Vastu Purusha
Vastu Purusha is the god for construction of structures and buildings. Once upon a time, an unknown person came into existence and he obstructed the earth and the sky with his huge body. The Devtas suddenly caught the person and threw him below with his face down, and whichever part of the body of the person was held by different Devtas, the Devtas became presiding deities of that part of the body. The creator, Brahma, had made the person as “god of the house” - ‘Vastu Purusha.’
There is another interesting story of Vastu Purusha in Matsya Purana. It narrates the birth of Vastu Purusha. In an encounter with a Rakshasa called Andhikasur, Lord Shiva became tired and exhausted, and he began to sweat profusely. A man was born out of the drops of Lord Shiva’s sweat. He looked very cruel. He was very hungry and began to make penance to appease Lord Shiva and to get a boon from him. Lord Shiva was pleased with his penance and appeared before him. The devotee prayed to Lord Shiva, “Oh Lord! Please permit me to eat away all the three worlds.” Lord Shiva granted his prayer. He got possession of all the three worlds and was about to eat the terrestrial world. The celestial beings, Brahma, Shiva, and the demons were terrified and they caught hold of the devotee and encircled him. Forty-five deities caught hold of the devotee and pressed him down. This Devotee has been in that position ever since that time. Lord Brahma blessed him and said that he would be the
deity of all the plots and constructions, and offerings would be made to him. In return Vastu Purusha is said to be taking care of the inmates of the building.
Vastu Purusha is the body on which every aspect of human activity is carried out. Whether we build a house, a factory, school, well, compound-wall, tank or playground, we are placing it upon the sacred body of the cosmic being who has come to reside with us. Every part of his body is sacred, with energies and characteristics that add to and enhance our life on earth. Therefore, it is to him we bow in gratitude when we start upon any endeavour, and to him we offer our thanks through flowers and incense, minerals and metals, herbs and colours, amidst music and chanting.
The story of the Vastu Purusha goes thus: In the ages gone by, there lived a demon called Vastu who was fierce and powerful and in the habit of terrorizing the world. As the situation became unbearable the gods came together to fight him. Yet, his powers were such that his essence continued to permeate the land causing untold misery to the humans and gods alike. In response, the gods went to Lord Brahma for help.
Affected by the grief of the gods, Lord Brahma fought and pinned the demon firmly to the ground, and as a further precaution ordered a certain number of gods to sit on him and stop his activities. The popular belief is that the Vastu Purusha lies face-down on the ground, though a few texts claim he lies face up.
Though it is a myth it can be interpreted to mean that the energy comes from cosmic space and manifests itself as the contained energy within material phenomena. The cosmic energy manifests itself as a phenomenon after moving through a series of transformation-ether, fire, water and earth. Hence the built space is created according to the impulses of the earth, in consonance with the waking and slumber of the earthly energy.
Vastu or bhoomi is vibrating and alive. This is the space of the earth or land. This energy resides in the earth and is called by various names such as Vastu Nathan, bhoomi Purusha and Vastu Purusha. This is the energy of the material sunbstance.
Similarly the energy of Akasham or cosmic space is known as Vishwa Purusha, Vishwa atman, Paramatman.
The Vastu Purusha is considered to be awake when he is oriented towards the cardinal points, and is said to be asleep when oriented towards the non-cardinal points like the NE, SW, SE, NW.
During the period of Dhanur (December-January), Mina (March-April), Mithuna (June-July), Kanya (September-October), it is considered inauspicious to begin building activities.
During the period of Mesha (April-May), Vrishabha (May-June), Kataka (July-August), Simha (August-September), Tula (October-November), Vrischika (November-December), Makara (January-February), Kumbha (February-March), it is auspicious to build.
It can be said that we too are earth or Bhoomi and the energy within us is Vastu Purusha. When the earth is dormant, the Vastu Purusha is considered to be asleep. At this time it is not beneficial to begin house-building activities. The Shastras state that this 'wrong' time could lead to negative effects on the residents. The face of the Vastu Purusha is oriented towards the position of the sun, says the text.
Vastu Purusha is the god for construction of structures and buildings. Once upon a time, an unknown person came into existence and he obstructed the earth and the sky with his huge body. The Devtas suddenly caught the person and threw him below with his face down, and whichever part of the body of the person was held by different Devtas, the Devtas became presiding deities of that part of the body. The creator, Brahma, had made the person as “god of the house” - ‘Vastu Purusha.’
There is another interesting story of Vastu Purusha in Matsya Purana. It narrates the birth of Vastu Purusha. In an encounter with a Rakshasa called Andhikasur, Lord Shiva became tired and exhausted, and he began to sweat profusely. A man was born out of the drops of Lord Shiva’s sweat. He looked very cruel. He was very hungry and began to make penance to appease Lord Shiva and to get a boon from him. Lord Shiva was pleased with his penance and appeared before him. The devotee prayed to Lord Shiva, “Oh Lord! Please permit me to eat away all the three worlds.” Lord Shiva granted his prayer. He got possession of all the three worlds and was about to eat the terrestrial world. The celestial beings, Brahma, Shiva, and the demons were terrified and they caught hold of the devotee and encircled him. Forty-five deities caught hold of the devotee and pressed him down. This Devotee has been in that position ever since that time. Lord Brahma blessed him and said that he would be the
deity of all the plots and constructions, and offerings would be made to him. In return Vastu Purusha is said to be taking care of the inmates of the building.
Vastu Purusha is the body on which every aspect of human activity is carried out. Whether we build a house, a factory, school, well, compound-wall, tank or playground, we are placing it upon the sacred body of the cosmic being who has come to reside with us. Every part of his body is sacred, with energies and characteristics that add to and enhance our life on earth. Therefore, it is to him we bow in gratitude when we start upon any endeavour, and to him we offer our thanks through flowers and incense, minerals and metals, herbs and colours, amidst music and chanting.
The story of the Vastu Purusha goes thus: In the ages gone by, there lived a demon called Vastu who was fierce and powerful and in the habit of terrorizing the world. As the situation became unbearable the gods came together to fight him. Yet, his powers were such that his essence continued to permeate the land causing untold misery to the humans and gods alike. In response, the gods went to Lord Brahma for help.
Affected by the grief of the gods, Lord Brahma fought and pinned the demon firmly to the ground, and as a further precaution ordered a certain number of gods to sit on him and stop his activities. The popular belief is that the Vastu Purusha lies face-down on the ground, though a few texts claim he lies face up.
Though it is a myth it can be interpreted to mean that the energy comes from cosmic space and manifests itself as the contained energy within material phenomena. The cosmic energy manifests itself as a phenomenon after moving through a series of transformation-ether, fire, water and earth. Hence the built space is created according to the impulses of the earth, in consonance with the waking and slumber of the earthly energy.
Vastu or bhoomi is vibrating and alive. This is the space of the earth or land. This energy resides in the earth and is called by various names such as Vastu Nathan, bhoomi Purusha and Vastu Purusha. This is the energy of the material sunbstance.
Similarly the energy of Akasham or cosmic space is known as Vishwa Purusha, Vishwa atman, Paramatman.
The Vastu Purusha is considered to be awake when he is oriented towards the cardinal points, and is said to be asleep when oriented towards the non-cardinal points like the NE, SW, SE, NW.
During the period of Dhanur (December-January), Mina (March-April), Mithuna (June-July), Kanya (September-October), it is considered inauspicious to begin building activities.
During the period of Mesha (April-May), Vrishabha (May-June), Kataka (July-August), Simha (August-September), Tula (October-November), Vrischika (November-December), Makara (January-February), Kumbha (February-March), it is auspicious to build.
It can be said that we too are earth or Bhoomi and the energy within us is Vastu Purusha. When the earth is dormant, the Vastu Purusha is considered to be asleep. At this time it is not beneficial to begin house-building activities. The Shastras state that this 'wrong' time could lead to negative effects on the residents. The face of the Vastu Purusha is oriented towards the position of the sun, says the text.
