Vedic astrology · glossary
Lagna (Ascendant)
The ascendant: the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth.
What it means
The Lagna is the first house and the frame for the whole chart — in whole-sign houses, the rising sign becomes the 1st house and the rest follow in order. Because it changes roughly every two hours, an accurate birth time is essential; a wrong Lagna shifts every house.
How it's computed
ephemeris.ts finds the ecliptic-of-date point on the eastern horizon by the numeric horizon method, validated against astronomy-engine's Horizon() and the Sun-at-sunrise identity; chart.ts builds whole-sign houses from it.
Deterministic, license-clean engine (astronomy-engine, VSOP87-grade; Lahiri ayanāṁśa). The AI advisor only narrates these computed facts — it never invents chart data.
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Frequently asked
- Why does birth time matter so much?
- The Lagna moves about one sign every two hours, so even a small time error can change the rising sign and therefore every house placement.
- Is the Lagna the same as my Moon sign?
- No. The Lagna is the rising sign; the rāśi people usually quote is the Moon sign. Both are used, for different things.