Have you ever watched a video of yourself talking and thought, Wait, do I really sound like that? Or had someone describe you in a way that felt completely off?
Maybe you think you’re coming across as warm and friendly, but people actually find you intimidating. Or you see yourself as logical and straightforward, but others think you’re cold or even harsh.
The truth is, you don’t see yourself the way the world sees you.
And that’s a big deal. Because how people perceive you – whether it’s accurate or not – shapes the opportunities you get, the relationships you attract, and the success you achieve.
If people see you as a leader, they follow you. If they see you as unreliable, they don’t trust you. If they see you as magnetic and inspiring, they want to be around you.
So how do we crack this code of perception?
In Vedic astrology, there’s a tool for that. It’s called the Arudha Lagna, and once you understand it, you’ll never see yourself – or your public image – the same way again.
What is the Arudha Lagna?
In Vedic astrology, your Lagna, or Ascendant, represents who you truly are. Think of it like the Sun: strong, steady, always shining the same way no matter where you stand.
But your Arudha Lagna (AL)? That’s like the Moon. It’s a reflection, a shifting image, changing based on where people are standing. In other words, it’s your public persona, reputation, and the energy you give off to others – whether intentionally or not.
To put it in everyday terms:
- Your Lagna is who you are when you’re home alone, when no one is watching.
- Your Arudha Lagna is how people see you when they look at your social media, meet you for the first time, or hear about you through others.
And here’s a key point: You can’t change your Arudha Lagna.
This isn’t about deciding, I want people to see me as one thing when my energy naturally projects something else. If your AL makes people perceive you as a strategist, you’ll struggle if you insist on branding yourself as a carefree artist. If people naturally see you as an aloof intellectual, they won’t easily accept you as a bold risk-taker.
The mistake people make is pushing against their AL instead of leaning into it. That’s where people struggle, whether in personal branding, marketing, or even choosing the right career.
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How is the Arudha Lagna calculated?
Without getting too astro technical, your AL is calculated from your Ascendant (Lagna). To find it:
- identify the lord (ruling planet) of your Ascendant sign
- count the number of houses from your Ascendant to where that planet is placed
- count that same number of houses forward from the planet’s position
- wherever you land, that becomes your Arudha Lagna
The exception here is if your AL happens to land in your Lagna. In this case, it is placed in your 10th house instead.
Because of this method, your Arudha Lagna will never be the same as your Ascendant. It always falls somewhere else in your chart, showing that your public image is always distinct from who you truly are.
If you calculate your chart with a Vedic astrology software, your Arudha Lagna will be represented as “AL” in the chart. Here is an example with the Arudha Lagna in the 4th house with Ketu.
Why does the Arudha Lagna matter?
If you’re building a business, creating a personal brand, or even just trying to understand why people react to you the way they do, knowing your AL is a game-changer.
Your AL shows what kind of personal brand makes sense for you, but also what kind of work will actually bring you success. The truth is, not every path is open to every person.
For example:
- If you’re an artist or actor, you’d want Venus (beauty, charm, creativity) influencing your AL.
- If you want widespread fame, you need a strong Moon (popularity, emotional connection) connected with your AL
- If you want to be taken seriously as a leader, a strong Mars or the Sun in your AL helps. If instead, you have a Mercury-ruled AL, people might naturally see you more as a communicator or strategist rather than a top-down authority figure.
What If Your Arudha Lagna Has a Negative Influence?
If your AL is weak or afflicted, for example, due to the influence of malefic planets, negative aspects, or house placement, you may struggle to gain recognition or status, even when you’re talented and hardworking.
If this is the case, a Vedic astrologer can help you find effective remedies or workarounds. Again, the goal isn’t to “change” your AL – you can’t do that – but to adjust how you work with it so you get better results.
Some basic remedies include:
- mantras and Vedic rituals – reciting the right mantra for the planet influencing your AL can strengthen your public image
- Colors and clothing choices – Wearing colors associated with a positive planet in your chart can subtly shift perception
- aligning your work with your AL – if people see you as intense and uncompromising, don’t try to market yourself as “light and friendly”
- charity and service – if your AL has a difficult influence, giving to causes related to that planet can help balance its energy
The power of the Arudha Lagna
At the end of the day, your AL is an important for determining how you gain status and recognition in the world.
So, what does your AL say about you? Are you working with it or against it? Have you ever felt misunderstood in the way people perceive you? If you know your Arudha Lagna, does it match how people treat you in your career or social life? If you’d like to find out, schedule a consultation and we can explore these questions together.