Capricorn Symbol ♑: Makar Rashi, Sea-Goat and Makara

Makar Sankranti: When the Sun Enters Makar

Makar Sankranti, around 14 or 15 January, is the day the Sun enters Makar rashi in the Indian (sidereal) zodiac. In Gujarat it is Uttarayan, the kite festival; in Tamil Nadu it is Pongal; in Assam it is Magh Bihu. The festival's very name contains the sign: Makar plus Sankranti (the Sun moving into a new sign).

Western astrology starts Capricorn earlier, on about 22 December, close to the December solstice, and ends it around 19 January. The Vedic Makar period runs from about 14 January to 12 February. This gap of about 23 to 24 days is why a festival in mid January is tied to the start of Makar, not the middle of Capricorn. The full comparison is on our zodiac symbols page.

Sea-Goat or Makara? The Symbol of Makar Rashi

Western Capricorn is a sea-goat: the front half a goat, the back half a fish. The idea is very old and goes back to ancient Mesopotamia.

In India, the makara is a mythical water creature, often drawn like a crocodile with an elephant-like snout and a fish tail. It is the vehicle (vahana) of Goddess Ganga and of Varuna, and it appears in temple carvings, gateways and the curved earrings called makara kundala. So the symbol of Makar rashi in Indian art is usually the makara, while the glyph ♑ is shared with the West.

Makar Rashi in English Symbol and Other Names

Makar rashi in English is Capricorn, and the symbol is ♑. Spellings across India:

• Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali: Makar (मकर)
• Sanskrit, Kannada: Makara, so the Makara rasi symbol, Makara rashi symbol and Makara symbol are all ♑
• Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu: Makaram (மகரம்), so the Makaram symbol is ♑ too

Searches like "symbol Makar rashi" or "Makar symbol" all lead to the same glyph. The Makar rashi ka symbol you see in a panchang will match the one you copy here.

Why the Capricorn Symbol Looks Different in Every Font

♑ is the hardest zodiac glyph to draw. Some fonts show it as a V with a big loop (the goat's horn joined to a curled tail). Others look like the letters "vs" or "ɳ" joined together. A few phone emoji tiles simplify it further. All of these are the same character, U+2651. If you need one exact look, for a poster or a T-shirt print, use the Download PNG button instead of typing it.

How to Type ♑ on Android and iPhone

Android (most keyboards):

1. Tap the emoji key (the smiley, or long-press the Enter or comma key on some keyboards).
2. Tap the search box and type "capricorn".
3. Tap ♑. Search "goat" for 🐐.

iPhone:

1. Tap the emoji (smiley) key.
2. Type "Capricorn" in Search Emoji.
3. Tap ♑.

On computers there is no Alt code or Mac Option key shortcut. In Word, type 2651 and press Alt+X; on Windows use Win+.; on Mac use Control+Command+Space; in HTML write ♑.

Tropic of Capricorn and the Night Sky

The Tropic of Capricorn, in the southern half of the Earth, is named after this sign for the same reason the Tropic of Cancer is named after the crab: when the names were given, the Sun stood in front of Capricornus at the December solstice. Read the matching story on the Cancer symbol page. The constellation itself is faint and shaped a little like a wide triangle or a smile.

Capricorn in Astrology Belief and Bio Ideas

Capricorn is an earth sign and a cardinal (chara) sign, ruled by Saturn (Shani), written ♄. Astrology tradition describes Capricorn as disciplined, patient and ambitious. These are traditional beliefs, not facts. Neighbouring signs: Sagittarius and Aquarius. Other earth signs: Taurus and Virgo.

Bio ideas: Karan ♑ slow climb, high peak, 🪁 ♑ January born, Makar ♑ | 🐐.