The numbers shown in the center of the Vedic chart do not represent the house number. Instead, they represent the sign. The example chart above shows a Cancer rising. Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac, and it sits in the 1st House. 

The next house, the 2nd House, is to the left (counterclockwise) and indicates that Leo, the 5th sign of the zodiac, is placed there. 

If you continue around the chart counterclockwise you arrive at the 7th House in the bottom center diamond, where the 10th sign Capricorn sits. 

Lastly, if you continue all the way around you get to the 12th House, marked by 3 to indicate that Gemini sits there. 

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The signs are always in the same order as the tropical zodiac                           

1 Aries - Lord Mars

2 Taurus - Lord Venus

3 Gemini - Lord Mercury 

4 Cancer - Lord Moon

5 Leo - Lord Sun

6 Virgo - Lord Mercury

7 Libra - Lord Venus

8 Scorpio - Lord Mars

9 Sagittarius - Lord Jupiter

10 Capricorn - Lord Saturn

11 Aquarius - Lord Saturn

12 Pisces - Lord Jupiter

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The Nodal lordship is debated amongst authorities, but I use as co-rulers:

Rahu- Gemini and Taurus

Ketu- Scorpio and Sagittarius

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While the signs and houses follow counterclockwise, the apparent motion in the sky moves clockwise. The portion of the chart that is above the horizon at the time of birth can be seen by looking at everything to the right of the Ascendant and Descendant (in the 7th House) degree. So in the above chart, Aries is on the midheaven, the highest point in the sky, at the time of this chart. Libra, the 7th sign, in the 4th house is at the lowest point beneath the horizon. 

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