Lagna (ascendant)

The lagna is the sign that was rising over the eastern horizon at the exact time and place of birth. Because the sky seems to turn once a day, the rising sign changes about every two hours, which is why the time of birth matters so much. A difference of a few minutes can move the lagna to a neighbouring sign, or change the divisional charts.

In the whole-sign system used on this site, the lagna sign becomes the first house, the next sign the second house, and so on. The planet that rules the lagna sign is called the lagna lord and is read as an important marker of the chart.