Lagna · Capricorn
Capricorn ascendant: Makara Lagna, ruled by Saturn
Makara Lagna (Capricorn ascendant): its Lagna lord, the lord of every house, and the planets BPHS ch. 34 calls auspicious, Raja-yoga-giving and malefic for it.
In short
Capricorn ascendant means Makara (Capricorn) was rising in the east when you were born, so Makara is your 1st house and Saturn is your Lagna lord. For Makara Lagna, BPHS ch. 34 calls Venus (lord of the 5th and 10th houses) and Mercury (lord of the 6th and 9th houses) auspicious; Venus (lord of the 5th and 10th houses) gives Raja yoga; and Mars (lord of the 4th and 11th houses), Jupiter (lord of the 3rd and 12th houses) and the Moon (lord of the 7th house) are malefic.
The house lords for Makara Lagna
With Makara rising, each house takes the next sign in order. The lord of each sign rules that house: Saturn rules the 1st and 2nd houses.
| House | Sign | Lord |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Makara (Capricorn) | Saturn |
| 2nd | Kumbha (Aquarius) | Saturn |
| 3rd | Meena (Pisces) | Jupiter |
| 4th | Mesha (Aries) | Mars |
| 5th | Vrishabha (Taurus) | Venus |
| 6th | Mithuna (Gemini) | Mercury |
| 7th | Karka (Cancer) | The Moon |
| 8th | Simha (Leo) | The Sun |
| 9th | Kanya (Virgo) | Mercury |
| 10th | Tula (Libra) | Venus |
| 11th | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | Mars |
| 12th | Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Jupiter |
Good and bad planets for Makara Lagna (BPHS ch. 34)
For Makara Lagna, BPHS ch. 34 calls Venus (lord of the 5th and 10th houses) and Mercury (lord of the 6th and 9th houses) auspicious; Venus (lord of the 5th and 10th houses) gives Raja yoga; and Mars (lord of the 4th and 11th houses), Jupiter (lord of the 3rd and 12th houses) and the Moon (lord of the 7th house) are malefic. The Lagna lord, Saturn, is not in these lists; BPHS ch. 10 reads a strong Lagna lord as protecting the chart.
| Makara Lagna | |
|---|---|
| Lagna lord | Saturn |
| Auspicious | Venus and Mercury |
| Gives Raja yoga | Venus |
| Malefic | Mars, Jupiter and the Moon |
These lists are the starting point for which planets a gemstone or remedy may strengthen; see gemstones by Lagna. A planet's actual effect in a chart also depends on its strength, sign and house.
Makara Lagna and Makara rashi
The sign Makara itself (its element, nature and the nakshatras in it, from BPHS ch. 4) is described on Makara rashi (Capricorn). As a Lagna, what matters most is that Makara is the 1st house: the house lords above follow from it. Read the 1st house in astrology and Saturn in astrology for the Lagna lord.
How to know if you have Makara Lagna
Only your exact birth time and place can tell. Makara rises for roughly two hours each day (the length depends on the sign and the latitude), and the hour it rises shifts through the year. Near the start or end of that window a few minutes of birth time decide the Lagna, so check yours on a chart cast for your birth details rather than from the date alone.
Questions about Makara Lagna
Who is the lord of Makara Lagna?
Saturn rules Makara (Capricorn), so Saturn is the Lagna lord for Makara Lagna and rules the 1st and 2nd houses of the chart.
Which planets are good for Makara Lagna?
By BPHS ch. 34, Venus and Mercury are auspicious for Makara Lagna, and Venus gives Raja yoga.
Which planets are malefic for Makara Lagna?
By BPHS ch. 34, Mars, Jupiter and the Moon are malefic for Makara Lagna. A malefic planet is not bad in every chart: its strength and placement decide how it acts.
Is Makara Lagna the same as Makara rashi?
No. Makara Lagna means Makara was rising in the east at birth; Makara rashi means the Moon was in Makara. You can have one without the other. Both are shown on Astrojar's free chart card.
What is Capricorn ascendant called in Hindi and South Indian languages?
Capricorn ascendant is Makar Lagna in Hindi and Makara Lagna in Kannada; the sign is Magaram in Tamil and Makara in Telugu (common spellings; local spellings vary).
Sources
- Sign lords: BPHS ch. 3, as coded in Astrojar's engine. House lords are counted sign by sign from the Lagna (whole-sign houses), as Astrojar's chart does.
- Auspicious, Raja-yoga-giving and malefic planets for each Lagna: BPHS ch. 34 sl. 19-44 (R. Santhanam translation), the table Astrojar's gemstone and remedy advice follows.
- A strong Lagna lord protecting the chart: BPHS ch. 10 sl. 4, as Astrojar's remedy rules use it.
This is the traditional reading of the classical texts, given for learning and reflection. It is not a prediction for you, and not medical, legal or financial advice.
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