Lagna (Ascendant)
The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth — the anchor of the whole chart.
The lagna, or ascendant, is the degree of the zodiac that was climbing over the eastern horizon at the exact time and place of birth. Because the sky rises a full 360 degrees every day, the lagna changes roughly every two hours, which is why an accurate birth time matters so much.
The lagna sets the first house and therefore decides where every other house falls. It is treated as the most personal point in the chart — the body, temperament and the lens through which the rest of the chart expresses itself. Two people born the same day can have very different lives largely because of a different rising sign.
Its ruling planet, the lagna lord, is one of the most important planets to study: its placement and strength colour the whole life. The Moon sign and Sun sign matter too, but in Vedic practice the lagna usually leads.
See this in your own chart
Ideas like this make far more sense against a real birth chart. Generate your free kundli — real astronomy, no sign-up — or read the longer guides for the full picture.
Related terms
Or browse the full glossary.