The 12 Houses (Bhava) of the Kundli, Explained Simply
A kundli is divided into twelve houses (bhava). Counting starts from the lagna, which is the first house. Each house stands for one part of life — money, home, children, career and so on. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (chapter on bhava results) lists what each house signifies; the table below follows it in plain words.
| House | Name | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanu | Body, temperament, self-confidence |
| 2 | Dhana | Wealth, family, speech |
| 3 | Sahaja | Courage, siblings, effort |
| 4 | Sukha | Mother, home, vehicles, land, inner peace |
| 5 | Putra | Learning, intellect, mantra, children |
| 6 | Ripu | Competition, debts, service, health care |
| 7 | Jaya | Spouse, partnership, business |
| 8 | Randhra | Sudden change, hidden wealth, research, inheritance |
| 9 | Dharma | Fortune, dharma, father, teachers |
| 10 | Karma | Career, position, reputation, livelihood |
| 11 | Labha | Income, gains, fulfilment of wishes, elder siblings |
| 12 | Vyaya | Expenses, foreign lands, charity, moksha |
Kendra, trikona and the other groups
Kendra (1, 4, 7, 10) are the pillars of the chart — planets here act strongly. Trikona (1, 5, 9) are the houses of fortune and merit. Houses 3, 6, 10 and 11 are called upachaya: their results grow with effort and time. Houses 6, 8 and 12 ask for more care, discipline and patience — they are not "bad houses", they simply show where effort is needed.
When does a house give good results?
According to BPHS, a house is strengthened when benefic planets sit in it or aspect it, and when its lord is strong or placed well. It is weakened when its lord is afflicted or sits in 6, 8 or 12 without support. So a single planet in a house never decides everything — the lord and aspects matter too.
Also read about the nine planets and the dasha system — dasha tells when a house gives its results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which house shows career?
The 10th house shows career, position and reputation. The 2nd and 11th show money and income, and the 6th shows service and competition.
Which house shows marriage?
The 7th house shows the spouse and partnership. Venus (and Jupiter for women, in tradition) and the 7th lord are also checked.
Are the 6th, 8th and 12th houses bad?
No. They show areas that need effort and care — competition, sudden changes, expenses. Many successful people have strong planets in these houses.