What/Who is Vaasthu? – Part 3

Vijay Krisshnarau

The four corners are governed, according to Vaasthu, by four forces. The northeast is the home of Eesaana, Lord Shiva, the southeast by Agni, the god of fire, northwest by Vaayu, the god of wind, and the southwest by the lord responsible for our status in society. Surrounded by these four powers, the Vaasthu lord, according to legend, lies across a plot, his head to the northeast, and his feet to the southwest.

Honouring the Vaasthu lord!

 So why not we honour the lord of Vaasthu by hanging a picture of him at the entrance, is a question that many ask. 

Not advisable. Such a move will create unnecessary upheavals in a house built entirely in conformity with the principles of Vaasthu. The picture should not be hung anywhere, inside or outside the house, be it at the entrance, the exit, or the pooja room.

But why?

Though the lord of Vaasthu might be termed as a god by some. He is not a god at all. In actual fact, he is an asura, a demon, bestowed with raakshasa (demonic) qualities. He is capable of upsetting the balance of the earth. His fiery appearance has been well described in ancient treatises on building shaastra. Of course, these days, a benign touch has been given to his features by artistes and offset printers. So much that his pictures, sporting a kindly look, are mistakenly thought of by many as his true aspect!

Legend has it that the lord of Vaasthu is in a state of eternal sleep following a curse on him. Is it proper therefore to look at such an accursed asura’s picture or even to keep one at home? The Vaasthu purusha or lord is not someone whose face we should encounter everyday. Merely remember him at the moment of laying the foundation stone for a new building. The Vaasthu purusha, it is said, is quite happy with this brief remembrance ceremony. “May you be as prosperous as your sincerity in upholding my principles in the construction of the house,” responds the purusha to the householder’s prayer, and goes back to sleep, it is further stated. His work ends there. The prosperity promised by the lord of Vaasthu depends on the way the house is built.

He might be an asura, but as he lies all across the earth, he is called the Vaasthu purusha or lord. The construction principles identified with him are known as Vaasthu shaastra, though in Tamil it is simply known as manayadi shaastra or building/plot shaastra. This asura had caused so much havoc to the earth that the gods and sages prayed to Shiva and Vishnu for protection. Shiva and Vishnu, it is said, brought the asura under their control. He was then put under a spell, which keeps him eternally asleep.

Therefore, do not adorn the picture of the Vaasthu lord in any part of the house. Adorning his picture in the house is not the solution but the problem itself

India has always been a nation that adores peace, a nation that protects religion and spirituality, a nation that promotes humility, and, above all, a nation that has promoted and continues to promote the philosophy that love is ananda, delight.  

Every Indian should feel proud to have been born in this country. Medicine, literature, astrology, to name only a few, have seen such vast advances here from ancient times, to the wonder of world. Sadly, over centuries they have found themselves in a state of neglect that today we have to be reminded about our treasures by scholars from abroad.

Still our ancient treasures have not been totally destroyed. Only a few have gone out of our view. Isn’t it a fact that though science has given us so much to enjoy, the same means have been adopted by unscrupulous elements to besmirch its fair name? Can the efforts of man and his discoveries and inventions be thrown away? Problems have to be overcome and progress has to be achieved. Much the same way, if our ancient treasures are not to our liking, can they be dismissed as myths or as “mumbo jumbo,” as a leading newscaster termed them recently?

Continue…

WHICH PLACE IDEAL FOR KITCHEN ? Part – 2

WHICH PLACE IDEAL FOR KITCHEN ?

Can Feng Shui be a substitute for Vaasthu?

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Posted by G Vijay krishnarau on Apr 5 2011. Filed under English, Vaasthu, Vaasthu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.