How much does a Rising Sign influence ur chart? what do astrologers generally consider? only the sun sign or sunsigh, moon and rising sign? and what if some characterisics are contradictory? how does one decide which is more stronger?

Thanks for posting this topic, because it's an interesting one alright.   I look at the rising sign as the energy which a soul travels through when they come into the world, and so this energy is visible to others, moreso than the sun-sign, which is close and personal (and quite hidden I find), or even the moon sign, which is intensely personal, but can sometimes be shown through a person's behaviour.

When doing a chart for someone I really need to know a person's time-of-birth because I find that a person's rising sign gives so much information, particularly if you have a relationship with someone, as the rising sign automatically determines what sign rules the 7th house of relationships.  People tend to project their rising sign as a personality trait.
eg. I'm a Leo, but with Capricorn rising, I'm very cautious and responsible and sensible.
My sister-in-law has sun and moon in Taurus, but with a Gemini ascendant she has a sharp and quick mind, and can talk without seeming to draw breath!
One of my brothers has sun in Virpo and moon in Scorpio. but in his dealings with others he comes across as a mild-mannered, socially adept and charming Libran - his rising sign.

Sorry - I got carried away on that post, and ignored your questions, Swetha, about what if some signs are contradictory.
And to answer this, I'll use the example I gave in my last post of my brother who has sun in Virgo, moon in Scorpio, and Libra rising.  Professionally he's a Virgo (works in mathematics, specifically Statistics), socially and relationship-wise he's a Libran - very socially oriented, kind and gracious.  But as I see him he suppresses his Scorpio moon, which is a common expression of any planet in Scorpio in my experience.  I believe that he feels that his Scorpio characteristics so contradict what he is trying to project of himself that he behaves like he has no Scoprio at all in his chart.  He may express this sexually, but he's my brother, so I don't know about that.

It also depends on how interested and insightful people are about themselves, and what makes them tick.  Some people are satisfied with just knowing their sun signs and what that can mean, while others say things like: `But I'm not like a Cancerian at all!'  This would probably be because Cancerian sun signs hide their Cancerian selves behind their moon sign.  So, for instance, a Cancerian with Aries moon may express themselves dynamically and confidently, just like an Aries sun sign.

Some people are really hard to pick, because they project themselves so much as their rising sign, that their sun and moon take a back seat.

I also find that a person's Mars placement can be almost as obvious as is their rising sign.  For instance, I have a cousin who's an Aries, but she also has Mars in Scorpio.  She has Taurus rising, which softens (fortunately!!) all that Aries and Scorpio, but she projects into the world with a combination of Aries and Scorpio characteristics.

RISING SIGN known as the ascendant or lagna, the SUN SIGN, where you sun is (what the western approach uses to describe as your zodiac sign) and the MOON SIGN where your moon is (what the Indian approach uses to describe as your rashi) are all equally important! Each pertains to a different aspect of your persona- because every individual is made up of many parts! Very very simply put the rising sign shows what you are, the sun sign shows what you appear to the world, and the moon sign shows what you are emotionally! You will get a better grasp on understanding your self- call it your personality, or nature if you read all three signs – with their contradictions! We all have many contradictions in us and this is shown beautifully when you combine the three! Other planets also add to this! That’s why to truly know your self- you need to pursue all the planets! How you communicate and think wld be seen through mercury for example!
Love dee

that is an interesting question and the two posts above give the basics ...

this is what i do that sometimes help me clarify what could be a contradiction ... because say you have a virgo sun and a cancer ascendent ... but you are totally outgoing and gregarious, the life of the party.  that could be reflected if say your your moon was in leo or something like that ... but what if when you run your chart sidereally, your sun is still in virgo, but closer to the leo cusp and your ascendant was leo.  you moon was in cancer ... hmmmmmm

you would still have that 'family' thing because moon in cancer ... you would still be centered in virgo, but your personality would be leo.  the difference would be the 'routing' of your energy ...

if you were all outgoing and gregarious because of your moon energy or whether that was your projection of your personae out into the world ... its a bit of hair spliting, but in doing detailed identity work, it could prove to help understand what seems to be contradictions and show that they really weren't contradictory after all, they were just viewed and routed through a different source, and then they all made sense.

... if any of the above made any at all ... it sure seemed like i was talking in circles!