Of Deities and Directions

READERS frequently ask if Vasthu Sastra is a religious discipline. In reality, Vasthu Sastra is an ancient system for managing the flow of universal energy. It is not associated with any particular religion.   

However, religious aspects can come into play if, for instance, a Hindu performs a sacrament to energise the space in which he or she lives.   

But the sacrament itself has got nothing to with the science of orientation. Prayers – of any faith – can indeed be conducted to remove dull, stagnant energies and improve vibrations, but they will have no effect if the space has not already been oriented correctly.   

The symbolic protectors  

I think the question about Vasthu Sastra’s religious connection comes up because of the way it is practised in India. There, Hindus consider deities as symbolic “protectors” of different directions.  

While the ancient scriptures, the Upanishads and Puranas, differ in which deities rule which direction, the practice in India currently is to associate the following deities and planets with these directions:  

North comes under the protection of Kubera, the god of wealth; Jupiter governs this quadrant. Good place for: bedroom, living room and study.   

South comes under the protection of Yama, lord of life and death; Mars governs this quadrant. Good place for: bedroom, bathroom, storeroom, staircase.   

East comes under the protection of Indra, lord of rebirth; Venus governs this quadrant. Good place for: children’s bedroom and study.   

West comes under the protection of Varuna, god of water; Saturn governs this quadrant. Good place for: children’s bedroom, living and dining room.   

North-east comes under the protection of Esanyan, lord of intellect; Mercury governs this quadrant. Good place for: prayer, study and meditation rooms.   

North-west comes under the protection of Vayu, lord of the wind; Kethu (the dragon’s tail) governs this quadrant. Good place for: children’s bedroom, guest bedroom, dining room and kitchen in houses facing south.   

South-east comes under the protection of Agni, lord of fire; the Moon governs this quadrant. Good place for: guest bedroom and kitchen in houses facing north.   

South-west comes under the protection of Niruthi, lord of fame and wealth; Rahu (the dragon head) governs this quadrant. Good place for: the bedroom of a couple or the breadwinner.   

The Centre comes under the protection of Brahma, the creator; the Sun governs this quadrant. Good place for: a courtyard or air well. As this is the weakest point in any space, it is best kept free of any weight.  

Benefits of rituals

There are several types of rituals that can be performed to remove unholy spirits from a house and to bestow upon the residents health, wealth, contentment, spiritual blessings, and peace of mind.   

Performed by a qualified priest, such ceremonies aim to permeate the space within a property with positive and divine energies.   

The Sun is the main source of energy, and fire is said to be a representation of the Sun’s energy. This is why a fireplace is created when enacting these rituals – its energy is harnessed to destroy any negative entities in the environment so that positive energy can enter the space.   

Among the rituals known as homam are the:   

Shri Maha Lakshmi homam (prayer to the lord of prosperity) that is performed to increase the wealth of those involved in business and those experiencing financial problems.   

Sudarshana homam (prayer for wellness) that is conducted to attain purity of thought, and well-being.   

Lakshmi Kubera homam (prayer to appease the king of wealth) that is one of the most powerful prayers used; it dispels curses on the occupant, or any obstacles placed in his or her path. It also bestows prosperity and is thought to encourage a faster recovery of what is owed to the occupant.   

Deepavali Advice on air

The columnist will give tips on how to enhance Deepavali celebrations in a house on TV3’s Malaysia Hari Ini programme on Nov 1 (Deepavali Day) at 7.30am.  

Among the topics that will be covered during the live show are ways of preparing the house that will invite the goddess of fortune to bless the property.  

Also, methods of removing impurities and improving positive energy flow will be explained along with the proper do’s and don’ts on the auspicious day.  

The columnist will also give a talk on the science of Vasthu Sastra, meditation and spirituality on Nov 26 at 7pm in Penang.  For details contact Aravin Rajappa at 012-345 6132.  

Another talk will be held on Dec 11 at 7pm in Kuantan.  For details, contact Ravi at 012-987 3831.  

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