Lecture: 03

Vastushastra as an Intangible Heritage

06
th
February 2014
Prof. Samitha Manawadu
Department of Architecture
University of Moratuwa
DE 2450 INTANGIBLE HERITAGE OF SRI LANKA
Faculty of engineering
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS:
Accumulated
Conventions;
Practices; and,
beliefs
handed down from generations to generations for regulation of social life.
IN SRI LANKA:
Influence of customs and traditions is an essential part of the social life, business,
politics, and any other important activity, irrespective of social standing, education
or wealth.
INDIAN INFLUENCES
Introduction of Buddhism.
Politics and cultural evolution.
Traditions of art and architecture.
MANASARA The ancient Indian text on the science of architecture.
Deals with subjects such as -
Site selection;
Soil testing;
Designing and planning of all types of buildings.;
Town plan;
Design of furniture;
Dresses; and
Ornaments.
Despite the impacts and influences of foreign activities, with the help of
the administrators is visible,
Both rural and urban populations remain tied up to the traditions.
VASTU & VISHVA SHAKTY COSMIC ENERGY:
Five main elements for human living
Patavi Earth;
Apo Water;
Thejo Fire;
Vayo Air;
Akashi Space
Vastu principles are based on the analyses of five sources of energy and
their correct utilization;
It s important to identify directions of these energy sources;
Otherwise the output design would brings negative merits.
Any creation has two identified zones, namely Hot Zone and the Cool
Zone. Hot zone include south and west half, and the cool zone covers
north and east zone.
HOT ZONE
COOL ZONE
N
E
W
COOL ZONE
COSMIC PRINCIPLES EMBODIED IN VASTU:
Patavi: Earth - land is required for human being to live on it. Thus it is
considered as a basic need of a human being;
Apo: Water - water is an essential element for human living;
Thejo: Fire - warmth is needed for blood circulation and other
activities of a human being. Therefore, it is considered
as a basic element ;
Vayo: Air oxygen is an essential elements for human living;
Akasha: Space - energy is required to be released to sustain human living
and for this purpose a space required;
Vastu designs are based on consideration that above five essentials are basic elements
for human living, and thus following items/components of a building is governed by
them.
01. Door and window locations;
02. Allocation of internal spaces;
03. Location of exclusive spaces;
04. Wall thickness;
05. Disposals; and
06. Landscaping.
SHAPE OF THE LAND IMPACT (patavi - earh)
01 Square Healthy, prosperity, and benefits
02 Rectangular Healthy, treasure, prosperity
03 Circular Intelligence, healthy, comforts
04 Octagon Losses
05 trapezoid (rectangle SW extended W) Multiple troubles
06 Triangular Extremely inauspicious (legal/
unacceptable relationship)
07 Composite/ Multiple form Extremely good living
08 Narrow long Good for animals. Not for people.
09 Polygon (Rectangle less N & S triangles) Loss of wealth
10 Trapezoid (truncated N triangle) Prosperity
11 trapezoid (truncated S triangle unsuitable
12 L shape (narrow to south) Not good. Loss of wealth
13 Oval shape Multiple losses
14 Rectangle (with chamfered NE corner) Financial losses/ stresses/ unrest
15 trapezoid (rectangle SW extended S) Land disputes, legal problems
SHAPE OF THE LAND IMPACT
16 Trapezoid (rectangle NE extended N) Good, wealth & prosperity, peaceful
mind
17 Trapezoid (rectangle NW extended N) Inauspicious, not good for health
18 Trapezoid (rectangle SE extended E) Inauspicious, troubles from the state
19 Trapezoid (rectangle SE extended S) Inauspicious, ill health
20 Hexagon Very auspicious
21 Trapezoid (rectangle NW extended W) Auspicious for women
22 Trapezoid (rectangle SW extended W) Bad reputation, mental stresses
23 Rectangle with NW corner chamfered Ill health, losses, fear of robbers/
enemies
24 Rectangle with SE corner chamfered Loss of wealth
25 Rectangle with SW corner chamfered Sickness to wife, mental stresses
26 Trapezoid (rectangle SW extended S) Not suitable
House
N
Higher southern direction good;
Slope down
Sloping towards
north is good;
Slope towards
centre line good;
SELECTION OF LAND/ PLOT FOR CONSTRUCTION (apo - water):
Northern river/ water course
flowing towards east is good;
Eastern water course flowing
From south to north is very good;
Area with excessive noises are not good;
Water course in south or west is not suitable;
If schools and cinema halls in the vicinity are not good;
Cul-de-sac plots are not suitable;
SELECTION OF LAND/ PLOT FOR CONSTRUCTION:
DIRECTIONS AND THEIR IMPACTS
North:
Direction represent Buddha and contains quality of
water (Apo);
Direction related to livelihood;
Untidiness and disorder affects the livelihood;
Northeast;
Represents the direction related to education and
wisdom;
Direction brings strength, courage and determination.
East ;
Direction where the sun is powerful;
Southeast;
Directing representing the finances of the house;
Ideal for kitchen/ pantry etc.
South;
Direction responsible for reputation of the house and
the owner.
Southwest;
Important direction for continuity of a marriage life;
Ideal for a repository of valuables;
West/ Northwest;
Ideal directions for the kitchen of land loads
N
S
E W
NE
SW
SE
NW
IMPACT OF SLOPES
Land with lower north and east sectors with higher
elevations in south and western direction are suitable and
brings prosperity;
Higher elevations in North and east brings financial losses,
loss of profit, and ill omen for male children;
Lower southeast sectors brings financial losses, ill health,
fire hazards etc;
Northern slope is very good;
If the slope cannot be altered, better to change the
direction of water flow;
Lower south direction causes sickness and reduce lifespan;
Lower southwest brings fear of robbery; unnecessary
expenditure; sickness;
Slope towards west financial losses, displeasure; unsuitable
for male children;
Slope to northwest financial losses, instability of mind;
centre lower, metal stress, sicknesses.
Depression in the centre causes mental stresses, and
multiple sicknesses.
House
N
SLOPES AND THEIR APPROPRIATENESS:
Northern Slope: - very good. Wealth and comforts.
North-eastern Slope: - very good. Wealth and comforts.
Eastern Slope: good: - Improvements.
South-eastern slope: - inappropriate;
Southern slope ; inappropriate. Death.
Based on the owners astrological chart:
Land facing east is good for kataka(Cancer), vurchika (Scorpio), and meena (Pisces);
Land facing south is good for mituna(Gemini), kanya(Virgo), and makara(Capricorn);
Land facing west is good for vrushaba (Taurus), thula (Libra), and kumbha (Aquqrius);
Land facing north is good for mesha (Aries), singha(Leo), dhanu (Sagittarius)
House
N
ACCESS ROADS:
North and western good;
All four sides very good;
North and eastern extremely good;
South and western are good for business premises.
N
N
NON MERITORIOUS
ACCESS ROAD
MERITORIOUS ACCESS
ROADS
LOCATION OF ACCESS ROADS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HOUSEHOLD
ACCESS MERITS REMARKS
1. North
&
NE
Very
good
Good for females, business, income,
and, wealth
2. East Very
good
Long life for males, ideal for media
offices
3. NE and
South
Good Peaceful and happiness; good for
females; good for financial institutions.
4. SE and
East
Not
good
Destructions, jeolsy, accidents and
enemies
5. SE,
North &
NW
Not
good
Multiple pressures and impacts.
6. West Good Good for females; idle for individual
business; good for everybody.
7. NW,
South, SW
Very
bad
Unfavorable for money and assets;
infect bad habits; not good for women's
8. West,
SW
Very
bad
No peace and happiness; unfavorable
for males; financial losses.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
N
Kitchen; office;
store; visitors
room, toilets;
latrine; dogs
kennel; and
garage
Shrine room;
living; study room;
dining hall;
bedroom; office;
bathroom; gym;
balcony; and
verandah
Shrine; study;
office; gym;
balcony; veranda
children's room
Study; dining;
bedroom; office;
gym; children's
room; living;
meditation room;
veranda
Study; store;
visitors room;
toilets; childrens
room; living;
garbage bin
Stairway; store;
visitors room;
toilet; dining
Master bedroom;
office; store;
toilets;
guardroom; water
tank.
Kitchen; dining;
gym; washing
bay; guard room;
outhouses;
servants' room;
bathroom; garage
RECOMMENDED ALLOCATION OF FACILITIES/ SPACES
N
SITE SELECTIONS:
Housing Blocks are of 16 classified shapes
with own merits or demerit;
Topography of the site;
addition to the shapes, topographical configurations too effects the
occupants.
A water test to determine the suitability of the site.
a pit measuring one cubit in all three dimensions to be dug in the
centre of the site and fill with water in the evening, and verify in the
morning
if water completely seep and the pit is dry, not suitable for a building.
if the same water remains site is good.
if the pit is muddy with no water, site is moderate.
A similar pit to be dug and fill completely with water, and to walk 100 feet.
if the water remains, good for a building.
Indicate that well compacted soil with no seepage is good for
construction.
Soil Test: a similar pit to be excavated and refill with the same soil.
If the excavated soil is overflowed, it is good site.
If the soil is just sufficient for filling, still the site is acceptable.
If the soil in inadequate, then the site is unacceptable.
The colour, taste and the smell of the site, determines its suitability.
Surface features
Surface deposits and some other environmental features are considered as ill
omens.
Site environment
Presence of twittering birds and;
Visibility of running water are auspicious omens.
A prostitutes house near by,
closer to three or four way junctions, and
a cemetery are treated as inauspicious.
Vegetation
a site with luxuriant vegetation is recommended.
Arid land with no vegetation unsuitable.
Presence of precious medicinal herbs, creepers such as midi, trees such
as satin;
bo and mara, and grass like undupiyaliya brings prosperity, health and
wealth.
Dimensions of the site:
Measure is Purusha Pramana, a human figure.
The site is measured north south and east west.
Measurements are added and divided by eight
The numeral of the remainder decides the suitability.
Suitability of the site for the particular caste of the owner.
Methods determine the mandaladhipathi, a deity who bring fortune or
misfortune upon the site.
The length and the breadth of the site to measure in hasthaman riyana.
similar to above.
Using the scale vaduriyana.
Length and the breadth of the site are added to the total number of
characters of the name of the owner and name of the site.
Total is multiplied by four and divided by three.
Remainder 1 represent animate land, the best.
Remainder 2 mixed results and passable.
No remainder is a dead land and not suitable.
CUSTOMS IN HOUSE DESIGNS
Zoning the site.
Pada Bedima;,and ,
In Pada Bedeema, the site divided by nine parallel lines and another
nine number perpendicular lines to the previous lines.
Bhumi Chakra are two methods of zoning a site.
In Bhumi Chakra, the site is divided by lines connecting each
corners, and each centres thorough/ over the centre line.
Bhumi Chakra:
Site is divided by lines
connecting each corners, and
each centres thorough/ over
the centre line;
South/west sector is most
suitable for sitting a
house.
Adjoining triangles north
of the best is the next
good.
Adjoining triangle east of
the best is moderate.
Remaining half is
inauspicious.
prethapada
prethapada
manushyapada
manushyapada
devapada
devapada
brahmapada
Padabedeema
Brahma Pada;
Habitat of the absolute;
Devapada;
Habitat of the deities;
Manushya pada;
Abode of human beings;
Prethapada;
lowly evil spirits;
House to be in Manushya
Pada;
May be extended to Deva
Pada;
Brahma Pada is for religious
buildings;
Outer layer not recommended
for a buildings.
To be continued as section two of the lecture
ORIENTATION
North is the most auspicious direction.
Southeast is the worst.
If the main door faces E or S, length of the house is along NS and EW
respectively.
LOCATION OF ACTIVITIES
Inauspicious location of the well.
Align with the ridge.
Facing a main door.
Aligned any of the wall lines
Aligned with marma rekha.
Aligned with valley gutter.
Aligned with four major lines running parallel to the ridge and between walls.
Aligned with Marma rekha of the site.
Aligned with diagonal lines of interior spaces.
Effects could be reduced by locating well at a different/ lower level ground or by
constructing a wall in between.
DOOR CHART:
Dhanya Nanda Ripuda
Dhanada
Jaya
Sumakha
Kantha Bara Vipula
Nasha
Vijaya
Ugra
Akrananda
Manoramya
Durmukha
Gain assets Destruction for
female fear of thieves gain assts victory over pujawa
Destructions women
Auspicious points (centre and 12 sub centres) should not lie within the
proposed house
marma rekha diagonals.
Madhya rekha anu marma rekha.
Ginikatura cross formed by marma rekha
Marma Sthanaya centre
Anu Marma Sthana sub-centres formed by pada boundaries and marma
rekha.
At present the pada beddema is modified to suit the urban context as follows:
Marma Sthana of the house not to be fall on the marma rekha of the site.
Marma Rekha of the site not to be fall on the Marma Rekha of the house.
Very small sites, at least three pretha pada zones to be kept open, and not
more than one living spaces to be located in the encroached preta pada zone.
Form of house
Ideal shape is rectangular.
Square is for religious buildings.
Other suitable include the followings
U shape.
T shape..
Inauspicious includes the following.
L shape.
Cross
Circular
Triangle.
length and breadth are to be even and odd numbers respectively.
Traditionally, dimensions were specified according the caste affiliations.
Ill planning Separation
Misfortune Quarreling
Danger Non-ambitious Cheated Sexual desire
CLASSIFICATION OF HOUSES
(Aaya number refers to the balance numeral, when the floor area divided by 8. the method
of classification is referred to as Ashta Yoni krama)
AAY
A
No
AYA NAMA CONSEQUENCES SUITABILITY MAIN DOOR FACADE
1 Dhvaja Reputation Living N,E,S,W East
2 Dhuma Misery
3 Singha Victory Living N, E,S South
4 Shvana/ sunakha Hatred
5 Vrushabha Wealth Business E West
6 Bara Poverty
7 Gaja Comforts living E,S North
8 Dhvanksha/ kaka/Teta Ill health
For calculation, exterior dimensions of the foundation/ plinth. Protruding elements
such as verandah and porticoes are not considered for length/ breadth calculations.
INTERNAL SPACES
Following situations are avoided.
Three corners within the house falling in one line.
Interior corners falling on Marma Rekha.
Marma Sthana falling on an internal wall. wall bisecting the width of the
house, (by being lying under the ridge).
Doors and Windows
Main door as the mouth of a human being.
Should not face the west.
In the front wall forming the length of the house.
Not at the end wall.
Not face a bend of a road.
Not face a two ways or three way junctions.
Not to align with the corner of the house.
Not to be sited on the straight line with the gate.
Number of doors in odd number
Number of windows in even number
Total should never be 09,19,29 etc. not to locate three doors on one line.
Doors not to cut across marma rekha.
When an irregular plan forms, several marma rekhah will be drawn.
Floor area: 11 simple calculations to determine the suitability.
customs in construction
commencement of work
position of the main door.
N 13/04 ~ 13/06
E 13/07 ~ 13/09
S 13/10 ~ 13/12
W 13/01 ~ 13/03
04 remaining months are corner months, and are inauspicious.
Merit days of the work commence.
sandu (Monday) - birth of daughters.
budha, guru, shukra (wed., thu, Friday) wealth, worldly pleasure and prosperity.
Ravi (Sunday) loss of wealth
Kuja (Tuesday) destructions
Shani (Saturday) gain of land and property.
Favourable constellations (nekatha) to commence the works.
site preparations
offerings to God of Wealth (Bhahirava)
04 guardian deities.
Remove the top soil to ensure that no harmful elements are present at site.
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE
setting out, and cutting of the first sod inauspicious times.
Bhuminaga charka will determine the proper place for foundations.
Head facing the direction of the main door.
stomach of the Bhuminaga is suitable for lying of the foundation.
Following are the unsuitable locations.
Naval fear.
Tail death
Knees destroying of the house.
Below the knee destructions.
Private paths ill health.
Not place beneath a circulation space, end of a wall, centre of the
house or a toilet..
Superstructure
work to commence on an auspicious time.
Cross walls and cross beams will have evil effects.
Rituals in placement of the first door frame.
Roof
work to commence in an auspicious time.
Rafters not to be fixed for the joint where the hip rafters and ridge meets.
Ridge not to run across external doors.
Not to support by odd number of supports.
Not to have odd number of joints.
Purling joints should not run in alignment.
Joint of a wall plate should not be above a door.
Positioning of the house
More to the right when looking outward.
Home garden to the left is very auspicious.
Forecourt in east or west is auspicious.
forecourt in SW inauspicious.
Forecourt in north or south is moderate.
Ooccupying the house.
auspicious time according to the astrological guidelines
OTHER BELIEFS
1. RIVER FLOWING IN FRONT OF A HOUSE
Outbound flow inauspicious.
Inbound auspicious, but not directly to the main entrance.
Curvilinear river in front of a house (incurve, outcurve or wrap)inauspicious.
River in front of a house flowing northward, northeastward of eastward is auspicious,
and will bring prosperity
Branching off after the house is not good.
Branching off before the house too is inauspicious.
Broadening in front of the house or after passing is very auspicious..
LANDSCAPING.
Sapu, papol, desaman, plantain are auspicious trees.
Trees with milk sap, throne, and bear fruits are not auspicious.
Banyan tree auspicious for east. But Bo-tree is inauspicious.
Bo tree in the east will bring fear.
Asatu in the east brings sorrow.
Jak tree is auspicious for the south. Other taller trees are inauspicious
for the south. Pulila (parasite) tree on the south will bring poverty to the
house.
Attikka tree is inauspicious for the north, and will bring eye diseases.
Banyan tree is auspicious for the west. Asatu and Nellie were serving.
OTHER BELIEFS ..
2. POSITIONING OF WALLS WITHIN AUSPICIOUS PADA
Defining PADA (maximum length and maximum width to be divided by 15).
Generally width of the pada of length and width is not equal, as squares are
not selected as an auspicious plan form.
Auspicious pada are 1,3,5,6,8,10,11,13,15
Inauspicious pada are 2,4,7,9,12,14.
All walls should be positioned on meritorious pada.
Doors and windows (jambs and frames)should be positioned on meritorious
pada.
Joists of roofs to be positioned on meritorious pada.
Joists and plates, including ridge plate, must be in odd numbers such as
3,5,and 7.
Plates/ joists to be positioned above a meritorious pada.
TREES WHICH ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR GROWING.
Taller tress are inauspicious for the forecourt.
Symbol (tamarind), lobelia, ensnaring, keselkaranda, delum, nilkatarolu,
thorny trees, softwood trees, plants with red color flowers, king coconut and
pathos, are highly inauspicious for planting in front of the office.
Softwood trees in front of the houses, causes loss of property.
Thorny trees causes animosity with neighbors.
Trees with nuts in front of the house brings misery to children.
King coconut tress around the house bring disharmony amongst the
occupants. Further, it is believed that the gravity. Disharmony amongst the
house holds; chief
BEDROOM:
Better to plan on Southern or Western direction;
Head towards north brings stresses;
Bed should comprised of four legs, and not to be the box type;
Bedrooms under Toilets and stairways causes severe stresses;
Not to keep beds under a ridge plate, a joists/purling, and a concrete
beam;
Better to locate the bed away from the wall;
If there is a mirror, better not to locate it, to reflect the mirror image to
the bed;
If the master bedroom is not in the same level as the other spaces, it
brings the relaxation;
northwestern bedrooms are ideal for married children.
BEDROOMS (continuing):
Better to locate mirror towards the west and the dressing table on to the
Northwestern wall;
Better to locate toilet away from the bedroom;
Rooms towards northeast to be allocated for children;
It is recommended to locate books and newspaper stands either on
southwestern or western wall, and, if a writing table, it is to keep on northeast
direction;
TV, Radio are not suitable for bedrooms, but if desperately needed, it is to be
located in the southeast direction;
Master bedroom, first to southwest; secondly to south; thirdly to west; and
finally to northwest.
Never to locate master bedroom in northeast;
Master bedroom of a multi storied building to be located at the upper floor;
Ideal colors pink, blue, green, and ash color;
Never to have an empty southwestern direction.
Toilet to be attached on west or northern directions.
DINING ROOM:
Important space for day to day living;
Most suitable for west, north, and eastern directions;
Kitchen and dining to be on the same floor level;
Dining table not to be kept align with the main door;
Dining room not to be allocated on basement or upper floors;
During the dining, chief of the household sit facing either the east or west,
and avoid facing south.
Sink to be in the northeast direction;
No toilet to be attached;
Pink, green and blue are suitable colors, and black and white to be
omitted.
TOILETS AND BATHROOMS:
Northeastern toilets are not god;
Attached toilets are unfavorable;
Detached toilets are meritorious;
If attached toilets are essential, then north, east and west are good;
White, pink, and ash colors are appropriate.
INTERIOR OF THE TOILET:
west, northwest, and southwest are appropriate;
Southeast is inappropriate;
South of he house centre too is extremely bad;
Commode would not face east or west. Better facing north or south;
WB, shower, bib tap etc are better to be in northeast;
Mirror on the eastern wall;
Soiled cloths on the western wall;
Vanity unit on the northwestern wall;
Heater on the southeastern wall;
Door on the north or east walls;
Color white, sky blue. Never to use black or red.
LIVING/ SITTING ROOM:
Ideally located in north direction;
Furniture to be squares or rectangular, and not oval or circular;
Ornaments to be located in this direction;
ARC on the west and not on east;
Ceiling sloping towards northeast is meritorious;
Furniture on west and southern directions are meritorious;
White, yellow, green, and blue are suitable. Red and black are
inappropriate
Chief household facing northeast and guest west or south is good.
STUDY ROOM:
Northeastern, west, east are appropriate;
Studying facing north or east;
Bookshelf not on northwest or southwest;
Window on north, east, or west;
Colored white, light blue, violet, light green;
Hipped roof is better;
Study position north, northeast, east, south or west, but facing northeast.
STORE ROOM:
Northwest is good;
Not to use north or east;
SHRINE ROOM:
Northeast is best; north too is good;
If on upper floor, no toilets underneath; Statues to face either east or west
Blue, green, red and yellow are suitable colors.
KITCHEN:
Preferably to the southeast. second best is northeast.
When cooking facing east is preferable.
Sink to locate far away from the burner/ fireplace.
Not to locate bedroom n these directions; kitchen to be same level or at a
higher level than the house;
Sink on north east, gas cylinder on southwest or north west, greaser on
southwest, refrigerator on northwest.
No mirror to be kept in the kitchen;
Red, green and yellow are the preferable colors.
ETERNAL KITCHENS:
Only southwest and northwest directions are preferable;
N
LOCATION OF OTHER SPACES:
Wall cupboards in bedroom, better directions are north and eastern
directions;
Patio in north, northeast, and east, but their roof always lower than the
main roof;
Stairways, preferably, clockwise. North, northeast, southeast, and east
are the unfavorable directions; number of steps in odd numerical.
Wall cupboards to be limited onto south and eastern walls;
Wall cupboards on southern and western walls;
Underground tank on northeast direction;
Attached bath toilet to avoid north, east, northeast directions;
Servants room, to avoid north and eastern walls;
Basement on northeast or east of the house.
ADDITIONAL TOILETS:
Possibilities:
Connected to west wall on western direction; and, on southwestern
direction;
Connected to south wall on southern direction;
Connected to southwest wall on southern direction; and, on southwestern
direction;
Attached bathroom can be on north and , east direction;
Inappropriate:
Connected to east wall should not on eastern direction;
Connected to southeast wall should not on eastern direction;
Connected to north wall should not on northern direction;
Connected to northeast wall should not on the north east direction;
Attached bathroom should not on northeast direction.
OFFICE ROOM:
northeast, southeast, and northwest are most suitable;
PLAYROOM:
East, southeast, north are the most appropriate directions;
GARAGE:
Southeast or northwest are good. Never to use north, northeast or east walls;
BALCONY:
South and west are not good: north and east are most suitable; id south and
west to be used, extend the roof lowering eave height;
AVOIDABLE:
North: toilets, servants' room, and tall trees;
Northeast: main door, garage, stairs, waste pits, waste disposal tools,
overhead tanks, high grounds, rubble in landscaping, kitchen,
toilet, master bedroom, tall trees;
southeast: main door, master bedroom, living room, basement;
South: living room, basement, well, balcony;
Northeast: visitors room, kitchen, servants' room, main door, basement,
balcony, toilet pits.
West: balcony, basement;
Northwest: main door, master bedroom, well;
BELIEFS ON BUILDING ELEMENTS:
ROOF:
Commencement on an auspicious time;
Customarily, ridge not in the exact centre, may be shift a little;
Total number of ridges, gutter plates and plates to be in an odd number;
Rafters set to be in an odd number;
Props to be an odd number;
Joints in odd number;
No three props align;
No three joints align and parallel;
No nails to punch through;
No nails to plate ends;
Lean to roof is most unsuitable, and roof with five or more slopes are most
suitable;
Ridge plate to align with the main door of a neighboring house is most
unsuitable;
No joints across the centre of house;
No roof to be joint with the neighboring roof;
BELIEFS ON BUILDING ELEMENTS:
DOORS:
Main door known as Mangala Uluvassa, and is displayed different to others
in scale and . Decorations;
Never positioning doors on main/ centre wall (mudun Bittiya);
Door to be plumbed; inward bend, pressure for occupants with disputes etc.
out bend, chief household prefer to stay outside.
Number of windows to be larger than the doors;
Door not be faced religious institutions;
Door not to be aligned with another house;
Internal doors also not to be aligned;
No stairways aligned with the main door;
BELIEFS ON BUILDING ELEMENTS:
DOORS (cont):
No internal cistern, drain, tree, gate, well, or a corner of another house in
front of the main door, which causes the ill fortune known as Veda Dosha.
However, beyond twice the height as well as in the rear of the house is
ineffective;
no doors on the ceremonial foundation stone;
No doors in the centre of the house;
No lifting and placing of first doorframe, which is fixed at the auspicious
time. However, minor adjustment without lifting is ok; lifting and replacing
could be effected with ritualistic functions similar to that of the time of
placing the first door frame;
No door frames above another;
Main door facing main road is not suitable;
Extra large doors also bring destruction to the chief household;
Main door to be two sashes.
BELIEFS ON BUILDING ELEMENTS:
DOORS (cont):
Two principal systems of locating main door:
Length of the house divided in to nine divisions, and, Door to be positioned in the
division with 05 portions to the south and 03 to the left;
Length of the house divided into 15 divisions, and door to be placed on an
auspicious pada;
Total number of doors to be an odd number;
Total number of windows to be an even number;
Cumulative value of doors and windows to be an odd number, excluding 17;
Doors to be not positioned on centre lines (marma rekha);
Only cardinal directions to be considered when the doors are located;
Door positioning based on cardinal directions;
When facing east on the 3
rd
division from the left;
When in south, 6
th
division from left;
When in the west, 5
th
division from left;
In case of north, 5
th
division from left.
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST NAME CONSEQUENCES
01 D D D NO Dhanada Wealth
02 No No D No Jaya Victory
03 D No No D Nasha Destruction
04 D N D D Vipula Reputation, honor
05 No No No D Bara Poverty
06 No D No D Kantha Heavy expenses
07 No D D D Sumukha Health and wealth
08 D No No No Durmukha Unrest
09 No No D D Manoramya Increase wealth and reduce expenses
10 D D No D Akrandha Suffering
11 D D No No Ugra Losses, unrest
12 D D D D Viaya Wealth and reputation
13 No D No No Dhanya Wealth
14 No D D No Nanda Destruction to women
15 D No D No Ripuda Thefts and enemies
POSITIONING OF DOORS
The end of Presentation - THANK YOU