Classification of Houses

Trikonas - 1, 5, 9:Trikonas (and their lords) are the most auspicious houses in the chart. The trikonas are dharmasthanas. They bring spirituality, knowledge, goodness, generosity and well-being if they are well placed and unafflicted.

Kendras - 1, 4, 7, 10:Kendras (and their lords) are considered auspicious as they represent some of the most important and fundamental areas of our lives - body and innate nature, home and mother, marriage and relationships, our position in society (profession/status) and so forth..

Trikasthanas - 6, 8, 12:Are considered to be the three evil houses of suffering (dusthanas). These houses and their lords bring difficulties, suffering, loss, anxieties, worries, obstacles, disease, confinement/isolation, impediments, enemies, lawsuits, accidents, injuries, surgeries, and death like experiences into our lives.

Trishadayas - 3, 6, 11:Are considered malefic. BPHS Ch.34: 3-4, says; "Any planet owning the 3rd, 6th, or 11th will give evil effects." The malefic quality of the 11th house (most powerful trishadya) is greed as it is one of the three kama or desire houses. The Bhagavad Gita states:

"Tri-vidham narakasyedam dvaram nasanam atmanahkamah, krodhas tatha lobhas tasmad etat trayam tyajet."

Which translates as:"Desire, anger and greed - the triple gate of hell bring about theruination of the soul. Therefore one should avoid all these three."Ch.16 verse 21.

Trishadaya lords can signify difficulty and/or disease, especially when aspecting vulnerable bhavas/grahas.

Upachaya Houses - 3, 6, 10, 11:The upachaya houses are the best house placements for the natural malefic planets. They are also considered "increasing" or "growing" houses because they are said to improve with time as the person gets older.

Marakasthanas - 2, 7:Are marakas (killers) due to their owning 12th from 3 and 8 (the houses of longevity). Planets occupying or owning these houses can cause death during their dasas. If they operate before the time of death is promised, they can bring death like suffering, disturbance of the health etc..

Bhava/Rashi Element *Dosha Quality Classification

1. Aries Fire Pitta Cardinal/Chara (kendra) Kendra/Trikona (dharma)

2. Taurus Earth Vata Fixed/Sthira (panapara) Marakasthana (artha)

3. Gemini Air Tri-Dosha Mutable/Dwi-swabhava (apoklima)

Trishadaya/Upachaya (kama)

4. Cancer Water Kapha Cardinal/Chara (kendra) Kendra (moksha)

5. Leo Fire Pitta Fixed/Sthira (panapara) Trikona (dharma)

6. Virgo Earth Vata Mutable/Dwi-swabhava (apoklima)

Trikasthana/Dusthana/Upachaya (artha)

7. Libra Air Tri-Dosha Cardinal/Chara (kendra) Kendra/Marakasthana (kama)

8. Scorpio Water Kapha Fixed/Sthira (panapara) Trikasthana/Dusthana (moksha)

9. Sagittarius Fire Pitta Mutable/Dwi-swabhava (apoklima)

Trikona (dharma)

10. Capricorn Earth Vata Cardinal/Chara (kendra) Kendra/Upachaya (artha)

11. Aquarius Air Tri-Dosha Fixed/Sthira (panapara) Trishadaya/Upachaya (kama)

12. Pisces Water Kapha Mutable/Dwi-swabhava (apoklima)

Trikasthana/Dusthana (moksha)

Although modern astrology software calculates strengths such as "Sthana Bala" for us, it's beneficial to understand the basic principles of these strengths. For instance, a planet in a kendra (1,4,7,10) gets 60 shashtiamsas whereas a planet in 2nd from a kendra (panapara) gets 30 shashtiamsas and a planet in 12th from a kendra (apoklima) gets only 15 shashtiamsas.

*A Brief Summary of the Doshas: