Construction of Buildings
After selecting a proper and auspicious plot, and having performed the rites of laying the foundation (Shilanyas ceremony) on an auspicious day, work should be started to construct the building according to preplanned measurements and design shown in map drawn on suitable scale. Directions, level etc. should always be kept in mind. A little carelessness may cause some default in the construction which would put the whole family in troubles and the life would be unhappy.
First of all it is necessary to consider the construction of walls. Stone wall should be raised along the outer edge of the floor. Brick wall should be raised keeping half of it out and half inside edge. Mud-wall built on the inner side is good.
According to Rudrayamal: –
Pashane Sarvato baha mishtikayam tadadhakam;
Mrittikayam pindmatra mityuktam Rudrayamale.
If upper part of a wall is heavier than the lower part, which is not uniformly made, which is thicker at some places, thinner at other places, such a wall causes financial loss. The wall should have thickness equal to one-sixteenth part of the width of the room, wall of thickness more or less than this is not good for the house owner. It was given for mud-walls only. Brick walls can be made of any thickness as may be required. Bricks used should be all new or all old, old bricks should not be mixed with new ones in the same wall. If some old stock must be consumed, then the new bricks should be used over them. Raw and baked bricks should also be used in the same manner.
Effect of the constructed house is also, according to its shape, good or bad. Mostly the houses are built in the following shapes, their effects are mentioned against each.
Shape of House Effect
-
Rectangular Allround prosperity
-
Square (Four equal sides) Gain of wealth
-
Bhadrasan Success in life
-
Circular Growth of Knowledge and Health.
-
Wheel shaped. Brings Poverty.
-
Four (unequal) sides Troublesome.
-
Triangular Harassment from rulers (Govt.
-
Cart shaped. Causes diseases, danger of fire, punishment, loss of wealth.
-
Beam shaped Harmful for cattle.
-
Panavakar Harmful for eyes and for house.
-
Drum (Mridang) shape Harmful for women, loss of females.
-
Vrihanmukhakar Loss of family members/brothers.
-
Fan shaped Loss of money and cattle.
-
Koorm Prashthakar Untimely death, murder, imprisonment.
-
Winnow shaped. Loss of property.
-
Bow Shaped Many difficulties; theft and fear of enemies
-
Hexagonal Brings progress and growth.
-
Elliptical (egg Shaped) Loss in many ways.
-
Singhmukhakar Monetary loss, clashes in family and mental tension.
-
Gaumukhakar Peaceful; growth of progeny.
Shape of the building should be decided keeping in view its auspicious (good) or evil (bad) effects.
A plot and a house in the singhmukhakar shape is good and beneficial for business, commercial organisations, mills, cinema, etc. and not for residence purpose. Gaumukhakar plot or house is good and auspicious for residence, but brings loss to the business.
Residential house should not be built in front of a temple of gods sun, Vishnu or Shiva; or near a temple of Brahma, or behind a Jain temple, or on any side of Durga temple. Such house is inauspicious for the owner.
Walls
The Boundary wall on the north and east side should be of less thickness, and the walls on south and west side should be built thicker.
Construction of the wall must be started at the South-West corner and work must proceed towards east or towards north in the first phase. At every stage during the progress of work, the height of the wall should be raised gradually in such a way that any wall is lower in height towards the eastern end than that towards the western end; so also the height towards the northern end is always lower than that towards the southern end.
The construction of walls from south east towards north and from North-west towards east should be taken up in the second phase.
Main building must be constructed in the south-west portion of the plot, leaving more space open on the north and east than on the south and west respectively. Main building constructed in the middle of the plot, symmetrically leaving equal open space on all the four sides is also considered to be good.
Basement (Cellars)
Due to the increase in population and lack of land available buildings have to be constructed on small plots, and in such a situation it may be necessary to build a room underground i.e. a basement.
Basement should be built in the north or east portion of the plot. In other portions it will be harmful.
As per principles of Vaastu it is necessary to keep the level higher in the south and west than in the north or east. Keeping this in view, a basement (i.e. lower portion) will be auspicious and beneficial only in the north or east portion of the plot as shown in the diagram above.
Basement should not be constructed in the central portion or in the south or west portion of the plot, because a low in these portion is harmful, causing adverse effects according to the Vaastu Shastra.
For proper light and flow of air, ventilators should be provided towards north side in the basement. Stairs or ramp leading into the basement from outside has to be from the north or east. The slope in such cases will be from north to south or from east towards west, which is, possible the passage may be given from south or west side sloping down towards north or east.
This research article is submitted by Guruji Dr. K. Venkatesan, BE, MTech, EdD, PhD, DDiv