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Rituals
/ Poojas
Rituals/Poojas
to be performed
The Vastu Shastras are
full of ritualistic data
that pertain to the relationship
of a person to the earth
(bhoomi) or with the energies
(vastu devata) or to the
trees (vana mahotsavam,
vana muhurtam).
To understand the right
time to plant, to sow,
to build, to reap, and
to expand businesses are
all part of the Vastu
Shastras.
Many important functions
such as the following:
Vastu Muhurtam, Bhoomi
Puja, Garbhanyasa, Kumbhabhishekam,
Grihapravesam have been
pointed out below:
Vastu Muhurtam
After referring to the
Panchangam or Indian calendar,
the right time is chosen
to inaugurate the site
and to propitiate the
energies. The time chosen
is when the Vastu Purusha
is awake and therefore
capable of participating
in the ceremony in a powerful
manner. As already stated,
the Vastu Purusha is awake
during eight months of
the year and asleep in
the other four. (Eight
months of wakefulness
- Mesha, Vrishabha, Kataka,
Simha, Tula, Vrichika,
Makara and Kumbha. Four
months of Sleep-Dhanur,
Mina, Mithuna and Kanya).
Bhoomi Puja
Usually this puja is carried
out at the same time as
vastu muhurtam. A small
64-part diagram denoting
the manduka padam and
the Vastu Purusha within
it is marked in the NE
part of the property using
different seeds and colouring
substance. To each of
devas of this mandala,
the chants and the offerings
mentioned earlier are
made. It is also common
to make a test pit in
the NE in which the first
bricks or stones are placed
during the bhoomi puja.
An effigy of the Vastu
Purusha is made in straw
and burnt. This is to
ward off evil spirits.
It is recommended that
this ritual be carried
out in the morning.
Garbhanyasa
This is a ritual carried
out to bring alive the
building and its spaces.
It is recommended that
this ritual to be carried
out in the evening or
night after the building
has been completed and
it is ready for occupation.
For the ritual a specific
location is picked and
a small cavity is dug
out into which a box made
of copper or silver is
placed. It may have nine
or twenty-five compartments,
which is a mandala form
known as Peetha padam
(nine). Upapeetha padam
(twentyfive). In the compartment
facing east, offerings
to Surya and Indra are
made in silver and gold,
in the south to Yama and
Simha in iron and gold,
in the west to Varuna
in silver, in the north
to Soma in silver, and
similarly to all the other
directions. Nine grains,
nine gems, minerals and
herbs should be placed
in a box. The bottom of
the cavity or pit should
have earth from different
places. First place the
box and cover it with
a wooden lid and then
place it in the cavity.
The cavity should be filled
up with amidst chanting
and prayer.
This box or casket is
held to be the source
of life and movement.
By placing it with its
offerings to the energies,
the building comes alive.
Garbha means the womb.
Hence this is the womb
or life-defining ritual.
The ritual may be carried
out in the centre or brahmasthana,
or in the north, west,
east, south or on one
side of the central axis
(to the right facing from
the outside).
Kumbhabhishekam
This ritual is usually
carried out for temples.
After the temple structure
has been completed, and
the image of the Divine
One placed in the garbhagriha
or sanctum, the kalasam
or bronze urn is placed
on the top of the outer
structure. With hold water
that has been purified
through puja, the kalasam
is finally cleansed. It
is this final ritual,
which marks the completion
of a temple and with which
it promises that the temple
is now ready for the dialogue
between the community
and the Gods.
Griha Pravesam
In residences, the final
action of purifying and
making ready the space
for occupation is called
Griha Pravesham. The planets
and devas are propitiated,
Vinayaka invoked, the
space sprinkled with holy
water, and sanctified
with the sacred Vedic
ritual. After this ceremony,
the inhabitants may move
into the built space and
start their new lives.
With all these rituals,
the tradition has helped
people understand the
intrinsic and extraordinary
relationship they share
with their physical and
spiritual environment.
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