Soul and self-respect
Atmakaraka by nature: your core identity, willpower, dignity and the wish to live by your own light.
Navagraha · Surya
Sun in Vedic Astrology
The soul, confidence, father and the authority you are meant to carry.
Surya is the king among the grahas and the karaka of the soul (atma). Its sign and house show where you seek recognition, how you lead, and your relationship with your father and those in authority. A strong Sun gives vitality and self-belief; a troubled one asks you to earn confidence the long way.
Surya · Sun
- Rules
- Leo
- Exalted
- Aries
- Dasha
- 6 yrs
- Day
- Sunday
- Gem
- Ruby
- Nature
- Malefic
Free calculator
Find your Sun sign
Your Vedic Sun sign is the sidereal sign the Sun occupied at your birth. It usually differs from your Western Sun sign by one sign for the first three weeks or so of each Western month.
What you'll see
- Your sidereal Sun sign and exact degree (Lahiri)
- Its nakshatra and pada, and the house it occupies
- Dignity: exalted, own sign, debilitated, combust or retrograde
- When your Sun Mahadasha and Antardasha run
- A reading for your exact sign and house
Where is Sun now?
Sidereal (Lahiri), IST · updated 18 Oct 2026, 2:15 am
Now in
♎ Libra (Tula)
0.26° · Chitra pada 3 · Debilitated
Entered Libra
17 Oct 2026, 7:51 pm
Next: Scorpio
16 Nov 2026, 7:43 pm
Understand Surya
What does Sun represent?
Authority and status
Government, leadership, rank, recognition and how you deal with bosses, rulers and public responsibility.
Father and vitality
The father and father figures, the heart, eyes and bones, and the digestive fire (agni) that keeps you well.
| Personality | Self-confidence, ego, willpower, dignity, ambition, generosity, integrity |
|---|---|
| People | Father, the king or government, employers, senior officials, mentors |
| Body | Heart, right eye (men), bones, spine, digestion, overall vitality |
| Work | Government service, administration, politics, medicine, leadership roles, gold and copper trade |
At a glance
Sun (Surya) facts
| Sanskrit names | Ravi, Aditya, Bhanu, Surya |
|---|---|
| Rules | Leo (Simha) |
| Exaltation | Aries (Mesha), deepest at 10° |
| Debilitation | Libra (Tula), deepest at 10° |
| Moolatrikona | Leo 0°–20° |
| Friends | Moon, Mars, Jupiter |
| Neutral | Mercury |
| Enemies | Venus, Saturn |
| Aspects | 7th house from itself |
| Directional strength (Dig Bala) | 10th house |
| Nakshatras ruled | Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha |
| Vimshottari Mahadasha | 6 years |
| Nature | Natural malefic (krura); sattvic in temperament |
| Gender | Masculine |
| Element | Fire (Agni) |
| Day | Sunday (Ravivar) |
| Colour | Copper red, saffron |
| Gemstone | Ruby (Manikya). Traditional association; suitability depends on the whole chart. |
| Metal | Copper, gold |
| Direction | East |
| Movement | About 30 days in each sign; never retrograde |
Sign by sign
Sun in the 12 signs
Sidereal signs. A full reading also weighs the house, aspects, conjunctions and the dasha.
Sun in Aries (Mesha)Exalted
Exalted. Natural courage, initiative and leadership; you act first and inspire others. Guard against impatience and ego clashes.
Sun in Taurus (Vrishabha)Enemy sign
Steady, patient and loyal to what you value. Confidence grows through security, beauty and slow, sure progress; resistance to change is the lesson.
Sun in Gemini (Mithuna)
A bright, communicative Sun: you shine through ideas, writing, teaching and trade. Scattered focus or overthinking can dim the light.
Sun in Cancer (Karka)Friendly sign
Leadership through care. Family, home and emotional safety are central to your sense of self; moodiness can shake confidence.
Sun in Leo (Simha)Own sign · MT
Own sign and moolatrikona. Commanding presence, generosity and a natural claim to the stage. Pride and inflexibility are the shadow.
Sun in Virgo (Kanya)
A humble, precise Sun that takes pride in skill and service. Self-worth can get tied to being useful; learn to value yourself as you are.
Sun in Libra (Tula)Debilitated
Debilitated. Self-assertion is harder and you may defer to others too readily. The journey is to stand your ground while keeping harmony.
Sun in Scorpio (Vrishchika)Friendly sign
Intense, private and determined; strength through research, crisis and transformation. Trusting others and letting go are the lessons.
Sun in Sagittarius (Dhanu)Friendly sign
Idealistic and principled; you shine as a teacher, guide or seeker. Watch for rigid beliefs or preaching.
Sun in Capricorn (Makara)Enemy sign
Disciplined and ambitious; respect is earned slowly through responsibility. Relations with the father or bosses can feel formal or strained.
Sun in Aquarius (Kumbha)Enemy sign
Reformist and independent; you lead through ideas, groups and causes. You may feel at odds with conventional authority.
Sun in Pisces (Meena)Friendly sign
Compassionate, imaginative and spiritual; identity is fluid and creative. Boundaries and self-assertion need conscious work.
House by house
Sun in the 12 houses
Houses counted whole-sign from the Lagna. Needs a birth time.
- 1st houseStrong presence, vitality and self-belief; you are seen as a leader. Can be proud or dominating, and health benefits from routine.
- 2nd houseWealth through government, authority or family standing; a commanding voice. Harsh speech or family friction over status is possible.
- 3rd houseCourageous, enterprising and self-made; good for communication, media and short travel. Relations with younger siblings can be competitive.
- 4th housePride in home and property; may hold authority at home. Peace of mind and the relationship with the mother need care.
- 5th houseIntelligent, creative and drawn to politics, speculation or teaching. Children may be few or come later; the bond with them matters.
- 6th houseDefeats competitors and does well in service, medicine, law or administration. Good resistance to illness when the Sun is strong.
- 7th houseA strong, status-conscious partner; partnerships carry an element of ego. Delays or power struggles in marriage need humility.
- 8th houseInterest in research, the occult and hidden matters; inheritance is possible. Health of the eyes, heart and the father need attention.
- 9th houseDharmic, principled and fortunate through the father, teachers and long journeys. Can be judgemental about belief.
- 10th houseDirectional strengthExcellent for career and public status: authority, government favour and recognition. The Sun has directional strength here.
- 11th houseGains through influential people, government and large networks; ambitions tend to be fulfilled. Friends may be few but powerful.
- 12th houseSpending, foreign lands, spiritual retreat and behind-the-scenes work. Self-confidence and the eyes may need care.
Read the whole chart
When is Sun strong or weak?
Strong
Exalted in Aries, in its own sign Leo, in the 10th house (directional strength), unafflicted by Saturn, Rahu or Ketu, and in a friendly sign.
Weak or afflicted
Debilitated in Libra, in the 6th, 8th or 12th house, conjoined with Rahu or Ketu (an eclipse-like combination) or aspected by Saturn.
Planetary periods
Sun Mahadasha (6 years)
Identity, visibility, leadership and purpose. The six years put you in front of people and ask what you stand for.
Often brings
- Recognition, promotion or a leadership role
- Clearer life direction and stronger self-belief
- Government work, favour or official matters resolved
- A better bond with the father or a mentor
Can challenge
- Ego clashes with bosses or authority
- Overwork, burnout or heat-related health issues
- Strain with the father
- Pressure to prove yourself
Best used for
- Taking on responsibility or public roles
- Starting a business under your own name
- Building health routines and discipline
Traditional practices
Remedies for Sun
Shared as cultural and devotional practice, not as a substitute for medical, financial or legal advice.
Beej mantra
Om Hraam Hreem Hraum Sah Suryaya Namah
- Offer water (arghya) to the rising Sun
- Recite the Aditya Hridayam
- Respect and care for your father and elders
- Donate wheat, jaggery or copper on Sundays
Gemstones are powerful in tradition and should only be chosen after studying the whole chart, never from one placement.
Common questions
Sun FAQs
What is the difference between Sun sign and Moon sign?
Your Sun sign reflects identity, purpose and how you lead. Your Moon sign reflects the mind, emotions and instincts. Indian astrology gives the Moon sign (rashi) more weight for daily horoscopes, matching and dashas.
Why is my Vedic Sun sign different from my Western Sun sign?
Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is about 24° behind the tropical zodiac in 2026. The Sun enters sidereal Aries around 14 April instead of 20 March, so for roughly the first 24 days of each Western sign your Vedic Sun sign is the previous one.
Does a strong Sun guarantee success?
No. A dignified Sun supports confidence and recognition, but results depend on the house it rules, aspects, the dasha running and the whole chart.
Which sign does Sun rule?
Sun (Surya) rules Leo (Simha).
Where is Sun exalted and debilitated?
Sun is exalted in Aries (Mesha), most deeply at 10°, and debilitated in Libra (Tula). Dignity is one factor; house, aspects and the dasha also shape results.
How long is Sun Mahadasha?
6 years in the Vimshottari system. Each of its nine Antardashas lasts in proportion to its lord's own Mahadasha years.
Which nakshatras does Sun rule?
Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha. People born with the Moon in these nakshatras begin life in Sun Mahadasha.
Where is Sun now?
On 18 Oct 2026 Sun is in sidereal Libra at 0.3°, in Chitra nakshatra. It moves into Scorpio on 16 Nov 2026.
Explore the other grahas
See Sun in the context of your whole chart
Your free Kundli shows all nine grahas, their houses, aspects, yogas and your Dasha timeline.