I have and understanding of shadbala and of its importance. What does bhav bala represent and how does it affect a kundli. I mean does having grahas in a low bhav bala lessens its' effects?

In simple terms, Bhava Bala is the strength of the Bhava (House).

For more details read below:


Bhava Bala is the strength of the house or its strength considering the Bhava position.  It is three fold. 1. Bhava Adipathi Bala, 2. Bhava Digbala, 3. Bhava Drishti Bala.

Bhava Adipathi Bala:  It is strength of the lord of the Bhava. Lord of the Bhava is the Grahas in whose Bhava Madhya falls. It is six fold strength of that Grahas becomes Bhava Adipathi Bala.
Bhava Dig Bala: It is the strength of different Bhavas falling in different group or types of Bhavas. Bhavas are grouped into four groups. 1. Nara, 2. Jalachara, 3. Chatushpada, 4. Keeta .

Bhava acquires strength by its midpoint falling in a particular kind of Bhava. Gemini, Kanya, Tula, First half of Dhanur, Kumbha are Nara Rashis. Kataka, second half of Makara, Meena are Jalachara Rashis. Mesha, Vrishabha, Simha, Second half of Dhanur, first half of Makara are Chatushpada Rashis. Vrischika, in only keeta Rashi.

Particular Bhava midpoint falling in any of the four groups detailed above it gets certain Digbala.

Bhava Drishti Bala: Each Bhava may get an  aspect of certain Grahas. If it is aspected by benefic it is positive if by malefic it is negative. Here aspect is considered on Bhava Madhya or cusp.

Readers are requested to study those books to know the procedure of working out Bhava Balas and Shad Balas. It is also important to remember that just because a Grahas is strong in Shad Bala implies it will give good effects is a wrong conception. For ascertaining whether it will do good or bad and amount of good results and amount of bad results should be judged on Istha Phala and Kashta Phala. For details on how to calculate it, readers are requested to go though relevant books (like Graha and Bhava Bala by Shri B. V. Raman).