Upachaya (houses of growth)
The upachaya houses are the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th, the houses of growth. Their results improve with effort and time, and natural malefics placed in them often give good results.
Also known as: upachaya houses, upachaya bhava, upachay, improving houses
Upachaya means increase. These houses govern effort and courage (3rd), overcoming obstacles (6th), career and status (10th) and gains (11th). What they promise is earned rather than given, so they tend to flourish as a person matures and keeps working.
Saturn, Mars, Rahu and the Sun often do well in upachayas, turning their fire and persistence into achievement. Classical transit rules echo this: malefics passing through the 3rd, 6th and 11th from the Moon are considered favourable.
The other eight houses are called anupachayas, and benefics are generally more welcome there. Some astrologers count the upachayas from the Moon as well as from the ascendant.