10th House — Karma Bhav

career, status, authority

The Karma Bhava, the House of Action and Vocation

The tenth bhava is the tenth of the twelve houses, a domain of life rather than a mere astronomical division. It is known as the karma bhava, the house of action and vocation. The lord of this house, the dashamesh, is accordingly also called the karmesh. It is from this bhava that one reads the native's karma (his actions and vocation), his success, his relationship with his father, and his health, longevity, and the like.

The Karaka Grahas: Surya, Budha, Guru, and Shani

The karaka grahas (the natural significators) of this bhava are Surya (the Sun), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), and Shani (Saturn). At midday, the middle of the day, Surya stands in the tenth bhava.

Rashis Strong in the Tenth Bhava

The rashis Mesha (Aries), Vrishabha (Taurus), and Simha (Leo) are considered strong in the tenth bhava.

Purushartha, the House of Self-Effort

Where the ninth bhava is the house of bhagya, of fortune and one's destined luck, the tenth bhava signifies purushartha: self-effort, the exertion of one's own will.

Principal Subjects of the Tenth Bhava

The principal subjects of this bhava are:

• The knees
• The skeleton
• Employment, business, and livelihood
• Honor conferred by the state, and rank and title
• Fame and renown
• Command and rulership
• Horsemanship
• Grandeur
• Roads
• The crown prince
• Administration
• The royal throne
• The father
• Power and authority
• The royal seal
• The capital city
• The panchayat (the village council)
• Iron, wood, and stone
• Machines
• Outer space and the sky
• Crocodiles and snakes
• Thorny trees
• The southern direction
• Ironworks