First House

deham rūpamca jñānam ca varnam caiva balābalam
sukham duhkham svabhāvañca lagnabhāvānnirīkshayet ..2..

deham - body; rūpam- looks; ca- as well as; jñānam - knowledge / intelligence; ca- as well as; varnam – appearance; caiva- ca+eva – and also; balābalam – strengths and vigour; sukham duhkham - bliss and unhappiness; svabhāvañca- nature; lagnabhāvān- from Lagna Bhava; nirīkshayet- judge

Maharishi says to Maitreya that the physique, appearance, intellect (also the brain), the complexion of the body, strength and vigour, weakness, happiness, grief and the inner nature of the person is to be determined from the Lagna or Ascendant or the 1st bhava.

The 1st house, known as the Lagna or Ascendant, always rises in the East at the time of birth. Surya, being the naisargika atmakaraka, becomes a very vital graha for the 1st house and his strength and placement is to be reckoned carefully. A strong and well placed Lagna lord will bestow long and qualitative life.

The 1st house is the fountainhead of the entire life of the native. The 1st indicates the birth of the person and how and in what form and physique God has wanted him/her to be born. Thus the 1st bhava and the lord of the 1st bhava, who is also called the 'Lagnesh' are very basics and important to the reading of the chart. Each of the 12 houses of the chart has its significance and each of the significance is closely linked to the 1st house i.e., birth.

As per the kalapurusha, the 1st bhava is indicative of brain, which is known for intelligence, we can safely conclude that Brihaspati, who represents God, is seated on the head of man and the place is known as 'Brahmapeetha' or the seat of Brihaspati. It is Brihaspati who knows and sees all as it is he who has the supreme intelligence and this supreme intelligence is God. Hence Guru is known as the one representing God in the chart. Thus, his placement becomes vitally important to analyze the intelligence and knowledge, disposition and the general well being of the person.

If the lord of the 1st bhava is either placed in or aspects or has anything to do with the 3rd, 5th and 6th houses, the native of the chart yearns for knowledge - he is always in quest for knowledge - and he is called a "Dheemantah". In other words, the native is said to possess "Dheemantah Yoga". While, the reverse is true only in the case where the lord of the 5th bhava is either placed or aspects the 1st bhava.


Second House

dhanadhānyam kutumbāmśca mrtyujālamamitrakam
dhāturatnādikam sarvam dhanasthānānnirīkshayet ..3..

dhana- wealth; dhānyam- grains and cereals; kutumbām- family; ca- as well as; mrtyujālam-death trap; mitrakam- ; dhāturatnādikam- precious metals and gems; sarvam- all dhanasthānān-places of wealth, such as bank or treasure box etc; nirīkshayet- judge

Wealth, food (grains and cereals); nature of food consumed (quantity and quality); Wealth; family (Kula); family deity (Kula Devata); stored wealth (Sanchita Dhana) which could be valued in terms of money at any point of time; granary; treasury; storage houses; godowns; teeth; lips; mouth; speech; eyes; gold and assets and all property;

A good family is a sound requirement of a person. Being born in a particular family has a particular relevance. Each family follows and worships a certain deity as its family deity, which happens to be the guiding deity of the family. These are to be reckoned from the 2nd house.

The 2nd house is a vital house of the chart. It actually sustains the lagna or ascendant. It is the house of Lord Vishnu, the preserver, the sustainer of life. It is he who takes care of the people and it is he who provides for food etc. Without food and the wealth to buy the food, life cannot be sustained. To achieve the objective of the birth of the atma, food is very essential to sustain the body in which the atma has taken refuge. So the 2nd would indicate the quantity and quality of food that is consumed by the person.

When we say wealth, we are actually talking of the sustaining power - the power to buy us food and good things in life and in times of dire needs. So we are talking of 'sanchita dhana' meaning stored wealth. Any stored wealth which is liquidatable for purchase of food and essentials at the time of need. Such stored wealth includes, stored foodgrains and granaries, gold, precious metals and gems etc., or any such thing which is readily convertible into money.

The 2nd house is also known as the maraka - death inflicting. Afflictions to the 2nd could lead to loss of wealth and shreeyam which leads to lack of food and everything that is needed for sustenance. Improper intake of food or lack of food sets in disease which signifies the death of the lagan or the person.