How does the growing of Tulsi help in making premise pleasant?

1. Deity of a premise (vastudevata)

1.1 Definition and meaning

A premise (vastu) refers to an open space enclosed by four walls irrespective of whether it has a roof. The presiding deity of this place is called the deity of the premise. Frequencies within a premise are not perceived outside it. For instance a subtle fragrance in a room is not experienced outside the threshold of that room.
Other Names: Vastudev, Vastupurush. The earth is the consort of the Vastupurush.

1.2 Mission

The deity of a premise is the centre of energy of the premise. Its mission is to endow energy to any pleasant or distressing event occurring there. It is believed that the deity of a premise says, ‘So be it (tathastu)’ to whatever is uttered there. Hence one should not utter abominable words in the house.

1.3 Energy of the deity of a premise

In the ancient times there were no houses. Man lived in the forest. As he began constructing houses he experienced that some houses brought good fortune and happiness while others caused distress. This is how the science of premises (vastushastra) came into existence. Before understanding the difference between pleasant and distressing frequencies generated in a premise let us first understand how these frequencies are created in it. There are three kinds of frequencies in an empty premise. [Detailed information on such frequencies is given in point ‘Guardian deity of a territory (kshetrapaldevata)’.]
A. Frequencies arising from the floor of a premise ascend towards the sky. Frequencies emitted from land shaped like a cow’s mouth (gomukhi), a tiger’s mouth (vyaghramukhi) or a donkey’s mouth (gardabhamukhi) correspond to the shape and its basic qualities.
B. The ‘360 frequencies’ travel in a premise in a circular fashion.
C. Frequencies due to thoughts of those constructing the premise, those visiting and residing in the premise, strike the walls and ceiling and get dispersed everywhere.
Refer to numbers 1, 2 and 3 in figure ‘A’.

Due to the interaction of these three types of frequencies the overall movement of frequencies in the premise becomes haphazard. The result is utter confusion. (Refer to figure ‘B’.)

1.4 The plot of land on which a house is constructed

A. The magnetic field: Any wall of a plot or a house should be facing north-south like the pointer of a compass.
B. Shape and its effects as per Vastushastra
C. Length and breadth
D. The mouth of a cow and that of a tiger
E. Adjacent land: A small plot of land between two large plots causes distress because frequencies of the bigger plot affect the smaller one markedly.
F. Ascent and descent in the land
G. Other physical aspects: Land which has ascents and descents, is thorny, has a polluted atmosphere and distressing surroundings proves distressing.
H. Roads and pathways
     A road leading to a plot of land and ending before entering it is called vithishula. However if it turns instead of terminating then it is not called so. Preferably one should not choose a plot of land with an ascent.
I. Land on a mountain: Terrain at a high altitude can prove problematic. There can be shortage of water.
J. Temples: A temple should not be located opposite or close to a plot of land because the sattva component from it can make the raja predominant individual living there sattvik (sattva predominant). If this happens he could face losses in business ! However for a seeker a temple certainly proves beneficial.
K. Rivers, lakes and ponds: If a river or a well is situated in the north-eastern part then it is favourable. A continuous flow of water opposite the main door of the house causes loss of wealth. Open gutters too cause problems. A well should be situated behind and not in front of a house. Lakes or ponds should not be situated in the middle of a plot of land because if subordinate deities like the seven asaras come to inhabit it, then distress is experienced.
L. Trees and pillars: Since there are chances of spirits living on trees and pillars these should not exist opposite a house.
M. Hillocks: If a hillock is situated to the south-west then it is ideal. However if it is situated in the north-eastern direction then it causes spiritual descent.
N. Crematorium: If a crematorium is situated close to a dwelling then the spirits from there, sorcerers (tantriks) visiting it, etc. may be the cause for distress.
     If a road, tree, pillar, well, temple, rotating wheel (e.g. a water wheel), etc. are situated at a distance of more than twice the height of a premise then they are harmless.
O. Miscellaneous: Materials (such as bamboo, cement, etc.) used in construction, position of the tulsi plant in the courtyard of the house, the neighbours, etc. also affect the frequencies in a premise. Just as frequencies in a particular room of a house can be distressing so also frequencies in a particular region of a city can be so.
     This makes one thing clear that instead of performing the ritual of Vastushanti after construction of a house it would be wiser to consider the above factors before building it or arranging the furniture in it. Similarly it is important to decide what to build on which plot, for instance a school, a factory, etc.
P. Testing a plot of land
     Thus when buying a plot of land one should choose one which is basically good. If when buying it, adjustments in measurements, etc. are made deliberately to fulfill the above criteria then it does not prove beneficial.

1.5 An actual premise

A. Material used in construction: Frequencies generated in a premise depend upon the building material such as stone, mud, cement, etc. used. Stone and mud have a greater potential to attract pleasant frequencies than cement.
B. Doors
C. The kitchen: This should face the south-east direction since it is the direction of Agni, the deity of fire. If situated in other directions the problems which may have to be faced are enumerated below.
     To avert problems caused by such faulty directions the placement of rooms in the house should be as follows.
ईशान्‍यं देवतागेहं पूर्वस्‍य स्‍नानमंदिरम्‌ ।
आग्‍नेयं पाकसदनं भांडगारं च उत्तरे ।।
     Meaning: The temple in the house should be situated to the north-east, the bathroom to the east, the kitchen to the south-east and the storeroom to the north.
D. The toilet: It should be situated to the south.
E. Premises in the context of cities: In a city the presidential mansion should be situated in a prominent place towards the north-west of the city.

1.6 Idols

Neither idols nor the description of this deity is available.

1.7 Types of premises

1. A house, 2. A palace, 3. A hermitage (math), 4. An auditorium, 5. A godown, 6. A city with shopping centres, lanes, etc.

1.8 Science of premises (vastushastra)

According to this science the deity of a premise is referred to as the Vastupurush. In this context Vastupurush means the soul of the premise. It manifests in a specific gentle manner and has nine sensitive points. They should not be traumatised, that is appropriate frequencies should be present there. Mandal refers to an outline or a heavenly (subtle) design. The territory of a deity of a premise (vastupurushmandal) is constituted by the land, the deity of the premise and the mandal. In other words it is the imprint of demons who have fallen on the ground. (Generally since a premise is raja-tama predominant the form of energy in it is akin to that of demons, not deities.) In the text Taittiriya Sanhita this is termed as ‘yadnyatanu’ meaning the body (tana) of the sacrificial fire (yadnya). It is also termed as the Universal Being (Vishvapurush). From the architectural point of view the territory of a deity of a premise has the following three layers.
These three layers of absolute ether should be concordant and proportionate. Ultimately the space taken from the great absolute ether, that is the house where one lives and works should have a definite proportion.

1.9 A premise and the four classes (varnas)

When constructing a premise the class of the person who is going to live there should also be considered. For example a premise proves favourable to a Brahman (priest) if it generates sattvik (sattva predominant) frequencies while for a Kshatriya (warrior) if it emits rajasik (raja predominant) ones.

1.10 Spiritual causes for distressing frequencies in a premise

If a visitor feels uncomfortable in someone’s house one can infer that at that point of time that premise is impure or that the resident of that house has been troubled in the past or will undergo severe distress in the future. Distressing frequencies are experienced in a hospital, police station, prison, a place where evil transactions are carried out, a place where a murder has occurred, a crematorium, etc. because the individuals there are either unhappy or with evil attitudes.

1.11 Comparative importance of the causes of distressing frequencies in a premise

1.12 Distress experienced by those living in an improper premise

A. Physical illnesses such as disorders of the stomach, rheumatism, paralysis, etc.
B. Psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, etc.

1.13 Remedies to make a premise pleasant

A. The ritual of entering a plot of land (bhukhandpravesh vidhi): After buying a plot of land, that is after one procures the document of its legal ownership before entering the plot as its owner one should wholeheartedly offer obeisance to God using fragrant flowers, in the north-eastern direction. Thereafter circumambulating the entire plot one should enter it through the main entrance touching the right big toe to the ground. Such an entry is beneficial.
B. The ritual of Vastushanti: ‘Ritualistic worship of a premise performed to appease the deity of the premise (Vastupurush) and to make the constructed house propitious to the owner with respect to longevity, health, overcoming obstacles, wealth, etc. is called Vastushanti.’⁽¹⁾ During this ceremony sixty-four yoginis are installed in the vastumandal. Assuming that the deity of the premise is masculine various deities have to be installed in different parts of its body. During the worship, in the centre of the vastumandal, in the south-eastern direction of the house, in a large room a pit is dug and a box in which seven types of food grains, a mixture of rice and curds, flowers, moss and an idol of the deity of the premise are placed, is buried in it. Thereafter at a predetermined auspicious moment (muhurt) the house-warming is performed.
The gold or copper seal of the deity of the premise buried during the ritual of Vastushanti attracts frequencies which ascend through the floor of the house. As shown at number 1 in the figure below they unite at the deity of the premise and from there gain momentum as they are emitted collectively. That is why the ‘360 frequencies’ (as shown at number 2 in the figure) and frequencies of human thoughts (as shown at number 3 in the figure) travel rhythmically in a particular fashion in the premise. This converts the chaotic ‘noise’ generated by frequencies to ‘sound’. Thus these frequencies prove to be pleasant and are endowers of happiness and propitiousness.

Substances buried in the ground are referred to as nikshep. During the ritual of Vastushanti the idol of the deity of the premise is buried in the south-eastern direction. (When performing a ritual called Sthiralakshmi some people bury the idol, coins, etc. in the western direction.) ‘One should take care to see that the site of burial of the deity is not littered with garbage. The custom of paying obeisance to the deity of the premise during ritualistic worship should be observed. Whenever possible throughout the year ritualistic worship in five (panchopchar puja) or sixteen steps (shodashopchar puja) should be performed. On the day that the ritual of Vastushanti is performed the house should not be kept closed. One should stay there for some days. Ritualistic worship of the premise should be performed every ten years. At that time excluding burial of the deity of the premise, all other rituals should be performed.
‘The Matsya Puran (265.10/11) quotes that in the context of a house, a fire sacrifice of a premise (vastuyadnya) needs to be performed under the following five circumstances - 1. When laying the foundation of the house or planning the construction, 2. When raising the first pillar of the house, 3. When fixing the first door, 4. During the house-warming ceremony (Gruhapravesh), 5. When performing the ritual of Vastushanti to ward off evil or distressing energies.
In modern times the ritual of house-warming has been attributed a considerable amount of importance. It is performed at an auspicious moment (muhurt). The ritual of Vastushanti is performed on that day. Grahamakh is a part of the ritual of Vastushanti. It includes placing a box of burnt bricks in a pit dug in the north-eastern corner of the house. Seven types of food grain, moss, flowers, etc. are placed in that box. The owner of the house enters the house along with his wife, sons and Brahmans (priests) to the accompaniment of music, carrying a pot (kalash) filled with water. That pot is then placed on a heap of food grain. This is followed by the ritual of Punyahavachan. The Brahmans are served meals after they bless the host. The host then dines along with his close friends.’⁽²⁾
C. The ritual of Udakshanti: ‘Performing the ritual of Udakshanti along with or within a short period of performing Vastushanti is equally important. There are negative influences on water and food in the house due to various impurities such as seclusion due to a birth or death in the family (soyar-sutak) and menses of women in the family. Udakshanti should be performed to overcome them. The scriptures state that Udakshanti too should be performed atleast once a year.’⁽³⁾
D. The personalities of residents in a premise should be pleasing. If not they should improve themselves. 30% of the defects in a premise occur on account of the residents themselves.
E. Keeping the doors and windows open: The innermost sanctified room of a temple (gabhara) has no windows and even its entrance is very small. This is to prevent the pleasant frequencies inside the temple from escaping. Contrary to this in the present Kaliyug since in most families there are conflicts, to facilitate the escape of distressing frequencies created thereby it is advisable to leave the doors and windows open. One will be able to appreciate easily the distress experienced by staring at any of the walls in a house.
F. Substances possessing distressing frequencies or those which attract distressing energies should not be kept in the house, e.g. a black doll.
G. One should neither perform experiments such as the planchet with the help of subtle bodies nor of any distressing subtle energies as sometimes the subtle bodies or distressing energies might remain in the house. If at all one wishes to perform such experiments they should be done in the open air.
H. Eliminating defects in a premise: First look at each of the figures given below for a minute each and decide with which one you feel pleasant and with which one you feel distressed and then read the following section.

25% - 30% of the participants felt distressed looking at figure ‘A’ and did not feel so with figure ‘B’. The practical benefit of this is as follows. Often a room built at a corner where two roads intersect is of type ‘A’. Naturally distressing frequencies are created in it. Since the building is already constructed it is not possible to make any alteration in the shape of the room. If a cupboard is placed in the corner as shown in figure ‘B’ then the frequencies in that premise change.
Draw two figures as shown in figure ‘A’ on a white paper. Paint one pink. Look at each figure for one minute each. Decide with which one you feel pleasant or distressed and only then read the section ahead.
Twenty-two people were attending a satsang (spiritual meeting). Their answers in this experiment are given below in a tabular form.
* Distress can appear in the form of heaviness of the head, discomfort, fear, aversion, tremors of the body, etc. This will make one realise that painting the premise with the right colours can transform the distressing frequencies from it into pleasant ones.
When such a change was made in someone’s house it became so sattvik (sattva predominant) that when a guest who used to drink alcohol in the same house earlier was offered a drink, he vomited it within ten minutes of consumption and said, ‘I don’t know why but today I do not feel like drinking alcohol at your place’. Such changes can at times eradicate distressing frequencies completely and at times only partially.
Further information on frequencies generated from various shapes is given in ‘Science of Spirituality: Chapter 8 - Yantra’.
I. If the deity of a premise is tranquil then the frequencies there are pleasant. The proportion of both, vital energy (pranshakti) and oxygen in that premise is more. A tulsi plant assists in raising the vital energy and oxygen in the atmosphere.
J. Comparative importance of various remedies

1.14 Feeling distressed in a pleasant premise

An individual who was visiting us in Mumbai slept on a bed on the first night. After sometime due to discomfort he slept on the mattress spread out on the floor. The following night he had insomnia even on the floor. So on the third night he refused to stay with us. He was possessed by some distressing energy and hence could not tolerate the pleasant energy present in that premise.

1.15 Effects of spiritual practice on a premise

‘I used to meditate in a particular room for several years. Consequently that room became even more powerful than this room of yours. Of course that room of Mine is unique ! Anyone who meditates in that room can hear the chanting that I practised then, even today.’ - Swami Muktanand ⁽⁴⁾

1.16 Effects of saints on a premise

There are immensely pleasant frequencies in places inhabited by saints such as Swami Svarupanand of Pavas, Gondavlekar Maharaj of Gondavle or at the samadhis (tombs) of saints (e.g. the samadhi of Shri Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon).
Reference:
‘Supreme God, God, Incarnations and Deities’, published by Sanatan Sanstha.
Bharatiya Sanskrutikosh. Publisher: Pandit Mahadevshastri Joshi, Secretary, Bharatiya Sanskrutikosh Mandal, 410 Shanivar Peth, Pune 411 030.
First edition: Vol. 3 to 10, Second edition: Vol. 1 and 2
[1]. Vol. 8, Pg. 645
[2]. Dharmashastracha Itihas (first and second half). Second edition: 1980, Publisher: Secretary, Maharashtra State Literary And Cultural Society, Secretariat, Mumbai 400 034.
[3]. Shastra Ase Sangate. First edition, fifth reprint - October 1994, Page 110. Vedvani Publications, Kolhapur 416 010.
[4]. Kalpavrukshatali (Swami Muktanandachya Sahavasat). First compilation, 5^th August 1986. Publisher: Gurudev Siddhapith, Ganeshpuri, District Thane, Maharashtra 401 206.

How should one arrange deities in the temple at home?

1. Ritualistic worship of God (puja)

1.1 Temple at home

If one does not have a temple at home or if there are no photographs or idols of the family deity and Shri Ganesh then they should be duly procured and installed in a temple at home. The deities should be arranged in the temple in the following manner: Shri Ganapati in the centre with the photographs or the idols of the male family deity and other male deities, e.g. Hanuman, Balkrushna, to His right and the female family deity and other female deities, e.g. Annapurna, to His left. In some pictures the female deity is depicted along with the male deity, e.g. Sitaram, Lakshminarayan, etc. Whenever She is depicted to the left of the male deity She bestows blessings onto devotees along with Her master. The left side symbolises the moon channel (chandranadi) and endows Serenity and Bliss. This is the saviour form of the female deity. In such photographs the male deity is considered as the main one and the picture is placed to the right of Shri Ganapati. In some pictures the female deity is depicted to the right of the male deity. The right side signifies the sun channel (suryanadi). Thus the deity is believed to be very powerful. This is the destroyer form of the female deity. The holy text Kalivilastantra narrates that deity Kali performs a dance on the chest of Deity Shiva. Here the female deity is more prominent than Her male counterpart. To conclude, when the female deity is to the right of the male deity She possesses more energy and should be considered as the principal deity. Hence such a picture is placed to the left of Shri Ganapati. One should keep the picture of the saviour or the destroyer form of the deity for the ritualistic worship as per one’s wish to undertake spiritual practice of that form. If a person having a Guru resides alone then he should keep only his Guru’s picture / photograph in the temple. If there are other family members then the Guru’s picture / photograph should be placed to the right of Shri Ganapati and should be followed by the male family deity’s photograph.
If one is not performing any ritualistic worship (puja) presently, then the method of doing so as per one's convenience is as follows.

2. Going to temples or places of worship

2.1 Importance of temples and places of worship

‘द्रष्‍टा दृश्‍यवशात्‌ बद्ध: । दृश्‍याभावात्‌ विमुच्‍ञते ।’ meaning the embodied soul (jiva, drashta) is bound by the view of external objects. In absence of the view it is free; for instance the embodied soul feels like eating a favourite dish so long as the food item is in its view. It is not so at other times. It is exposed to different scenes all the time. Then, when will the scenes cease? If we say that this will happen only during dissolution (pralay) of the universe, then the cessation of scenes will be meaningless as the embodied soul too will be dissolved at that time. According to the Vedanta the origin of external objects lies in the viewer. Then is there no way of liberating the embodied soul? There certainly is. The embodied soul has only one path available to acquire Liberation. It is to place before the viewer such a composite structure of scenes, that his very bondage to them will assist his Liberation. This means that his attitude (vrutti) will transgress from tama to raja and from raja to sattva. Such scenes which will liberate the viewer from the bondage are those of temples or places of worship. Discourses (pravachans and kirtans), singing the glory of the birth and mission of incarnations of God and His divine play as also those of His devotees take place here. Upon hearing (shravan) these, contemplation (manan) occurs leading to intense yearning (nididhyas), culminating in Self-realisation (Atmasakshatkar).’ - H.H. Kane Maharaj, Narayangaon, Pune district, Maharashtra

2.2 How often should one go to the temple or place of worship?

One should go to the temple or place of worship to pay obeisance and should offer prayers atleast once a week in the beginning and everyday later on, so that one’s spiritual practice continues smoothly with the grace of God.

2.3 Circumambulation (pradakshina)

Initially, one should circumambulate once and later on, several times depending on the deity of worship, for instance male deities in even numbers and female deities in odd numbers. Additional information on why cirmcumambulation for male deities such as Ganapati and Hanuman is done in odd numbers like twenty-one and five respectively is provided in other spiritual books.

2.4 Repeating (chanting) God’s Name in the temple

Since repeating (chanting) God’s Name occurs at its best in a temple due to the sattvik (sattva predominant) environment one should chant the name at least 108 times (or one mala).
If the temple of one’s deity of worship (aradhyadevata) is not in the vicinity, then one should visit the temple of any other male deity instead of one’s male deity of worship or any other female deity instead of one’s female deity of worship and offer obeisance to it with the spiritual emotion that it is the very form of one’s deity of worship.

3. Following family traditions of spiritual practice (kulachar)

One should follow the family traditions of spiritual practice meticulously, for instance if Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri or any other festival is celebrated in the family then it should be continued. If it is customary to offer ‘oti’ (offering of coconuts and a piece of cloth) at the annual festival of a female deity, the practice should be continued. If the temple of the family deity is far, then one should go and pay obeisance to it at least once a year. If it is in the vicinity then one should pay obeisance more often.

4. Obeisance to the village deity (gramadevata)

Some people remember the village deity only once a year during its annual festival and the rest of the year, leave it to the priest of the temple. This is incorrect. The village deity is responsible for protecting all the villagers. Hence it is important to go to its temple and pay obeisance regularly.