In India we must be grateful that the core beliefs, theoretical rigour and application of the Vaastu Shastras are still available, though in a depleted form. From the study of texts, dialogues with practitioners and field application of the concepts I have been able to reconstruct the overview of the Vaastu Shilpa Shastras and give a guideline for present day application. There is a great deal of resistance and deep feelings of distrust from the trained designers in the 'modern institutesÕ toward the assumptions and symbolism of the traditional paradigm. It is almost as if they feel threatened that their hegemony would be displaced. Are their fears valid? Is the basis of the Vaastu Shastras questionable in its present day application? Is it a meaningless mumbo jumbo in the 'scientificÕ climate of today?

Read more here: » Vaastu Shastra: Reinterpreting Vaastu

 What is Vasthu?

Human body is under the influence of the nine Planets. In fact it is governed and controlled by all these nine planets. Dwelling place is known as GRAHA, and this graha is under the rule of vasthu, the Omnipotent Devtha (Divine Lord of men's dwelling place.) So there has to be an utmost harmony between the body (which is ruled by Nava Graha) and home (Graha which is under the influence of Vasthu. Vasthu Sasthra is the science which explains the rules of the harmony required.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: What is Vasthu?

Definition and meaning of Schedule P Reserve :

Schedule P Reserve: (1) A reserve required in Automobile Liability, other Liability, and Workers Compensation by the NAIC Convention Blank. (2) A formula set up for the calculation of such reserves.

(Source: InsWeb)

Also see these pages: Schedule P Reserve , Insurance, Insurance Sitemap, Insurance Dictionary - S

For more dictionary entries, see » Vaastu Shastra Dictionary

Vastu Shastra: Chanku Stapanam

 It is very important to perform the ceremonies of installation of a conch-shell (Chanku Stapanam) and incantations to invoke the protection of the regents of the cardinal directions (Thikku Bhandhanam) before raising a new house or a workshop in the place where an old building has been demolished or in a site where there was no building standing for many years. Performance of these ceremonies ensures plenty, prosperity and good fortune and nullify the evil effects due to the presence of evil spirits buried underground, and renews the gravitational power of the earth. During the first twelve years after the construction of a house, the divinity present in that house will gradually diminish.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Vastu Rituals and Ceremonies - Chanku Stapanam

The Vasthu Shastram is an ancient science which helps one to get the natural benefits freely offered by the five basic foundation of the universe in which we all live.  These basic foundations are Akash (Sky), Prithvi (Earth), Paani (Water), Agni (Fire), and Vayu (Wind). Vasthu Shastram can be applied by keeping in harmony with these basic five foundation of nature.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Vasthu Shastram - The Ancient Science

Effects of Evil Eye

The power of an "Evil Eye" is so bad that it could inflict injury or bad luck by the look/glance of certain persons. Hence the tamil proverb, "Getting hurt by a stone is far better that getting hurt by an Evil Eye".

One could have observed that the stretch of important streets are strewn with pieces of white pumpkin which is broken open on the streets to wipe away the evil eye on occasions such as house warming function day, during the construction of a new house, on the day of opening a new account on the "Saraswathi Puja" day.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra:

Karma has quite a karma. Long after India's seers immortalized it in the Vedas, it suffered bad press under European missionaries who belittled it as "fate" and "fatalism," and today finds itself again in the ascendancy as the subtle and all-encompassing principle which governs man's experiential universe in a way likened to gravity's governance over the physical plane. Like gravity, karma was always there in its fullest potency, even when people did not comprehend it.

Read more here: » Karma: Meaning and Definition of Karma

The following defects are to be avoided to have a blemishless house.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Criteria for a Defective House

Vastu Shastra: Role of Destiny

All the defects, blasphemy and curses by sages on the house site should be expiated by performing suitable purification ceremonies and worships before one attempts to start the construction work of a house on such a site. Maya, the celestial architect, had explained the easy ways and means of identifying the nature of the soil. According to Maya, the master of the house who is going to construct the house should with his own hands dig out a square pit one cubit side and one cubit depth at the eastern direction or at the middle of the site (Brahmasthala).

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Role of Destiny

Read more here: » Vastu: Vastubali - the Sacrificial Offering to Vastu

Vasthu Ceremony - for laying foundation

The ceremony of the laying of the foundation for a building should be performed only during the home when the Deity of the plot (VASTHU PURUSHAN) is well awake. It is guide imperative to follow the presages to be carefully notices when performing the laying of the foundation ceremony.

The worship during laying the foundation ceremony should be postponed to another auspicious day in any of the following twenty presages are noticed.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Vasthu Ceremony - for laying foundation

Over the last century, it is in the realm of art that a contrarian movement developed - towards spirituality, a movement that has been sought to be described by one word: 'Abstract'.

One of the first to define the abstract was W Kandinsky, who explained it as non-materialism in art, the exploration of the spiritual entity of things, when art, stripped of its theatricality, and its "bait of entertainment" reached a pure core. The dictionary splits the word abstract into the Latin 'abs', meaning 'away from', and 'tractum', meaning 'to draw'. Clearly, it means to draw away from the external to the internal entity of things.

(See also: Masti , Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Masti: Music Of Masti And Meditation  

Since prehistoric times sacred places have exerted a mysterious attraction on billions of people around the world. Ancient legends and modern day reports tell of extraordinary things that have happened to people while visiting these places. Different sacred sites have the power to heal the body, enlighten the mind, increase creativity, develop psychic abilities, and awaken the soul to a knowing of its true purpose in life.

Normally, when one thinks of such places, the mind imagines terrestrial locations, fixed and unmoving, such as mountains, lands and caves. But the planet is a water place too with more than 70% of the surface of the earth covered with water. Many sacred sites are connected to water.

Read more here: » Sacred Sites: Sacred waters around the World.

Intelligence does not in and of itself bring happiness. What brings happiness is acceptance. There is no purpose to intelligence, it is inherent within the energy of all that is. Intelligence and energy are one and the same. Energy is intelligence. Intelligence is energy.

Happiness is a result of acceptance. Those who operate with greater mental constraints, for whatever reason, sometimes seem to have an easier time accepting their circumstances, their environment, and themselves, because they are not given to long- winded inner dialoguing and mental journeys into the various nuances of their perceived reality. And so a socalled simple minded person can shrug their shoulders and carry on, accept what is, and that is what creates the avenue for the experience of happiness.

(See also: Metaphysics, Metaphysical Principles, Definition of Metaphysics, Metaphysical Techniques, Miracles, Creating Miracles Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, Peace of Mind, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Metaphysical Inspirations: Intelligence and Happiness

 To me design, beauty and art can be defined thus: The truly beautiful design or art form is that which is capable of emptying itself of past meanings and memories again and again and live on through changing contexts adapting itself to new interpretations. This emptiness and this adaptability, I call design.

Read more here: » Vaastu Shastra: SPONTANEOUS ART IN ITS MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS

 The science of house building is very ancient in India. The knowledge has come down from creator Brahma through an unbroken succession of sages.

 According to the Vishwakarma Vaastu Shastra, the celestial architect Lord Brahma got a thorough knowledge of his science from Lord Shiva.

Read more here: » Vaastu: A Brief Introduction to Vaastu

 The popular abbreviation 'VaastuÕ has somehow come to stay in the social system, particularly in connection with business organisations. With a 15 year background in this field let me try to clarify the subject so that the really mysterious nature of energies and their impact on phenomena on the one hand, and the pseudo mysticism of irrational relationship between cause and event on the other may be better understood.

Read more here: » Vaastu Shastra: The Vaastu Shastras In The Modern Context

Vastu Shastra

One of the most important rules to be followed is not to have a marshy land across the maindoorway of the house. Honing such a marshy land across the maindoorway will lead its resident to rain. Allowing the drainage water to flow across the house will lead the resident to poverty. If an assemblage of people is forward talking infront of the house, or if a well is located in front of the house the residents of such a house will suffer from incurable diseases

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Defective Main Doorways

Vasthu - ways of worship

The laying of the foundation stone, inauguration of the coustmetion of a house and occupation of a newly built house are to be celebrated when the 'Vasthu goddess' (Goddess of the Earth) is well awake. Laying the foundation for the construction of a house should not be carried out when the goddess of Earth (Vaasthu goddess) is asleep. Those who violate this rule will lose his fame, his well-earned wealth and will be put to blame.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: Vasthu - ways of worship

 The Vaastu Purusha who is the indwelling energy of the Earth itself, is first propitiated before any building activities are begun. This energy pervades the built space and enhances the life of the occupants. When the texts speak of not harming the energies they are offering guidelines for design, which safeguard the existing environmental patterns.

Read more here: » Vaastu Shastra: Energy and the Earth

Why Wicca is Not Celtic Paganism

There are many out there who believe that Wicca and its related forms of NeoPagism are a type of Celtic Paganism (and vice versa),  but this is simply not true. The following article is meant to be a comparison of Wicca and Celtic Paganism in order to demonstrate this, and to educate the public about Celtic Paganism. While Wicca certainly contains elements of Celtic mythology, folk magic and religious belief, its basic tenets and beliefs are radically different from those of Celtic Pagans.

Read more here: » Wicca and Celtic Paganism: Why Wicca is Not Celtic Paganism