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The 12 houses (Bhavas) form the foundation of birth chart interpretation. Each house governs specific life areas, and planets placed in these houses influence those domains.
Understanding House Significations
1st House – Lagna (Ascendant)
Core theme: Self, Identity, Physical Body
Signifies: Personality, appearance, general health, vitality, first impressions, how you approach life, head (body part), early childhood.
Natural significator: Sun
2nd House – Dhana Bhava
Core theme: Wealth, Family, Speech
Signifies: Money, savings, family lineage, food habits, speech and voice, facial features, early education, values.
Natural significator: Jupiter
3rd House – Sahaja Bhava
Core theme: Courage, Siblings, Communication
Signifies: Younger siblings, short travels, communication skills, writing, neighbors, courage, hobbies, arms and shoulders.
Natural significator: Mars
4th House – Sukha Bhava
Core theme: Home, Mother, Emotional Security
Signifies: Mother, home, property, vehicles, inner peace, formal education, chest and heart, roots and ancestry.
Natural significator: Moon
5th House – Putra Bhava
Core theme: Children, Creativity, Intelligence
Signifies: Children, romance, creative expression, intelligence, speculation, past life merit (Purva Punya), stomach.
Natural significator: Jupiter
6th House – Ripu Bhava
Core theme: Enemies, Health Issues, Service
Signifies: Diseases, enemies, debts, obstacles, daily work, service, competition, pets, intestines.
Natural significator: Mars, Saturn
7th House – Kalatra Bhava
Core theme: Marriage, Partnerships
Signifies: Spouse, marriage, business partners, public dealings, open enemies, lower back, kidneys.
Natural significator: Venus
8th House – Ayur Bhava
Core theme: Longevity, Transformation, Hidden Things
Signifies: Death and rebirth, inheritance, in-laws' wealth, occult, sudden events, chronic illness, reproductive organs.
Natural significator: Saturn
9th House – Dharma Bhava
Core theme: Fortune, Spirituality, Higher Learning
Signifies: Father, guru, religion, long journeys, higher education, luck, philosophy, thighs.
Natural significator: Jupiter
10th House – Karma Bhava
Core theme: Career, Status, Public Image
Signifies: Profession, reputation, authority, achievements, father (some traditions), government, knees.
Natural significator: Sun, Saturn, Mercury
11th House – Labha Bhava
Core theme: Gains, Friends, Desires
Signifies: Income, profits, elder siblings, friends, social networks, hopes and wishes, ankles and calves.
Natural significator: Jupiter
12th House – Vyaya Bhava
Core theme: Losses, Spirituality, Foreign Lands
Signifies: Expenses, losses, foreign residence, isolation, hospitals, moksha, sleep, feet.
Natural significator: Saturn, Ketu
House Classifications
Trines (Trikonas) – 1, 5, 9
Most auspicious houses. Associated with dharma, fortune, and merit.
Angles (Kendras) – 1, 4, 7, 10
Power houses. Planets here gain strength and visibility.
Upachaya – 3, 6, 10, 11
Houses of growth. Malefics do well here. Improve with time.
Dusthanas – 6, 8, 12
Challenging houses. But also associated with transformation and spiritual growth.
Create your birth chart to see which planets occupy which houses in your horoscope.
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