VAASTU GUIDELINES | HOUSE WARMING RITUAL

A House-warming ceremony also known as Grahapravesha ceremony, is done after the completion of the building on the day, the Owner occupies the building. This is essentially done to purify the house by means of a pooja (ritual) and to make it ready for occupation.

 Vastu Shastra lays down guidelines for conducting the Grihapravesham ceremony as listed here:

VAASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE GRAHAPRAVESHA- HOUSE WARMING CEREMONY:


  • Choose an auspicious day: After the completion of the Building, the Grahapravesha ceremony should be done on an auspicious and good day selected, after consulting a priest or astrologer. 
  • At an auspicious time:The Vastu Pooja should be done at an auspicious time after consulting a priest. Normally it is started at night and goes on till dawn. 
  • The house construction should have been completed before the ceremony: The building should be complete in all respects, before the Grahapravesham is held.  Even the upper floors should be ready for occupation.
  • Cooking or using the toilet should be avoided before the ceremony. All activities should commence only after the House has been blessed.
  • The Building should be scrupulously cleaned and decorated before the function. The main entrance door should be  decorated according to the custom of the Owner.
  • Grahapravesh rituals: The owner and his family join the priest in performing the rituals.
  • Grahapravesham lunch: After the rituals, the guests and all the workers who were involved in the construction, are treated to a lunch.
  • Gifts for the workers: The workers engaged in the Construction are presented with gifts as a token of appreciation by the Owner.
  • Occupying the House: After the function, the family should from that very day, start living in the building. 

RITUALS DURING GRIHAPRAVESHAM - HOUSE WARMING CEREMONY: 

During the ceremony, the Owner and his family enter the Building and partake of the poojas (Rituals), which the priest performs in the Brahmastana- centre of the Building, to the imaginary Vastu Purusha. Some of the rituals include the following:


  • Five essential items: for the ceremony include, Milk which represents the element Water, Incense which is symbolic of Air, Flowers that represent Earth, Fire or Light that symbolises Fire and the sound of a Bell that represents Space. In this way, all the five elements of Nature are brought together and offered to the divine power to ensure prosperity and protection of the inmates.
  • Enshrining of family deities in pooja room: The family's deities are enshrined in the Pooja Room  and worshipped and venerated.
  • Boiling of milk:  The lady of the house boils milk, till it overflows. The milk is shared between the family members to signify that the family should share the good and the bad always.
  • Sprinkling of holy water: This is followed by prayers for good health, wealth and happiness. Finally holy water is sprinkled throughout the Building to purify all the corners. 
  • Smoke is allowed to permeate the whole house: The Pooja fire is allowed to burn out and lot of sweet smelling smoke is allowed to pervade the house. This signifies that the Building has been purified.
This post was about the the Grahapravesha ceremony, the final ritual to be done  after the completion of the building, just before occupying it. Also read about the other rituals that are done before construction:
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VAASTU GUIDELINES | DIGGING WELL / BOREWELL

Before the start of construction, it is useful to have a source of water at the site, since a lot of water will be required. Moreover, the water source will be useful for the inmates after they move into the house. 

Vastu Shastra lays down guidelines for digging a borewell based on scientific principles. Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for digging a Well. 

SOURCES OF WATER IN A HOUSE:

The most common Water sources in a Site are the Open Well, the Borewell (Drilled Well) and the Municipal Water supply. 
  • Open Well: is an excavation in the ground created by digging to access the groundwater which is natuarlly stored below the ground as a result of the seeping in of rainwater. This water is more likely to be polluted as it is near the Earth's surface.
  • Borewell (Drilled Well): is much deeper and water is got by driving, boring or drilling through rock to an aquifer below. This water is most likely to be uncontaminated as it is sandwiched between rocks deep below the Earth. 

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES FOR THE WELL OR BOREWELL:

  • Before the start of house construction a Well should be dug, so that the water can be used for the Construction. 
  • If  it is not possible to get water by digging a Well, or if there is the likelihood that an open Well will get polluted, then a Borewell can be drilled after consulting an expert and a water diviner, and only if there is good yield of water.
  • The Well should have a circular cross-section.
  • The Well should be dug after the bhoomi pooja has been performed on the site, at an astrologically auspicious time. 
  • It is ideal that the digging of a Well/Borewell be completed within a day as it can be fenced off or in case of a Borewell, covered with a stump to prevent anyone from falling in. 
  • It is better to start the digging early and complete the digging before night as one cannot see clearly.
  • Avoid trees around an open Well.
  • Alum, limestone, gooseberry bark help to keep the water clear.

VAASTU GUIDELINES FOR  POSITION OF A WELL/ BOREWELL/WATER SOURCE:

  • First option for a well is the North-East. 
  • Second option for the Well is the North or the East sides.
  • Avoid a Well in the South, South-West or North-West.
  • Avoid a Well in the middle of the Site.
  • Avoid a well and pump house very close to the compound walls.
  • Avoid a Well touching the House walls.
  • Avoid sharing of well between two properties.
This post was about the Water Source, the Digging of Well/Borewell. Read about the next Step in Construction:
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VAASTU GUIDELINES | RITUALS BEFORE CONSTRUCTION

It is recommended in Vaastu Shastra, that certain rituals be performed before and during the Construction of  a House. Vastu Shastra lays down guidelines for rituals before construction based on scientific principles.

Here, I have explained the Vaastu Guidelines for Rituals to be done before the commencement of the Construction. 

RITUALS TO BE DONE JUST BEFORE CONSTRUCTION:

According to Vaastu Shastra, there are five rituals or Poojas to be done before the actual construction begins. They have been explained below:
  • VAASTU POOJA: The first ritual to be done before starting the construction, is a Vaastu pooja or Bhoomi Pooja. This should be done at an auspicious time and on an auspicious day, as fixed by your astrologer/priest (normally it is done in the morning). The pooja should be done in the North-East corner of the site. Before doing the pooja, the site should be cleared. Dirt, stones, holes in the ground, and trash should be removed. Thorny bushes should also be uprooted and removed. Note that, Vaastu Pooja is performed thrice during the construction as explained here:
  • At the start: As explained above, just before the start of the Construction.
  • In the middle: The second time is in the middle, at the time of fixing the Main door.
  • At the end: The third time is at the end during the Grahapravesham (House Warming Ceremony).
  • BALIDAANA (Offertory ritual): This is the second ritual to be done before the start of Construction. It is an offertory ritual and offerings are made and spirits and demons are requested to leave the site.
  • HALA-KARSHANA (Levelling of site) : This is the third ritual, wherein the Site is levelled and sloped according Vaastu guidelines for Site Slope, so that the Site is at a higher level than the road level and the South-West corner is higher than the North-East corner. It is also recommended that the whole site be ploughed to rid it of the past and give the soil a new life.
  • ANKURAA-ROOPANA (Sowing of seed): This is the fourth ritual, the sowing of the seed and a final offering to the memory of those who have left the place. It is also the first offering to the new ploughed ground. 
  • SHILAANYAASA (Foundation laying): This is the fifth ritual, the foundation laying ceremony. The groundbreaking ceremony for the house should only be done during the Uttarayan period, when the Sun is in the northern hemisphere, from June 21 through December 20.
This post was about the Rituals to be followed before construction. Read about the next stage in Construction
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VAASTU GUIDELINES | BEFORE CONSTRUCTION

Before the start of the Construction of the Building, it is necessary to be prepared for the actual construction. Vastu Shastra lays down guidelines to be well prepared before construction actually starts.

 According to Vaastu Shastra, you should ensure that the following steps, mentioned in the order given here,


  • Determination of Site Orientation: The directions of the Site should be determined with the help of a Compass. If the axis of the Site is not parallel to the Earth's magnetic axis (North-South axis), then the angle of tilt should be measured. All the corners of the plot should be 90 degree-aligned and the Compound wall should be constructed only after the proper alignment of the corners.
  • Clearing of Site: The next thing to be done is to clear the Site of all the dirt, stones, debris, thorny bushes, shrubs etc.
  • Vastu Pooja: After the Site is cleared, the first ritual, named 'Vaastu pooja' or 'Bhoomi pooja' should be done before starting the construction. This is ritualistic and should be done at an auspicious time and on an auspicious day, as fixed by your astrologer. The pooja should be done in the North-East corner of the site.
  • Soil test: Two pits of size 2'x2'x2' each should be dug at the Site, preferably in the place where the sump is going to be located. Fill up one of the pits with the dug-up soil. If some soil is left over after filling, the land isgood. If there is no soil left after filling up, it is average. If the hole is not fully filled, it is not good. Fill up the other pit with water. If the time taken to absorb the water is more than an hour, it is good. After the water is absorbed, if there are many cracks in the hole then it is not good.
    • Balidaana (Offertory ritual): After this, the second ritual namely, Balidaana should be done, wherein offerings are made and spirits and demons are requested to leave the site.
    • Hala -Karshana (Levelling of Site): This is followed by the third ritual called Hala-karshana. This is the levelling of the site, wherein the site is levelled and sloped according to Vastu guidelines for Site Slope, so that the site is at a higher level than the road level and the South-West corner is higher than the North-East corner. Vastu also recommends that the whole site be ploughed to rid it of the past and give the soil a new life. If the land contains any Wells or other depressions, they should be filled up and levelled.If it contains any mounds or rocks, they should be levelled.
    • Ankuraa-Roopana (Sowing of seed): The levelling is followed by the fourth ritual named Ankuraa-roopana, wherein seed is sowed as a final offering to the memory of those who have left the place and is also the first offering to the new ploughed ground.
    • Digging of Borewell/Well: The next step is the digging of Well/Borewell, at the point suggested by a Water diviner, preferably in the North-East corner, if there is a point there.
    • Construction of storage shed: After the Well/Borewell, the next step is the construction of the Storage Shed for storing building  materials like Cement, Wood etc and also to be used as a house for a Watchman.
    • Construction of Sump: The next step after the construction of the Sump, is the excavation and construction of an Underground Water tank also known as a Sump,  near the front of the Site to facilitate easy connection from the Municipal Water supply pipes.
    • Compound Wall: After the construction of the Storage Shed and Sump, the next step is the construction of the Compound wall, to protect from the natural elements and from thieves.
    • Shilaanyaasa: It is the foundation laying ceremony. Trenches are dug for the foundation and the stone which is consecrated at the time of the Vastu Pooja, is laid first in the South-West corner of the trenches. The groundbreaking ceremony for the house should only be done during the Uttarayan period, from June 21 through December 20, when the Sun is in the northern hemisphere.

    Construction: One should start the construction of the House only after the above 12 steps have been followed. The Vaastu rituals to be followed before the start of construction have been explained in detail in the next post:
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    VAASTU | CHOOSING THE COLOURS FOR A HOUSE

    Colours are known to influence the human mind and body as they have the ability to either depress or exhilarate. Our body absorbs colour energy through the vibration each colour gives off and these energies help to maintain a healthy body, mind and soul.

    Even in ancient times, people were aware of the positive effect of colours. So, Vastu Shastra has laid down guidelines on choosing the right colours for your house.

    VAASTU GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLOURS FOR A HOUSE:

    In Vedic periods, all colours were obtained from vegetables and flowers. Though the options were far less than what are available today, they were more permanent, soothing to the eye and more natural in appearance. Today there are so many colours to choose from. But this makes the the choice of  the right colour scheme for your house, a difficult task. This is where Vaastu Shastra comes to your aid. According to Vaastu, there are three methods that can be adopted for choosing  colours for a house, namely:

  • Referring the zodiac sign of the owner;
  • Direction that the rooms/building face;
  • Amount of light in the room.

    • 1.  ZODIAC SIGN OF THE OWNER:  

    In the first and most commonly followed method, the colour schemes are selected in conformance with the raashi (constellation / zodiac sign) of the owner to bring good luck and happiness.

    • Aries - Coral red
    • Taurus - Milky white
    • Gemini - Green
    • Cancer - Rose red, pearl white
    • Leo - Ruby red, dim white
    • Virgo - Emerald green
    • Libra - Cement color, milky white
    • Scorpio - Pink, coral red
    • Sagittarius - Golden yellow
    • Capricorn - Dim red
    • Aquarius - Pink, blue
    • Pisces - Yellow, pure white

    Yellow and white are the ideal colours for a 'piscean'.
    2.  DIRECTION THE BUILDING FACES: 
    In the second method, the colour scheme is chosen according to the direction the building/room faces. Each direction is associated with a particular colour, which is actually the colour of the planet governing that direction. It is advisable to use the recommended colours for different directions to enhance good luck, health and wealth.
    • EAST : is ruled by the Sun. The preferred colour is DARK BROWN which gives purity.
    • SOUTH-EAST : is ruled by Venus. The preferred colour is WHITE which gives beauty, charm and luck.
    • SOUTH : is ruled by Mars. The ideal colour here is RED which gives aggression. However this is preferred only for fire stations or police stations and not for houses.
    • SOUTH-WEST: is ruled by Rahu. The suitable colour here is BLUE which gives courage.
    • WEST : is ruled by Saturn. The colour preferred here is GREY which gives satisfaction and maturity.
    • NORTH : is ruled by Mercury. The colour suitable for this direction is GREEN as this gives intelligence and wealth.
    • NORTH-WEST: is governed by the moon. The ideal colour here is WHITE as it denotes purity and wealth.
    • NORTH-EAST: is represented by Jupiter. The ideal colour here is YELLOW as it stands for piety and purity.
     A room facing South-West should have more blue.
    3.  THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT IN A ROOM:
    In the third method, you have to consider the amount of light and warmth available in a room. Since blue is a cool shade and red is a warm colour, people often feel cold in a blue room and warm in a red room. It is the colour that makes them feel that way. Similarly, light colours and whites reflect light and make a room brighter. So when painting rooms of a house, one must keep these points in mind. Accordingly;
    • A Room with poor daylight: should be painted with light colours.
    • A Room with lot of natural light throughout the day: can be painted in some deep color.
    • A Room that gets direct sunlight: It is not advisable to paint the walls yellow or peach.
    • A Room that has only a North window which admits cold light: Avoid the use of blue on the walls.
    • Ceilings: It is preferable to paint ceilings white since  the ceiling temperature should be less than the human body temperature.
    A room with lot of natural light can have deep colours.
    Thus you can see that, even in Vaastu, colours were used to improve the sense of well-being and happiness for the residents. They are  easy to use, easy to apply and the quickest and cheapest option to create change in a room. So go ahead and make that change in your life. To know more about the effects of each colour and the preffered Vastu colours for the interiors of a house, go to:
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    LIGHTING TYPES | OUTDOOR LIGHTS

    An emerging trend in design, is to transform the area around your home into outdoor living spaces. A great deal of thought, time, effort and money is put into the exterior of a home with landscaping, gardening and more. 

     Outdoor lighting accentuates your efforts and provides dramatic and instant beautification to your property, allowing for increased time you and your family can spend outdoors. It also increases the value and resale of your home. In addition, outdoor lighting adds a new level of home security because dark corners virtually disappear and deter trespassers and intruders.

    OUTDOOR LIGHTS:

    A lighting fixture designed for outdoor use and engineered to handle the elements is called an outdoor light. Outdoor lighting fixtures combine decorative looks with durability and weather resistance.

    TYPES OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING:

    Outdoor lighting consists mainly of Entrance lighting, pathway lighting, patio lighting and garden/landscape lighting.

    OUTDOOR LIGHTS STYLES:

    There are so many styles to choose from, like Arts and Crafts, Contemporary, Modern, Rustic, Lodge, Tiffany/Art Glass, Traditional and Transitional. All of these items can generally be coordinated to match with an overall design theme.

    OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES FOR ENTRANCE:

    • Types:  The commonest examples of Outdoor Entrance Lighting are:  Wall Lanterns, Hanging Lanterns, Ceiling Mounted fixtures and Front Entrance Lighting. Wall lanterns can be placed on each side of the door,  while recessed, chain-hung, close-to-ceiling fixtures or beautiful chandeliers specifically suited for outdoor use can be hung under the porch.
    • Size and height: If you have a single wall light on one side of the door, choose a fixture of height approximately one-third of the height of the door. If using lights on both sides, choose fixtures of height one-fourth of the door height. The wall fixtures should be mounted at least 66” above standing level.
    • Light wattage: If the light is too dim, guests may stumble, if it is too bright, it will dazzle and blind them. You can use 40-75 watt incandescent lamps that give a warm light. Be sure that the light reaches the steps for safety purposes.

    OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES FOR THE REAR OR SIDE OF YOUR HOUSE:

    • Type: Use a single wall lantern on the keyhole side of the rear door to provide adequate lighting and security. and have Post Mounted Lanterns in the yard, to ensure safe and easy movement after dark by illuminating the yard, paths and walking areas.
    • Size and Height: The wall lantern, on one side of the door should have a height of approximately one-third of the height of the door and should be mounted at least 66” above standing level.

    LIGHTING FOR THE PATIO:

    Patio lighting, not only allows you to spend more time outside at night but also accentuates the best parts of your garden and makes your patio and yard a safer place to be at night. There are many different types of patio lighting. Here are some of the most popular types of patio lighting:
    • Deck Lighting: For decks, you can highlight and spotlight any changes in elevations, drop-offs, or deck-edges, by concealing the light fixtures beneath railings, beneath benches, or on vertical posts. In doing so, you create not only a dramatic effect, but a safer deck, as well.
    • Step Lighting: This type of patio lighting will allow both you and guests to navigate up your steps in safety. You can use a motion sensor step light that glows all night and emits bright light when motion is detected. Or you can place step lighting beneath railings, on vertical posts, or recessed into the steps.
    • Silhouetting: Silhouetting is a type of patio lighting that highlights the shape of an object. To create the silhouette effect, place a light behind the subject, and shine it up against a vertical surface like the wall of your home.
    • Shadowing: Use this lighting technique to highlight any interesting shapes that you may have in your garden, including branch structure, sculptures, etc, by creating a shadow. Place your light fixture in front of the item that you want to shadow, and aim the light so that the item will cast its shadow on a surface like the wall of your house. The closer the light is to the item you want to shadow, the larger the shadow will be.
    • Moon Lighting: Place light fixtures up into a tree and shine them downward. The light will be filtered through the branches of the trees, creating an effect like the moon shining down.
    • Fountain Lighting: If you have a fountain on your patio or elsewhere in your garden, there are many great types of patio lighting that will make your fountain even more beautiful at night. You can have underwater lights or coloured lights for a dramatic effect. It is also possible to create a mirrored effect on the surface of the water by lighting the area behind the reflecting surface of the water.

    To decide which of these types of patio lighting to use, think of what you want to spotlight -  which subjects will look best as a silhouette or as a shadow and which areas may pose a threat if a person cannot see them.

    OUTDOOR LANDSCAPE LIGHTING:

    Beautifully designed landscape lighting adds charm and elegance to your home. Landscape lighting is a low voltage lighting system. It is used to bring trees and flowers to life at night, feature focal points around your home, and light pathways and steps for safety and security. It is one of the most dramatic improvements you can make for a modest investment.
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