Bhāvas: the twelve houses
In Jyotish, the birth chart is divided into twelve sections called bhāvas or houses. Each bhāva represents a distinct area of life — both external circumstances and internal states of being.
Each Bhāva is a field of awareness which reveal where our energy focuses, where karma plays out, where our consciousness expresses itself and where growth and challenges may arise.
The 1st house (Lagna Bhāva)
The first house represents the self, physical body, appearance, vitality, personality and general outlook, as well as intelligence (dhī), integrity and truthfulness (satya). It represents how we project ourselves to the world and the energy we carry daily.
The 2nd house (Dhāna Bhāva)
The second house represents resources including food, wealth and assets. It also symbolises our speech, family values, and immediate environment.
The 3rd house (Sahaja Bhāva)
The third house represents our courage and determination (parākrama), success through our own effort, our skills, as well as short journeys. It is usually strong in the charts of artists, musicians, writers and other creative people.
The 4th house (Sukhā Bhāva)
The fourth house represents home, mother, comfort, emotional foundation, primary education, vehicles and property. It symbolises our roots and inner peace, as well as our level of purity and appropriateness (śuddhi).
The 5th house (Putra Bhāva)
The fifth house represents education and learning, speculation, spiritual practices, children and students (for men) or father (for women). It is also our ability to plan and see ourselves in the future. Successful people have their fifth house in place.
The 6th house (Satru Bhāva)
The sixth house is the the house of enemies and acute disease, daily work, discipline and service. This house teaches us about overcoming obstacles and self-improvement.
The 7th house (Dāra Bhāva)
The seventh house represents partnerships including marriage and business. It reveals how we relate to others on an equal footing, and thus what is our level of compassion (daya).
The 8th house (Āyur Bhāva)
The eight house represents longevity (āyuṣ), chronic diseases, inheritance and debts, occult knowledge, transformation and sudden changes. It is a house of high vulnerability which connects us with the unknown and deep healing.
The 9th house (Bhāgya Bhāva)
The ninth house represents dharma (life purpose), higher knowledge and education, religion and spirituality, blessings and expansion, long distance travels, as well as children or students (for women) and father (for men). This house points to our spiritual path and faith.
The 10th house (Karma Bhāva)
The tenth house represents career and work ethics, reputation, authority, our actions impacting society, and our public standing. It shows our role in society and worldly achievements.
The 11th house (Lābha Bhāva)
The eleventh house represents gains such as income, peers and acquaintances, aspirations, ambitions and fulfilment of desires. It highlights social networks and support systems.
The 12th house (Vyaya Bhāva)
The twelfth house represents loss and expenses, endings, liberation (mokṣa), foreign or remote lands and places, and our sleep and subconscious. This house guides us to spiritual letting go and transformation.