Astrological Houses and their significance
The 12 Houses and Their Meanings
In a birth chart there are twelve house. Each house has been given several names indicating the various subjects it deals with.
The names by which the first house or the Ascendant is known are Lagna,
Hora, Kalya, Deha, Udaya, Rupa, Seersha, Vartmana (present) and Janma.
The second house deals with Vitta (wealth), Vidya (learning). Swa,
Annapana (riches, food and drinks), Bhukti (eating), the right eye, face (Asya),
letter or document (Patrika), Speech (Vak) and Kutumba (family) and thus adopts
these appellations.
The names given (or the subjects allotted) to third house are
Duschikya, Uras (breast), the right ear, army valour, prowess and brother.
The subjects or designations for the fourth house are house, land, maternal
uncle, a sister’s son, a relation, a friend, conveyance, mother, kingdom, cow,
buffalo, perfume, clothes, ornaments, the nadir, hibuka, sukha (happiness), water,
bridge and river.
The fifth house deals with (and has designations accordingly) the mark of
the sovereign, taxes, soul, intelligence, knowledge of the future, life, progeny,
belly, Vedic knowledge and other religious scriptures.
The sixth house deals with debts, arms, thieves, wounds, diseases,
enemies, paternal relations, battle, wicked acts, sins, fear and humilialtion.
The subjects dealt with by the seventh house are desire, passion, setting,
sexual desire, a way, people, husband road and wife.
For the eighth house subjects allotted are Mangalya (the living of the
husband during the life time of the wife), Randhra, filthiness, mental pain, defeat
or humiliation, longevity, sorrow, blame, death, impurity impediments and slavery.
The ninth house deals with preceptor (guru), deity (devta), father,
auspiciousness, poorvabhagya (previous luck), worship, penance, virtuous act or
virtue, grand son, and noble family. (Some of the learneds in the North are of the
view that all about father should be examined from the 10th house, because 10th is
7th to the 4th house dealing with the father. The view of Phaladeepika seems to be
based on the logic that the 9th being 5th to 5th house (dealing with progeny)
should be the most appropriate house to be connected with father).
The subjects (names) designated for the 10th house are business or trade,
ranker position, honour, occupation, profession, sky or zenith, conduct, quality,
inclination, gait, command and Meshurana (to give orders).
The matters to be considered from the eleventh house are gains, income,
acquisition, receipt of wealth, accomplishment, splendor and prosperity, profits,
veneration, elder brother or sister, left ear, anything juicy, delightful news.
The expressions used for the twelfth house are misery, leg, left eye, loss,
spy, last rites, poverty, sins, bad expenditure and imprisonment or confinement.
Described above are the designations of the twelve houses or the subject
matters to be examined from them. The 3rd, the 6th, the 8th and 12th are known as
Leena Sthanas (hidden houses).
The 6th, the 8th and 12th houses are also called Dusthanas (evil houses).
The remaining houses are considered good and auspicious. The 1st, 4th, 7th and
the 10th houses are termed as Kendra, Kantaka or Chatushtaya.
The 2nd, the 5th, the 8th and 11th houses from the Ascendant are called
Panaphara houses. The 3rd, the 6th, the 9th and the 12th are termed as Apoklima
houses. The 4th and the 8th are also known as Chaturasra houses. The 3rd, the 6th,
the 10th and 11th are Upachaya houses. The 5th and 9th are called trines (Trikona
houses). The trines have been considered as very auspicious houses.
