astrology details

Mesha (मेष), is a month in the Indian solar calendar. It corresponds to the zodiacal sign of Aries, and overlaps with about the second half of April and about the first half of May in the Gregorian calendar.

People born in Aswini nakshatra(4) padas, Bharani nakshatra (4)padas, Krittika nakshatra (1st Pada) comes under Mesha Rashi. lord of this Rashi is Mars.

In Vedic texts, the Mesha month is called Madhu Masam, but in these ancient texts, it has no zodiacal associations. The solar month of Mesha overlaps with its lunar month Vaisakha, in Hindu lunisolar calendars. The Mesha is preceded by the solar month of Mīna, and followed by the solar month of Vṛṣabha.

The Mesha month is called Chittirai in the Tamil calendar, and is its first month. The ancient and medieval era Sanskrit texts of India vary in their calculations about the duration of Mesha, just like they do with other months. For example, the Surya Siddhanta calculates the duration of Mesha to be 30 days, 22 hours, 26 minutes, and 48 seconds. In contrast, the Arya Siddhanta calculates the duration of Mesha to be 30 days 22 hours 12 minutes.

Mesha is also an astrological sign in Indian horoscope systems, corresponding to Aries

Sign Ruled By: Mars

Element: Fire

Quality: Cardinal

Symbol: The Ram

The Symbol denotes: Cheerful, carefree, boastful, and confident behavior along with a combative, rash and hasty approach

Characteristics: Masculine, positive, adventurous

Noteworthy qualities: Industriousness, enterprise, courage, dynamism,  ambition, inspiration, leadership, action-orientation, pioneering spirit.

Undesirable personality traits: Audacity, impatience, imprudence, egocentric and selfish approach, hastiness, recklessness.

Birthstone: Red Coral

Birth Colours: All shades of red: scarlet, carmine, red, vermilion

Deepest need: Action

Quality most needed for balance: Caution

Detriment: Venus

Exaltation: The Sun

Fall: Saturn

Associated Flowers and Plants: Geraniums, Honeysuckle, Cacti, Chillies, Ginger, Garlic, Aloe, other shrubs

Best Sign/s for marriage and/or partnerships: Libra and Sagittarius

 

Aries/ The Ram ( Mesha Rasi ) Astronomical details 

Figure 1 shows the picture of Mesha or Aries Group of Stars in the sky. Clearly, the Moon Band does not touch the Mesha Raashi or Aries as presently identified, but is within about 5 degrees of the band. Figure 1 shows four Nakshatras viz., Revati from Meena Raashi, Ashwini, Bharani, and Krittika.

 

Ashwini Nakshatra is defined in Bharatiya Jyotishya as a group of three stars. A study of figure 1 suggests that the best candidates for this group are as shown in the table below based on brightness point of view, location with reference to moon traverse band and distance from previous Nakshatra.

 

Nakshatra	No.	SAO	HD	Bayer	Bright	Arab/Other
Ashwini	3	75151	12929	13 a Aries	+2.01	Hamal
		75102	11636	6 b Aries	+2.63	-
		92680	11502	5g1-Aries	+3.9	-

 

The month of Ashwija (usually October in the Gregorian System) is named after Ashwini and at the full moon of Ashwija Moon is near Ashwini Nakshatra. If a single star has to be identified as representing Ashwini Nakshatra, Best candidate is 13 a Aries / SAO-75151/HD-12929/Hamal.

The Bharani Nakshatra is defined as a group of three stars. Brightest can be identified as HD17573 and SAO75596. The following table provides candidates that qualify as Bharani Nakshatra from the brightness point of view, location with reference to moon traverse band, and distance from previous Nakshatra.

Nakshatra	No.	SAO	HD	Bayer	Bright	Arab/Other
Bharani	3	75596	17573	41-Aries	+3.61	-
		75578	17361	39-Aries	+4.51	-
		75532	16908	35-Aries	+4.65	-

If a single star has to be identified as representing Bharani Nakshatra, the best candidate is 41-Aries/SAO-75596/HD-17573.

Krittika Nakshatra is defined as a set of six stars. Bharateeya tradition has it that Kartikeya is surrounded by five Apsaras. This set of stars is identified by the classical European system as Plaeidis. Brightest amongst them is called Alcyone by Arabs. The following table provides the candidates of stars for Krittika Nakshatra or Lunar mansion from brightness point of view, location with reference to moon traverse band and distance from previous Nakshatra.

Nakshatra	No.	SAO	HD	Bayer	Bright	Arab/Other
Krittika	6	76199	23630	25 h Aries	+2.87	Alcyone
		76228	23850	27	+3.63	-
		76131	23302	17	+3.70	-
		76155	23408	20	+3.88	-
		76229	23862	28BU	+5.09	-
		76140	23338	19	+4.3	-

If a single star has to be identified as representing Krittika Nakshatra, best candidate is 25hAries/SAO-76199/HD-23630/ AlCyone.

Krittika is also the name of the Chandramana month Kartika. On the full moon day of Kartika, the moon is near Krittika Nakshatra. In the Raashi/Nakshatra translation, both the Ashwini/Bharani belong to Mesha Raashi. The Krittika is considered as 1/4 a part of Mesha (Aries) and 3/4 a part of Vrishbha (Taurus).

Arundhati Nakshatra (though not a part of the 27 day pointing stars) is near the Krittitka. It is said to be the eighth star in the cluster Krittika(Ref-2).

The Ashwini/Bharani Nakshatras stars are separated by 50 minutes of time or about 12.5 degrees (E-W), while Bharani and Krittika are separated by about 55 minutes corresponding to about 13.75 degrees (E-W). Both these gaps are near the ideal 13.33 degrees E-W gap between stars.