The 8th House in the Natal Chart is the House that mainly provides the clues to longevity and the cause of death.

Whether one would lead a long life or is destined to have a short life is a matter for determination mainly based on the planetary combinations related to the 8th House.   

Some planetary combinations related to the 8th House which indicate long life are as follows: 

•  The birth lord occupying a beneficial House with the lord of the 8th House assures long life
•  Long life can be predicted if the lords of the 8th, 1st and 10th combine with Saturn and occupy a quadrant.
•  If the 8th lord is in an angle long life is assured
•  If the lords of the 5th, 8th and the Ascendant are in their own Navamsa, own Rashis or in friendly signs, the native will live long.
•  If the lords of the Ascendant, 8th and 10th Houses and Saturn are all well-disposed severally in an angle, in a trine, or in the 11th House, the subject will live long. 
•  One will live long if the Ascendant  lord is in exaltation while the Moon and Jupiter are in the 11th and the 8th Houses respectively.

The 8th House-related planetary combinations that indicate short life are as follows: 

•  If the lord of the 8th House joins a malefic in the 12th House, the life would be short.
•  Life would be short if the lord of the birth and the lord of the 8th House join with the 6th lord.   
•  The death would occur in the 21st year if Saturn is in the 12th House and the lords of the 2nd and the 8th are with a benefic. 
•  If all malefics occupy the 8th House, the death would occur soon after birth. 
•  If the lord of the 8th House is in the 5th House conjunct with malefics and the lord of the 10th House is in the 2nd House aspected by malefics the native would die in the second year. 
•  If the 8th lord joins the Ascendant lord or a malefic and occupy the 8th House itself, life of the native would be short.
•  The span of life would be between 20 and 32 years if the Ascendant lord is weak while the 8th lord is in an angle. 
•  A short life is indicated when the 8th lord is debilitated while there is a malefic in the 8th House and the Ascendant lord is afflicted. 
•  The death will occur in childhood if the 8th lord is in the 8th itself while the Moon is with malefics without the aspect of benefics.
•  Short life is caused when the lord of the 8th House is in the Ascendant with Ketu.
•  Life would be short if the lord of the 8th is in the Ascendant and the Ascendant lord is weak.
•  The death would take place in the 27th year if the lords of the Ascendant and the 8th join together in the 8th with malefics and without beneficial aspect. 

Students of Astrology are reminded that there are many planetary combinations related to Ayurdaya or longevity which are quite independent of the 8th lord or the 8th House as the latter alone do not provide the clue to long or short life.