Star 27/04/03 Aligned for harmony

HOME sweet home is what every dweller looks forward to after a hard day's work. But for an
occupant to enjoy the best of his home, he should be in tune and on balance with the
environment and energies surrounding the property.
To better understand the effects of Vasthu Sastra, we should liken our life to a television set.
There are times when the TV antenna goes out of alignment with the relay station and
reception is affected. The picture may be distorted and the sound may jar.
Similarly, in life, we can step out of alignment with our own nature and the environment
around us. This can affect the harmony within us and whatever is happening in our physical
world of health, work, wealth and relationships. Our own picture can get distorted and we,
too, need to realign our antenna to get the desired results.
Vasthu Sastra helps to realign this antenna and tune the "set" for better colour contrast,
brightness and sound.
The art of placement of things in an appropriate place on a property can help remove the
obstacles hindering the flow of positive energy in our homes - part of "tuning" our lives.
Pillars
It is inauspicious to have an odd number of pillars in a house, as the breadwinner of such a
property will be subject to debts, illness and trouble. Vasthu Sastra says the Goddess of
Fortune will flee from the house and negative energy will possess it.
The main doorway is an important aspect for a building and Vasthu Sastra gives much
credence to this entrance, which is regarded as the abode of the Goddess of Fortune. The
main doorway should be parallel to the back doorway to allow positive energy to flow in
through the front, and negative energy to flow out through the rear.
Laying of foundation
Vasthu goes into detail about laying the foundation for a house or building. It stresses the
importance of performing a special prayer to seek permission from unseen entities in the
ground and within the space of the site before starting work.
A priest or a qualified Vasthu Sastra consultant should carry out such a ceremony. But it
should be postponed if any of the following are evident on the day of the ceremony:
Someone uttering inauspicious words;
Thundering sky;
People quarrelling;
The priest grieving;
Accidentally breaking or scattering a coconut;
The sound of someone crying;
The sound of a drum beat;
Toppling over the pot of holy water kept for worship;

The sound of someone sneezing;

Scattering of articles meant for worship;
Scattering of sparks from the holy fire-pit;
The sight of a widow.
House facing a T-junction
Although a house at a T-junction is considered less auspicious, Vasthu Sastra says the
negative impact on such a property can be reduced with the placement of the statue of Lord
Ganesha, the deity that removes obstacles.
However, there is no firm assurance that the owner will enjoy peace of mind, even after
disturbances to the harmony of the property have been reduced. If the owner had a choice,
he should move to a house that does not have a road running towards the property.
Vasthu Sastra says if a house faces a junction of four streets, all the wealth and fame the
owner has saved through hard work will diminish gradually.
Vasthu Sastra also discourages purchasing a house, or staying in one, that is close to a place
of worship. This is because occupants of such a property will experience grief and illness, and
they will be divided in their opinions.
Ideal placement of things
Bank officer Agnes Chan of Penang asked how she should place things in her double-storey
terrace house, which has an entrance facing north.
A north entrance is auspicious; it is ranked the third best choice in Vasthu Sastra.
On the ground floor, Chan should give importance to the kitchen, which should be in the
south-east sector. Place the stove on the east wall. The dining hall should be next to the
kitchen in the east. (See graphic.)
If she has a room in the south-west sector of the ground floor, it could be used by elders or
the master of the house, as the study or home office. The north-east sector should be used
for prayer or meditation, or as a study area or as a bedroom for unmarried sons .
On the top floor, the south-west sector should be used only by the master of the house and
the bedroom in the north-west, daughters. The correct place for the staircase is the west; it
must not be built in the north-east and south-west sectors.
Case study
Businesswoman M. Vani from Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, said she experienced positive
results after rearranging the things in her apartment following Vasthu Sastra
recommendations.
Vani moved out of her master bedroom in the north-west to a smaller room in the south-west,
which she had been renting out to a friend for the last eight years. She also shifted her
kitchen to the south-east and the prayer altar to the north-east.
"I saw changes within two weeks. I'm happy I can get up feeling fresh at 5am daily and go to
the temple before opening my shop.

"In my previous bedroom, I had difficulty getting up early. I used to drag myself out of bed,
feeling lethargic. My husband, who used to be tense before, is much calmer now following the
changes," said Vani.
Her business has improved too because she also observes Vasthu Sastra principles in her
office. She has been getting new and walk-in clients.
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
There will be a talk on Vasthu Sastra and Ayurveda on May 11, at 3pm, at Lake View Club
(SS12/1, Subang Jaya, Selangor). Speakers are T. Selva and Ayurveda expert Dr C.D. Siby.
The topic is Food, Sleep and Sex. Admission is free. To register, contact Shen at 03-7954
2899.
A similar talk will be held on June 8, 2pm, at Sunshine Square (Event Hall, Level 4), Bayan
Baru, Penang. Admission is by donation of RM10 to the Bayan Baru Welfare Association. To
register, contact Chai Tsing Boo at 016-420 8602