Abridged Vastushanti rite

संक्षिप्त वास्तु-शान्ति प्रयोगः

Given below is a short and abridged version of Vastushanti rite which can be performed by anyone without much difficulty. The said procedure is compiled from the works of Bharatratna MM Dr P V Kane et al. The elaborate rite which is performed today is elucidated in the Baudhaayana Gruhyashesha-sutra (1-18) However, the rite which appears in the Ashvaalayana Gruhyassutra is brief and should suffice the members of the modern society.

It is important to understand the meaning of the Sanskrit word shanti especially since in most modern Indian languages  the word is used in a manner which is similar in meaning with the English word peace, tranquility or repose. The original Sanskrit word comes from a Sanskrit verb root or dhaatu sham which belongs to the 4th & 9th class. The verb sham means to stop, to kill, or occasionally to placate. This should suffice for the current discussion though detailed discussion on the use of the word sham with yoh in Rigveda is available.

MEANING OF SHANTI RITE :  

The rite is  been best defined in the 17th Century treatise shaantimayukha It defines the rite as follows:

aspaSTapaapanaidaanikaihikamaatraniSTanivartakam

paapaaprayojakam vaidham karma shaantikam |

xayaadiharadaanaadaavatiprasa~Ngam vaarayatum naidaanikaantam| .

aamuSmikaaniSTanivartakam vaarayitumaihiketi .

praayashcittam vaarayatum maatrapadam |

prayashcittam tu aamuSmikaaniSTanivartakapi |

abhicaarapratyabhicaarau vaarayatum paapaaprayojakamiti |

tayoH phalato hiMsaatvena tadanuSThaane praayashcittokteshca

paapaprayojakatvaat |

अस्पष्टपापनैदानिकैहिकमात्रनिष्टनिवर्तकम

पापाप्रयोजकम वैधम कर्म शान्तिकम .

क्षहयादिहरदानादावतिप्रसङ्गम वारयतुम

नैदानिकान्तम . आमुष्मिकानिष्टनिवर्तकम वारयितुमैहिकेति.

प्रायश्चित्तम वारयतुम मात्रपदम . प्रयश्चित्तम

तु आमुष्मिकानिष्टनिवर्तकपि . अभिचारप्रत्यभिचारौ

वारयतुम पापाप्रयोजकमिति .

तयोः फलतो हिंसात्वेन तदनुष्ठाने

प्रायश्चित्तोक्तेश्च पापप्रयोजकत्वात .

शांतिमयूख]

in short the above definition means that shanti rite is that rite which is accepted by the dharma Shastra (shaastrasamata) which removes the evil effect of the sinfulness which is not clear , its effects are restricted to the earthly world only and performance of the rite does not amount to sin. The definition is important since it clarifies three points

1. It speaks of the sin  which is not known. Here the distinction is made between unclear or unknown sin and the sin which is committed inadvertently. For the latter prayashcitta or the punishment given by the Crown is only method of purification. The above definition therefore clarifies that 'shanti' is not an alternative to prayashcitta or punishment ordered by the crown for a known sin.

2. By limiting the effects of the shanti to earthly world the definition distinguishes shanti rite from yajna and states that it is not an alternative to yajna

3. Lastly it distinguishes the rite from the black magic or magic spells by saying that the performance of the shanti rite dos not amount to further sin.    

Time for performance

According to scriptures (ref :Nirnaya-sindhu) Vastushanti can be performed on any day of the brighter fortnight (shukla/shuddha paxa) of any lunar month and is usually performed on an auspicious Nakshatra like pushya, chitra, hasta etc. (most Indian almanacs indicate these auspicious nakshatras ). 

The rite 

The performer of  Vastushanti fasts the night before the performance of shanti.  He then places an article of gold in a vessel containing water along with little rice and barley (java) and leaves it standing through the night.

The morning after, he takes  ceremonial head bath (snana) at sunrise  before beginning the rite. After the bath  performer first does achamana then recites Gayatri mantra ten times to prepare himself for performance of the rite.

He then picks up a copper vessel (kalash) full of water, touches it to his forehead and recites the following sankalpa (resolution).  

sa~Nkalpa

amukagotrasyaamukasharmaNo mama saparivaarasyaasminvaastau

cirakaalasukhanivaasapuurvabhakhilarogavoghnaadishaanti-

smpadaaaarogyaputrapautradhanadhaanyaasamR^iddhi

cirajiivana- svanirvaasasiddhidvaaraa

shriiparameshvarapriityarthamasya vaastoH shubhataasiddhartham

sagrahamakhaaM vaastushaanti kariSye .

सङ्कल्प

अमुकगोत्रस्यामुकशर्मणो मम सपरिवारस्यास्मिन्वास्तौ

चिरकालसुखनिवासपूर्वभखिलरोगवोघ्नादिशान्ति-

स्म्पदाआरोग्यपुत्रपौत्रधनधान्यासमृद्धि

चिरजीवन- स्वनिर्वाससिद्धिद्वारा

श्रीपरमेश्वरप्रीत्यर्थमस्य वास्तोः शुभतासिद्धर्थम

सग्रहमखां वास्तुशान्ति करिष्ये . तदङ्गतया

श्रीगणेशपूजा - स्वस्तिवाचनमातृकापूजाभ्युदयिकश्राद्धाचार्य-

ऋत्विग्वरणानि च करिष्ये

After this, he takes the water from the vessel containing the piece of gold, rice and barley and goes around his house three times with a unbroken stream of water in such a fashion that the house always stays on his right side . While doing this he recites the following hymns of the Rigveda which are called shantitiiya

shaM na indraanii bhavataamavobhiH shaM na indravaruNaa raatahavyaa .

sham indraasomaa suvitaa ya shaM yoH na indraapuuSaNaa  vaajasaato ..1..  

शं न इन्द्रानी भवतामवोभिः शं न इन्द्रवरुणा रातहव्या .

शम इन्द्रासोमा सुविता य शं योः न इन्द्रापूषणा वाजसातो ..१..

shaM no bhagaH shamu naH shaMso astu shaM naH puraMdhiH shamu santu raayaH .

shaM naH satyasya suyamasya ShaMsaH SaM no aryamaa purujaato astu ..2..  

शं नो भगः शमु नः शंसो अस्तु शं नः पुरंधिः शमु सन्तु रायः .

शं नः सत्यस्य सुयमस्य ष्हंसः षं नो अर्यमा पुरुजातो अस्तु ..२..

shaM no dhaataa no astu shaM na uruucii bhavatu svadhaabhiH .

shaM rodasii bR^ihatii shaM no adriH shaM no devaanaaM suhavaani santu ..3..

शं नो धाता नो अस्तु शं न उरूची भवतु स्वधाभिः .

शं रोदसी बृहती शं नो अद्रिः शं नो देवानां सुहवानि सन्तु ..३..

shaM no agnirjyotiraniiko astu mitraavaruNaavashvinaa sham

shaM naH sukR^itaaM sukR^itaani santu shaM na iSiro abhi vaatu vaataH ..4..

शं नो अग्निर्ज्योतिरनीको अस्तु मित्रावरुणावश्विना शम

शं नः सुकृतां सुकृतानि सन्तु शं न इषिरो अभि वातु वातः ..४..

shaM no dyaavaapR^ithivii puurvahuutau shamantarixaM dR^ishaye no astu .

shaM na oSadhiirvanino bhavantu shaM no rajasaspatirastu jiSNuH ..5.

शं नो द्यावापृथिवी पूर्वहूतौ शमन्तरि़अं दृशये नो अस्तु .

शं न ओषधीर्वनिनो भवन्तु शं नो रजसस्पतिरस्तु जिष्णुः ..५

shaM na indro vasubhirdevo astu shamaadityebhirvaruNaH sushaMsaH .

shaM no rudro rudrebhirjalaaSaH shaM nastvaSTaa gnaabhiriha shR^iNotu ..6..  

शं न इन्द्रो वसुभिर्देवो अस्तु शमादित्येभिर्वरुणः सुशंसः .

शं नो रुद्रो रुद्रेभिर्जलाषः शं नस्त्वष्टा ग्नाभिरिह शृणोतु ..६..

shaM naH somo bhavatu brahma shaM naH shaM no graavaaNaH shamu santu yaGYaa .  

shaM naH svaruuNaaM mitayo bhavantu shaM naH prasva1H shamvastu vediH ..7..  

शं नः सोमो भवतु ब्रह्म शं नः शं नो ग्रावाणः शमु सन्तु यघ्य़ा .

शं नः स्वरूणां मितयो भवन्तु शं नः प्रस्व१ः शम्वस्तु वेदिः ..७..

shaM naH suurya urucaxaa udetu shaM nashcatastraH pradisho bhavantu .

shaM naH parvataa dhruvayo bhavantu shaM naH sindhavaH shamu santvaapaH ..8..  

शं नः सूर्य उरुच़आ उदेतु शं नश्चतस्त्रः प्रदिशो भवन्तु .

शं नः पर्वता ध्रुवयो भवन्तु शं नः सिन्धवः शमु सन्त्वापः ..८..

shaM no aditirbhavatu vratebhiH shaM no bhavantu marutaH svarkaaH .

shaM no viSNuH shamu puuSaa no astu shaM no bhavitraM shamvastu vaayuH ..9.

शं नो अदितिर्भवतु व्रतेभिः शं नो भवन्तु मरुतः स्वर्काः .

शं नो विष्णुः शमु पूषा नो अस्तु शं नो भवित्रं शम्वस्तु वायुः ..९..

shaM no devaaH savitaa traayamaaNaH shaM no bhavantuuSaso vibhaatiiH .

shaM naH parjanyo bhavatu prajaabhyaH shaM naH xetrasya patirastu shaMbhuH ..10..

शं नो देवाः सविता त्रायमाणः शं नो भवन्तूषसो विभातीः ।

शं नः पर्जन्यो भवतु प्रजाभ्यः शं नः ़एत्रस्य पतिरस्तु शंभुः ..१०..

shaM no devaa vishvedevaa bhavantu shaM sarasvatii saha dhiibhirastu

shamabhiSaacaH shamu raatiSaacaH shaM no divyaaH paarthivaaH shaM no apyaaH ..11..  

शं नो देवा विश्वेदेवा भवन्तु शं सरस्वती सह धीभिरस्तु .

शमभिषाचः शमु रातिषाचः शं नो दिव्याः पार्थिवाः शं नो अप्याः ..११..

shaM naH satyasya patayo bhavantu shaM no arvantaH shamu santu gaavaH .

shaM na R^IbhavaH sukR^itaH suhastaaH shaM no bhavantu pitaro haveSu ..12..

शं नः सत्यस्य पतयो भवन्तु शं नो अर्वन्तः शमु सन्तु गावः .

शं न ऋभवः सुकृतः सुहस्ताः शं नो भवन्तु पितरो हवेषु ..१२..

shaM no aja ekapaaddevo astu shaM no.ahirbudhnyaH1 shaM samudraH .

shaM no apaaM napaatperurastu shaM naH pR^ishnirbhavatu devagopaa ..13..  

शं नो अज एकपाद्देवो अस्तु शं नो.अहिर्बुध्न्यः शं समुद्रः .

शं नो अपां नपात्पेरुरस्तु शं नः पृश्निर्भवतु देवगोपा ..१३..

He does this one more time (i.e. the fourth time). This time reciting the following :

aapo hi SThaa mayobhuvastaa na urja dadhaatana . mahe raNaaya caxase ..

yo vaH shivatamo rasastasya bhaajayateha naH . ushatiiriva maataraH ..

tasmaa aram gamaama vo yasya xayaaya jinvatha . aapo janayathaa ca naH ..  

आपो हि ष्ठा मयोभुवस्ता न उर्ज दधातन . महे रणाय च़असे ..

यो वः शिवतमो रसस्तस्य भाजयतेह नः . उशतीरिव मातरः ..

तस्मा अरम गमाम वो यस्य क्षयाय जिन्वथ . आपो जनयथा च नः ..

He then prepares cooked rice in the middle of the house, establishes fire of the Homa and offers four oblations of the rice to fire, each with one of the following four verses

vaastoSpate prati jaanIhyasmaantsvaavesho anamiivo bhavaa naH .

yatvemahe prati tanno jaSasva shaM no bhava dvipade shaM catuSpade .. (first oblation)  

वास्तोष्पते प्रति जानीह्यस्मान्त्स्वावेशो अनमीवो भवा नः .

यत्वेमहे प्रति तन्नो जषस्व शं नो भव द्विपदे शं चतुष्पदे .. [प्रथम]

vaastoSpate prataraNo na edhi gayasfaano gobhirshvebhirindo

ajaraasaste sakhye syaama piteva putraanprati no juSasva .. (2nd  oblation)

वास्तोष्पते प्रतरणो न एधि गयस्फ़ानो गोभिर्श्वेभिरिन्दो

अजरासस्ते सख्ये स्याम पितेव पुत्रान्प्रति नो जुषस्व .. [द्वितिय]

vastoSpate shgmayaa saMsadaa te saxiimahi sNvayaa gaatumatyaa

paahi xema uta yoge varaM no yuuyaM paata svastibhiH sadaa naH ..(3rd oblation)  

वस्तोष्पते श्ग्मया संसदा ते सक्षीमहि स्ण्वया गातुमत्या

पाहि क्षेम उत योगे वरं नो यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः .. [तृतिय]

and

amiivahaa vaastoSpate vishvaa ruupaaNyaavishan . sakhaa susheva edhi naH (4th oblation)

अमीवहा वास्तोष्पते विश्वा रूपाण्याविशन . सखा सुशेव एधि नः .. [चतुर्थ]

He then cooks the food that he would offer to the invited Brahmins and others and offers a part of this cooked food to the fire of Homa while reciting the following verses 

vaastoSpate prati jaanIhyasmaantsvaavesho anamiivo bhavaa naH .

yatvemahe prati tanno jaSasva shaM no bhava dvipade shaM catuSpade ..

vaastoSpate prati jaanIhy asmaat svaavesho anamiivo bhavaa naH . yata tvemahe prati tan no juSasva shaM na edhi dvipade shaM catuSpade ..

vaastoSpate shagmayaa sama.Nsaadaa te saxiimahi raNvayaa gaatumatyaa . aavaH xema uta yoge varaM no yuuyam paata svastibhiH sadaa naH ..

yat saayampraatar agnihotraM juhoty aahutiiSTakaa eva taa upa dhatte..

वास्तोष्पते प्रति जानीह्यस्मान्त्स्वावेशो अनमीवो भवा नः .

यत्वेमहे प्रति तन्नो जषस्व शं नो भव द्विपदे शं चतुष्पदे ..

वास्तोष्पते प्रति जानीह्य अस्मात स्वावेशो अनमीवो भवा नः .

यत त्वेमहे प्रति तन नो जुषस्व शं न एधि द्विपदे शं चतुष्पदे ..

वास्तोष्पते शग्मया सम.ण्सादा ते सक्षीमहि रण्वया गातुमत्या .

आवः क्षेम उत योगे वरं नो यूयम पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ..

यत सायम्प्रातर अग्निहोत्रं जुहोत्य आहुतीष्टका एव ता उप धत्ते ..

He then offers the "ahuties" (oblations) of clarified butter (aajya) to Indra. Each time clarified butter is poured in the fire of the Homa while reciting

vaastoSpate dhruvaa sthuuNaaMsatraM somyaanaam .

drapso bhettaa puraaM shashvatiinamindro muniinaaM sakhaa ..  

वास्तोष्पते ध्रुवा स्थूणांसत्रं सोम्यानाम .

द्रप्सो भेत्ता पुरां शश्वतीनमिन्द्रो मुनीनां सखा .. 

and similarly to Vastoshpati (god of the house) by reciting the following

vaastoSpate prataraNo na edhi gayasfaano gobhirshvebhirindo

ajaraasaste sakhye syaama piteva putraanprati no juSasva ..

amiivahaa vaastoSpate vishvaa ruupaaNyaavishan . sakhaa susheva edhi naH ..

वास्तोष्पते प्रतरणो न एधि गयस्फ़ानो गोभिर्श्वेभिरिन्दो

अजरासस्ते सख्ये स्याम पितेव पुत्रान्प्रति नो जुषस्व ..

अमीवहा वास्तोष्पते विश्वा रूपाण्याविशन . सखा सुशेव एधि नः ..

The ahuties can be three, eight , Eleven or 111.  He then places remaining food in a plate and brings together the water used for cleansing the house (water in the kalash with rice and java) and sprinkles the mixture with a bunch of darbha (grass) by going into the house for three times while reciting the following :

viprastvaM kavirmadhu pra jaatamandhasaH . madeSu sarvadhaa asi ..  

विप्रस्त्वं कविर्मधु प्र जातमन्धसः . मदेषु सर्वधा असि ..

Food is then offered to the invitees who after the lunch say   shivam vaastu ...  शिवम वास्तु(three times) or write it three times on a piece of paper and leave.

Note :

[1]Manu restricts the number of invitees to religious rites to three. Anything more destroys sanctity of the rite by converting it to ceremony. Similarly since the invitees are to be highly educated and cultured it may not be possible to find more of them consenting to attend. Lastly if more scholars are invited it is not possible to give them appropriate respect.

 [2] Sankalpa at the beginning of the rite is extremely important as one of the middle age digest samaypradip while dealing with Vrata says : 

evam ca sa~Nkalpasya pradhaanatvaat durbalaanaam sa~NkalpamakR^itvaivopavaasaadyaacaraNaM kleshamaatramiti . samayapradIpa |  

एवम च सङ्कल्पस्य प्रधानत्वात दुर्बलानाम सङ्कल्पमकृत्वैवोपवासाद्याचरणं क्लेशमात्रमिति . समयप्रदीप

(Meaning: Any ignorant or unintelligent person undertaking Vrata without sankalpa will only undergo so much of physical hardship and no Vrata)

Note: In the event the Sanskrit Shlokas cannot be viewed on your Internet Explorer the same  Shlokas can be converted automatically from the Roman version (Itrans 5.2) in Devnagari by using Itranslator 2003, a software developed by sanyasins in Onkar-ananda ashram Himalayas. The software available free of cost and can be downloaded from  http://www.omkarananda-ashram.org/Sanskrit/Itranslt.html 

© Researched and compiled by Surin Usgaonkar.