Tanu Bhava First House Ascendant Physical Body Appearance Personality Vitality Identity Beginnings Birth Rupa - Barbara Pijan Lama Jyotisha Vedic Astrology

"Tanu" =

outward form
character or nature
manifestation
small, limited, shallow, delicate
unimportant
the [physical] body
the body , person , self

~~ V. S. Apte, Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary, p. 758

Tanu

thin , slender , attenuated , emaciated , small , little , minute , delicate , fine
the body , person , self
form or manifestation
the skin
Hemionitis cordifolia
a metre of 4 + 24 syllables
cf. Lat. {tenuis, 'holding in place'};
[BPL: English 'tenacious', 'tension', 'tenable', 'attention', 'tenant']

Physical Presentation / Body Image
Constitution
Vitality
Past-life Wisdom
Cultural & Ethnic Identity (Caste)
Confidence
Early Childhood
Complexion
Well-being

Overall Fortune
Paternal great grandfather
Great-grandchildren
Mother's Dignity

BPHS Chapter 12: Effects of Tanu Bhava
1-2. Physical comforts.	Should Lagna Lord be yuti with a malefic, or be in Randhra, 6th, or 12th, physical felicity will diminish. If he is in an angle, or trine there will be at all times comforts of the body. If Lagna Lord is in debilitation, combustion, or enemy's Rasi, there will be diseases. With a benefic in an angle, or trine all diseases will disappear. Lagna's angles (i.e. Bandhu, Yuvati, or the 10th), or its trine (Putra, Dharma), containing a benefic, is a powerful remedy for all, related to health.
3. There will not be bodily health	if Lagna, or Chandra be drishtied by, or yuti with a malefic, being devoid of a benefics Drishti.
4. Bodily Beauty.	A benefic in Lagna will give a pleasing appearance, while a malefic will make one bereft of good appearance. Felicity of the body will be enjoyed, if Lagna is drishtied by, or yuti with a benefic.
5-7. Other Benefits.	If Lagna Lord, Budha, Guru, or Shukra be in an angle, or in a trine, the native will be long lived, wealthy, intelligent and liked by the king. Fame, wealth, abundant pleasures and comforts of the body will be acquired, if Lagna Lord is in a Movable Rashi and be drishtied by a benefic Graha. One will be endowed with royal marks (of fortune), if Budha, Guru, or Shukra be in Lagna along with the Chandra, or be in angle from Lagna. If Budha, Guru, or Shukra be in 4th, 7th, or 10th from Lagna, or be in the company of Chandra in Lagna, the native will enjoy royal fortunes.
8. Coiled Birth.	If there be a birth in one of Mesha, Vrishabha & Simha Lagnas, containing either Shani, or Mangala, the birth of the child is with a coil around a limb. The corresponding limb will be in accordance with the Rashi, or Navamsha, rising.
9. Birth of Twins.	The native, who has Surya in a quadruped Rashi, while others are in Dual Rashis with strength, is born, as one of the twins.
11. Important.	The learned in Jyotisha should base the effects on Chandra also, as are applicable to Lagna. Now explained are clues to know of ulcers, identity marks etc. on one's person.
12-14. Decanates and Bodily Limbs.	Head, eyes, ears, nose, temple, chin and face is the order of limbs, denoted (by the various Bhavas), when the first decanate of a Rasi ascends. In the case of the second decanate ascending the order is neck, shoulder, arm, side, heart, stomach and navel. The order for the third decanate ascending is pelvis, anus/penis, testicles, thigh, knee, calf and foot. The portion already risen indicates left side of the body (while the one yet to rise, i.e. the invisible half, denotes the right side of the body).
15. Limbs Affected.	The limb, related to a malefic by occupation, will have ulcers, or scars, while the one, related to a benefic, will have a mark (like moles etc). So say the Jyotishis. (Also see Sloka 6, Chapter 4 of Saravali, which states, that a malefic, or a benefic, if be in own Rasi, or Navans, the effects will be right from birth. In other cases it will be in the course of one's life, that these effects will come to pass)

Indications of the first house are: Physique, Complexion, Longevity, Fame, Status, Appearance and Wealth. These should be assessed from the Rising Sign, the Lagna.

From the first house should be considered everything about the native's body, complexion, marks or moles, longevity, manner of living, caste, temperament, happiness or otherwise.

Whatever results are to be known from ... Tanu, ... should also be known from... Karaka rashi itself....

The astrological picture of body, complexion, & constitution is expanded by noting:

Tanu bhava represents the physical body which is called anna-maya-kosha = the "food-illusion-sheath".

anna =. "eaten" ; food or victuals , especially boiled rice ; bread corn ; food in a mystical sense (or the lowest form in which the supreme soul is manifested , the coarsest envelope of the Supreme Spirit)

Q: What person or object in this world executes the karmic agenda of domain-1 and its lord?

A: The physical body and social identity will carry out the instructions of domain-1 and its lord.

The social personality = the accumulated social meaning of the physical body and all of its apparent attributes (size, shape, color, texture, musculature, strength, physical capabilities). Each culture has its own categories for evaluating-devaluating social and physical attributes of its members. Therefore being tall and thin might be a sign of royalty

The social personality is a layer of social recognition and purpose that is based on the physical form and acts as an interpretive bridge from one embodied being to another within human social groups. The social personality indicates "Who I Am."

"I have materialized capability to perform specific socially recognized actions, therefore I am."

L-1 as a marker of "social activity" indicates areas of social behavior toward which the native's physical capabilities are strongly aligned. Usually this capability-set is a past-life carry-over from practiced expertise over the period of many lifetimes.

Vimshottari Dasha periods of the L-1 may trigger the birth of a child, which is also a direct agency of the native's physical body and the extended meaning of the physical body as the basis of social identity.

In a female nativity, periods of L-5 and L-9 or Guru are the most common triggers for childbirth or acquisition of children through adoption. (Typically this is the period of the L-5/L-9 measured from radix lagna and much stronger when the graha is also L-5 or L-9 from Chandra.) However in male nativities the birth of a child is frequently indicated by a period of L-1.

Psychologically this pattern may indicate that for the male, producing a child is often predominantly an act of physical self-replication. Whereas for a female, the stronger psychology is the female's ability to channel divine creativity through her own body thus creating a new being who is rather specifically not a replication of oneself, but rather an independent new being.

When L-1 triggers acquisition of children in a female nativity, it is much more common for the route of acquisition to be via adoption rather than via natural childbirth. Adoption may provide the childless female with a precious channel for passing along her social personality to a child, even if she does not enjoy direct physical experience of creating the child's body from within.

Domain-1 signifies personal competition for social validation through a successful combination of physical behaviors and traits.

The most basic and most predominant signification of Tanu Sthana is the physical body and its appearance on the material plane. Strong, positive planets in radix lagna or Chandra lagna (more potently, radix lagna) indicate physique and physical vitality. Any planet gains strength and dignity by occupying the lagna.

The main method of social placement is physical appearance and behaviors. The natal lagna (ascendant) describes the astrological conditions that were in place on Earth's eastern horizon at the time of birth. These conditions play a major role in the social ranking of the individual during the current incarnation.

The radix lagna is not really about true identity. Surya (soul-level of philosophical reason) and Chandra (astral ruler of all emotions, from coarse to refined and high to low) can tell much more about one's core identity than the janma lagna. Swamsha (the navamsha lagna) is also a better indicator of divine awareness and spiritual intent.

The radix lagna is about social ranking. The lagna describes the place on the social map one "drops in" to the great hierarchies of social organization. The lagna and lagnesha describe how one becomes socially placed and positioned; whether one is concerned to ignore or manage or change that position; and how one is treated by others based on one's appearance & position, on a day-to-day reality basis.

Whether or one responds to social ranking and class identification actively (to change or negotiate it) or passively (to simply accept it or be unconcerned with it) the "social personality" is a major part of life consciousness. For most people, the social ranking is also a significant determiner of material accomplishment and a major component of ego-based self-recognition.

In other words, what society think of one's appearance and behavior has a major impact on the quality of one's experience in this life. Therefore the radix lagna, along with Chandra lagna, is the single most important determinant of social position at birth and prospects for accomplishment during the lifetime.

Factors to be considered in the profile of individual social personality, individual social placement, and social identity (remember this is social identity, not spiritual identity!) include:

Rising house lords become exceptionally strong when located in lagna. Whether the house lords bring gifts or liabilities, they have a great effect on the quality of life overall.

For example, when the entrepreneurial L3 is rising, a person will develop self-made wealth.

"If Sahaja's lord is in Tanu Bhava, the native will have self-made wealth, be disposed to worship, be valorous, and be intelligent, although devoid of learning."

Similarly, the wealthy second lord brings a lifelong natural attraction to making and holding money, which is especially pronounced when L2 is timelord.

L9 rising brings the "bhagya" or good fortune of dharma-sthana very strongly into the person's life. Dasha periods of the 9th lord for one with L9 rising may be exceptionally auspicious.

By contrast, to have the 8th lord rising will bring occult interests and a struggle to understand hidden matters. You can apply this reasoning to the effects of any rising house lord.

"If Lagna's lord is in Karmaa Bhava, the native will be endowed with paternal happiness, royal honor (or patronage), fame among men and will doubtlessly have self-earned wealth."

As 10th-from-4th, the lagna describes "dignity of the mother". Naturally the mother's social and spiritual condition, her attitude, will have a tremendous impact on the native. Her dignity substantially defines her child's life experience. Planets in lagna will make the mother's impact more intense.

Never forget the Moon and 4th house in assessing the mother, but have a look at Chandra and rashi lagna for information on her leadership, public responsibility, and dignity.

As 2nd-from-12th, the lagna describes "wisdom from previous lives". Vyaya bhava, the twelfth house, describes the subconscious storage areas. Called a house of sanctuary and ruling matters "behind closed doors", Vyaya bhava contains our ancient memory of past lives.

For example, when the 10th house is strong, a person will have a strong knowledge about religious ritual - a matter of the 9th house. Lagna similarly shows received knowledge from our subconsciously stored past-life memory.

As 5th-from-9th, Tanu Sthana signifies one's great-grandchildren. 9th house is grandchildren. 5th-from-9th is the children of the grandchildren.

Guru rising will give at least three children unless a separative planet like Rahu, Saturn or Mars blocks house 5, 7, or 9 (first, second, and third child.)

Dharma sthana itself (as 5th-from-5th) shows the first grandchild and the forecast for all grandchildren in general.

When Jupiter rises with strength, the bloodline is robust and positive thinking permeates the family tree, all the way down to the children's children's children. Many great-grandchildren can be expected!

Also see 9th-from-9th-from-9th from Chandra, which will be Chandra itself. Both Chandra lagna and radix lagna have equal effects on your appearance.

The psychic influence of your paternal great grandfather is usually strong and positive - or at least strong! Ask this relative (who is generally deceased in our lifetimes given average lifespans) in meditation for guidance to know your true self. Also ask their guidance regarding any changes you might want to make regarding your physical vehicle, surgeries etc.

H.H. Dalai Lama on the Extreme Coolness of Human Birth!

[Meditate on appreciation of the preciousness of a human incarnation and the human body as a spiritual vessel.]

The ordinary samsaric mind sees the human body as just a tool with which to chase material, social, and biological needs, all of which satisfy only superficial levels of the spirit.

Their effects do not pass beyond the gates of death. We have to learn to appreciate the intrinsic spiritual quality of human nature, to have a subtle confidence in the positive, creative aspect of our being.

It is difficult to enter spiritual training if one regards one's life as having no purpose other than the pursuit of ephemeral, transient goals, as does a rat who builds a strong nest and then drags home all sorts of trinkets to it.

In order to break the mind of this vain, mundane attitude towards life, we sit in meditation and contemplate first the eight freedoms and ten endowments,* and then the meaningful and rare nature of a human incarnation.

This contemplation imbues us with a sense of spiritual dignity that subtly transforms our way of relating to ourselves and our existence.

We cease to see ourselves merely as animals uncontrolledly chasing after the immediate cravings of the senses in a vicious circle of jungle law; and we come to appreciate the quality of penetrating awareness and the capacity for spiritual development that distinguishes humans from animals and insects.

This causes the thought of extracting the essence of life to arise with a joyous intensity.

~~ H.H. Dalai Lama. (1994). The Path to Enlightenment. Glenn H. Mullin (Trans. & Ed.). www.snowlionpub.com

* Generally, the eight freedoms and ten endowments are the favorable conditions of your birth and the time in which you live that have enabled you to learn the dharma in this lifetime, and be able to practice it.

H.H. Dalai Lama on "Appearances"

"If things did in fact exist the way they appear - if things did exist so concretely - then when one looked into and investigated them, this inherent existence should become even clearer, more obvious.

However, when you seek for the object designated, you cannot find it under analysis.

...[That] which gives rise to the appearance of I is mind and body, but when you divide this into mind and body and look for the I, you cannot find it. Also the whole, body, is designated in dependence upon the collection of parts of the body; if you divide this into its parts and look for the body, you cannot find it either.

Even the most subtle particles in the body have sides and hence parts. Were there something part-less, it might be independent, but there is nothing that is part-less. Rather, everything exists in dependence on its parts...

There is no whole which is separate from its parts.

...No matter what the phenomenon is, internal or external, whether it be one's own body or any other type of phenomenon, when we search to discover what this phenomenon is that is designated, we cannot find anything that is it.

...However, these things appear to us as if they do exist objectively and in their own right, and thus there is a difference between the way things appear to our minds and the way they actually exist...

Since phenomena appear to us in a way that is different from what we discover when analysing, this proves that their concrete appearance is due to a fault of our minds."

~~ H.H. Tenzin Gyatso, Kindness, Clarity, and Insight 25th Anniversary Edition. Jeffrey Hopkins (Trans. & Ed.), Elizabeth Napper (Ed.), Snow Lion Pub.

Does it belong to my parents who created it? Or does it belong to my wife who is my life partner?

Is it fuel for the fire that is ultimately going to consume it, or is it food for vultures and wolves?

Appearances

Through the establishments in mindfulness of body, feeling, mind, and phenomena in terms of their specific and general characters, one understands that these have a nature of impermanence and of suffering.

Through this, one's mind turns away from over-emphasis on the appearances of this life-time and from uni-directional adherence to the prosperity of future lifetimes of high status within cyclic existence as the aim to be attained.

Overcoming such over-emphasis on the appearances of this and future lifetimes, one generates an awareness that is directed toward liberation from cyclic existence in all its forms.

~~ H.H. Dalai Lama. (1989). The Dalai Lama at Harvard: Lectures on the Buddhist Path to Peace. www.snowlionpub.com

Careful Observation of the Aggregates of the "I"

"...meditation on emptiness begins with gaining a sense of the inherent existence of which phenomena are empty. For without understanding what is negated, you cannot understand its absence, emptiness.

... Through carefully watching how you conceive your self, or "I," to be inherently established, you will determine that the "I" appears to be self-instituting without depending on the collection of the mental and physical aggregates, which are its basis of designation, or without depending on any of them individually, even though the "I" appears with those aggregates.

Proper identification of this appearance is the first essential toward realizing selflessness -- ascertaining the object of negation."

~~ Dzong-ka-ba & H.H. Dalai Lama. Yoga Tantra: Paths to Magical Feats. Jeffrey Hopkins (Trans. & Ed.). www.snowlionpub.com