VAASTU : Smt Urmil Jain, lectured at London School of Economics on 30.5.2012

Vaastu : Urmil Jain on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 at London School of Economics. · Enjoy good vibrations indoors We can’t change Grihini Bala because we can’t change Mother or Sister or Daughter. Only the strength of Gruha Bala can be altered by making use of Universal Directional Strength i.e. “VAASTU”. Since time immemorial, human beings (even pet animals, etc.) were influenced by three strength (Balsa) i.e., Graha Bala, (Planetary Strength) Gruhabala (Strength of House i.e., Vaastu) Grihini Bala (Strength of Females; mother, sister, wife or daughter) Everything is predestined in the Graha Balas and Grihini. We can’t change or alter our fate i.e., planetary influence on us at the time of Birth. We can’t change Grihini Bala because we can’t change Mother or Sister or Daughter (of course, we can change the wife, an exception, but in this case also we have to assume as per our fate only). Only the strength of Gruha Bala can be altered by making use of Universal Directional Strength i.e. “VAASTU”. Some easy-to-do remedies are given here as per my knowledge and experience to get peace and prosperity in life. As per our ancient texts, eight directions are governed by eight planets i.e., the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Rahu (North Node), Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Saturn. By lessening the weight at North East and by increasing the weight at South West, we can balance the building, site, area, state, country etc. We should make use of this important aspect by making entrance gate, main door, underground sump and Pooja Room at North East in this direction to get cosmic rays of the divine planet Jupiter. Our ancient sages suggested bed rooms, store rooms in the South West to get sound sleep, and good married life. South East is ruled by Venus i.e., female, hence our ancient sages suggested kitchen in the South East and more particularly at the corner of Eastern South East bring down the tension among the family members. West is governed by Saturn, the planet of grievance and lazy. So in this direction, rest room, and bed room are good. North is governed by Mercury, the planet for intellectual and commercial, purposes. So business shop or office is good in this direction. South is governed by Mars, the planet of bravery. Hence this direction should be used as store room and bed room. POSTER THERAPY People may ask how one can change or alter an already constructed house as it will be difficult and financially costly also. The answer is very simple i.e., Poster Therapy i.e, by fixing good posters like rising Sun in the eastern direction of the wall, fiery-figured posters at south east direction of the house, elephant or hills posters at south-west wall, lakes and snowfall posters at North-west wall. If houses have no light and air from the East or North or North-east, they can paste 8 petals made of Golden yellow i.e., Paper or metal or paint. The eight petals should point towards the 8 directions. Mirrorology If the door is at the Northwest direction, this will create high fluctuations of the mind. Troubles can be overcome by fixing a mirror at Northeast direction of the wall. The image will fall at Northeast entry which will give stability as well as financial prosperity. If Southwest is in low Level, then paste posters of the house or hill –at South west walls. If the door or main gate is at the South-east direction there is a possibility of financial loss including problems to females. Fix a mirror at the NE wall. Then the image of SE will turn to NE. Hence the family members will get good name, fame and prosperity. If the door or main Gate is at South-west direction there will be it sudden rise and fall, accidents, loss through cheating, thefts etc. Keep a mirror at the NE corner. If the OVEN place (fire) is at the Northwest direction there will be Nervous weakness and loss in business also. Fix a mirror at the corner of SE. The image will show the oven-fire at SE which will give high relief of nervous weakness. Note: Exhibiting the Mahabharatha posters at house indicates separation or litigation or quarrels between parents, brothers, sisters and relative. Hence, it should be removed. Even though the main door is at the North direction the Mahabharatha and Rama-Sita-Lakshman posters indicates 14 years of struggle as it happened with Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. So this scene also should not be exhibited at houses. Keeping a picture of young Krishna with flute and butter will bring prosperity. All God photos and calendars should be at the Northwest wall to get Jupiter and the Suns rays from Northeast. Posters of wild animals like Lion, Tiger, Cats, Dogs, Eagle indicates trouble, sudden rise and fall. Elder persons or our ancestors’ photos should be kept either at Southwest of the wall or at Northwest wall to get name, fame and prosperity. Love and Marital Affairs Through Vastu Shilpa Shastra: If the girl’s home is at North, NE, East and SE, then the love affair will blossom well. If the girl’s house is at South, SW, West and NW, then the ties will be fluctuating. If the boy’s home is at NW, West, SW and South, then the ties will be very strong. If the boy’s house is at North, NE, East and SE, then the ties will be fluctuating. Vastu Tips Vastu is an inherent energy concept of science. We cannot see energy with our naked eyes but we can realize and see its application in different forms and fashions. Universe is one of the beautiful creations of nature and everything stands alive only in the limelight of truth. Just like every subject of human aspect is governed with rules, regulations & acts, similarly the nature has also got certain key factor principles for smooth governing of its residents, in which "Vastu stands for nature law" and ignorance of law is not an excuse anywhere. Here are some of the basic rules that everyone should follow A plot with all corners 90 degrees having two sides road front and back is a good plot. The open space left in North and east should be more than South and West. The maximum construction should be done in South, West and southwest portion of the plot. A pond or a water body should be placed in Northeast corner of the house. A house should be designed in such a way so that there is maximum entry of sunlight and proper cross ventilation. The entire opening should be made on the North and East Side of the house. Trees of any kind should not be grown in eastern or northern, northeast directions. Only small plant can be grown in North, east, Northeast. The hearth or oven must be arranged in eastern southeast direction of the entire house, in such a way that the person cooking faces east. The shadow of any tree should not fall on the house. Pictures of any war scenes, demons, one in anger should not be placed in the house. The slope of the property should be from West to east or South to north. Vasthu Shastra in Depth VastuShastra is an ancient science energy flow throughout the house/office/factory that allows inflow of fresh air and natural light that promotes health, wealth, peace and happiness. The most ancient science of architecture that goes back to the Vedic ages,it is composed of specific rules and regulations, set down by sages of those times, that an architect / builder / owner was expected to religiously follow to avoid coming under negative or evil influences. Today, it is looked upon as a highly evolved, comprehensive building philosophy in which directions and shapes are the most vital aspects of designing.Right from the selection of site to correct slope of land down to the shape of the building, this oldest form of architecture covers nearly every aspect of construction. Not only for houses but temples, palaces, forts,offices...just about every possible form of construction. Often providing relief if not cures to physical or emotional problems simply by relocating an entrance, window or room. Some of the important points made therein are : Directional Alignment The directional axis of the plot should be properly aligned with the axis of the earth's magnetic field. Boundaries AC & BD should be parallel to a north-south axis. Whileboundaries AB & CD should be in an East-West alignment. For otherwise, such land will remain averse to overall growth, peace& happiness of those that shall inhabit it. Thegeometrical axis of the plot should be properly aligned with the axisof the earth's magnetic field. i.e. one set of boundaries should beparallel to the north south axis and the other to the east -west axisas shown in the figure (a) and (b). Figure (a) shows directional alignment (b) shows a non directionally aligned plot. Shape Of The Site Symmetrical shapes like square or rectangular, circular & hexagonalpromote overall growth, increases mental capabilities and generatesprosperity. Asymmetricalshapes like oval, triangular, parallelogram, star & trident aredeemed inauspicious. SHAPE EFFECTS Rectangular Overall Growth Hexagonal Prosperity Slope Of The Land Surface The surface should be elevated towards the southern and western sidesand should be lower in northern and eastern sides for overall growthand prosperity. The Land should be elevated towards south and west sides and it should be lower in NORTH and EAST sides for over all growth and happiness. If the land is-- HIGH IN NORTH OR EAST LOW IN SOUTH-EAST LOW IN SOUTH LOW IN SOUTH-WEST LOW IN WEST LOW IN NORTH-WEST LOW IN CENTRE, It can have adverse effects. Impact of Gates At Various Locations Eastern Side : The third and fourth gate promote prosperity. Southern Side : The twelfth gate enhances growth. Western Side : The twentieth and twenty-first gates stimulate financial growth. Northern Side : The twenty-seventh, twenty-eighth and twenty-ninthgates promote happiness, financial growth and overall gain respectively. Ofall the positions of the gates depicted in the figure, the positions that are favourable are in the EASTERN SIDE 3. Prosperity 4. Govt Favour SOUTH SIDE 11. Meanness 12. Prosperity, Human Growth WEST SIDE 20. Financial and Human Growth 21. Financial and Human Growth NORTH SIDE 27. Happiness 28. Financial and human Growth 29. All types of Gains All the other placements of the gates ( marked Cross ) prove to beunfavourable. Brahmasthan (Central Zone of the Building) Should be free from any obstruction in the form of a wall, pillar and beam. There should not be any fixture, toilet, lift or staircase etc. in this area as shown in the Figures (a) and (b) For Figure (a) Jurisdiction of brahmsthan in a square building as shownby the central square ABCD For Figure (b) Jurisdiction of brahmsthan in a rectangular building isshown by a central "STAR" The Staircase Should be in the western or northern side of the building. Turnings should be in the clockwise direction. On reaching the upper floor, the facing should be towards south or east. Inner Planning of a House The oven should ideally be in the south-east zone. Toilets should not be in the north-eastern, central and south-western zones. The most south-western location is the ideal position for your master bedroom. Position the boy's room in the northern or eastern side while thegirl's and guest room are to be in the north-western parts. Place the beds in southerly or easterly direction. Theprovisions shown in the side diagram are as per the living style in theancient times. However considering the requirements of the modern daysit can be rearranged based on the following guide lines 1. Kitchen fire should be in the South -East and should never be at theNorth-East, Centre and the south west zones. 2. Toilets should not be provided at the North-East, Center and the South-West zones 3. Master bedroom should be in or nearest to the South-west Zones 4. Boys' Rooms should be in the North and/or East Zones 5. Girls and Guest rooms should be in the North - West zones. 6. Head Seat of the Bed should be in the South or the East Direction 7. Facing of the W/C should be towards the north or West Direction Inner Planning of an Office The shape of the cabin should be a regular square or a perfect rectangle. The opening for the door should be free from any obstacle. Doors should open inwards while entering a cabin. The master chamber should either be in the south-west or nearest to south- west direction. Chambers of directors / managers / senior staff should be in the southern & western zones. While that of the junior staff should bein the north-west, north, north-east, east and south-east. Pantry and toilets must be in north-eastern, central & south-western sections. While making the interior of an office the following guidelines have to kept in mind. 1. The shape of the cabin should be regular ie square, or Perfect rectangle etc. 2. There should not be any obstacle ( Dvar-Vedh) in front of the door opening 3. The door leaves should pushed inside while entering into the cabin. 4. The master chamber should be in the south west or nearest to the south west zone. 5. The directors/managers/senior staff should be in the south & west zones. 6. The junior staff and other activities should be in the North-West,North, North-East, East and South East Zones. 7. The facing of the Directors/Managers/Officers should be towards East or North. 8. Pantryand Toilets should not be in North-East, Center & South-west Zones Internal Planning of any Industrial Building Heavy plant and machinery should be installed in the south-western, southern & western parts. Light weight and auxillary machines should be in the northern & eastern zones. Install boiler, AC panels, generator, heater, dryer, oven, furnace etc. in the north-west & east sections. Toilets should be placed in the north-east, centre or south-west. Make sure not to place spare parts stores in the north-west, centre & south-east. Rest rooms for labour should be in the northern & eastern zones. 1. heavy plant machinery should be installed in the South-West, South and West Zones 2. Light Weight and Auxillary machines should be installed in North and East Zones 3. Boiler/AC Panels/ Generetor/Heater/Dyer/Oven/Furnace etc are Best inthe South East but can also be installed in the North-West and EastZones. 4. Toilets or Fire/Power installations should not be provided in theNorth-East, Center and South-West zones. Vastu Tips for Money Vastu Tips for Finance When your financial movement is slow or stagnant, keep at least one light on throughout the night. Things will certainly brighten up. Light is yang energy, which speeds up things. According to Vastu Fish aquariums are wonderful for wealth. Choose the active, lively and healthy fishes and make sure that they are strong swimmers. Keep the water clean and aerated. Their constant movement keeps the energy of wealth also on the move. Vastu Shastra says if the entrance to your apartment lies at the end of a long corridor, then the energy flowing of a long corridor, then the energy flowing towards it will be too fierce. Adding too much risk to your financial investments. Its effect can be softened with a plant placed halfway down the corridor. Make your front door distinctive to attract wealth within. Paint it a colour that shows it is different from the neighbouring walls. Vastu Tips for business If business is bad, place decorative boulders or curved pathways or pebbles around the structure. This will increase the movement of financial energy. Are you looking for more clarity in your financial life? Take a look at your windows, mirrors and your glass and crystal items. It's amazing what clean windows can do for the balance sheet. Dirty glass restricts money flow. Hanging crystals in your window activates energy. When the sunlight hits them, they produce the most amazing rainbows. Choose a window the gets direct sunlight. This will throw up a multitude of openings for your career growth. Vastu Tips for money matters If you find your expenses beyond control, place live plants or grains in the toilets, these keep the money from going down the toilet, because symbolically growing things reabsorb water energy and keep it recycling. Hang a mirror to reflect your cash box or locker. It symbolically doubles your wealth and opportunities. Vastu Shastra suggests that place a birdbath or feeder in the yard to attract wild life, which will increase the amount of energy around your home. Birdbaths and bird feeders are wonderful acts of cleaning up your finances and attracting prosperity from all directions. Vastu Tips for prosperity If money seems to disappear from your life, put some weighty or solid objects in the far-left corner of the room or house, plus extra light. Need Increased prosperity? An energy boost? A fountain with the soothing sound of moving water is just the thing for you. Whether on a desk or in an important room, nothing attracts money and reliable luck like a water fountain, running water helps move positive energy through the space. However take care not to direct the water flow towards the exit. Usefull Vastu Tips 1. Allow a bright light on the main door. 2. It is best to leave only maximum 5 door open. 3. Avoid keeping a T.V. set in bed-room. 4. Avoid keeping any water feature or plants in the bed room. 5. Do not use seperate mattresses and bed-sheet. 6. Arrange the furniture to from a square or a circle or an octagon in. 7. Brighten the corners. 8. Place a picture of bright sunrise on southern wall in living room. 9. The wind should come from south-west in the bed room. 10. Dining-room should not expose to the front door of your house. 11. Never put mirror in kitchen. 12. Keep the broom and mops out of the sight in kitchen. 13. Keep the bathroom and toilet door closed as much as possible. 14. Windows should open outward normally. 15. Do not keep prickly cactus, plants in the house. 16. Place an aquarium in the sourh-east corner in living room. 17. Place a happy family picture in living room. 18. Please cheque ther aren't grown very high trees like Bangan, Pipal, Thornytrees. 19. Please cheque the gate of the lift is not in front of the main gate of the house. 20. There should not be any room which has shape. 21. There should not be obstructive houses surrounding your plot. 22. The house should be fully airy and has enough water resource. 23. The seat in the latrin should be NORTH-SOUTH. 24. In the office, sit facing the door. 25. Hang a picture of mountains behind you in the office. 26. Place the computer on your right side on the table. 27. A ladder to go up stair curved on the right side should be devided in to two parts. 28. It should be constructed leaving north-east or south-west direction. Ladders stepping down towards north or west creates waste of Lakshmi. 29. One should never hoard stale food, withered flowers, torn clothes, waste paper, waste materials, empty tins, old jars and useless things. These things prevents Lakshmi from entering the house. 30. If there is marble flooring in the house you should see that the old leather shoes are not lying here and there. Marble is considered to be holy stone. If possible avoid marble in bedroom, bathroom, latrine. 31. In a place of worship in the house it is necessary to have open atmosphere. Use marble in the worship room. Take care that there is enough light and air. Latrine should not be near worship room. keep cleanliness and always light insense sticks. Vastu for your Home The Universe is composed of five basic elements, Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Space. Vastu Shastra works on the basic premise that the earth or soil is actually alive, and that all living or organic creatures emerge directly from it. This life force within the earth is called Vaastu, and all objects placed on it share this life force. The earth therefore works as both substance and support. Vastu is also explained as the living space. VASTU TIPS FOR YOUR HOME : Main Gate : Both-East and West directions are considered best for the main gate of your house. Doors : The doors should be in the North and East. Some painting or window should be opposite each door. Drawing Room : It should be in North-West, South or west direction. The furniture should be kept in South and West directions. Kitchen : The kitchen must be situated in South-East. The face of the cook should be towards the East. The water tap in kitchen should be in the North-East direction. Dining Room : The dining room has become an integral part of the drawing room. However the dining table should be kept in South-East. Puja Room : Room for prayer and meditation is recommended to be in the north-east corner of the house. Bedroom : The Chief of the house should have his room in South West direction. The room in North West direction is suitable for guests and girls. Bathroom : It should be in the West and South directions and the flow of its drains should be towards North-East. Exhausts fan can be fixed on North and East walls. Geysers should be South-East. Toilet : Never build toilets in the direction of eastern corner. These should be constructed mainly towards South or West. Toilets and Bathroom should be situated separately. Children's Room : It should be constructed in the North-West corner. Study Room : The North-East corner is best for a study room. Entertainment Room : It should be constructed in the North-West or South. General Room : It should be constructed in the North-West. Guest Room : It should be constructed in the North-West corner. Water-Tank : It should be constructed in the North-West. Garages : It should be in the South-East or North-West corner. In Vaastu there are multiple ways in which the designer and occupant can create a space for experience. If the space has a specific activity, then gathering all energies in a single centre proves to be very powerful. Vastu - General Guidelines Today, people are becoming aware of the importance of Vastu Sastra and its enormous contribution to current lifestyle. This great science of Indian architecture relates to the Vedas or the knowledge books of ancient India. Vastu Sastra can also be defined as the science of energy that creates a rhythm and balance in the building to ensure a better quality of life. This article aims at balancing the primary elements and energies in a house by proper placement and re-location of key objects. Distribution of Elements The five primary elements are identified as follows: Element Property Direction Space (Akasa) Strength South-West Air (Vayu) Free movement North-West Water (Jala) Purity North-East Fire (Agni) Electrical and Electro-magnetic energies South-East Earth (Prithvi) Total awareness Centre Based on this understanding, certain Vastu imbalances can be easily taken care of. Main Door The main door allows the proper flow of the cosmic energies into the house. The mahadwara or the main door is similar to our nasal passage, which takes in the vital breath. Placement of the door in all the four cardinal directions is recommended. The main door should never be placed in the centre of the structure. For an improperly placed door, a screen placed a few feet away from the door helps to block the negative energies. The screen should be the same height as the door. Masters of the Home They can have their rooms in the South or South-West region of the structure. Senior citizens can occupy/sleep in North-East rooms. While lying on the bed, the head should be to the South. The South-West corners of the living premises can have heavy furniture or some heavy indoor plants. Children's Rooms North, North-West and West rooms are good for girls. South, South-East and East rooms are recommended for boys. They can sleep with their heads to the east. Computers and electronic equipment can be placed in the South-East of their rooms. Their knowledge area, which is the North-East, can be activated by the use of mirrors. Cleanliness should be their hallmark. Photos Pictures of gods, goddesses, saints, sages, landscapes, waterfalls, rivers, seas etc., can all adorn the Eastern and Northern walls. Photos of departed near and dear ones can be hung on the Southern walls. Avoid pictures depicting violence, disease, death and negative aspects of life. South and West walls can have pictures depicting strength - huge trees, mountains, rock gardens etc. Indoor Plants Have light indoor plants in the North, East and North-East areas. The South, West and South-West can have heavy indoor plants. Avoid cactus, rose plants and other thorny flora in the North and East. Placing them in the South-East not only improves the ambience but also keeps the energies sober.. Ventilation Keep all the windows open to allow good ventilation into the rooms. Cooler air always comes through the South and warm uncomfortable air through the West. Regulate the openings accordingly. Openings on the North and East that relate to the wealth and health are recommended. Strategic use of curtains can regulate the flow of warm or cool air into the room. Internal Staircases Imbalance due to having the staircase right before entrance can be offset by clever camouflaging of the front of the staircase with indoor plants (light or heavy, depending on the zone - South, East or West - they are in). Staircases facilitate energy movements. They should turn clockwise as we ascend. In a later article, we will cover aspects of lighting and creating spaciousness, balancing sound energy, kitchen, swimming pools and ponds, beams, mirrors, furniture, etc. Summing up, the environment needs to be studied carefully. The primary senses of sight and hearing play an important role. Listening to the sounds (harsh and soft), looking at the doors and windows, studying the placement of furniture and plants, observing the beams and columns, noting the sleeping and sitting positions are important. Vastu is one of the tools provided by our sages and seers that may help an individual to achieve some level of health and happiness. Let the science of Vastu re-define your life and help contribute peace and prosperity. Clues to lookout while Purchasing Land According to Vasthu Sastra shape,size,slope,proportion,location and elevation of a plot of land can influence the owner of the land in both positive or negative manner. According to ancient science even from whom you buy the land is important.One should never buy land from a person who is bankrupt,suffering from a serious illness.This is because the bad energy left behind by the former owner will affect the well being of the new owner. Also land should not be purchased which has been donated to religious or charitable organizations,or used or auctioned by criminals. Some clues to look for... While excavating the earth before building,keep an eye on what is dug up as they can be indications what can be in store. Anthills affect wealth and longevity. Bones indicate obstacles to progress. Bricks indicate owner will enjoy wealth and acquire more properties. Coal indicates ill-Health and financial loss. Copper indicates a prosperous life. Gold,silver or coins can bring all types of comforts. Iron or steel pieces indicate death. Snakes indicate obstruction to building progress. Stones indicate wealth. Plot Shapes Square and rectangle shapes of land slopping towards the north-east are the most favorable sites for a house. Other favorable shapes are the cow-faced site where the front is narrower than the rear-this is particularly good for residential purposes also and hexagonal plots. A plot of land squeezed between two bigger plots is inauspicious as it will bring poverty to the residents. Soil Test Dig a knee-deep hole(about 1m in length and breadth) in the middle of the plot,then refill it with the soil dug out.If there is excess soil left over,it is a good plot.If there is none and the hole is filled easily,then the plot is of only average quality.Anyone living in such a plot will earn a lot of money but will also spend a lot.If the earth removed is not sufficient to refill the dug hole,the land is inauspicious. The second method is to dig a hole i the same way and fill it with water.Waith for a few miniutes and watch whether the water subsides or not.If half the water gets absorbed,the ground is favorable. Surroundings Do not buy a plot of land that has a graveyard either in front of it or at the back.Such surroundings will only bring fear and give no peace of mind to the owner. Buying a plot near a place of worship should also be avoided,especially if the shadow of a temple structure falls on the property because it can cause undesirable problems. BY Smt Urmil jain