There is a continuous flow of different energies in the Universe. Your living space is also a narrowed-down replica of the Universe in which you reside and the energies flowing affect you. The exact influence of these energies depends on the direction they are flowing through. Vastu Shastra comes to our aid for these energies to impact us positively.
Vastu Shastra is the traditional system or technique of Indian architecture. Vastu Shastra defines the principles of space arrangement, design, layout, etc. The designs are in such a way that they align with nature & designed by considering ancient beliefs.
The Pooja room is the most sacred part of the house in India. It is the place where we worship God for peace, prosperity & the well-being of family. Therefore, the construction or placement of the puja room brings positive energy in the home. It is important to follow vastu guidelines to have an ideal puja room.
In this blog, we will discuss various things that should be considered while designing a pooja room according to Vastu Shastra.
1. Door design
While designing pooja ghar doors, remember to design them in a way that it has two shutters of equal dimensions & as far as possible, made up of wood. Some amount of certain metals can be used for decoration on the doors. Having hollow designs on doors that facilitate the passage of light into pooja ghar & making the idols kept in it easily viewable is advised.
2. Facing the right direction
While you set up your pooja room, make sure you set it up so that you face the north or east side while you sit to offer prayers. The reason is that the sun rises from the east direction and its rays are considered a blessing from the sun (Surya Dev).
3. Prefer ground floor
In case you live in a multi-storied home, try to design the pooja room on the ground floor to receive the best results. Try avoiding upper floors and the basement as much as possible. The reason is that the mandir should be in contact with the ground, not far above it nor under it.
4. Idols should not face each other
Ideally, idols placed in the mandir should be placed or positioned to avoid facing each other. Also, they should not face the door or the wall directly and should be aligned in a northeast direction. The idols should always be facing inwards towards your home, as it implies they have their protection or grace over you.
5. Location or direction
North & east corners or sides of the house are the most advisable locations for setting up your pooja room. If possible, tapping the north-east corner can be far more beneficial for the flow of positive energy in the home. The west side can also be permitted in an uncomfortable situation, but at any cost avoid placing it on the south side.
6. Door openings of your pooja room
If you have included doors in your pooja ghar set up, they should open either in the north direction or east. The same applies to any windows present in the pooja room. It is so that the doors and windows open in the direction of the sunrise.
7. Positioning of lamps
While placing lamps, agnikund or diyas, they should face the south-east direction. Try placing diyas in the center of the mandir as much as possible. Lamps can also be placed in south corners & be facing towards north or the east direction.
8. Places to avoid
Never set up your pooja room under any structure in your house like a staircase, as it is deemed inauspicious. Secondly, don’t place your pooja room directly in front of washroom doors or in support of the walls of washrooms as it is unacceptable for obvious reasons. Placing or designing a mandir under any structure is deemed to be inauspicious & undermining the gods.
9. Type of vessels
In the pooja ghar, use copper vessels as it is a common belief that it is auspicious. Also, it is general knowledge in Vastu Shastra that certain metals are beneficial to our health, and copper is one among them. Water kept in copper containers is also beneficial to health when consumed.
10. Chipped or broken
While placing idols and photographs in the mandir or pooja ghar, ensure that they are not damaged or broken, and the photo frame of gods does not contain cracked glass.
11. Pyramid for pooja space
If possible, try to design the pooja space with a pyramid design. It maximizes the positive vibrations coming from pooja ghar and affects home and family members more. According to vastu, adding a threshold to pooja ghar also helps immensely.
12. Pictures to avoid
In the pooja room, try to avoid pictures representing violence. Also, see that there are no pictures of the deceased in the room or right in front of pooja ghar.
13. Lighting
While adding lights to your pooja ghar design, make sure you use soft colors rather than vibrant colors. Soft colors like white, light blue, yellow, or colors in these shades are advisable.
14. Choosing the right room for the mandir
Selecting an appropriate room for the mandir is very important; it cannot be placed in any random room. The mandir can preferably be placed in the kitchen or the living room unless & until it is facing the northeast direction. But under no circumstances be it placed in the bedroom – try to avoid it at all costs.
15. Direction while sleeping
The direction in which we sleep is also a crucial factor to consider while designing a pooja room. Ensure that you do not design the pooja room in the direction where your feet are pointing while sleeping. Likewise, avoid designing your pooja room in front of bedroom doors to enhance the positive energies.
Bonus tips!
Here are a few bonus tips to help you ensure that your pooja room is completely according to Vastu Shastra.
No storage above mandir
A mandir being a holistic place, should not be used as a storage area under any circumstances. However, if the need occurs due to some unavoidable situation or space constraints, storage space can be designed below the mandir & not above.
Importance of Swastik
Every ancient civilization in India carried the symbol of Swastik in one form or another. Swastik synchronizes with universal minds, connecting our consciousness with knowledge and education. Drawing the symbol of Swastik in the West-South-West zone helps children perform better in their studies.
Significance of Om
Om is a syllable that has been in Hinduism since the religion came into existence. It signifies the essence of ultimate reality. Om is a sacred sound often chanted during meditation and is considered a universal sound. It creates vibrations that have numerous benefits to the human body and the universe when chanted.
We hope this guide for designing your home according to Vastu Shastra will prove useful for your redesign. If you have any additional tips or questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below!
