The twelve houses (bhavas) divide life into departments. The sign rising at birth becomes the 1st house, and the rest follow in order. Each house shows an area of life; the sign on it, its lord and the planets in it show how that area unfolds.
What each house governs
| House | Main significations |
|---|---|
| 1st (Lagna) | Self, body, health, temperament, overall fortune |
| 2nd | Wealth, family, speech, food, early education |
| 3rd | Courage, effort, siblings, communication, short journeys |
| 4th | Mother, home, property, vehicles, inner happiness, schooling |
| 5th | Children, intelligence, creativity, romance, past merit (purva punya) |
| 6th | Health problems, debts, rivals, service, daily work |
| 7th | Spouse, marriage, partnerships, contracts |
| 8th | Longevity, sudden events, inheritance, research, the hidden |
| 9th | Father, guru, fortune, dharma, higher learning, long journeys |
| 10th | Career, status, action (karma), reputation |
| 11th | Gains, income, friends, fulfilment of desires |
| 12th | Expenses, losses, foreign lands, sleep, spiritual liberation |
The four groups
- Kendras (1, 4, 7, 10), the angles: the pillars of the chart. Planets here are prominent and active.
- Trikonas (1, 5, 9), the trines: houses of fortune and merit. Their lords are always considered auspicious.
- Dusthanas (6, 8, 12): houses of difficulty. Planets here face obstacles, though they can also give resilience, research ability or spiritual depth.
- Upachayas (3, 6, 10, 11): houses of growth. Natural malefics such as Saturn and Mars often do well here, and results improve with time and effort.
The 2nd and 7th are also called maraka (death-inflicting) houses in longevity calculations; this is a technical term that should never be read alone.
How to read any house
- The sign on the house: its element and nature.
- The house lord: where it sits, its dignity, and what it joins or aspects.
- Planets in the house, and whether they are benefic or malefic for your Lagna.
- Aspects on the house, especially from Jupiter (protective) or Saturn (delaying, disciplining).
- The karaka of the house: the Sun for the father, the Moon for the mother, Venus for marriage, Jupiter for children, and so on.
- The divisional chart for that area, such as the Navamsa (D9) or the Dashamsha (D10) for career.
- Timing: the dashas of the planets connected with the house.
Houses from the Moon
Astrologers also count houses from the Moon (Chandra lagna), especially for transits. A strong result confirmed from both the Lagna and the Moon is the most reliable.
See your own houses in your free birth chart, and read about the Lagna to see how houses are counted.