Science of the Divine

By Dr. Shalini Garg

Stars and planets have always fascinated us. The steady majesty of these cosmic bodies have had a captivating effect on humans from ancient times. Astrology involves the forecasting of mundane events in one's life through analysing planets, fixed stars and their arbitrary combinations called constellation. Astrology uses a set of rules about the relative positions and movements of heavenly bodies to generate predictions and explanations for events and human personality traits. We can understand the unambiguous truth of how Astrology embodies a sense that life on Earth is affected by events in the wider universe, and how it offers hope of making sense of a bewilderingly complicated cosmos, and reassures us that we are a part of its grand design. The motivation behind this book is to establish a comprehensive, concise yet dynamic guide that can help anyone learn this science.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diamond Books
• Release date: Dec 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9789354867705

Book preview

Chapter I

The Houses

THE HOUSES

The twelve houses in our birth chart orchestrate our future into a symphony or a din by connecting the stars which were present in the sky at the time and place of our birth.

Our ancient sages have divided the entire heaven into 12 parts and each part is called a ‘House’ or a ‘bhava’. It is a very important term in Vedic Astrology as important as a house is in human’s life. As a strong and stable house provides security, similarly there are 12 houses in Astrology and every house represents a specific domain of human life and if strong provides stability related to that aspect of life.

The twelve houses in our birth chart orchestrate our future into a symphony or a din by connecting the stars which were present in the sky at the time and place of our birth. The eastern horizon is considered as the first house and rest of the houses goes counterclockwise. Each house is of 30° and associated with a set of traits that will be discussed during this chapter, beginning from self, family and expanding outwards into society and beyond.

In this chapter, we shall discuss about all the 12 houses in detail. Before starting, I would like to add that Astrology is a pure science by which we can read our Karmic passbook that has the balance of our previous birth’s karma. This birth is nothing but the residual balance of our accumulated karmas, that can be changed by doing righteous and good deeds.

The First House

Attributes of the first house: Physical structure, overall personality, attitude towards failures and successes, multitasking skills, health and personal magnetism.

The first house also known as ‘lagna’ or ‘Ascendant’ is the house of Self. This house represents the body native is born with; his physical being which includes his appearance, physical constitution, health, character, temperament, childhood, self identity and his ego. This house impacts a native’s life choices, his perception towards the world, his opinions, viewpoints, strengths and weaknesses.

Among body parts, the native’s head is denoted by the first house. It includes forehead, hair, brain, complexion and a person’s aura and charisma as well. If the native’s first house is weak, he may suffer from headaches and mental complexities. Since, this is the first stop in the cycle of houses, it represents all firsts; first impression, new initiative, fresh starts and beginnings of our life. In fact, the first house determines a native’s relationship with the outer world and environment, and how the native copes with conflicts and hardships in life. By analysing this house in a birth chart, one can easily decipher a native’s inner and outer self and his total self of being.

The Second House

Attributes of the second house: Family life, portable property, speech, primary education, hoardings and ornaments.

If the first house determines ‘what the native is’ then the second house represents ‘what the native has’. Second house, also known as ‘Dhana bhava’, denotes one’s materialistic possessions, his immediate family, early life, face, speech, second marriage and death. Here, ‘Dhana’ includes a native’s materialistic goods, accumulated wealth, possessions, hoardings and bank balances. In addition to possession of materialistic goods, this house also determines how a native utilises and enjoys such possessions to lead a fulfilling and satisfied life.

The second house reflects a native’s ability to acquire money, which could be in the form of stocks, cash, jewellery, valuable gems, bonds and inheritance etc. So this house relates to one’s financial position as well. As for physical attributes and body parts governed by second house, they are: eyes (right for males and left for females), nose, face, mouth, cheeks, chin, teeth and tongue etc. This house dictates one’s capacity of verbal expression, and is the karaka of one’s speech. Second house also provides knowledge of many languages and makes the person multi linguial, more so, if the house is occupied by Ketu. Furthermore, indulgence and food preferences are also governed by this house.

The Third House

Attributes of the third house: Bravery, boldness, sports, performing arts, younger siblings, short travels, acquaintances and neighbours.

Third house is also called ‘Sahaj bhava’ in Vedic Astrology, and relates to one’s valour and courage, communication, writing, journalism, short journeys, younger siblings, neighbours, stamina, creativity, interest, habits and early education. It uncovers the realm of the native’s mental and creative capabilities. If second house rules verbal communication then this house is all about written expression, and how creatively he corresponds his ideas and feelings in order to better adjust to the outer world and his surroundings. Further, this house governs a native’s handwriting too. The body parts governed by the house include shoulders, arms, hands, upper chest, lungs, collar bone and breathing canal. Professions related to travel and communication comes under the domain of this houses.

The Fourth House

Attributes of the fourth house: Mother, home, assets, vehicles, motherland, EQ, feelings and emotions.

This is the house of Ma, Mann, Bhavana i.e. mother, mind and emotions. It is one of the four most important houses (1, 4, 7, 10) the ‘kendra bhavas’ in Vedic Astrology. This house includes mother, emotions, home, domestic bliss, land, native place, moral values, cattle, conveyance, agriculture, construction, movable and immovable assets. Everything related to one’s ties with his native place comes from this house. Relationship with mother, heritage, family values and with homeland are all governed by the planetary position of the fourth house. Overall, this is the house of domestic and social happiness and thus called the ‘Sukh bhava’ in Vedic Astrology.

The idea of building a home is central to the fourth house, as a home is not only made of bricks and mortar rather it is a tie of family values and living under one roof with love and compassion. Fourth house is also responsible for mental peace and emotional satisfaction of the native. This house plays a major role in deciding whether the native will enjoy the comforts of having a family, owning a vehicle and having other permanent materialistic possessions. It describes our journey from mother’s womb to tomb. Thus, the fourth house, represents the full circle of life i.e. it governs the ground we grew on to the place where we shall rest one day. Body parts ruled by this house include breast, heart and chest.

The Fifth House

Attributes of the fifth house: Education, rewards, achievements, IQ, progeny, favourite deity, past life good deeds, betting, stocks and beloved.

The fifth house is a significant house as it is one of the three trines 1, 5, 9, or a ‘trikona’. This house is known as ‘Purva Punya bhava’ in Vedic Astrology, as it determines our present life’s planetary positions, based on the acts of the past life karmas, thus carrying the credits from the past life to present. This house is also indicative of native’s religious beliefs and devotion to Almighty.

Fifth house signifies one’s mental intelligence, progeny, possibilities of conception, miscarriage, romance, religious beliefs, speculation, shares, racing, betting, lotteries and casinos.

A strong fifth house bestows fortunate progeny. For women, it is the primary house of conception and all related aspects. This house indicates one’s relation with his children and happiness he receives from them. A native’s level of intelligence and innovation can be measured by fifth house and the placement of its lord and karaka. This house is also connected with romance or love in a native’s life and if there is a relation between the lords of fifth house and seventh house, there are high chances that the native will have a love marriage.

Fifth house rules stomach and digestive system in human body and memory is also governed by this house.

The Sixth House

Attributes of the sixth house: Disease, debts, difficulties, competition, litigation and maternal uncles.

The sixth house is the house of three 3D’s i.e. debts, disease and difficulties. This house is referred to as ‘Shatru bhava’ in Vedic Astrology. It is closely associated with health and well-being of the native. We all make mistakes, face challenges and have our shortcomings; the way one deals with all challenging situations such as diseases, misfortune, enemies, opposition and crisis depend on the strength of sixth house. Sixth house represents the struggle of soul during its sojourn in native’s present life. A native’s fears and whether and how he overcomes them is ruled by the sixth house too. Service and employment, are central to the sixth house, what line of work a native will pursue, whom he will serve and what relations he will have with his employers and servants comes under the domain of this house. A native’s relationship with his maternal uncles is also governed by the sixth house.

In Astrology, the sixth house is observed with regard to competitions and competitive success. This house relates to litigation, disputes, debts, conflicts, one’s ability to overcome hardships, recovery and immunity. The house also denotes selflessness, servitude and self discipline. Sixth house is one of the ‘Trik Sthana’ or ‘Dushta Sthana’.

The body parts it rules include lower stomach, intestine and digestive system.

The Seventh House

Attributes of the seventh house: Spouse or life partner, business partner, sex life, sex organs, gay and impotency.

The seventh house stands facing opposite of the First house; and known as ‘Kalatra bhava’ in Vedic Astrology. Being the third kendra of the horoscope, this is the house of partnerships and challenges related to life partner. Not just marriage but all sorts of partnerships come under the domain of this house such as business and trade partners. Native’s relationship with people, he enters into a contract with, is governed by the seventh house too.

Until the previous house, the focus was on the native and the self but this house shifts the emphasis from self to others. The first house is the house of self, on the other hand, seventh house is of your partner. Together they complement and complete each other like yin and yang. The seventh house dictates sexual affairs, war, diplomacy, foreign travel and settlement. It represents everything related to marriage, what is the native is looking for in a partnership, his attraction towards the opposite sex, sexual fantasies, passion and possessiveness towards his partner.

Venus, the natural significator of this house signifies love, romance and sexuality. The seventh house is related to one’s interest in carnal fulfilment, diseases related to reproductive health and impotence. The sense of cooperation and purpose is important to seventh house. It also deals with the darker side of one’s relationship like legal battles, quarrels, enmity and divorce etc.

This house governs body parts including kidneys, urinary, procreative organs and lower back.

The Eighth House

Attributes of the eighth house: House of life and ultimately death, ancestral property, secret affairs, terminal diseases and accidents, outlaw activity, addictions, sadistic pleasures, cynicism, eccentricity, social work and inner awakening.

The eighth house, known as Ayubhava in Vedic Astrology, as it rules over longevity, one’s life span and the nature of death. This house is considered malefic along with sixth and twelfth houses of the birth chart. Death, whether natural or peaceful or by accident, by fire, by drowning, by chronic disease or even suicide; is determined by this house, earning it the nickname: ‘Kundli ka Ghadda’. Eighth house represents one’s reproductive organs and partner’s finances.

Eighth house dictates a native’s hidden wealth and everything from sudden gains, shares of profit, insurance and legacies to inheritance. On a positive note, a strong eighth house can increase the longevity of life, give higher learning of the metaphysical realm and psychic abilities. Such people also get into the field of science, psychology and paranormal studies. Natives with a strong eighth house possess strong intuition and maybe well versed in occult sciences such as Astrology and meditation; thus, this house is aptly called the ‘House of Transformation and Mysteries’ also. But a weak eighth house can bring along depression, delay, defame and defeat. It can also cause chronic illness, miseries, fear, lack of mental peace, sudden monetary losses, criminal tendencies, imprisonment,