Bhāv (Sanskrit: , 'state, condition') is a term in Jyotish denoting a fixed zodiacal division of the sky from the perspective of an observer. It corresponds to the concept of "house" in Western astrology. A natal chart is called bhāvchakra (Sanskrit: , 'wheel'.)

Overview

In almost all traditional practice, the twelve houses (bhāv) of a chart have the same boundaries as the twelve signs in the chart; in other words, each sign is a house in the chart. The beginning of each house is the 0th degrees of the sign and the end is the 30th degree of the sign. What varies from chart to chart is the enumeration of these houses, i.e., which sign is the first house, which is the second, and so forth. This is determined by the position of the Lagna (the Ascendant, or the longitudinal point of the zodiac that was rising in the East at birth.) The house in which the Lagna falls is usually the first house of the chart, and the other houses follow it, counter-clockwise, in the sequence of the zodiac. It is possible, however, for the houses to be defined relative to some other factor, such as a planet, a sign, or any other factor. Each of the twelve houses signifies a region of the concerns of life, and the identity of the sign of that house colors what may be expected from that life. More than one system to align houses with signs are recognized in Jyotish. The most common method is described above, a method that Western astrologers call the whole sign house system; another is Sripathi, introduced by Sripati, akin to a Porphyry house system. The modern Krishnamurti Paddhati also incorporates a Placidus house system. The principle of House Division introduced in Sripathi Bhāv System is described as follows: "In the Sripathi system the 1st house cusp is the Lagna, and the 7th house cusp is the Descendant opposite it, the 10th house cusp is at the MC (Medium Coeli or Madhya Lagna), i.e. Zenith, and the 4th house cusp is at the IC (Imum Coeli or Patala Lagna) i.e. Nadir. The four quarters divided thus should be divided into three equal parts each, and thus we find the 12 house cusps in Sripathi system. To find the Bhava Sandhis (meeting points of houses) we should divide the distance between the house cusps into halves."

The houses

The names of the 12 houses and the areas of life represented by them are:

Classifications

In general, houses are classified into four categories: Succedent houses are called pāṇaphara (from Greek ἐπαναφοραἱ), and cadent houses are called āpoklima (Gk. ἀποκλἰματα). In Indian Vedic astrology, also, the twelve houses are called Bhava. The houses are divided into four 'bhavs' which point to 'mood' or what the house stands for. These four bhavas are Dharma (duty), Artha (resources), Kama (desires) and Moksha (liberation). These bhavs are called 'purusharths or 'aims in life.' The ancient mystics of India realized that the austere path of the yogi was not for everyone. They found that each human existence has four worthwhile goals in life: Theses 4 aims of life are repeated in above sequence 3 times through the 12 bhavas/houses: