The sign rising at the eastern Horizon at the time of an important event is called as the ascendant. The ascendant consists of 30 degrees of zodiac which makes a sign.
More important is the exact degree which is on the rise at a given time. The entire life sketch of an individual can change, by the change of 1 degree of ascendant.

In fact one degree has been divided into 150 parts known as the Nadi Amsa and in two minutes 5 Nadi Amsa pass away. The life sketch of each Nadi Amsa born will be different as one can see in the lives of twins and multiple births.

Vedic-Indian astrology debates over the exact ghatika of birth and how it should be determined. However few salient points do give us a definite point in the Zodiac where the birth has occurred

It would be ideal to quote from Sepharial’s Degrees of zodiac symbolized rather than say any thing by myself. Sepharial says: “Among the many methods by which the student of Astrological science has endeavored to refine and enlarge his knowledge of sidereal influences, the study of special attributes or qualities attaching to the various degrees of zodiac is the most important.”

In India this particular line of research has long since been carried out to a condition bordering upon perfection. It is to be found embodied in the famous NADI GRANTHAMS, such as the Shukra Nadi and others of equal repute. In these kadjan’s which consists of original or copied writings executed on Palmyra leaves by means of stylus, the influence and nature of various degrees are given with great precision. Separate “Phalam” (reading)
Being given for every 10th part of a degree or six minutes of space measured on the ecliptic.

It is certainly a fact that our knowledge of celestial influences would be enormously extended, were we able to define the nature of several degrees of the Zodiac with the same rule-of thumb precision that attaches to the influence of signs and planets, and houses and other factors of astrological science.

Possibly we may have to wait for a translation of one of the Indian Nadi granthams before we can determine the methods by which the western writers have affixed specific symbols and influences to the degrees”

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