Vastu Shastra of Modern India
As an architectural firm trying focus on the utility value and ascetic sense while planning house Vastu Shastra and it is many proponents brings to the table many challenges.
Well, maybe Vastu really works but in this modern era of buildings we buy our apartments and flats mainly based on our budget and convenient location such as near to railway station or airport. With the ever growing population and depriving land is there space to dedicate for Vastu guidelines?
Here I am trying to find out its relevance in our modern way of living .What can be followed and what need not be and why?
Keeping apart the superstitions and religious connotation, I would love to consider Vastu Shastra as an ecological science based on 4 rudiments of nature – solar energy, wind energy, magnetic field of earth and gravitational force. It has been believed to pass from generation to generation through monograms and word of mouth.
Yes, the word of mouth and that is the biggest challenge. Since it is not properly coded, every Vastu Guru has his own ideas about the plan of the house and how it should be. Therein lies the problem and the huge scam happening around it.
Let us try here to demystify some of the popular one by exploring the scientific reasons behind it.
Sleeping with head to the South
Magnetic field of Earth flows from South to North. Our body is receptive to the South -North Magnetic flow is due to IRON in our blood. When we are sleeping, there is a chance of excess flow of blood into the brain if we are in northern position. This is not ideal at night, since we will be unaware of any slight discomforts and may lead to medical complications.
The best direction to sleep with head towards South. When North and South Pole is against each other, it attracts and we get sound and blissful sleep. We do not really have to sleep directly towards South; it can be South-East or South-West too but never towards North-East or North-West.
So if you are in Australia, what would you do? Once you know the reason, you know the answer too. That is exactly why we should try understanding the reason behind superstitions before following them blindly.
Now for those in Australia, do get a globe and do it as a kid’s science project.
Natural Sun light falls exactly in the south east corner of a place which creates fire energy automatically as per the Vedic scriptures. The morning Sun rays disinfects the kitchen and makes it sterilized, to think scientifically. Also it is very pleasant to have the morning sunrays fall on you, while cooking. The sun after 12 am is too harsh and having this position avoids those harmful rays falling directly on you. So it is best, to have the kitchen position in there, whether you follow Vastu or not.
The bedroom of the head of the family should be in the South-west corner of the West side. But under no condition it should be a bedroom of the younger children.
If you look at the position as per the Sun’s direction, this is the place to have an undisturbed sleep, which is important for the bread winner of the house. Moreover after placing all the rooms as per Vastu, you will notice that because of the unique positioning it gets good view and hence control over other important areas of the house and in turn control over other members of the family.
Water Lily’s not allowed in homes kerala Vastu
Popular Water Lily’s in India are “The Suryamukhi”(Facing Sun) and “ The Chandramukhi(Facing moon)”.The common type seen in Kerala is Chandramuki.The one that blooms at night, when the moon is up in the sky.
The problem with Chardramuki is that the beautiful fragrance of it attract insects, which in turn attracts frog, which in turn attracts snake.
But still you can own a beautiful pond with fish and water lilies. Now that we get Suryamukihi transported from Northern side of India, the problem is solved.
Technically, this belief was formed during a time when there was no mode of transport and people has only seen Chandramuki and its related problems.
Do not grow Papaya, Drumstick and Lemon Tree in the compound
Papaya and Drumstick have feeble stem. A strong wind can make the branches break and it might fall on your house.
But hello, now you are not living in mud houses or house with sticks. Nothing is going to happen even if it breaks and falls.
So, yes go for it, because these two tree grow well and bear fruits, throughout the year, without any need for pesticide. They are seldom attacked by pest.
At the current situation they are the wonder fruit and vegetable with absolutely no chemicals if you grow them at home. Full of vitamins and delicious too.
Lemon Trees used to grow between 5 to 6 feet and hence the thorns will be in eye level which is not ideal. But now we have hybrid varieties that do not grow beyond 3 feet, just the level of your hip.
Maybe you might still get pricked while trying to pluck it, but considering its value at modern time when our access to fresh, organic food is nil the trouble is absolutely negligible. Having lemon everyday will alkalize your body, fight the colds and keep you very healthy. I would say it is a must have.
Old Saying
Koovalam Pattidam(where Koovalam tree died)
Narakam Nattidam(where lemon tree is planted)
Nari Bharishidam(Where women rules)
Akudi Nasham(Not good for the house)
Koovalam Pattidam-Koovalam’s leaves are offered to lord shiva .If you have noticed ,all the different types of food that we give to Hindu gods are extremely nutritious.
Koovalam is in short a multivitamin tablet and is extensively used by naturopathy doctors to treat different aliments. Koovalam is considered to be scared, so it would help to keep the premises clean.
Narakam Nattidom-Since the hybrid variety is present all the related issue is solved.
Nari Bharishodom-The Rig Vedic Women in India enjoyed high status in society. . The women were provided opportunity to attain high intellectual and spiritual standard. There were many women Rishis during this period.
Women started being discriminated against since the Later-Vedic period in education and other rights and facilities. Child marriage, widow burning, the purdah and polygamy further worsened the women’s position.
Gender equality is a cornerstone of development. When women and men are equal in a society poverty is reduced, economies flourish, and the health of children improves. Traditions are man-made, and hence should be subjected to change when the situation demands. Now when the world is at fingertips, women need not be confined to the responsibilities of kitchen and child care.Like caste system, child marriage and sati ,these prejudices should also change for the betterment of the society.
This is also something which should be looked into as we are talking about the origin of belief systems and superstitions. Only male child will give you “mukti-liberation “ is a popular belief in India.
One can almost see a pattern in all these issues, most of these customs, rituals or some superstitions are something which started because of unique situation (social and economic) and requirement at that time (some thousands of years ago). Slowly it became rigid rule and a way to suppress other gender (females).
Women were married far off places, so they couldn’t reach just in time. So it was safe to have the son nearby at the time of death. Now we have planes, jet and road transport. Distance is now, no longer an issue.
We are here taking about very old times, time when stone needed to be rubbed to produce the spark for light. Very heavy duty job, left for men. But do we need to do that now.
Emotional strength is also an important factor, but that is no reason to consider the girl child second to the boy. Forget about being dead, you will get to enjoy more love from her vulnerable mind when your heart is still ticking.
