Aries – क्रिय (kriya)

The primary traits of Aries:^⁠1

• Pursuing what attracts the eye
• Weak on & troubled by the knees
• Afraid of water
• Sparse / quick eaters
• Libidinous & sexually capable
• Contestuous & unsettled
• Unpredictable & fickle
• Assertive
• Scarred

Pursuing What Attracts the Eye

Aries is ambitious. It is inspired to pursue whatever catches its eye – seeing the world as a field of opportunity, a place of action and adventure! This makes Aries very intent, bold and aquisition-oriented.

Weak on & Troubled by the Knees

Aries hates to beg or submit. It hates to be “on its knees.” It feels humiliated and tormented by asking for help or submitting to dominance. Its primary weakness is its unwillingness to see its weaknesses.

Afraid of Water

This means Aries is afraid of softness and emotional interaction.

Sparse / Quick Eaters

Aries has high metabolism and big ambitions – and thus little patience for setting tables and sitting for peaceful meals. Finish-line-oriented and eager to pursue the goals that have caught its eye, Aries rushes through daily tasks like eating.

Libidinous & Sexually Capable

Aries’ passion includes sensual hunger. Sensually hungry people engage in sensual acts with better enthusiasm, and therefore tend to be exciting sexual partners.

Moving & Contestuous 

Aries resists settling down very long in any one place or situation, or with any one person or group. Aries is happy only when it has freedom to pursue what catches its eye.

Leaving one person or place causes conflicts. So does our attempts to aquire new partners and property. Thus, Aries tends to get into many contests and conflicts.

Fluctuating Behviour

The need for freedom makes Aries liable to break promises, cancel commitements, and end alliances. Thus it might be described as “untrustworthy.” What it was previously warm towards, it suddenly become cold to; what it was previously happy with, it suddenly becomes dissatisfied with.

Assertions

Aries speaks with an assertive, clear and bold voice. It makes claims and promises quickly and without shyness or reservation. It likes to tells tales glorifying its adventures and exploits. It could therefore be described as “exaggerative,” “extroversive,” and “dominant.”

Scars

Aries’ bold and adventurous attitude involves it in risky things, which often leave behind deep marks. 

Aries’ Sanskrit Name: Kriya

Some say kriya is an Indic localization of the Greek name for Aries: krios – which means “ram.” This may or may not be true. Regardless, kriya is an etymologically valid native Sanskrit word, which means “initiator.” This is an apt name for Aries because Aries has great initiative and is very active, and it literally initiates the solar year – being anchored to the ascending equinox.

The qualities of a Ram certainly epitomize the key traits of Aries:

• Rams roam wherever they will, following whatever catches their eye. 
• They are not submissive, but assertively contest with each other for dominance by brandishing their horns and “ramming” into each other – often bearing the scars of such conflicts.
• They often mate only for pleasure; and are renouned for large, prominent sexual organs.
• They are dichotomous and difficult to predict, having both fluffy fur and dangerous horns.

¹ Phaladīpikā 9.1: vṛtta-īkṣaṇaḥ – following what catches their eye. durbala jānu-rugnaḥ – weak and troubled on their knees. bhīruḥ-jale – afraid of water. syāt – are. laghu-bhuk – sparse and quick eaters. sukāmī – libidinous and sexually capable. saṃcāra – contestuous and unsettled. śīlaś-capalaḥ – unpredictable, unsettled, fickle. nṛta ukti – extroverted, bold, assertive. vrarṇa aṅkita aṅgaḥ – marked by scars. kriya-bhe prajātaḥ – one born in the sign of Kriya (Aries).