VASTU ARTICLES

A Guide To Decorating Your Home According To Vastu

Some rules should be followed while considering the decoration of the interiors of your house. Some rules and tips related to the same are as under:

Almirahs: Almirahs should be placed in the southwest of the room. If almirahs with valuables are to be kept, the best place for the same is in the southwest portion of the southwest room in the house. The almirahs with valuables and jewellery should open towards the north or east direction.

Shoe Racks: The shoes and footwear should be placed in the south-west portion of the verandah or main hall only, and never in the bedroom. Shoes should never be placed in the north, south-east or east portion of the house.

Beds: The beds should be placed more towards the southwest of the room but never in the southwest corner. One should sleep with head towards the south for sound sleep and better health.

Sofa Sets/Sitting: Sofa sets or chairs etc. should be kept in the south and west of the living room. The chairs should be so kept as for he owner of the house, or elder person in the house to face towards south or west direction while sitting.

Dining Table: Dining Table can be placed in the north west of the kitchen. The owners or elder person in the house should face towards the north or east while the guest should face south or west while eating.

Study Table: A study table can be placed in the southwest of the room and the person should face towards north or east while studying.

Mirrors: Mirrors should only be fixed on the north and east walls. No mirrors should be place/installed in study rooms and opposite to beds in the bedrooms.

Home Appliances: Heating appliances must be placed in the southeast of the room. Fridge should be placed in the northwest portion of the room. Television sets should never be placed in the northeast of the rooms.

Paint Colours: The kind of paint colours used in the house greatly effects the mood and general nature of the inmates. The psychology of the man can be disturbed is wrong type of colours are used. In entrance of the house, avoid red, black and gray colours, while using white, light blue and dark green colours are good.

Plants Within The House: According to Vastu, cactus or related plants should never be kept in the house. Plants with red flowers and bonsai of the trees are not allowed in the house. Avoid plants in the northeast corner of the house. Avoid pots along the north and east walls of the house.

Fountains and Fish Tanks: Never keep fountains and fish tanks in bedroom and study.

Paintings and Statues: Vastu doesn't allow to use northeast corner of the house to hang paintings or any other thing, so as to keep the northeast clean and light. Paintings with scary marks and evil things should be avoided. Paintings depicting scenes of Ramayana and Mahabharata should be avoided; however, Vastu allows the use of other puranic paintings. Paintings of nude should be avoided. Paintings showing violence and abstract paintings with clashing colours should be avoided. Avoid keeping statues of gods in bedrooms. Vastu suggest paintings of nature scenes, prayer, and temples for good health and better living. Avoid keeping heavy statues in the northeast corner of the room. Never keep any stuffed animals in the house.

Great importance is given for the decoration of the house with the paintings, idols and especially the main door decoration. The main door was considered very important in ancient days and even today as the people used to think that all the prosperity and money comes from the main door.

Main door decoration: Care should be taken to decorate the main door. The objects of the main door as prescribed in the text are:

Kula Devata: The image of the family deity. Its dimension should not be more than one hasta (18") of length.

Two Prathiharis (Sentinels or guards): Well decorated in ornaments bearing staff and swords in their hands, well clothed, glowing with youth and beauty, along with lady Prathiharinis and placed on both the sides of the door.

Dhaatri (a dwarfish nurse): Her maid companions should follow it, the happy jesters i.e. Vidhushakas.

Shanka and Padmanidhi emitting coins.

The Asthamangala: on the seat of lotus wearing a sacred garland of eight auspicious symbols.

Lakshmi: lotus seated and well decorated and being bathed by elephants.

Cow with her calf and well ornamented with flower garlands etc.

Motifs of serpents, giants, owl, wild animals, elephants, daityas, nudes, fight between God and demons, hunting, house on fire, trees devoid of flowers should not be placed on the main door.

Nowadays people in their over enthusiasm to decorate the house use figures of Gods like Krishna, Ganesh, Vishnu etc. and also many other prohibited motifs.

The following shlok explains the rules relating the above things:

"Grahe Na Ramayan bhatatha hawan chitram kurupanahvamindra jalikam . Shilocha yaarnyamayam sadhasuram bheeshmam kurutha krindhanaram thvanambaram.
Vaarah shaardhul shiva prudhakavo grudhabi golukapothavayasaa Sashye nagothadhi vakadhi patrino vichitratha no sharane shubhavaha."

Meaning - To display the following in a house is not good - War scenes from Ramayan and Mahabharata, Fight scenes using swords, Inderjall (magic) scenes, Stone or wooden statues of terrifying giants or demons, Scenes of weeping and crying people in tears. Paintings, potraits.

statues: Decorative lights, chandeliers, bookshelf, vases, flower pots and furniture etc. should be meticulously and tastefully selected and placed in appropriate settings so that they look attractive and follow vaastu principles etc.

The pictures, painting or models of the animals like pigs, snake and birds like eagle, owl, crow, pigeons, vultures should not be placed in a house.

All pictures or wooden or metal figures of wild beasts like tigers, lions, wolves, bears, jackals, and wild asses, hounds etc. should be avoided.

The heavy furniture should be placed in the SouthWest side of the room and the light furniture can accommodate in any corner.

Symbols like Swastik, Om, Rangoli decorations stop the entry of evil spirits and evil influences in the house.

The photographs of the ancestors should be placed on the southWestern side of the house.

The clock should be placed on the Eastern, Western or Northern wall.

Installation of Idols in homes and other buildings: A pooja or worship place is a must in a home; it is better to have one in office, factory, schools, colleges and other buildings too. The appropriate place is the north-east corner of the building and if not then the north-east corner of the room in house and central chowk or garden or lawn of other buildings. The deities like Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwar, Surya, Inder should face east or West and four-headed Brahma, six-headed kartikeya, five faced Shiv can be placed facing any direction. Hanuman ji should face southwest.

Whatever is exhibited should be pleasing to the eyes and mind bringing joy and cheer to those who view them; aesthetic and cultural aspects also should be borne in mind, while selecting decorative pieces or paintings and pictures and placing them in our home.