12 Houses & Their Significations

This is where the basics of astrology start. The 360 zodiac divided equally into 12
divisions of 30 degrees each. Each division is called a sign. Starting from Aries and to
Pisces. Each sign has a ruler (planet) and some planets have a dual ownership (of 2
signs) 

‘Planet’ in vedic astrology stands for a heavenly body in consideration. Not all of them
are real planets by the Physics definition. Sun and Moon are taken as planets and not as
a star or satellite respectively.

The 9 main planets considered in vedic astrology are – Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, Mercury, Venus & Rahu and Ketu. The last 2 are not physical entities. These are
imaginary points in space where the axis of moon and sun (relative to earth) overlap.
These two entities are hence mathematical calculations as opposed to the other 7 objects
which are observable entities in space. Rahu and Ketu effect a horoscope and individual
strong enough to be considered as independent planets themselves. These are by
definition always 180 degrees from each other. 

Next step is the 12 houses. Each house represents/ rule over multiple things in a
person’s life. These houses are called as ‘Bhaavs’. 

Regarding ownership, when a planet rules 2 signs, one of its signs is its main or more
important sign and the other is the lesser one. This is a relative concept, regardless of
which the planet involved presides over both the signs. The more important of these is
called the ‘Mooltrikona’ sign (MK in short from here on)

Rahu and Ketu do not own any signs as they are not physical entities. However they are
co-rulers of some signs as mentioned later. They also act as ‘shadow planets’ implying
they mirror the effects of planets they sit close to and signs they sit in. 

Signs & their ownership- 

Aries – Mars (MK sign)

Taurus – Venus

Gemini – Mercury

Cancer – Moon

Leo – Sun

Virgo – Mercury (MK sign) & Rahu (co-ruler)

Libra – Venus (MK sign)

Scorpio – Mars and Ketu (co-ruler)

Sagittarius – Jupiter (MK sign)

Capricorn – Saturn

Aquarius – Saturn (MK sign) and Rahu (co-ruler)

Pisces – Jupiter 

The 12 Bhaavs (houses) represent hundreds of things each. Hence this list below is not
comprehensive but aims at pointing to at least some important significations of each of
the bhaavs- 

1st House – The person themselves, head, hair on head, skull, brain, skin, general
health/immunity/ vitality, overall wellbeing and success, place of birth, general
characteristics of person physically, general characteristics of a person mentally
(behavior wise), thinking and the mind, Power or status (or lack of it), starting or
beginning of events etc.

2  Bhaav – Primary house of Wealth, assets (savings/ checking/ brokerage/ retirement

nd

accounts etc.), material possessions like clothing, jewelry, household articles, family of
the person, face, mouth, tounge area of the body and things from them – speech,
‘Maraka’ place (killer place, or house that has potential to end life), right eye for male
and left eye for female, general eyesight (both eyes) also signified from here, very basic
education (say upto Grade 3)
 

3  Bhaav – Siblings (especially younger ones), Neighbors and surrounding people,

rd

Courage, Hobbies, Valor, Throat and Neck area and things we do from them –
Communication, Singing/ dancing, Things used for communication – Media,
Journalism, Internet, IT, computers, phones, Writing articles/ books, also handwriting,
Short distance travel, Short term goals (which is why hobbies as well), things we do from
hand and arm involvement, Zeal to work and activity levels, sexual prowess and activity,
ears and hearing.
 

4  Bhaav – Mother, motherland, vehicles, fixed property (Land, houses, real estate),
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agricultural or other real estate, Emotions and happiness, Luxuries, Place of residence,
Chest and Lungs area, Heart, Upper spine, Private life and feelings (as opposed to
10  house of public life), comfort (or lack of it), peace of mind, High school level
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education (say upto grade XII)

 5  Bhaav – Creativity and anything we create, children (an important thing we create),
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imagination, emotions (especially romantic ones), memory, fluid intelligence (as

opposed to crystallized intelligence of 9  house), speculation (gambling, stock markets
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etc), competition, past life good Karma, House of wealth (laxmi), diplomacy, royal or
powerful positions, fame, college or higher education, Stomach, Lower heart area, Liver,
Spleen, Lower back, kidneys 

6  Bhaav – Anything that opposes us – enemies, short term or acute sickness, injuries,
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surgeries, debt, litigation/ courts, people who compete with us, break of relationships,
day to day grind or work, agony, physical pain, service and servants, theft and thieves,
animals, fire, diseases (especially acute), hygiene and medicine, Critical thoughts and
being critical of others, Pancreas, small intestine, lower waist level, lower back, urinary
bladder, kidneys, pregnancy for a female.
 

7  Bhaav – Relationships, how we relate to people, legal contracts, Business,

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partnerships, marriage, spouse, married life, foreign places (opposite of 1  bhaav of

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birthplace), foreign residence or a residence far from birth town, external sexual organs,
sexuality, sexual habits, large intestine and anal area. ‘Maraka’ place (killer place, or
house that has potential to end life)
 

8  Bhaav – Transformations, obstacles, turnarounds in life, sudden events, tragic

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accidents, serious accidents and injuries, deep emotions and turmoil, death and death
like events, denegerate habits like addictions to drugs, alcohol, smoking, hidden things,
occult/ metaphysics and interest in same, deep research or deep dive analysis of any
area (trying to uncover hidden things), regenerate habits – detachment from
materialism or success, loans or unearned money like legacies, inheritance, Change of
lifestyle/ residence/ job or other activity, mental anguish and despair/ hopelessness,
internal sexual organs, anal area, testis area for males, Chronic or long term disease,
incurable disease, terminal sickness. Death.
 

9  Bhaav – Father, Guru, Boss/ employer, Destiny, luck, Higher education, Higher
th

education institutes, universities, temples, research, crystallized intelligence – this

implies belief/ religion, spirituality, meditation, long distance travel, foreign travel, good
deeds of previous lives, Blessings and divine help, House of wealth (Laxmi), abstract
thinking, crossing intellectual boundaries into new cultures/ beliefs/ faith, foreign
residence, publishing, import-export, Hips, thighs, tailbone area
 

10  Bhaav – Career, job, status in life, Public life, external manifestation of our work,
th

Fame, prestige/ honor, rise in life, Karma (our actions), energy levels at work, Image at
work, Government, recognition from Government, Powerful positions like politicians/
CEOs/ Director of institutes, Management related positions, Knees and middle portion
of legs
 

11  Bhaav – Gains, Income, Rewards from work/ job, promotions, wealth house
th

(especially fluid wealth), long term desires/ goals and their fulfillment, elder siblings,
ears and hearing, social circle, friends, social interaction, desires and ambitions,
recovery from disease, ankles and lower feet area, prize or recognition from authorities/
Government. 
12  Bhaav – Loss, expenses, letting go, isolation, imprisonment, loss of movement
th

(hospitalization), loss of freedom (imprisonment), deep emotions, grief/ sadness,

hidden life including sleep & sexual/ bedroom activity, foreign residence, far off-isolated
places, dreams, meditation and meditative state, spirituality, lack of materialism,
Moksha, long distance travel and settlement, hidden strengths and weaknesses, hidden
enemies, intuition/ psychic visions, feet, left eye for males and right eye for females, 
hospitalization, hard to diagnose diseases, sleep related diseases like insomnia,
somnambulism, etc. 
So above are some important things that come to mind regarding each bhaav, as I said
this list is not comprehensive by any means and each bhaav might represent dozens of
other things in a native’s life. 

Also important is to note that the 3  and 8  bhaavs are the bhaavs of ‘Jeeva Shakti’ (Life
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force) and 12  bhaav is a bhaav of loss or ending. Hence 12  to any bhaav is the loss of
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that bhaav. Thus the 2  and 7  bhaavs (being 12  to the 3  and 8  bhaavs respectively)
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are ‘Maraka’ or killer houses. Similarly as 9  house is house of good luck and destiny,
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12  to it or 8  bhaav is the bhaav of destruction and bad luck.

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 With many other caveats, safe to initially assume that houses 1, 5 & 9 are good houses
which give health, wealth, blessings, good luck, education/ wisdom, status etc. 

1,4,7 and 10 are called ‘Kendra’ or in the Center or important houses as they rule over
most of the vital things in our day to day lives 

Houses 6,8 & 12 are called ‘dusthanas’ (or bad houses) as they represent things which
oppose us and give us agony, losses, grief and pain. 

Another way to look at bhaavs is in respect to our relatives. Example the 9  is the father.
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Hence a person’s 10  house will be the 2  house for the father and the person’s 1  house
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will be the 5 house for the father, etc.

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After this top level approach to signs and houses. Next I will write about the basic
significations of the planets themselves, after which one can start running some gears in
their heads. For example Sun signifies father among hundreds of other things. Since
9  house also signifies father, when sun rules or sits in the 9  house in a horoscope, the
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effect of father are now very strongly being represented by Sun.