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Vedic Astrology Lessons: Chakras

Ascendant: Lagna
The Eastern Horizon where the Sun rises is called the ascendant. In Sanskrit is called the lagna, which means it is
the tying down point oI the chart. The sign oI the zodiac that was in the eastern horizon oI the sky at the time oI
your birth is your ascending sign, your lagna. It is the point that has tied down the position oI all the houses in the
natal horoscope. The ascendant changes every 2 hours.
In Vedic Astrology this is one oI the most important points in a chart as it dictates the house-planet relationship. In
western astrology most people are concerned about their Sun Sign, but in Jyotish people are more concerned about
their ascendant. The Sun sign is important as it is the place where the Atma (soul) works through, but even this is
understood in the proper house which will be based on the lagna. The Lagna shows our intelligence and how we
will apply it. It will also be the primary indication oI the body, which is what ties one to this world.

The Chart Types (Chakras)
There are three main types oI charts used in Vedic astrology. They all display the same inIormation but in a
diIIerent Iormat. Each places emphasis in a diIIerent area. It is advised to begin with North Indian Iirst, then learn
South Indian and Iinally East Indian. When you learn them all you will be able to look at a chart with a multiple
dimensional viewpoint, taking any house, planet or sign as the ascendant.
North
Indian
Bhrigu Chakra Venus Counter-clockwise House based, signs move
South
Indian
Guru Chakra Jupiter Clockwise Sign based, houses move
East Indian Surya Chakra Sun Counter-clockwise Sign based, houses move


North Indian (Bhrigu Chakra)
The North Indian Chart is made oI diamonds and has the houses
Iixed always in the same place. The lagna is always the Iirst house.
The signs move through the houses in a counter-clockwise motion.
This is how the sky looks Irom earth, the houses remain the same but
the stars are moving through the sky. The Iirst house is always
sunrise and the 7th house is always sunset. The sign rising on the
eastern horizon takes residence in the Iirst house.
The signs oI the zodiac (Rasi) are placed in each house according to
their number.

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1 Aries 7 Libra
2 Taurus 8 Scorpio
3 Gemini 9 Sagittarius
4 Cancer 10 Capricorn
5 Leo 11 Aquarius
6 Virgo 12 Pisces
The example chart has Gemini as the Lagna, the number 3 which
represents Gemini is placed in the 1st house. The 2nd house then
becomes Cancer with the number 4 placed there to represent the
sign. The houses will always remain the same, while the signs oI the
zodiac will circulate through the houses.


1. Take your own chart and write it by hand. Put the number oI the lagna in the Iirst house and write it to learn to
separate the houses Irom the signs within them.
2. Look at the lord oI each sign relative to the house it is placed in. For example, iI Gemini is in the lagna then
Mercury is the lord oI the lagna. II Cancer is in the second house, then Moon is the lord oI the second house. II
Sagittarius is in the 7th house, then Jupiter is the lord oI the 7th . Calculate the lord oI each house in your own
chart.
The North Indian chart makes the trines very easy to see and work with. The
middle Iour houses stand out. These are the houses oI the Iour ayanas (goals oI
human liIe). The trines to each oI these in turn stands out very strongly. The
Iour inner diamonds (Kendras-1,4,7,10) are called Visnu sthanas, places oI
Visnu, the god oI sustenance. The trines (Kona-1,5,9) are called Laksmi
sthanas, places oI Laksmi, the goddess oI prosperity and Iemale partner to
Visnu.






In the diagrams, one can see how the Iour
ayana rule the middle Iour kendras (center).
Each ayana has its support in the Kona
(corners) which are 5 and 9 houses away
Irom that house.



These trines called konas are the Laksmi
sthanas (place oI Laksmi) the Devi/goddess
that takes care oI that area oI liIe. Laksmi is
a goddess connected to the planet Venus.
Diamonds are ruled by the planet Venus. Bhrigu is a sage who was blood related to the planet Venus. ThereIore
this chart made oI diamonds, showing the kendras and konas predominant, and used by the Sage Brighu is ruled by
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the planet Venus and called the Bhrigu Chakra.

3. Calculate which planets are in which ayana oI liIe.
4. Which ayana has the most planets?
5. Which ayana is the lagna lord placed in? The Moon? The Sun? The Lord oI the 9th ?


Bringing Life to the Bhrigu Chakra
The Bhrigu Chakra is turned on its side Irom the horizon. The
horizon line cuts the Iirst house in halI, so halI the lagna is under the
horizon and the other halI is above the horizon.

The Sunrises in the Iirst house and sets in the seventh house.

The inward spaces
From house 1st to 7th is the night
The seen part oI liIe
From houses 7th to 1st is the day

The Iourth house is midnight
The tenth house is high noon


When the Sun rises, and it is seen as a halI globe, it is right on the
ascendant. It is important to visualize this in the environment outside
oI yourselI.
So the chart can be laid over the visible sky above to see the position
oI the planets. All the planets take the same course as the Sun,
moving along what is called the ecliptic. There is only an 8 degree oI
variation Irom where the Sun crosses in the sky. It is a belt across the
sky in which the planets move within.




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We will take the Sun as a Iirst example to illustrate how the Sun is the keeper oI time, and to begin to see its
movement with in the chart and how that relates to sky above. See how the houses relate to the sky above, in the
same way they will relate to what is below the earth (Irom our vantage point).



We will generalize Ior learning sake, and take Sunrise at 6:00AM and Sunset at 6:00PM. The Sun will rise in the
center oI the lagna at 6AM. It will be in the Iirst house till 7AM. At that point it will enter the twelIth house and be
there Irom 7 to 9AM, when it will enter the 11 th house. The Sun will be in the 10 th house oI Karma Irom 11 to
1PM. This center most point (near about 12PM) where the Sun is the highest and hottest is called the mid-heaven.


6. Look at the position oI the Sun in your chart and see how it
correlates to the time oI your birth. Take into account some variation
at diIIerent times oI the year depending on the sunrise.
7. Watch the Sun throughout the day and cast a Iew charts to see
how it moves through the houses.

One must become accustomed to reading the
chart, perceiving it properly, beIore beginning
metaphysical interpretation. The Iirst example
chart has a native born at 12:00PM during the
time oI the year when the Sun was in Leo. This
will place the Sun in the 10 th house as well as
make the tenth house ruled by Leo. II the Sun
is in the 10 th house ruled by Leo then the
ascendant must be Scorpio.

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The second sample chart, the native was born at Sunset while the Sun was
in Scorpio. This will make the lagna Taurus, so as the Sun set the
constellation oI Taurus was rising on the eastern horizon.

8. The next chart belongs to a native who was born at midnight while the
Sun was in Sagittarius. What was the lagna (stars rising on the eastern
horizon) when the native was born?

9. In the next example, what house is the Sun in? About what time was the
native born? II they were born on November 20th, what would be the
lagna? II they were born on April 1st, what would be the lagna?

10. In the next example, what house is the Sun in? About what time was the
native born? II they were born on November 1st, what would be the lagna?
II they were born on April 21st, what would be the lagna?
Now that the houses have a physical reality to you in the sky, you can use the Bhrigu chakra
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11. Look at your chart to see what was in the sky when you were born and where it was above you. Bring the chart
into the sky above you. Where in the sky or below the Earth was your Sun when you were born? What other
planets were located in the sky?
12. Take some time to cast the chart just aIter sunset Ior your location. Go outside and locate the planets, and the
Moon. Predict where they will be beIore going out and looking at the sky. Predict when Venus will set, or when it
will rise and take time to watch this. What times oI year is Jupiter visible in the sky? Make sure to calculate and
observe this.


$outh Indian Chart (Guru Chakra)
The South Indian chart is made oI squares and places the signs in a
clockwise manner. The signs never change but the houses move in
the chart. The ascendant is placed in a sign and the houses proceed
Irom that sign. The Lagna is marked by a line crossing the house or
by either writing Lag (Lagna) or Asc (Ascendant). The clockwise
motion oI the signs is as it is perceived Irom the Sun's viewpoint.

In the example, a line is crossed through Gemini, the 3rd sign. Gemini is then
the Iirst house (lagna). The Sun is placed in Virgo in the 4th house (it is Iour
signs away Irom the lagna). In this way the signs remain the same and the
houses will change depending on the lagna.

Where the North Indian chart represents the view oI the houses Irom the vantage
point oI Earth, the South Indian chart represent the movement oI the Earth while
the signs remain still in the universe. The signs and the Sun remain still and the
revolving Earth changes houses as iI a higher power outside the earth is
watching. This chart is considered to be ruled by Jupiter (called Guru or
Brihaspati in Sanskrit). It is said to bring prosperity to those who use it as Jupiter
is the karaka (signiIier) oI wealth. It is called the Guru Chakra.




13. In the next South Indian chart, which sign (rasi) is the lagna? What rasi and
house (bhava) contains the Sun?


Rules based on signs, like the exaltation and debilitation, remain the same in this chart.
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14. First draw your own chart in the South Indian style, placing all the planets in the appropriate signs.
15. Which planets are Uccha and which planets are Neecha?
The Guru Chakra is always used when doing Vastu (Indian Feng Shui). The Rasi oI Aries is lined up to the
Easternmost direction. According to the rules oI Vastu, the center oI the room should remain empty. It is called the
Brahmasthanam (the place oI god). It is the all encompassing Emptiness (Shunya) in the center oI everything. The
Center is best leIt open and uncluttered.


In the example diagram, Aries has been lined up to the East oI a
person's bedroom. The doorway Ialls into Aries. The alter is in
Pisces and Aquarius. The circular table is in Gemini. The desk is in
Sagittarius and Capricorn while the desk is in Scorpio. The bed is
Ialling into Leo and Virgo. II a person was to enter the room and
take a seat, we could see what sign they were sitting in. Will they sit
by the door in Taurus, or will they sit near the bed in Libra, or will
they sit on the desk chair in Scorpio. When you are looking at the
signs upon the Earth, you will always use the Guru Chakra.

16. Draw a map oI the Iloor plan oI your house. Then overlay the Guru Chakra over the house with Aries in the
Eastern-most directions? Which room contains your Lagna, which room contains your Lagna lord? |In Vastu,
house design is based upon the ashtakavarga oI the signs.|
17. Draw a map oI your bedroom. Then overlay the Guru Chakra. Where is Venus in your bedroom? II possible,
try to arrange your bed to be in the place oI Venus, as Venus is the karaka Ior beds. |The room layout is based on
the position oI the karaka Ior the purpose oI the room.| II you have a standing light, try to place it in the position oI
the Sun. Noticing how easy or hard these two Iactors are, how suitable is this room Ior your individual purposes?


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ast Indian Chart ($urya Chakra)
The north Indian chart is made oI all diamonds/diagonlas, the south
Indian is made oI all squares/ straight lines. The East Indian chart is
made oI both diamonds and squares. It is meant to look like the Sun
with rays coming Irom it.
The signs remain in the same position and the houses move. The
Ascendant is placed in a sign and the houses are reckoned Irom it.
The signs are placed in a counter-clockwise motion as they are
perceived Irom earth looking up at the sky.


In the example chart, the ascendant is Gemini and the Sun is in the Iourth house
in Virgo. The Moon is in the 11th house in Aries.
Surya is the planet which rules vision, to see, to perceive. Surya must be strong
to be able to read an astrological chart. The Surya Chakra is considered the best
Ior predictive purposes.


The aspect that stands out the most in this chart is the gunas oI rajas,
tamas and sattva. The gunas relate directly to the trinity oI Brahma
the creator (rajas), Visnu the sustainer (sattva), and Maheshwar the
destroyer (tamas). There are three shapes, the squares hold Brahma.
The triangles that are circulating clockwise and upward hold Visnu.
And the triangles that go downwards and counter-clockwise
represent Shiva. This is the general Ioundation, but these houses will
shiIt according to Lagna and Arudha Lagna.

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The Arudha Lagna is like the Lagna, but while the Lagna shows what you are, the Arudha Lagna is a point that
shows how you are perceived. Perception and truth are not always the same. Since the East Indian chart shows the
gunas, it is very important Ior understanding the Arudha (image). This is a more advanced level oI astrology;
seeing the diIIerence Irom an experience and the perception oI an experience. When one begins to use Arudhas,
this chart will shed light on what was once beIore darkness. The Sun reveals everything, and no untruth (image)
can hide Irom it. When an astrologer uses multiple special lagnas and arudhas the Surya Chakra will prove very
powerIul.

18. Draw your own chart in the East Indian style. Also place the Arudhas in the proper places; AL, A2, A3, A4,
A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, UL.

rawing the chart by Hand
It is important to draw the chart by hand, especially as a beginner. The chart is a yantra oI the human incarnation; it
contains all potentialities oI an individual. It is a sacred diagram and should be studied by hand beIore moving to
computer generated charts.
BeIore drawing any type oI chart, Iirst a small mantra to Ganesh is recited. Then one says a small mantra to Surya,
the Sun god.
The chart itselI should be drawn in black pen |when using the North Indian the signs are also written in black|. The
planets are placed in the chart with red pen. When the planets are written in red it is said they become alive and
will reveal much more to the astrologer.

Conclusion
It is said that the south Indian is on the earth, the North Indian is on the ceiling and the East in Indian is in the sky.
The South Indian is most beneIicial when doing vastu (vedic architecture) and casting a chart in an environment. It
is said to be the most Iinancially rewarding oI the styles. The North Indian diamond chart is good to see a person's
abilities as the quadrants and trines stand out. It is also good to get an easy concept oI the sky. The East Indian
chart which uses both diamonds and squares and is connected to the main luminary is known to be good Ior
prediction. To be a good astrologer you should be able to read any oI these three, but that will come in time. To not
get too attached to a single style, occasionally try using diIIerent ones.
19. Now that you have a better grasp, draw your chart in each style. Draw the North Indian chart 3 times:
a. one with Lagna in the Iirst house (physical body)
b. the second with Moon as the Iirst house (subtle body) which is called Chandra Lagna
c. the third with Sun as the Iirst house (causal body) which is called Surya Lagna.
20. Draw a South Indian chart in the proper procedure with proper colors.
21. Draw an East Indian chart in the same way.

Updated Sept 2005, VyasaSJC, Contact , SriJagannath.org , Jyotish Digest , 2005 Sri Jagannath Center