The Twelve Houses of the Horoscope

1st House ,2nd House, 3rd House, 4th House, 5th House, 6th House, 7th House, 8th House,9st House, 10th House, 11th House, 12th House, Lal Kitab Home Page

There are twelve signs in the natural Zodiac and 12 houses in the horoscope. All affairs of human life are divided into 12 classes and each class of affair is in the domain of one or the other house of the chart.

1st House

Out of the 12 houses the first house or the lagna is the most important of them all. Being the first house, all the subsequent houses stand in relation to it. Every thing depends upon the strength or otherwise of this house.

Lal Kitab states that the house is the house of struggle between Maya and Jiva or the soul and matter. In other words it is the house of struggle to get liberation from the shakles of Maya. It is the throne of the ruler. The achievements or failures of the native depend largely upon this house.

In Lal Kitab this house also stands for education, intelligence and longevity. Mars is the ruler of the house. Sun is the natural significator. In fact Sun represents the human soul and vitality in the physical body.

Planet posited in 1st house aspects the planets in 7th house and unburdens itself to some extent provided the 7th house is occupied and not vacant. If this house is vacant the planets in 1st house become inert. This is also true if the lagna is not occupied. The lagna house becomes inactive or weak. This house has a relationship with 11th house. If the latter is unoccupied the planet in lagna gives good results. If there are a two or more planet in lagna Venus becomes the judge to decide about the nature of results. In other words Venus gets importance if there are two or more planets in the lagna. Incidently, 2nd house is the Dharmasthana or the place of worship. Venus is its ruler. It is but natural that our own deeds or misdeeds come to play their part in the struggle for liberation.

2nd House

2nd house stands for the Dharmasthana or the place of worship. It also has the portfolios of wealth, education, honour and mind. This is the house that stands for the fruits of the karmas or the deeds and misdeeds of the native. Here is the seat of Jupiter the jagat Guru or the preceptor of the world at large. 9th house is considered to be the ocean of Karmas. It is from 9th house that the winds laden with water of the Karmas rise and pour it on 2nd house. For good results of 2nd house the 8th house should be vacant or unoccupied. The results are likely to be better if 2nd house is also vacant. This may appear strange but everything becomes clear if we go by the assumptions of Lal Kitab. If houses 2, 6 and 8 are all occupied, the poison of 8th house shall be transferred to 6th house through the agency of the aspect of the planets in 2nd house. If houses 2 and 8 are both vacant there is no question of compounding the troubles of 6th house.

House No. 2 gets its strength from 4th house. Wherever there is a severe onslaught of misfortunes from 9th house due to the weakness of Dharmasthana or the Jagatguru or Venus, 4th house, comes to rescue. In times of adversities we should look towards the strength of 4th house, its lord the natural significator or Karaka Moon who stands for mother as well as mortality and mind. Perhaps mother's blessings may help the native tide over his/her difficulties.

3rd House

Lal Kitab refers to 3rd house as 'the times of exit from this world and the gateway of exit'. In other words we come to know about the time of death and its causes. As illness is one of the routine ways of exit we have to judge the illness and diseases from this house. This is an inauspicious and malefic house that way.

Malefics in Dusthanas or inauspicious houses are normally considered to be a good placement. According to Lal Kitab are placements of sinners meaning Rahu and Ketu in 3rd house is horrible. It is said that even if they are not able to bring about the end itself they shall be competent to bring about death-like position. This may happen when 3rd house is occupied by Rahu or Ketu and houses 6 and/or 8 by malefics. In adversities this house gets strength from 12th house even though the planets in 12th house are enemies of the planets in the 3rd house. In a hypothetical case let us assume that Ketu occupies 3rd house and Mars is posited in 12th house. Mars is an enemy of Ketu but in emergencies Mars will always help Ketu despite his enmity. Ketu shall have no ill effects upon the native. Likewise Jupiter in the 3rd house and Mercury his enemy, in 12th house will not be able to cause any harm. On the other hand there will be all round happiness and prosperity. If the houses are occupied by two or more planets we have to assess the harm, in any, in respect of each planet and then draw our final conclusions. Rahu and Venus in 12th house normally being about the death of the partner - wife or husband - in 24/25th year of the native. If Saturn occupies the 3rd house simultaneously Rahu will not be able to play his mischief. Saturn will help Venus.

Mercury is the lord of 3rd house, Mars its natural Significator and Rahu shall have the dignity of exaltation.

4th House

4th house is the period of childhood and the prenatal period. It also covers the old age. Moon is the lord and natural significator of the house. It is a well-known assumption that Moon is strong by night. Similar is the position of planets in this house. They are strong by the night and also when there is some trouble. Jupiter gets exalted here. No planet gives bad effects to the affairs of this house if Moon does not occupy and of the house No. 1, 4, 7 or 10. Even the rank malefics like Rahu and Ketu become benefics for this house is Moon does not occupy any of the quandrangular houses. The bad effects of planets in house No. 4 are transferred to the affairs of the house occupied by Saturn.

For the pre-natal period if any if Jupiter, Sun, Mars or Mercury are in 4th house and child will be safe and healthy in mother's womb before birth and even Rahu or Ketu would not be able to spoil that.

5th House

5th house is the house of progeny and the future of the native. How shall the native fare in the world can be known from his 5th house. About the welfare of children also we have to judge the same house. So long as Jupiter is in good position there shall be peace and prosperity. This means that Jupiter should be benefic by his placement and position in the annual progressed charts. If houses 6 and/or 10 are afflicted the articles connected with the planet inimical to the planet in 5th house should be kept under ground in the house. If 8th house is also afflicted the article should be kept under ground in the ancestral house. In case 5th house is occupied by Rahu and Saturn, Venus in 11th house, Ketu in 8th and Jupiter in the 10th house there shall be illness initially to the partner and thereafter the son is likely to suffer. For this malady loaves of bread or flour of the weight of the son should be given to dogs for 25 to 48 days. If house 4 or 4 or 9 is afflicted the planet in house 5 shall give bad results. The planets in houses 6 or 10 will also give bad results without any regard whether they are friends or foes of the planet in 5th house. Rahu and Ketu will influence results according to their placement in the chart.

Sun is the lord of this house. Jupiter is the Karaka graha or the natural significator planet for the house.

6th House

6th house is known as 'the hidden world, treasure house of mercy and providential help'. 6th house is ruled by Mercury and hence the planet in 6th house is likely to afflict the results of house occupied by Mercury, Ketu or Venus. 6th house is aspected by the planets in 2nd house and the 8th house through 2nd house. In such a case if Mercury or Rahu happen to be posited in house 6 there would be no bad effects of the malefics on the house because it is the house of exaltation for both of them. Ketu is the natural significator of the affairs of the house.

It has been said above the houses 2, 6 and 8 are mutually inter-connected with each other. While attempting and modification in any of the houses including the 6th house we have to keep in view all the three houses. If 6th house is unoccupied there shall be no transfer of the afflictions of 8th and 2nd houses. There shall also be no aspect from 6th house to 12th house. The obvious result would be that the planets in 2nd and 12th houses will get extra strength. To avail of this opportunity if houses 2 and 3 are occupied by benefics it would always be helpful to awaken house No. 6. This is possible by serving the maternal uncles (helping them) or serving the daughters of the daughter. Except Sun, Jupiter and Moon all the other planets in 6th house would be offering their own results. Mercury and Ketu will not offer good results till the age of the planet in house 6 or 8. The question of the ages of planets will be dealt with at its proper place.

Although the planets in 6th house are aspected by the planets in 2nd house, but the position would be reversed in the case of Saturn who will aspect 2nd house from 6th house.

7th House

7th house is known for the family affairs, where the native has to struggle hard for fulfilling his material wants of bread, clothing the housing etc. It has been apply described by Lal Kitab in the following words: 'The native gets ground between the earth and the sky for food. Here Akaash, Zameen, Rizque and Akal have been used metaphorically for Venus and Mercury because both these planets are the natural significators and Venus is also the lord of the house. The native sweats himself out in search of his food and clothing etc. Sun, Moon and Rahu offer the results according to the placement and position of Venus. Bad results due to the position of Venus cannot be improved or mitigated by remedies. In other words these results shall come to pass and the remedies will all go waste. Mercury, Saturn and Ketu shall give their results at various periods. If these results are bad we may try some remedial measures and they shall be set right or improved.

Normally the male planets affect the male relations and the female planets on affliction affect the female ones. In house 7 if the planets are more than two in number only the male relatives are affected. Sun, Mars and Jupiter are the male planets. Moon and Venus are females.

8th House

8th house deals with death and justice. Here justice means eye for eye and tooth for tooth. In other words the justice is on the basis of tit for tat.

It is the joint seat of Mars and Saturn. Both are the natural significators of the house if Sun, Moon and Jupiter singly or jointly occupy this house the bad effects remain limited to house No. 8 and its affairs. Saturn, Moon or Mars occupying this house singly give only good fruits. Saturn, Moon or Mars occupying this house singly give only good fruits. If, however, any two or all the three together join in this house they give bad results. Saturn will give deaths after deaths. Moon shall affect the health of the persons. Mars and Mercury occupying the house jointly give good results only if Saturn occupies the 2nd house. In such a case Mars shall be malefic or the negative Mars. House No. 8 has its influence on house 6. If any of these houses is afflicted the results will be bad for both the houses. In such cases the planets in 12th house should also be judged. The planets may be friendly or inimical the planets in 12th house shall influence the results. Moon is the most powerful planet for the affairs of 8th house. Moon by strength of his placement and position can undo the ill of 12th house also. The cause of the malefic nature of 8th house will be 4th house through 2nd house. In other words the houses 2, 4 and 8 should be judged simultaneously. The planets in house 8, if inimical to planets in 2nd house and 11th will strike at the most vulnerable point.

9th House

House No. 9 is known as 'the commencement of luck'. Lucky period of the native shall start, good or bad, when the planet in this house becomes effective. The house is considered to be a great ocean. In case the house is inert, it can be activised through 2nd house if the other two houses namely the houses 3 and 5 are unoccupied. Any of the planets who has been dormant till he transits 9th house and becomes active he will give results at his own age till his period is completed. Every planet has been assigned a particular period of age. By way of illustration, if Jupiter is in house 2 and transits the house in the progressed chart he will give results at the age of 16 and continue to do so till 16 years. Planets in 5th house aspect the planets in house 9. If Sun or Moon occupy house 9 there will be no bad effects of even Rahu and Ketu. House No. 9 is the seat of Jupiter.

10th House

10th house is treated as the ground for the foundation of luck. The planet transiting the house, according to the progressed chart, becomes a doubtful planet. This is to say that nobody can be sure about the nature of results to be given by the planet. The planet in 9 at the time of his transiting house 10 will give bad results even though the planets in house 6 & 5 are the friends. The nature of results would depend upon the nature of houses 8 and 2. The results will be bad if house 8 is afflicted and good if house 2 is in good shape. If house No. 10 is occupied by inimical planets their results shall be unpredictable An idea of the nature of results can be formed from the position and placement of Moon. If Moon is benefic good results shall be obtained. In case house 10 is unoccupied the planets in 4th house will not be able to give good results. Saturn is the natural significator of the house.

11th House

11th house indicates all about the native's status and condition. Personal income and earnings of the native and his relation with the world at large can be judged from this house. The results of Rahu and Ketu, if occupying the house, can be judged and they will be good normally if 3rd house is vacant. They will however, give bad results in 8th house.

Ketu in 11th house would nullify the good effects of Moon and if Rahu occupies the house Jupiter's good results would be spoilt. Vice versa in each case would also be true.

Lal Kitab has given great importance to this house and planets in it. Even Rahu and Ketu give good results. If Rahu is a benefic the native shall not accept a single penny from his parents and whatever he gets will be lost to him due to one reason or the other; but all that he earns by the sweat of his own brow will be with and give him pleasure.

12th House

12th house is the place of final rest according to the deeds or misdeeds of the native. House 10 reflects the physical valour etc. of the native but 12th deals with the character etc. If houses 2, 6 and 8 are occupied the native has good character. If houses 2 and 8 are occupied and there is no planet inimical to planet in 8th house the person shall command a keen intellect of very high order. If the life span is divided into 4 compartments we can judge how the native shall fare by the houses 1 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12 in each part of his life respectively. Planet in No. 11, its position and placement shall give a glimpse of worldly status of the native. This can be modified by the condition of 12th house. For improvement of the position of 12th house we look to 1st house and its planets. In other words, we can improve and get better results in 12th house if we can somehow improve the position of planets in lagna. If lagna is vacant we should go to 2nd house for improvement.