Ancient Indian Nirayana (Vedic System) Dt. Jan. 7, 2009 Astrology : The zodiac is a circle of space surrounding the earth. It may be imagined as a belt in the heavens about 15 degrees wide in which the plants travel. It is Sun's apparent path that is called the ecliptic. The zodiacal circle is divided into twelve parts each part containing thirty degrees of space called the signs of the ZODIAC each containing 30 degrees of celestial longitude; 12 signs each measuring 30 degrees constitute the circle of the zodiac or 360 degrees. In this circle the planets travel each in its own orbit, one outlying beyond the other. These twelve signs of the zodiac are called Rashis : Mesha (Aries), Vrishabha (Taurus), Mithuna (Gemini), Karka (cancer), Sinha (Leo), Kanya (Virgo), Tuila (Libra), Vrischika (Scorpio), Dhanu (Sagittarius), Makara (capricron), Kumbha 9Aquarius) and Meena (Pisces).

It is these twelve signs through which the planets travel or transit from west to east going through one sign after another in their order from Mesha (Aries) to Meena (Pisces).