What is Vaasthu?
Human body is under the influence of the nine Planets. In
fact it is governed and controlled by all these nine planets. Dwelling place is
known as GRAHA, and this graha is under the rule of vasthu, the Omnipotent
Devatha (Divine Lord of men's dwelling place.) So there has to be an utmost
harmony between the body (which is ruled by Nava Graha) and home (Graha which
is under the influence of Vasthu. Vasthu Shasthra is the science which explains
the rules of the harmony required.
Even Birds and Animals are not exceptions, because they
too select or make their own dwelling places.
Men choose homes to live in, select places for
establishing their business, own a lodge, marriage hall, auditorium, hospital
and above all a place of worship. Therefore, it is very important to strictly
adhere to the rules laid down in the Vasthu Shasthra while constructing the
required structure.
Again a comparison of the horoscope of every individual is
needed to design the dwelling place, so as to achieve prosperity and happiness.
The main face- The entry point is guarded by Lord Vinayaka and Goddesses
Saraswathi and Lakshmi. The hind face, viz., The rear side or back door is
under constant watch by the evil Goddess - Moodevi - who tries to enter into
the Graha. All the eight directions surrounding the structure should be
properly selected and measured as per the divine rules of the Vasthu Shasthra,
so as to ensure that the dweller leads a wealthy, healthy, happy and long life.
DIRECTIONS
No.1 EAST (PRAG POORVA)
Lord in this Direction is INDRA,
IRAVATHAM the elephant and Samwardhan are the watch masters to ensure the
existence of Dharma (PHYONTHROPHI)
No.2 SOUTH EAST (AGENYA) DAKSHINA
POORVA
Lord of this Direction is Agni,
Pundareegam - The elephant, Unmaththam the Demon are the guards of this
direction. If this space is well located, Lakshmi the Goddess of fortune
favours this house and the women folk who live in are destined to enjoy
peaceful and happy life.
No.3 SOUTH (DAKSHINA)
Yama is the Lord, Vamanam - the
elephant, Gundothara - the Demon are the guards of this direction. If this
direction is properly constituted the dweller will escape from the envy of
others and cast of all evil eyes.
No.4 SOUTH WEST (NAIRUTHI
-DSKSHINA BASCIMAM)
Niruthi is the Lord, Kumutham -
the elephant and Dheerga Kayan the Demon are the guards of this space. The
proper placement of this direction assures the dweller to lead a carefree life
and provides protection against being robbed.
NO.5 WEST (BASCIMAM)
Varuna is Lord, Anujanam the
elephant, Hiraswa Pathan are the guards. Proper constitution of this direction
guarantees the dweller a long and healthy life with all prosperity and
continuously enjoy the goodwill of others.
NO.6 NORTH WEST (WTHRA BASCIMAM)
Vayu is the Lord, Pushphandham the
elephant - Singamugam the Demon are the guards. If this direction is formed as
per the rules, the dweller will escape from enmity, chaos and calamity.
Peaceful and successful life is guaranteed.
NO.7 NORTH (UTHRA)
Kubera is the Lord. Sarvabowman -
the elephant, Gajamuhan - the demon are the guards. If this aspect coincides
with Vasthu lakshana the dweller will be pious, blessed by Lakshmi, Goddess of
fortune and he will be respected by others.
NO.8 EASNIYAM (NORTH
Easaniyam is the Lord, Supradeepam
the elephant, Priyamugan the demon are guards. If this aspect is proper the
dweller will not face any hurdle or obstacle and destined to lead a happy life.
NOTE:
The measurement of the site should not be done with scale of Twelve Inches. A
foot in Vasthu means the length of the dwellers foot.
A special puja at any proposed site for building a new
house saves the owner from any harm from any of the eight directions.
Sanku laying at the building site with due puja and
bhandanam at the main entrance and at all other directions helps to remove any
harm from any of these directions. Moreover this puja serves as a shield, helps
to keep away direct or indirect enmity and allows the person to lead a trouble
free life and Goddess Lakshmi always showers her blessings.
Vasthu - ways of worship
The treatise of the house-building science (Vaasthu
Sastra) was founded by our ancestors like MANU, NARADHAR, KASIYAN, MAYAN,
VISWAKARMA etc.
It is the manual of a architecture which gives guidance to
various mechanical arts such as building house or a temple, making idols and
courserating them, making the Vehicles for gods and humans, making war-weapons
and agricultural implements, finding the metallic ores and other bad elements
buried underground, cultivating the crops appropriate to the nature of the soil
and making jewels. This manual was systemisted by MAYAN and was handed over to
the dwellers of the earth. Many a thousands of Verses written by MAYAN were
lost in course of time and what is left is only a very few stanzas. It is
imperative to observe the important rules, even from what is left to us.
Human beings are the representatives of the nine planets.
The dwelling house of human beings is the representation of the planet Vasthu
goddess( Goddess of Earth). That is the reason, why a house has come to be
known as "graham" of planet. The manual of building a house (manai
sastra) is a treatise on how a house should be constructed for the dwelling of
a human being.
Each one should according to his status, build a house
after duly increasing the gravitational power of the house site in a manner not
causing any impediments due to the bad elements buried in the house site.
The laying of the foundation stone, inauguration of the
coustmetion of a house and occupation of a newly built house are to be
celebrated when the 'Vasthu goddess'(Goddess of the Earth) is well awake.
Laying the foundation for the construction of a house should not be carried out
when the goddess of Earth (Vaasthu goddess) is asleep. Those who violate this
rule will lose his fame, his well-earned wealth and will be put to blame. The
house that has been built with much love and care will change hand in course of
time. Even the persons who purchase this house will suffer as above if he does
not perform the remedies for all the previous defects. Therefore it is very
essential to observe all the rules related to the construction of a house and
thus entrance the divinity of the house.
Building your dream house
In order to identity an ideal building site, a square pit of one
square built (1 cubit x 1 cubit) should be dug out at the centre of the
building site, meditating mentally upon the Goddess Earth and praying for
plenty of wealth and grains at this site. This is to be performed at an
auspicious hour, when the lunar day (thithi) lunar asterism(Natchatram), the
astrological dicisious of tone and the rising of the zodiac sign (lagnam) above
the horizon are favourably placed. After removing the earth from the pit thus
dug out, the pit is worshipped with sandal paste, holy rice mixed with saffron
and flowers. Then the pit is filled up with clean water. Praying the Goddess of
Earth, the favourite god and the family god, more flowers are dropped into the
pit. If the flowers whirl around in the clockwise direction on the surface of
the water in the pit, that site is the one which would give all property like
the "Kamadenu" the fabled cow in the abode of the gods which supplies
for every need.
Moreover, there should be atleat some water left in the
pit the next day, and the pit shouldn't be completely dry.
In contrary to this rule if the flowers whirl around in
the counter clockwise direction and if the pit is completely dried it should be
understood that the site is quite unfit for raising a building.
Mayan, the celetial architect states that prior to the
commencement of this worship, the regents of all the eight cardinal directions
should be worshipped and sacrifices offered.
A
well is an important part of a dwelling place.
The
following table shows the attributes of a well dug up in the light cardinal
directions.
|
LOCATION OF WELL |
ATTRIBUTES |
|
EAST |
Prone
to accident |
|
SOUTH
EAST |
Death
of Son |
|
SOUTH |
Bad
augury to the family |
|
SOUTH
WEST |
Danger
to Self |
|
WEST |
Physical
well being |
|
NORTH
WEST |
Danger
caused by a fetus |
|
NORTH |
Improvement
of Wealth |
|
NORTH
EAST |
Peaceful
life |
Therefore
the best spot to dig out a well is the North East (Isanya) and North, the next
best.
HOUSE WARMING FUNCTIONS - Forbidden timings
Performance of the laying the foundation ceremony or the
house warming function during the time when the Deity of the plot (VASTHU
PURUSHAN) is asleep will lead the head of the house to disaster.
Performance of the house warming function during the time
when Diety of the plot is asleep will make the glory of the performer recede
and he will be put to many blames. Such performance will be subjected to
protests ,vexation and weariness. Their wealth will walk away.
On the contrary, performance of the laying the foundation
ceremony or the house warming function during the time when the Deity of the
plot (VASTHU PURUSHAN) wakes up from his sleep make the performer blessed with
good health, wealth, fame, plenty and prosperity
An ideal Home
The threshold or the main doorway of a house is the
dwelling place of the divine trinity Lord Ganapathy, Goddess Lakshmi and
Goddess Saraswathi. This doorway is the entrance to the office of Brahmma.
The width of the building should be divided into 9 equal
parts and the main doorway created at the middle part(5th)
It is important that the main doorway should remain at the
ground floor itself even in the case of multistoried building.
For good reasons, the hall at the innerside of the
threshold should not have two doorways. Experience has reveled that those
persons, either great personalities or ordinary simpleton, who live in such a
house with two main door ways for a hall had undergone a great deal of
sufferings.
According to the rules of the "Manai Adi Sastra"
– Science of building construction – if two main doorways are erected for one
hall, wealth, health and fame aspects will improve. But all these assets will
get lost thereafter. As a result, the expenditure will be more than the income
, the debt will accumulate, ill-health will prevail and enmity will grow. Loss
of peace of mind, growing misunderstanding in the family, decrease in the love
and affection and the member of the family turning arch rivals to one another
are all the bad consequences.
The livelihood of the head of the family will be affected.
Failures in a row will be met and heavy losses will be incurred due to fire and
theft.
The natural course of actions will be interrupted in many
ways. The rule reiterates that the person will be subjected to unaccountable
chaos and confusion, fear and fright and earn the enmity of friends, relatives
and the government.
Like wise, all the auspicious occasions will be unduly
delayed. Fate will play a crucial role in making the offspring, who are
supposed to add pride to the parents, to turn awry, become slaves to bad habits
and spoil the reputation of the parents.
Even today one could notice in South India many ancient
buildings having the symbols and figures of gods and other artistic designs
engraved in the main door frames, strictly following the precepts of the
celestial architects Maya and Viswakarma. These are houses which light up holy
lamps and place them in the niches situated on either side of the maindoor
frame to give a divine look.
It is important to see that the halls and rooms should be
constructed inside the main doorway in such a way that no pillars or walls are
erected straight across the main doorway.
The head of the family will incur losses and meet with
calamities in case if there are pillars or walls standing across the main
doorway.
It is ideal that the dimension of the doorways from the
main door way to the backdoor way go on decreasing gradually. In case if there
are rooms across the main doorway for which there is no provision to erect a
doorway, a window my be erected across the main doorway.
It
will be a defect to have any wall that obstructs the main doorway.
The South West direction of the house is known as
"Niruthi" or the cardinal point "Kanni".
"Niruthi", a demigod, and who has "Durga" as his wife, is
acting as a regent of this cardinal point by virtue of his power of religious
austerities. Under no circumstances windows or doorways be erected at this
cardinal point of South West.
Lakshmi, the Goddess of fortune will flee from such a
house, which has in it a doorway created in the South West corner, and the
goddess of evil will occupy such house.
So it is a blemish to have a doorway at the South West
corner. Weapons, heavy articles and things that are rarely used should be
stored in this direction. To leave this direction vacant is also a defect. In
such cases there will be loss of property, loss due to fire and unfavorable
economic condition will prevail leading to debts and sufferings.
FAQs
Who is MAYAN?
Mayan is the architect of the
Asuras (Evildemigods). Thithi is his mother. Mayan and Thunthubi are his two
sons. Mandodari, the wife of Ravana, (the ten-headed demon), is his sister.
Mayan saught the shelter of Arjuna when ‘Kandavana’ forest was set fire by
Arjunan. Viswakarma, the architect of gods, is Maya’s father. Manu is another
son born to Mayan. Maya is the architect who designed and built the Thripuam (Three
cities) and the Amudha Kinarn (ambrosial well) in which the dead asuras (Evil
demigods) were dropped and brought back to life.
Which are the prohibited trees not suitable for growing
around a house?
Calotropis gigantea (Erukku),
Ficus recemora (Aththi), Jambo (Naval) Phyllanthus (Nelli), Palmyrah (Panai),
Cotton shrmp (Paruththi) ,Tamarind (Puli), Crataeva religiosa (Vilvam), Bombax
gossypinum (Kongu) are the prohibited trees, and hence should not be grown in
the periphery of a house.
Which plants and creepers are prohibited from growing in
the periphery of a house?
Cytisus cajan (Thuvarai), Cucumis
acutangulus (Peerkku) ,Dolichi (Avarai) ,Jasmimun trichotomum (Mullai),
Chanpaca shrub (Senbagam) are the plants and creepers that are not suitable for
a housegarden.
What are the attributes of a house located straight across
an installed trident?
It is quite inauspicious to have a
trident installed across a dwelling house. This will bring total unhappiness in
the form of loss of properties and wealth. Great sufferings will follow and
insolvable problems will arise. The wife will become mentally deranged person
and the children will be dumps. Hence it is not advisable to purchase a house
with such a location even if it is offered for a rock bottom price. If a
trident is fumed installed across a dwelling house, it is advisable to seek the
help of the elders of the locality for its removal.
Can the temple cast its shadow on a dwelling house?
No. If the shadow cast by a temple
falls on a dwelling house, disaster will fall on such a house. He head of the
family will lose all his wealth and ultimately become a pauper.
Can the main doorway installed as per rules be disturbed
or shifted?
The main doorway installed after
due calculation should never be shifted. Shifting such a main doorway will
amount to blasphemy by the owner of the house.
Is the location of a sacrificial hall (Yagasala) or a
grave/tomb across a dwelling house inauspicious?
Yes. Location of sacrificial hall
(Yagasala) or a grave/tomb across a house portends bad luck and the head of the
house will be gripped by great relief.
What is the benefit of having the main doorway and the
back door way aligned straight across each other?
This portends good luck and the
owner of the house will have profit all the house.
What is the favorable annexation of a vacant plot to a
house?
Annexing a vacant plot which is
located in the North or the East of the house is favorable and the owner of the
house will be highly profited. Annexing a vacant plot which is located in the
South of the West of the house is unfavorable and the owner of the house will
be made to loose the house huge be dwells in.
Can a house have an odd number of doors?
No. Having an odd number of doors
to a house will make the house unhygienic and unhealthy for the dwellers. The
dwellers will suffer from fever and headache quite often.
Role of Destiny
"A man who owns fate does not
own a house, and a Man who owns a house does not own fate." is an old
saying in Tamil which stresses the important role played by destiny in one's
life. It is the science of Astrology, which forms the basis for explaining the
past, present and future actions of an individual. It also explains the period
of onset of trials and tribulations, the receding away of fate and freedom from
worries.
It has been found from experience
that it not only blesses one to own a house to live in, a good wife children
and livestock but also makes one to undergo sufferings in his life. The one who
lives in a mansion is not well off and the one who lives in a hut has no
worries at all.
Possession of money alone does not
guarantee one a peaceful life, and at the same time leading a life without
money is not possible. Having a good house and a fair destiny as per the norms
makes one lead a majestic life like a temple tower. Like the future life of a
child is purely based on the planetary positions and the ascendant (Lagna) at
the time of its birth, it is the house that is built up on a well-chosen plot
as per the norms and rules, which is responsible for the welfare or otherwise
of its resident. Thus it is the seed of destiny that contributes to the merits
and demerits of one's life.
We perform many ceremonies and
religious rites prior to the birth of a child so that the child is born at an auspicious
hour and its parents are blessed with all good benefits. The pregnant mother is
properly protected from the evil effects caused during the period of an eclipse
and we perform many purification and expiation ceremonies after the
child-birth, to ensure peace.
The residents of a house have a
chance, to be afflicted with adverse effects quite unexpectedly at any time, if
such a house had any defects at the time of construction, or defects due to
growing forbidden trees, or due to the curses by great sages/ mendicants. In
some houses auspicious function or ceremonies or religious rites are not
performed from the days of its construction. This will often result in Court
litigations due to outstanding loans and occurrences such as suicidal and
accidental deaths in the family. Any matter that could be resolved easily in
the normal course of events will be inordinately delayed and losses occurred.
At the same time if the destiny of
the resident is good and the house is void of evil effects even complicated
problems will be easily resolved and success in any endeavour obtained that is
surprising to the resident.
All the defects, blasphemy and
curses by sages on the house site should be expiated by performing suitable
purification ceremonies and worships before one attempts to start the
construction work of a house on such a site. Expert architects should be
consulted who would find out the defects for proper remedial expiation. Even
today there are a few exponents in this field living in our country.
Maya, the celestial architect, had
explained the easy ways and means of identifying the nature of the soil.
According to Maya, the master of the house who is going to construct the house
should with his own hands dig out a square pit one cubit side and one cubit depth
at the eastern direction or at the middle of the site (Brahmasthala). Milk
diluted with water, should be poured to fill this pit and sweet smelling
flowers are to be floated in the center. Swirling of the floating flowers in
the clockwise direction indicates prosperity. Swirling of the floating flowers
in the counter clockwise direction indicates impediments. If the floating
flowers come to a stop and remain stationary in the directions as indicated in
the following table, the results will be as shown against the directions.
|
DIRECTION |
RESULTS |
|
EAST |
Goddess of fortune will favour with plenty and
prosperity. The resident will be blessed with good children and cows. |
|
SOUTH
EAST |
Wife
will become barren Reptiles like tortoise and snakes will appear in the house
portending bad omen. Fear due to poison and robbers. Loss of property. |
|
SOUTH |
Mental
Imbalance. Quarrel. Disease. Fear of Phobias. |
|
SOUTH
WEST |
Augmentation
of wealth Goddess of fortune will reside. Augmentation of gold and personal
effects. Name and fame |
|
WEST |
Enhancement
of wealth Favour by the goddess of fortune Glory in occupation. Augmentation
of Gold. Commendable life with eminence and excellence. |
|
NORTH
WEST |
Untreatable
diseases. Loss of property. House will be haunted by devils. Loss of radiance
to both the house and its residents. |
|
NORTH |
Augmentation
of wealth charitable life Royal comforts Command respect from rich and poor. |
|
NORTH
EAST |
Prosperous
life. Augmentation of wealth Divine strength Blessing of knowing the divine
secrets. Preaching of divine epics to others. Makes others to lead a divine
life. |
As per the guidance of Maya, all
the defects, blasphemies and curses by sages and mendicants are to be timely
identified and expiated by performing proper purification ceremonies. Reptiles
like tortoise and serpents will never enter such expiated houses. Only by his
deeds of merit in the previous births would a person be blessed with such an
expiated house.
Effects of Evil Eye
The power of an "Evil
Eye" is so bad that it could inflict injury or bad luck by the look/glance
of certain persons. Hence the tamil proverb, "Getting hurt by a stone is
far better that getting hurt by an Evil Eye".
One could have observed that the
stretch of important streets are strewn with pieces of white pumpkin which is
broken open on the streets to wipe away the evil eye on occasions such as house
warming function day, during the construction of a new house, on the day of
opening a new account on the "Saraswathi Puja" day.
Many of those who are employed or
engaged in a business or trade or practising a fine art and others who are
engaged in various other vocations have been affected adversely due to the evil
eye.
The first and the foremost reason
for the impediments of obstacles caused with respect to the food we eat, the
dress we wear, the place where we dwell is mainly due to the evil eye, and fate
plays only a secondary role. Ofcourse the evil eye is also a sort of fate. They
remain in hiding and act through cause and effect. Great Tamil Poet like
Mahakavi Bharathiyar and Valluvar have sung about "FATE". If such is
the condition of great personages who have been very much devoted in their
service to God having renounced the wordly life, we, the simpletons, are
nothing before them.
Our ancestors have
prescribed many remedies for evil eye. Among those are
1. Visiting a
nearby temple and worshiping the God with much devotion.
2. Performing
charities to the poor according to one's capacity.
3. Breaking
open a lemon fruit after waving it, either on Sundays or on Thursdays.
4. Burning
Camphor on a two-eyed cocunut and breaking it open after waving it, are a few
acts of remedies which will alleviate the pangs of sufferings due to evil eye.
Mostly the white pumpkin gourd is
widely used for this purpose. Even in the midst of millions of sufferings if
one stands like a rock of Gibraltar, if one practices the above said remedical
measures the evil eye vanish in thin air.
Defective Main Doorways
One could have observed that right
from birds and animals to the human beings all show keen interest in seeking a
safe shelter to bad a well secure life. Life will be blended for those who
build the house as per the rules and regulations as prescribed by our ancestors
in their texts in architecture . Eruersely, life will be sad and miserable for
those and their descendants who reside in houses that were built by not
observing these rules.
One of the most important rules to
be followed is not to have a marshy land across the maindoorway of the house.
Honing such a marshy land across the maindoorway will lead its resident to
rain. Allowing the drainage water to flow across the house will lead the
resident to poverty. If an assemblage of people is forward talking infront of
the house, or if a well is located in front of the house the residents of such
a house will suffer from incurable diseases like epilepsy. It is not agreeable
to the lady of the house which has a temple n front of it. Similarly, it is not
agreeable to the lady of the house which has a pillar or a tree standing in
front of the house.
As per the rules enunciated by the
architect Maya, it is stated that a flow found in the wood used for the main
doorway will give miseus to the son, blasphemy of the doorway will give miseus
to the tripe of the resident and any flow in the verticality of the main
doorway will give misers to the head of the family
Location of Walls
The results attributed to walls being cracked are
tabulated belows:
|
Direction of Location of Wall |
Result |
|
East |
Ruin |
|
South East |
Affliction |
|
South |
Death |
|
South West |
Beauty |
|
West |
Affluence |
|
|
Death |
|
North |
Abundant Wealth |
|
North East |
Death of a young girl |
House facing a Street/Lane
It is our tradition from time
immemorial to erect a statue of Lord Vinayaka (Elephant God) or the figure of
an elephant, as a remedial measure in the case of the entrance of a house or
building faces a lane or a street.(The lane or street jutting into the house of
building)
The rule says that it is a great
defect to have a house facing a lane or street, and those who live in such a
house will lose peace of mind.
A house in the proximity of a
temple will lead to grief and the residents will often fall sick and the
members of such house will be non-cooperative and divided in opinions.
If a house faces a junction of
four street, all the fame one has saved after hard work will start diminishing
gradually and the implacable enmity will grow.It is wise to shift from such a
dwelling place.
If a temple is located across the
right flank of a house or building, all the perseverance will go a waste.
If a temple is located across the
justify flank of house or building, the resident of such a house will never
attempt to persevere.
If a temple is located right across a house or building
one's fame will wax and then wane.
If a temple is located right behind a house/building it
will lead to poverty from prosperity.
The house/building that faces the
stationary ideal of a temple or a house/building that is across the justify or
right side of a lodging house(Chaavadi) will reduce to run.
The rule states that even if
Lakshmi the goddess of wealth dwells in such a house, the evil spirits will
haunt the house and drive the residents away.
The compound wall of a Shiva
temple should be located well beyond six hundred feet from a house/building.
The location of a house/building
should be well beyond seven hundred feet from the temples of Lord Ayyappan,
Lord Vishnu and Lord Pidaari ( a form of the village goddess Kaali).
The temple of the Lord
Vinayakar(Elephant headed God), Lord Sunamaniya (six headed God and Brother of
Lord Vinayakar), and Goddess Maariamman should be located at the corners of the
street, and houses located beyond seventy feet of such temples will prosper
well.
According to the tradition of a
temple car festival might have been established by our elders in accordance
with spirituality, one should understand the significance in as much as how
best the idols of the Gods in the temples when brought out in procession in the
streets around the temple to help the mankind in warding off from all kinds of
evils.
It is certain that one's life will
be prosperous if he takes the necessary remedial measures for the location of a
house for building jutting against a road or street as mentioned above.
Defective House
The
following defects are to be avoided to have a blemishless house.
1) To
have a main door way at the middle.
2) To
have two halls laterally facing each other.
3) To
have an odd number of roof gutters.
4) To
have water flowing down from the roof gutter straight across the main
doorway.
5) To
have a latticed-window below or straight across the main doorway.
6) To
have a wall raised or a well dug up straight across the main doorway.
7) To
have an odd number of beams in the room, passage or hall.
8) To
have an odd number of pillars in the verandah or hall.
In case if a wall has to be raised
straight across the main doorway a window or an almirah or a hole may be
provided in the center of such a wall straight across the main doorway. This
will produce a inoderate effect upon the owner.
VITALITY OF A HOUSE
The vitality of a house site which
makes the human beings prosper well in the house raised on it is valid for a
period of thirty years only after the performance of house warming ceremony.
The good fortune will continue to favour those who perform the ceremony to
appease the goddess of Earth (Vasthu Santhi) once every year or once every
twelve years during this period of thirty years.
Those who fail to observe these
points will be in deep debts, because of the wear and tear of the main door.
The sustenance income will get reduced and will be insufficient to clear the
debts. Misfortune will assume the form of family fends leading to separation.
Thus misfortune will replace good fortune. This is how MAYA, the renowned
architect, explains in his text on house building.
The bad influence of a defective
house will lead to domestic and occupational misfortunes of the resident with a
possible separation of family member(s), although the horoscope of the resident
have the positions and movements of the planets favourable and the time
propitious. It is for certain that by removing the above said defects in a
building, the resident shall have a peaceful, plentiful and prosperous life.
Vasthu Tips.
INSTALLATION OF CONCH-SHELL (CHANKHU STHAPANAM)
Procedure:
There are two
half yearly courses of the sun. They are:
1. North
Declination (Uthirayana) -the course from south to the north
2. South
Declination (Dakshinayana) -the course from north to the south.
Based on his birth star, the owner
of a plot should choose the ideal solar declination. During the course of the
chosen solar declination, an auspicious solar day (vara) under an auspicious
asterism (nakshatra) and auspicious conjunction of planets (Yoga) when the all
are of the sun is spotlessly clear, is chosen for performing the installation
ceremony. In a particular place in his plot, the owner should dig out a small
pit of a depth equal to twice the size of a conch-shell. Then he has to install
the nine gems (Navarathna) and the five metals (Panchaloga) in the pit and
decorate the pit with sandal paste, vermilion and flowers. Finally the metal
plate with the mystical diagram (Maccayandram) is placed in position in the pit
and covered with soil up to the ground level .
INCANTATIONS TO
INVOKE THE PROTECTION OF THE REGENTS OF THE CARDINAL DIRECTIONS
It is very important to perform
the ceremonies of installation of a conch-shell (Chanku Stapanam) and
incantations to invoke the protection of the regents of the cardinal directions
(Thikku Bhandhanam) before raising a new house or a workshop in the place where
an old building has been demolished or in a site where there was no building
standing for many years. Performance of these ceremonies ensures plenty,
prosperity and good fortune and nullify the evil effects due to the presence of
evil spirits buried underground, and renews the gravitational power of the
earth.
During the first twelve years
after the construction of a house, the divinity present in that house will
gradually diminish.
The residents of such houses could
experience trials and tribulations in their health and occupation, the
gravitational power of such houses having been reduced. The divinity of those
buildings which are partially demolished and redesigned for the sake of
convenience, is lost completely. On those occasions, the evil spirits that are
buried under-ground will strongly establish themselves and cause many woes and
sufferings to the residents. During such occasions it is very imperative to
perform the ceremonies
of Chanku Stapanam (installation of Conch-shell) and Thikku Bhandhanam
(incantations to invoke the protection of the regents of the cardinal
directions to give a new lease of life to such buildings). According to the
ancient texts, it is Maya, the greatest architect, who has been responsible for
the inaugural ceremony of the Construction of the famous temples at
Thiruvannamalai, Thillai (Chidambaram) Thiruvarur, Thirukadayur and Thiruvanaikkaval.
The Tamil months of Ani
(June/July), Purattasi (September/October), Margazhi (December/January) and
Panguni (March/April) are said to be inauspicious either for the foundation
laying ceremony or for the house warming function and the inauguration of a
temple. Only a strict adherence to be rules and regulations as enunciated by
our ancestors and accordingly choosing the proper ways and means of performing
the functions of laying the foundation or home-warming or inauguration of temples,
could lead one to plenty, prosperity and a state of well being.
EFFECTS OF ECHOES
Those who live in houses,
which repeat what we speak by producing echoes, will be robbed of his family
welfare and even will be driven away from such a house. Such a house will be
infested with bats. Once being driven out from such a house, the chances of
reoccupying that house by that person is very remote.
Maya, the great architect,
declares that after investigating the origin of the echoes produced, suitable
appeasing ceremony to the Goddess Earth could be performed and worships offered
before one could safely re-occupy such a house.
But in the case of the temple,
where echoes are produced there are no ill effects whatsoever. One could have
observed that there are many temples where echoes are produced and there are
bats infested thereby revealing the divine atmosphere of a temple. But in the
case of the temple, where echoes are produced there are no ill effects
whatsoever. One could have observed that there are many temples where echoes
are produced and there are bats infested thereby revealing the divine
atmosphere of a temple.
CHOICE AMONG TWO
HOUSES
All are not blessed to
build/own houses. But there are still many people who are the owners of several
houses/buildings. MAYA, the great architect, and others have duly warned us
against being driven to the destiny of loosing our properties due to providence
and also due to our negligence in not conforming to the rules as enunciated by
our ancestors. One should clearly know as to where the parents, elder brothers,
younger brothers, first wife, Second wife and a tenant are to be housed. These
are the days the younger generations prefer to live separately away from the
parental roof of a joint family system.
Those who own two houses - one in
the north and the other in the south, should allot the north house for the
parents and the elder brothers and allot the south house for the younger
brothers or the tenants. The first wife has to live in the North house and the
second wife in the south house. Violation of these rules will lead to loss of
peace of mind, loss of health, wealth and even immovable properties including
the house.
Those who own
two houses - one in the East and the other in the West, should allot the west
house for the parents, elder brothers and the first wife. The owner living in
the East house and letting out the West house and/or the parents and elder
brothers living in the east house is totally forbidden. If the house is a
two-storied one, the owner should live in the first floor and the tenants in
the ground floor. (or) The elders in the first floor and the youngsters in the
ground floor.
If these rules are broken, it will lead
to serious consequences.
Misfortune will come upon those owners
who either,
1. Living in the East house and letting
out the West house. (or)
2. Living in the South house and
letting out the North house. (or)
3. Living in the ground floor and
letting out the first floor.
At the same
time the tenants will become the beneficiaries of wealth, occupational
excellence and earn fame and name in the outer circle.
For the tenants
whose star and other conjunctions of planets are favourable to him on the first
day of his occupation of such a rented house, he will be blessed with
properties including owning the house of which he is a tenant, at a later
stage. If the second own house is located at the North East or South East or
South West or North West directions, the owners of such house and the head of
the family should reside in the North and the West house, and let out the house
in the South and the East for the tenants and the Youngsters. If one is not
able to reside in the North house or the West house due to occupational reasons
the above rules should not be violated.
Generally,
people fail to observe these rules. Only a few among those who own two houses
strictly follow the rules and lead a pleasant life. If a person own more than
two houses or house sites, he should prefer to reside only in the house that is
located in the North or West direction. It is not advisable to develop the
immovable property at the South when one is well off. One can develop the
immovable properties located at the East, West, North and South East directions
safely for his own benefits. The rule further states that building a house in
the vacant plot to the South of the residence or developing the building in the
South will lead to many disasters.
PILLARS
The master of a house which has
twelve pillars from the entrance to the interior of the house, will be
subjected to many troubles from their enemies, fall sick often and become a
debtor. The rule states in such houses with twelve pillars the goddess of
fortune will run away and the house will be taken possession of by the goddess
of evil and other evil spirits.
Those who live in houses, which
have odd number of pillars or even number of doors, will suffer like a deer
shot by an arrow and be subjected to unnecessary harassment and become vexed.
The rule further states that
having three pillars on the raised platform in the verandah will lead the
resident to a confused state of mind; incur loss of property and there will be
impediments in all matters.
The main door way is an important
aspect for a building. The Vaasthu Sasthra gives much credence to the main
doorway, which is the abode of the Goddess of fortune and possessing divine
strength. The back door way is the place ruled over by the goddess of
misfortune (Moodhevi) who patiently waits there. Having four main doorways in
the four main directions of a building is known as "Viswatho"
gateway. Having such an arrangement of four gateways ensures prosperity in the
entire front. But such an arrangement of four gateways (main door ways) will be
highly favourable only in the case of a temple or a workshop/factory.
Erecting three main doorways in
the three main directions excepting east, of a building, is known as
"Viyakra Padam". Such a house will be subjected to the fear of thefts
and loss of cattle heads. But, this kind of gateways are mostly suited to
workshop/factories.
The goddess of fortune will bless
a building with plenty and prosperity, which has three main doorways in the
three main directions except West. These kinds of gateways will bring good luck
and fortune only in the case of workshop/factory building.
Having three main doorways in the
three main directions except North will bring ruin and misfortune to
workshop/factories. Having two main doorways in the South and West will usher
in all-round prosperity and comforts. Having two main doorways in the North and
West will lead to frequent thefts and adversity. Having two main doorways in
the North and East will bring in scores of diseases. Having buildings on all
the four directions of a residence the center plot (Brahmasthanam) of which is open
to the sky, is known as the
WOOD SUITABLE
& UNSUITABLE FOR BUILDING PURPOSES
Suitable:
1. Teak (Thekku)
2. Sandal (Sandanam)
3. Neem (Veembu)
4. Redwood (Semmaram)
5. Cassia fistula (Kadukkai)
6. Dalbergia latifolia (Nuukkam)
7. Mango (Maa)
8. Cassia (Kondrai)
9. Bassia Illoopy (Iluppai)
10. Jumbo (Naaval)
11. Jerminalia alata (Marudu)
12. Morinda umbellate (Nunaa)
13. Kino (Veengai)
14.
15. Bamboo (Moongil)
16. Areca (Paakku)
17. Coconut (Thennai)
18. Eugenia racemosa (Kadambu) and
19. Portia (Poovarasu)
The well being or welfare of the
residents of the house which use the timber of the above trees for construction
is vouch safed.
Unsuitable:
The using of the wood of the following
trees for the construction of houses will lead to poverty.
1.Ficus racemosa (Aththi)
2. Banyan (Aal)
3. Ficus virems (iththi)
4. Silk cotton (ilava)
5. Peepul (Arasu)
6. Butea frondosa (Purasu)
7. Pharnaceun (Kuchchan)
8. Ziziphus Jujuba (Ilandhai)
9. Mimisops elengi (Magizham)
10. Wood apple (Vilva).
Note: - The Tamil names of the trees
are mentioned within parenthesis.
GROWING PLANTS,
TREES & GREEPERS THE PERIPHERY OF A HOUSE
The Goddess of fortune will flee
away from the resident of a house - even though he is leading a princely life -
if the following plants or trees grow in the periphery of such a house.
1. Agaththi (coronilia grandiflora)
2. Alari (oleander)
3. Nanthiyavattam (Nerium Corundum)
4. Murukku (Indian Coral tree)
5. Erukku (Catotropis gigantean)
6. Paruthi (Cotton shrub)
7. Karungali (Ebony)
8. Aal (Banyan)
9. Puli (Tamarind)
10. Kal-aal (Ficus Vireus)
11. Naaval (Jumbo)
According to the essence of Veda,
it is ten times a better deed to dig up a tank than to dig up a well in a good
site. It is again ten times a better deed to beget a good son than digging up
ten tanks.
It is again ten times a better
deed to plant and grow a good tree than to beget ten good sons. After
constructing a house, people grow plants, creepers and trees in the front yard
and at the back yard of the house.
They reap good benefits by
planting coconut, mango and other utility trees. They also get flowers for
worshipping God, from the flowering plants they grow.
In addition the appearance of the
house surrounded by greeneries is quite appealing to the eyes and adds beauty
to the house. By planting and growing plants, creepers and trees, the family
will be benefited. The text written by MAYA however warns that there are
certain trees that are beneficial and certain other trees which are maleficent
to the welfare of the family.
Maintaining a garden or growing
plants, creepers and trees in the South East or South direction of the house is
prohibited. Failure to observe this rule will lead to loss of property, fear,
quarrel and falling sick often.
Maintaining a garden or growing
plants, creepers and trees in the East, West and North directions of the house
will beget good children (sons and daughters) and a pleasant life. Both the
house and its residents will not prosper, in which house trees such as Elandhai
(Ziziphus jujuha), Sevvaazhai (Red plantain), Karu vaazhai (Black plantain)
Maathulai (Pomegranate) are grown. The wealth and welfare that are naturally
reaped by a family will be reduced if trees like Purasu, Sampanki, Naanai and
Maththi kaagu are grown in the house. There will be loss of abundance of wealth
and loss of son, if trees like Nelli (Phyllanthus embilica) and turmeric
raezome are grown. Even if these plants grow by themselves, they must be
completely weeded out.
Growing a banyan tree in the
eastern side, a peepul tree in the western side, an iththi tree (ficus viren)
in the northern side of a house will bring in good fortune, bounty of wealth
both monetary and grainy, an increase of the tribe and the comforts of royal
life.
Growing a peepul tree in the
eastern side, an iththi tree (Ficus viren) in the southern side, a banyan tree
in the western side and an aththi tree (Ficus racemoso) in the northern side is
malefic to the growers, causing bereavements and loss of property. This is also
true even if the above trees grow in the wild in the directions specified
above.
Coconut tree, being equivalent to
the Karpaga vrisham, (a tree of the heaven yielding whatever is desired) is the
most ideal tree to be grown during this present iron age of miseries
(Kaliyuga). Also the mango trees and flowering plants could be ideally grown.
The vegetations of trees, plants,
creepers and all other small plants enhance the power to the motions of the
five elements of Earth, air, fire, water, and ether, which in turn influence
the human beings to reap the benefits of longevity of life and good fortune.
Even in the foreign countries
people grow plants of some kind or other in their gardens or indoors with the
strong belief that it will drive away the poverty. Further, based on this same
belief they have started growing plants in important locations, thus
strengthening their belief.
The book of Vedas (the holy book
of the Hindus) makes it known for the one who let grows a sacred Vilva tree
(Crataeva religiose), all the sins he had committed in his previous births will
be completely annihilated, all his descendants for the succeeding twenty one
generations will reap the benefit of a life without poverty, beget children,
get wealth with gems and jewels, get peace of mind without any enemies and be
blessed with the benefit of living in the holy land of the Hindus (Punniya
Bhoomi). Similarly for the one who grows and worship a sacred Tulsi (Holy
Basil) plant (Ocymum Sanctum) the sins he had comitted in all his former births
will totally be annihilated and he will earn the merits of having lived in the
heaven for thousand years for having worshipped the holy basil for one day and
all his descendants for the succeeding 21 generations will be blessed with the
comforts of a royal life having got in their possession the two species of gold
one in the form of chank (conch) and the other in the form of a lotus of the
heaven (Sanga nidhi and Paduma nidhi), regarded as possessing life and yielding
whatever is desired.
Vastu Shilpa Shastra is a
blend of science, art, astronomy and astrology, it can also be said as an
ancient mystic science for designing and building. Vastu Shastra helps us to
make our lives better and will secure from things going wrong.
Vastu is a part of Vedas, which
are believed to be four to five thousand years old. Through penance and
meditation yogis of that period acquired answers believed to have come from the
cosmic mind itself to their questions. Hence Vedas are heeded with divine
knowledge. The art of Vastu originates in the Stapatya Veda, a part of the
Atharva Veda.
A brief account
on Yugas and Vedas
As per the Indian Vedas and other
sacred writings, there were mainly 4 yugas i.e ages. These Yugas or ages are
counted from the origin of earth. First one among this is Kritha Yuga - It
lasted for a period of 1,728,000 years. Treta Yuga of 1,296,000 years was the
second one, people performed rituals and their age kept declining during this
period. Then came the Dwapara Yuga, which lasted for 8,64,000 years. The final
one is the Kaliyuga, the current age.
During the Kaliyuga, Vedas were
divided and brought into the written form making it easier for people to
understand. Sacred writings are arranged in-groups.
Vedas are considered to be the
eternal document of Indian culture and of messages that lays the foundation for
Indian religions and thoughts. They are composed in beautiful metrical verses,
generally of three or four lines.
During the earlier periods the
Vedas were considered so sacred that they were only transmitted orally from one
generation to the next. Later the passages of the Vedas were written in
Sanskrit, and primarily consist of four collections, which are altogether
referred to as the Samhitas,
The final Veda, the Atharvaveda, is
attributed to a sage named Atharvan.
The Vedangas and Upavedas are
collections of texts that succor the Vedas to be systematic as a sacred living.
Upavedas are: -
·
Artha Veda, which reveals statecraft
· Ayur Veda, which deals with medicin