Lagna

In Vedic Astrology Jyotiṣa, the Lagna (lagñ) or Hour Marker, is the first moment of contact between the soul and its new life on earth in Jyotiṣa. Lagna's Rashi and Nakshatra represents the "Atman" (Soul) of an Individual Person while the Lagna Lord which represents the Ruler of the Horoscope absorbs the traits and qualities of that specific Rashi & Nakshatra.

Astronomically, the Lagna corresponds to the portion of the zodiac intersecting the eastern horizon at a given moment, and it marks the beginning of the first house (bhāva) in a natal chart. The remaining houses are then enumerated sequentially from this point. In Jyotiṣa, the Lagna is considered a foundational element of horoscope interpretation, as it provides the framework for assessing planetary placements, house significations, and their interrelationships. Classical astrological literature emphasizes the central role of the Lagna and its ruling planet in the overall analysis of a birth chart.