Houses · 3rd house
What the 3rd house in astrology represents: courage, siblings, journeys
What the 3rd house in astrology represents, who its lord is for each Lagna, and how it is read for courage and siblings.
In short
The 3rd house in astrology represents courage, brothers and sisters, helpers, instruction and journeys (BPHS ch. 11 sl. 4). A benefic in or aspecting the 3rd gives siblings and courage (BPHS ch. 14 sl. 1). Mars is the significator of siblings, so the 3rd lord is read together with Mars.
What does the 3rd house show?
| The 3rd house (Sahaja bhava) | |
|---|---|
| In BPHS | Courage, brothers and sisters, helpers, instruction and journeys (ch. 11 sl. 4) |
| Astrojar reads it for | Foreign travel and settling abroad, siblings |
Who is the 3rd house lord for each Lagna?
Find your Lagna (ascendant): the 3rd house lord is the lord of the sign on your 3rd house.
| Your Lagna (ascendant) | Sign on the 3rd house | 3rd house lord |
|---|---|---|
| Aries (Mesha) | Gemini | Mercury |
| Taurus (Vrishabha) | Cancer | Moon |
| Gemini (Mithuna) | Leo | Sun |
| Cancer (Karka) | Virgo | Mercury |
| Leo (Simha) | Libra | Venus |
| Virgo (Kanya) | Scorpio | Mars |
| Libra (Tula) | Sagittarius | Jupiter |
| Scorpio (Vrishchika) | Capricorn | Saturn |
| Sagittarius (Dhanu) | Aquarius | Saturn |
| Capricorn (Makara) | Pisces | Jupiter |
| Aquarius (Kumbha) | Aries | Mars |
| Pisces (Meena) | Taurus | Venus |
Whole-sign houses. Sign lords: BPHS ch. 3 sl. 51-54.
How is the 3rd house read? The classical rules
- A benefic in or aspecting the 3rd house Siblings, and a courageous nature (BPHS ch. 14 sl. 1).
- 3rd lord with Mars aspecting the 3rd, or both in it Good results from the 3rd house (ch. 14 sl. 2).
- Mars or the 3rd lord in an angle, trine or exaltation Happiness from siblings (ch. 14 sl. 5-6).
- 3rd lord and Mars together in the 8th Difficulty for siblings (ch. 14 sl. 5-6).
One rule never decides a chart on its own: the classical method weighs the house, its lord, the planets in and aspecting it, and the running dasha together.
Questions about the 3rd house
What does the 3rd house represent?
Courage, brothers and sisters, helpers, instruction and journeys (BPHS ch. 11 sl. 4). Astrojar reads siblings and foreign travel (with the 9th and 12th) from it.
Who is the 3rd house lord?
The planet that owns the sign on your 3rd house: see the table. For a Leo Lagna the 3rd house is Libra, so Venus is the 3rd lord.
Is the 3rd house good or bad?
Neither by itself. BPHS says a planet that owns the 3rd gives difficult results (ch. 34 sl. 2-7), but planets in the 3rd and its lord's strength decide how it works for courage and siblings.
What about Uranus in the 3rd house?
Vedic astrology does not use Uranus; the classical texts work with nine grahas. Readings of Uranus in the 3rd house come from Western astrology.
Keep learning
- All 1 to 12 houses in astrology What each house shows, and every house lord by Lagna.
- Lord of 1st house Body, nature and the strength of the whole chart.
- 2nd house lord in astrology Wealth, family and food.
- 7th house lord name Marriage, partners and trade.
- How to read kundli The whole chart, step by step.
Sources
- BPHS ch. 11 sl. 4.
- BPHS ch. 14 sl. 1-6.
- BPHS ch. 34 sl. 2-7.
- Chapter and verse numbers follow R. Santhanam's English translation of BPHS (Ranjan Publications). About the text.
This is the traditional reading of the classical texts, given for learning and reflection. It is not a prediction for you, and not medical, legal or financial advice.
What does your 3rd house say?
Ask Astrojar on WhatsApp: your first 3 questions are free. Or get a full report made from your birth chart.