Kendra meaning in Vedic astrology: the four angle houses

The 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th houses are called kendras, quadrants or angles.

P.V.R. Narasimha Rao (PVR) explains that quadrants taken from any reference point show that point's sustenance: the 1st (the self), the 4th (comforts), the 7th (marriage and relations with others) and the 10th (profession) sustain each other.

BPHS ch. 34 adds a rule about planets ruling these houses: a natural benefic ruling a kendra will not give benefic effects, and a natural malefic ruling a kendra will not remain inauspicious. Note that kendras are not the same as trines (konas), the 1st, 5th and 9th houses, though the 1st house counts as both.

Related terms

• Bhava →Bhava means house in Vedic astrology: a sector of the chart counted from a reference point, usually the lagna (ascendant).
• Benefic and malefic planets →Benefic and malefic describe a graha's inherent nature: benefics (saumya or shubha grahas) are gentle by nature, malefics (krura or papa grahas) harsh by nature.
• Lagna →Lagna is the Vedic ascendant: the sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment and place of birth.
• Trikona →Trikona (also called kona or trine) is the group made up of the 1st, 5th and 9th houses of a birth chart.
• Dusthana →Dusthana (also called trik sthana or trik house) is the group made up of the 6th, 8th and 12th houses of a birth chart.
• Upachaya →Upachaya is the group made up of the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th houses of a birth chart.

Lessons that use this term

• Nine planets (navagraha) in Vedic astrology: a beginner's guide →
• 12 houses in Vedic astrology (bhavas) explained →
• House lords in Vedic astrology: how lordship works →
• Functional benefic and malefic planets for each ascendant →
• 12 ascendants (lagnas) in Vedic astrology →
• Aries ascendant (Mesha lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Taurus ascendant (Vrishabha lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Gemini ascendant (Mithuna lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Cancer ascendant (Karka lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Leo ascendant (Simha lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Virgo ascendant (Kanya lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Libra ascendant (Tula lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Scorpio ascendant (Vrischika lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Sagittarius ascendant (Dhanu lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Capricorn ascendant (Makara lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Aquarius ascendant (Kumbha lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• Pisces ascendant (Meena lagna) in Vedic astrology: traits and planets →
• How to read a North Indian birth chart →
• Natural benefic and malefic planets in Vedic astrology →
• 1st house in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations →
• 2nd house in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations →
• 3rd house in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations →
• 4th house in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations →
• 5th house in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations →
• 7th house in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations →
• 8th house in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations →
• 10th house in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations →
• 11th house in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations →
• 12th house in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations →
• Kendra, trikona, dusthana and upachaya houses explained →
• What is a yogakaraka planet? Yogakaraka for each ascendant →
• Read a sample Vedic chart: practice 1 (foundations) →
• Kaal Sarp dosha: origins and controversy →

Sources for this entry

1. P.V.R. Narasimha Rao, Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach
2. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (R. Santhanam translation)