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Description
and guidelines for all the processes right from the
selection of site to construction of the building, and
of orientation of various rooms in directions, height of
the rooms, positions of the doors etc. is found in Vastu
Shastra. Actually the text that guides us to plan
and construct a town, temple, residential house, cattle
shed, or any other building equipped with all necessary
amenities for the comfort and utility of mankind is
given the name Vaastu Shastra which has been divinely
described in Indian culture and scriptures.
Griha
Pravesh (i.e. first entry into the newly built house) is
also as important aspect of Vaastu-Shastra. After the house is
complete in all respects, living in that house is
started at some auspicious moment determined on
astrological considerations. The first entry in the
house at the auspicious moment is called Graha Pravesh
ceremony.
For any
newly built house house warming is considered a
holistic occasion. This custom is done so as to keep
evil forces away from entering new home. Even after
land acquisition, a prayer (puja) is performed which
is called as "Bhumi Poojan", and later house
warming ceremony is called as "Vaastu-shanti"
When the
house is ready to be occupied, a muhurta is selected for
grihya pravesha which consists mainly of Ganesha puja (Ganapati),
The mandala is drawn to invoke the gods and nine
planets, which act as witnesses to the ceremony. The
offerings in the form of fire (Agni) which is supposed
to convey to the gods. The family carries the havan
kunda into every room. The various medicinal ingredients
in the smoke from the havan disinfect and purify the air
within. The house is encircled with thread three times
from the east, which is the most auspicious direction.
Both these signify the erection of protective barriers
around the house to keep away evil influences, and are
done to the accompaniment of the Rakshoghna Mantra and
the Pavamana Mantra.
A pit
dug in the southeast corner of the boundary of the house
with sides of the pit fortified with cowdung paste and
the pit is worshipped. A brick box containing corn,
moss, and flowers is lowered into the pit, which is then
filled up. Since corn symbolises fertility, this is
believed to ensure prosperity
Holy water sprinkled
around the house is to keep away evil spirits With this,
grihya pravesha is completed.
The Grihyasutras give
detailed instructions about the kind of land that should
be chosen for constructing a house or temple, the
direction it should face and the ceremonies to be
performed at each stage. The Matsya Purana elaborates
which stages during construction are important, like
laying the foundation, and raising the first door, and
explains that grihya pravesha puja should be performed
at these stages. This ceremony is still performed in the
traditional manner. After Ganesha puja, the jar of water
is placed on a heap of corn, the universal symbol of
fertility.
Three types of Graha Pravesh have been
mentioned in the scriptures -
(1)
Apoorva - First entry to live in house newly constructed
on a newly selected land is called Apoorva (new) Graha
Pravesh.
(2)
Sapoorva - Entry into an already existing house to live
in it after traveling abroad or migration elsewhere, is
called Sapoorva graha pravesh.
(3)
Dwandwah - Entry into a house to live in it after
reconstruction/renovation of the house damaged by fire,
flood waters, electricity, wind etc. is termed as
Dwandwah (or old) Graha Pravesh.
Scriptures
have described the procedures of Graha Pravesh at
auspicious time (muhurat) and purity (defectless) of
Panchang. For Apoorva Graha Pravesh perfect auspicious
time should be adhered to and fro Graha Pravesh in a
reconstructed house or after migration the purity of
Panchang should be given consideration.
If the
doors of a house are not fitted with shutters, or the
roof is not covered, or the God, Vaastu have not been
worshipped and offered sacrifices, and if the priests
etc. have not been offered feast, first entry into such
house (Graha Pravesh) should not be accomplished till
the above things are completed, otherwise living in that
house will be full of troubles and miseries.
Therefore living in a house should be started only after
offering sacrifices and worshipping Vaastu as per
procedure given in scriptures.
Entry
into a house built of grass and leaves etc. may be
performed on any auspicious day. In houses built with
bricks, stone, mud, cement etc. the first entry is
auspicious when the sun is Uttarayan.
As far
as possible Graha Pravesh should be accomplished in the
day only, it will be auspicious. Normally, it can be
done at any auspicious moment in the day or night. Guru
(Jupiter) or Shukra (Venus) being set (invisible) i.e.
Tara does not matter in case of Graha Pravesh in a old
renovated house.
For
the ceremony of giving food to a child for the first
time (Anna Prashan), wearing new clothes, daily travels,
first entry into an old renovated house and entry of a
bride in the house, invisibility (setting) of Jupiter
(Guru) and Venus (Shukra) i.e. Tara should not be
considered, only the purity and auspiciousness of the
Panchang should be considered in such cases. Auspicious
months for Graha Pravesh and the results of the same are
as given below -
| Month |
Results |
| Magh |
Gain
of wealth |
| Falgun |
Gain
of children and wealth |
| Baishakh |
Growth
of wealth and prosperity |
| Jeshtha |
Gain
of son and cattle. |
Besides
these, the months of Kartik and Margshirsh give medium
results. Graha Pravesh in the months of Ashadh, Shravan,
Bhadrapad, Ashwin Paush is inauspicious and causes loss,
troubles and pains, and fear of enemies.
The
tithies (dates) 4/9/14 and 30 (Amavas - no moon night)
should be avoided and Graha Pravesh should not be done
on Tuesdays.
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