ENERGIZING A HOME

THE ancient ritual of burying the Vasthu wood at the portal of a house was performed at a house in Subang Jaya, Selangor, last week. The ceremony, now rare, was conducted at a newly renovated, south-facing, double-storey house by Vasthu Sastra Master Yuvaraj Sowma from India. 

Hindus in Malaysia are familiar with the planting of the conch shell at the doorway of their house to ward off negative energy. Likewise, Vasthu wood has been known from the early days to be a powerful subtle energy enhancer. 

Shaped like a cone, the wood measures 22cm in length and 5cm in width, and the bottom symbolises the eight cardinal directions in a compass. The teak wood is hand made and it is used as a negative energy filter and provides a protective shield for the house. 

The planting of the Vasthu wood is normally conducted before the occupants of the house move in. An auspicious date and time are chosen for the hour-long ceremony, which involves digging a knee-deep pit at the doorway. 

The house owner is advised to observe a vegetarian diet on the day of the event so that he can participate in the holy ceremony. Several “cleansing’’ items are displayed outside the pit as an offering, and these include lime, bananas, rice, turmeric powder, betel leaves, betel nuts, coconut, camphor, brown sugar and flowers. 

The items are placed on a banana leaf for some time to allow ants to feed on the brown sugar mixed with the rice. 

According to Yuvaraj, there are unseen entities underground and by feeding the ants, the house owner will be able to appease these unholy spirits. Ants act as the messenger to these unseen entities. 

At the ceremony last week, Yuvaraj used smoke from fragrant sandalwood joss sticks to cleanse the pit before placing the Vasthu wood with the sharp end pointing downwards. 

Following this, cement was poured into the hole to get the wood in a standing position and a piece of yantra – a sacred symbol in the form of a geometrical composition that reveals a particular energy configuration – was placed on top of the wood. The yantra had several lines of mantras (sacred verses) in Sanskrit inscribed on it, as well as a drawing of a fish, a powerful symbol in Vasthu. 

Lime and flowers were dropped into the hole and camphor was burned before the hole was sealed completely. 

It is believed that performing such a ceremony nullifies the ill effects (bad energy) and renews the gravitational power of the earth. 

Vasthu recommends that such a ceremony be performed every 12 years because the divinity present in the property will gradually diminish. If such ceremonies are not conducted, occupants of such properties could experience trials and tribulations in their health, work, relationship, finances, family, happiness and peace of mind. 

This also applies to buildings that are partially demolished, redesigned or renovated for the sake of convenience and comfort of the dweller. 

It is imperative that the Vasthu wood ceremony is carried out to protect and recharge the site and ward off negative energies which brings harm and suffering to the inhabitants. 

Vasthu talks 

The columnist will give a talk on the science of meditation, spirituality and Vasthu Sastra on December 11 at 7pm at the State Library Hall, Jalan Gambut, Kuantan. Admission is by contribution of RM10 to the Asian Institute of Medical Science and Technology. To register, contact M. Ravi at 012-987 3831 or A. Selvakumar at 013-930 0988. 

Another talk will be held on December 17 at 7pm at the Sri Muniswarar Temple Hall, No.1 Jalan Mempelam, (11km, Jalan Skudai), Tampoi, Johor Baru. Admission is by contribution of RM10 towards the Sherun Old Folks Home & Handicap Centre, Skudai. To register, contact Sujatha 016-737 3650.

T. Selva, The Star’s Maritime Editor, has spent years researching this ancient Indian science of construction, better known as ‘Indian feng shui’. He is a student of 7th generation Vasthu Sastra Master Yuvaraj Sowma from Chennai, India. He can be contacted at tselvas@pd.jaring.my