What Are Houses?
In Vedic astrology, the twelve houses (bhavas) represent different areas of life experience. Unlike signs, which represent archetypal energies, houses are determined by your exact birth time and location. They create a unique map of your life, showing where planetary energies will manifest.
The 1st house begins at the eastern horizon at your moment of birth (this is your Ascendant or Lagna). From there, each subsequent house represents approximately 30 degrees of the zodiac, moving counterclockwise through the chart.
House Classifications
Kendra (Angular Houses) - 1, 4, 7, 10
The power houses of the chart. Like the cardinal directions, these represent the fundamental pillars of life. Planets here are strong and produce visible, concrete results.
- • 1st: Self and body
- • 4th: Home and happiness
- • 7th: Partnership and others
- • 10th: Career and status
Trikona (Trinal Houses) - 1, 5, 9
The houses of dharma (righteousness) and good fortune. These are the most auspicious houses, bringing luck, wisdom, and spiritual growth. The 1st house belongs to both kendra and trikona categories, making it especially important.
- • 1st: Self-dharma
- • 5th: Creative dharma, intelligence
- • 9th: Higher dharma, fortune
Upachaya (Growth Houses) - 3, 6, 10, 11
Houses that improve with time and effort. Challenges here get easier as you age and gain experience. Even malefic planets can do well in these houses.
- • 3rd: Effort and skills
- • 6th: Service and obstacles
- • 10th: Career and action
- • 11th: Gains and income
Dusthana (Difficult Houses) - 6, 8, 12
Houses of challenge, transformation, and loss. While difficult, they're necessary for growth and spiritual evolution. Benefic planets here can mitigate difficulties.
- • 6th: Enemies, health challenges, service
- • 8th: Transformation, crisis, mysteries
- • 12th: Loss, isolation, liberation
House Meanings Summary
1st House:
Self, body, personality, beginnings
2nd House:
Wealth, speech, family, values
3rd House:
Courage, siblings, communication, skills
4th House:
Home, mother, happiness, property
5th House:
Children, creativity, intelligence, romance
6th House:
Health, service, enemies, obstacles
7th House:
Marriage, partnerships, business, others
8th House:
Transformation, longevity, occult, crisis
9th House:
Fortune, dharma, father, higher learning
10th House:
Career, status, authority, public life
11th House:
Gains, friends, aspirations, income
12th House:
Spirituality, loss, isolation, liberation
Understanding House Lords
Each house has a ruling planet based on the sign on its cusp. This planet is called the house lord or bhava karaka. The house lord's placement, strength, and aspects significantly influence that house's results.
For example, if Aries is on your 7th house cusp, Mars becomes your 7th lord. Where Mars sits in your chart and how strong it is will greatly affect your marriage and partnerships. If Mars is in the 10th house, your partner might be career-oriented or you might meet through work.
The 1st house lord (Ascendant Lord or Lagna Lord) is the most important planet in your entire chart, as it represents you and your overall life direction.
Planets in Houses
When planets occupy houses, they bring their specific energies to those life areas. The nature of the planet, its strength, and its relationship with the house determine the results:
- Benefic planets (Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, waxing Moon) generally improve the houses they occupy
- Malefic planets (Saturn, Mars, Sun, Rahu, Ketu, waning Moon) can create challenges but also provide strength, especially in upachaya houses
- Empty houses are not bad - they're simply influenced by their lord's placement
- Multiple planets in one house (conjunction) blend their energies, creating complex results
Working With Your Houses
Understanding your houses helps you know which life areas are naturally strong, which need effort, and where to focus your attention. The houses don't determine your fate - they show the playing field. How you work with their energies determines your experience. Strengthen challenging houses through conscious effort and appropriate remedies. Honor strong houses by using their gifts wisely.