Determination of Ascendant

In order to determine the ascendant i.e. the specific degree etc. of a specific sign rising in the eastern horizon at the moment of birth query etc. We must know

(a) The time of birth or query etc. as the case may be,

(b) Time of sun rise on the day of birth.

It is not necessary to adopt different methods for the determination of births taking place before noon, afternoon, before midnight, after midnight etc. One uniform method is adequate, whatever be the time of birth.

Determination of lagna or ascendant depends on Ishta i.e. the time elapsed between the moments of birth. Supposing a birth takes place at a station at 10.30 a.m. and the sun rises at that station on the day of birth at 5.37, then 10.30 minus 5.37 i.e. 4.53 a.m. would be called the Ishta. Similarly suppose a birth takes place at 2 a.m. in the night between 25th and 26th Aug. at a particular station and Sun rises at that station on 25th Aug. at 5.15 a.m., then the difference between 2 a.m. + 5.15 i.e. between 26 hours and 5.15 hours ie. 20 hours and 45 minutes would be the Ishta.

Since the sun rise time varies from place to place according to its longitude, we must know the extent of its variation from the standard line for India Le. Longitude 82 30 East. For example Jodhpur is situated at Latitude 26.18 (North) and Longitude 73.04 (East). The difference between the longitude of the standard point in India i.e. 82.30 and the longitude of Jodhpur i.e. 73.04 = 90.26. Since 360 degrees retraversed in 24 hours, it would take 4 minutes for one degree to traverse. Hence 9 degrees and 26 minutes difference would be equal to 37 minutes 44 seconds at that rate. In other words Sun would rise 37 minutes and 44 seconds later than it would at the standard point. Hence If we know from the almanacs the time of sun rise for a particular latitude of the place of birth we can know the local time of sun rise by adding to or deducting from the time of sun rise for the Latitude of birth place, the difference in minutes corresponding to the longitudes of the place of birth and that of the standard point, according as is, the west or east of the standard point. In the example given above for Jodhpur, we have added the time of birth in Indian Standard time as Jodhpur is west of the Indian Standard point.

Having known, thus the correct Ishta on the basis of the correct local time of sun rise we can with the help of the table of ascendants for the place of birth or for latitude very near it, find out the ascendant or lagna.

After determining the Ishta we should ascertain from the almanac the longitude of the Sun for the time of birth. This longitude is given for ready reference in all good almanacs. Suppose the Longitude ls 1O 24 45 44. In this figure the first two digits viz. 10 + 24 i.e. sign no 10 +degrees 24 would suffice for our purpose. The figure against 10 signs + 24 degrees In the table should be taken out and added to the Ishta as ghatees and palas. The resultant figure should be seen in the same table. The sign and degrees under which it or the figure very near it appears is the sign and degree of the ascendant.

For example if we have 25 ghatees and 8 palas as ishta and longitude of Sun as 10o 24' then in the table of ascendants we have the figure 58/24/44 corresponding to ft. By adding 25 8 to ft we have the total 23/32/44. On looking up 23 32 44 in the table we find 23 29 27 as the nearest figure to ft. On the left side of 23 29 27 we find the sign Leo, while on top of ft there is the digit 2 denoting the degree. Hence the lagna or ascendant is the second degree of Leo.

After having arrived at the ascendant in the manner indicated above we should then indicate the planets by appropriate symbols in the same signs in the birth chart in which they are found in the almanac, thus finalizing the preparation of the horoscope.