What Is Your Lagna (Ascendant) and Why Does It Matter?

Your Lagna, or ascendant, is the zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the moment you were born. It changes roughly every two hours, which is why birth time matters so much.

In Vedic astrology the Lagna sets the first house. Every other house follows from it in order, so two people born the same day but a few hours apart can have very different charts.

If you don't know your birth time, ask a parent or check hospital records. Even a rough window helps an astrologer rectify the chart using major life events.