LEARN ASTROLOGY - LESSON 11 - PART I

The Spirituality Associated With Houses

In delineating the effects of each house, the start should again be made with the spiritual promise of each house. By each house from the Lagna which is always the first house. Thus, for a person born with Meena lagna the first house is Meena, the second house Mesha and the twelfth house Kumbha etc.

Since spiritual astrology is generally kept a secret and astrologers do not pay attention to it, emphasis should be laid on this aspect both for the spiritual guidance of the person concerned and for preparation for a fine spiritual era into which mankind will enter after 2002 A.D.

The First House

The first house representing oneself, shows the beginning of awareness of spiritual side of human life. If three or more planets are in the first house, such persons, inspite of all distractions, can practice self-control with determination, and successfully.

From the first house springs the desire to enjoy peace generally and the tendency to renounce because the first stage of renunciation is physical. To understand it, the Four Purusharthas of classical Indian tradition should be understood. The first one is Dharma (religious conduct), the second is Artha (the desire to earn money), the third is the karma to enjoy life physically and the last is Moksha to make efforts to get salvation.

In Hindu astrology therefore starting from the lagna there are four trines for each the purusharthas which are:

Dharma	Artha	Kaama	Moksha
Lagna	Second house	Third house	Fourth house
Fifth house	Sixth house	Seventh house	Eighth house
Ninth house	Tenth house	Eleventh hosue	Twelfth house

There is anther set of four trines which depends on the division of human life into four parts, Brahmacharya (life of celibacy) Grihastha (the life of a householder) Vanaprastha (detaching oneself) from house-holder’s duties) and Sanyas (life of renunciation). The scheme of division is the same as in the earlier trines.

Brahmacharya	Grihastha	Vanaprastha	Sanyas
The first house	Second house	Third house	Fourth house
Fifthe house	Sixth house	Seventh house	Eighth house
Ninth house	Tenth house	Eleventh house	Twelfth house

In judging the spiritual importance of each of these houses, these trines should be kept in the mind.

It is always important to remember that the lagna and lord must not be ill-placed (in the eighth house, the sixth house or the twelfth house) and must not be afflicted by Saturn, Mars, Rahu, Ketu particularly through conjunction or aspect. In such a case the health may be bad. It is sound health that alone ensures any type of achievement in anyone’s life, including spiritual achievements. It is in rare cases that a person with ill health but strong sense of renunciation can be spiritually exalted. But we must proceed on the premise that it is sound health that is the foundationof even good spiritual life.

The Second House

The family environment gives to one some spiritual tendencies, which is what the second house represents, being the house of Kutumba (or the family one is brought up in). Faith in religious and spiritual traditions are inherited and also acquired generally from parents. The second house represents it, besides, also being the house of speech. See the planets (particularly Jupiter, Venus, Mercury) without affliction to examine whether one has the tendency to speak truth or falsehood. The second also being the house of earnings, monetary gains etc., the charity one does with money and gifts are also to be seen from the second house.

Note – In this respect the role of the twelfth house is more important.

The Third House

The third house known as the house of valour and courage becomes favorable if there is a malefic like Rahu, Saturn, Mars, Ketu in it. It shows a determination to apply oneself to spiritual practices with strong will.

Note – The third house, according to Maharshi Parashara, is the house of upadesha or religious preaching.

The third house also is to be seen for short and quick pilgrimages.

According to the Uttrta-kalamrita, the third house represents the part of the palm which is between the thumb and the index finger with which many rituals are performed.

The Fourth House

The fourth house representing buildings, represents the religious-philanthropic institutions one builds and also the trusts one creates or religious, philanthropic and other good trusts with the money one has.

In the life of an individual the fourth house represents his desire to pursue his spiritual life in the quiet surroundings of a place, house or ashram with rhythmic regularity. In the case of a yogi it can represent pranayama or breath-control. But if such a house is disturbed, such persons find that by moving from one place to another only they can follow their spiritual pursuits.

The Fifth House

An important principle of Hindu astrology is that if a planet aspects its own house, that house gets strengthened. This should be seen very closely in the case of the fifth house around which revolves the realization of the potency of mantra, yantra, because this house is important in two ways: in the case of the individual whose horoscope is being examined, it represents the spiritual merit of his past life and in the case of his father, it is the house of his spiritual merit of his present life.

It is a good fifth house that bestows viveka or a sense of discrimination and deep spiritual wisdom born both of the reading of scriptures and spirituals practices.