Lagna Ligne Line Ascendant Rising Sign *BP Lama Jyotisha Vedic Astrology

Barbara Pijan Lama Jyotisha Vedic Astrology

Amsha

Lagna

Line

amasthamsha * atmasthana

Ascendant Sign * First House * Rising Sign

Ligne - Linea - Baseline - Initiation - Onset - Beginning - Birth - First Step - Starting Line

Any rashi, graha, or calculated point in the nativity can be used as a lagna-baseline from which to begin the count.

Jyotisha is essentially a large accounting system the accuracy of which depends on the correct application of essentially of "Counting Rules".

Each of the twelve bhava and each of the nine karaka-graha can become a lagna for specific purposes.

For example,

putra bhava or Guru becomes a lagna or baseline from which predictions can be made regarding one's children
putra-bhava or Surya can be used as the first step from which to count the outcome of one's political performance.
Karma bhava or the lord of the 10th navamsha becomes the lagna from which predictions are made regarding career, profession, job promotion, public reputation.
for a male, Yuvati bhava or Shukra becomes the lagna from which predictions are made regarding marriage conditions and the lifestyle of one's spouse.
for a female, Yuvati bhava or Guru becomes the lagna from which predictions are made regarding the lifestyle of one's spouse. Female marriage conditions are counted from Shukra.

Varieties of Lagna

First-step baseline from which outcomes can be predicted by counting a particular number of Steps

Rashi lagna = bhava-1 = Tula Bhava. Rashi lagna forms the baseline for most of the social-material events of life.
Chandra lagna = rashi of Chandra. Chandra lagna forms the baseline for most emotional experiences in life, primarily kinship and marital relationships, specifically with parents and children.
Navamsha lagna = rashi presenting on the first bhava of the navamsha. Navamsha lagna forms the baseline for most calculations regarding the psycho-emotional dynamics of marriage, and the influence of the higher Self including questions of "how may I best serve?"
Each varga has a lagna = its first bhava. From the varga lagna, count appropriately to find confirmation of the identical count in radix.
Each varga can be divided into 12 solar parts (12 rashi) or 27 lunar parts (Nakshatra). There will be a rising Nakshatra in every varga. Nakshatra themselves are divisible into 4 quarters (pada), and for some predictive purposes the specific Nakshatra quarter or its subdivision may be set as a lagna.
Karakamsha lagna = rashi which is occupied by atmakaraka within the navamsha chart. This rashi-lagna shows the most creative (kri, karak) social-material activity in the present lifetime. In modern era, usually = highest professional service.
Arudha lagna = rashi of the bhava which occupies the same number of rashi away from the lord of the bhava (see instructions). Shows the public viewpoint upon the native ; a series of maya = "veils" or cloud-layers of the aura which may present an illusion rather different from the underlying truth.
Upapada lagna = arudha of bhava-12. Are the people closest to one treating one nicely? The A-12 profiles our most private reality.
Pranapada = a delicate, specialized lagna potentially used to rectify birthtime
Visheshika lagna = "special purpose" lagna derived by mathematical calculation of the starting line = Hora lagna, Bhava lagna, Ghati lagna

Rashi Lagna

Mesha = Aries
Vrishabha = Taurus
Mithuna = Gemini
Karkata = Cancer
Simha = Leo
Kanya = Virgo
Thula = Libra
Vrischika = Scorpio
Dhanusha = Sagittarius
Makara = Capricorn
Kumbha = Aquarius
Meena = Pisces

Twenty-Seven Nakshatra Lagna

28th (intercalary) Nakshatra = Abhijit

Vocabulary = 'Lagna'

Koeln Digital Sanskrit-English Lexicon

Lagna:

Adhered, adhering or clinging to, attached to, sticking or remaining in, fixed on, intent on, clasping, touching, following closely
following on a person's heels; with; sticking to i.e. following the road ; with
One who has penetrated the heart;
One who has entered on a course of action , one who has begun to
meeting , intersecting , cutting (said of lines)
immediately ensuing
passed (as days)
consumed by , spent in; furious through being in rut (an elephant)
bard or minstrel (who awakes the king in the morning)
The point of contact or intersection (of two lines)
The point where the horizon intersects the ecliptic or path of the planets
The point or arc of the equator which corresponds to a given point or arc of the ecliptic
The division of the equator which rises in succession with each sign in an oblique sphere
The point of the ecliptic which at a given time is upon the meridian or at the horizon
The moment of the sun's entrance into a zodiacal sign
The rising of the sun or of the planets
(in astrol.) a scheme or figure of the 12 houses or zodiacal signs (used as a horoscope)
The whole of the first astrological house; {zubha};{zobhana};{anukUla}
An auspicious moment or time fixed upon as lucky for beginning to perform anything
The decisive moment or time for action , decisive measure

Applied geometry: the "science of lines"

Rashi Lagna (first house) characteristics rule the physical appearance and body image, in addition to social personality as contained in the social-material lifestyle.

Appearance and the social reward or stigma that it creates, are determined by:

the rashi (sign) ruling the first house
the Nakshatra (lunar mansion) ruling the lagna (divisible into quarters)
the dristhi (aspect) cast upon the first house by any planet.

Each lagna has certain predispositions which match the portfolio of its natural house.

These predispositions are only themes, and must be confirmed by other factors to justify true predictions.
These subtle rashi-lagna traits are not determining per se, but they will reinforce other influences, such as corresponding strength in the natural house, strong lagnesha, Chandra etc.

The reasoning process of Jyotisha does not permit excessive generalization. Each life is completely unique.

Therefore each radix, navamsha, and supporting varga chart should be analyzed in detail to reveal the profile of an individual and the sequence of life events forecast via the dashas.
Nevertheless, because each of the twelve lagna signs enforces a characteristic set of house rulerships a practicing Jyotishi will eventually observe common behaviors amongst those who share the same radix lagna, navamsha lagna, and other varga lagna .

In practice there are a large number of "lagna" which signify the baseline character of all of life's enterprises.

To judge the harmony of married life, find each spouses natal Moon situated in the navamsha lagna or navamsha nodal lagna of their spouse. Without this level of psychic validation, marriage is inherently unfavorable.
To judge the timing of marriage, consider the lagnas formed by Rahu-Ketu axis in both radix and navamsha charts.
Timing of marriage also depends on bhukti lords of Navamsha lagna
To judge the emotional character and all responses to life proceeding from that field of perception (a big job) use the Chandra lagna.
To judge ALL emotional relationships within a family, including the emotional (not the material) relationship with the siblings, parents, and spouse, read from Chandra lagna.
The current mahadasha-pati creates a lagna for judging the events of the mahadasha. Always measure the angle from the mahadasha- patito the current bhukti-pat when predicting the impact of a Vimshottari dasha time period.
Lords of rising Lagna of all the varga have special powers in determining the outcomes of the special portfolio of each varga

Natural Lagna

All of the Graha a offer a natural lagna or baseline from which to measure their characteristic projections.

Suraja needs to hold the center. From Surya, measure political, theatrical relationships and all matters of Divine Intelligence.
Chandra wishes to secure a place. From Chandra, measure protective, anchoring relationships and all matters of emotional security-protection-shelter-habit.
Budha needs to tell a story. From the Kumara, measure articulatory, communicative relationships and all matters of the argumentative, logical mentality.
Kuraja (Kuja) wants to win the race, to be first. From Mangala, measure competitive, innovative relationships and all matters of the flesh-body.
Guru wants to teach wisdom. From Guru, measure philosophical, guiding relationships and all matters of higher wisdom.
Shukra needs to be partnered with another entity. From Shukra, measure paired, negotiating relationships and all matters of contractual two-part balance.
Shani wishes to regulate. From Shani, measure lawful, obligatory relationships and all matters of social regulation, material structure, and Time.

Q: Dear Barbara,

varaha mihira clearly says in brihatjatakam that the adhana lagna is the most preferred lagna for assessment.
but we all read horoscopes based on the time of first independant existence, namely the time when the head is out/ first cry..(as the adhana lagna is not available in most cases) naturally, there is a great difference in the readings.
whats your opinion? when 3 degree 20 min can change a lot of things..273 days difference can surely change a lot, no?
thx for your time.

A: Namaste, Thanks very much for your compliments [...]. I am delighted to know that you are finding the materials useful in your study of the Vidya of Jyotisha.

You ask a good question about the timing of the "first" moment of the incarnation!

Since the adhana lagna is not available, except in rare cases and perhaps by clairvoyant methods, it is prudent to use the data that we do have.
These days it is quite practical in most homes and hospitals to record the moment of the baby's first breath outside the womb.
The spirit (prana) enters the newborn's body in the moment of the first in-breath. Most religions celebrate the breath (brah) as a primary vehicle of divine spirit.
Therefore in Jyotisha practice we accommodate the reality of our historical era: we don't have access (normally) to the time of conception, so we use the data that we are equipped to obtain, which is the first Earth-breath. Knowing that this data is incomplete, we ask for divine guidance in working within its limitations.

It would be nice if one could simply cast a chart for 273 days before the day of first breath to capture the day of conception, but unfortunately gestation times vary - some babies are born quite healthy after only eight months in utero and others (like my son!) are several weeks "late".

IMO, using the moment of first breath to place the natal lagna is a good practice that will yield useful predictive results in Jyotisha.
But you are right to have doubts! The time of conception, as Varaha Mihira tells us, would be an ideal moment to set the janma lagna - if we could obtain it :)

Sincerely,

Barbara Pijan Lama, Jyotisha

file update: 13-Jun-2013

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