Lagna

Lagna is the ascendant or rising sign - the point of the zodiac rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth. It marks the first house and establishes the entire house framework of the chart. The lagna is considered the most important point in the chart.

The lagna represents: physical body, constitution, personality, approach to life, and how one is perceived by others. Its lord (the planet ruling the rising sign) becomes the chart ruler, whose condition significantly influences overall life outcomes.

Accurate birth time is essential because the lagna changes approximately every two hours. Different lagnas dramatically alter house placements and chart interpretation. Jyotish emphasizes lagna more than Western astrology emphasizes Sun sign - the ascendant is the primary lens through which the entire chart is read.