Today everyone buys ready-made items of furniture
from the shops. The shape and size of the furniture are almost standardised and
one has no say in the specifications of the chairs, cots or sofa they buy. So
there is no point in telling about the Vaastu-specifications for them except where
one can insist on. This article is on such items. The sources are Brihat
Samhita and Mayamatham.
Cots and seats.
Certain types of wood are recommended for making
cots and seats. They are given here for reference. Wood of Asana (Terminalia
Tomentosa), Spandana, Candana, Haridra, Suradaaru, TindukI, Shala, Kaashmari,
Anjana, Padmaka, Shaaka, Shimshapaa (ashoka) are said to be good for making
cots and seats.
The trees to be rejected:
trees that have fallen due to lightening, floods, winds and attacks by animals
like elephants.
Trees where bee-hives are grown and where birds are
living must not be cut for making furniture. Trees found in temples, cremation grounds, roads
and in the junction of waters are not suitable for making furniture for home.
Cots and seats made of such trees will bring misery,
diseases, fear and loss to the family. So it is imperative
to know the location from where the wood is procured. Since everyone
would not have the means to know the origin of the wood, texts prescribe a way
to check the desirability of the wood while buying. One must look for auspicious
signs while selecting the wood in such instances. If children run around and
climb on the wood and make happy shouts, that is a good sign.
Or if one happens to see white flowers, milk, coloured
rice, water pots, gems and benefic items while buying, that is a good sign that
the wood is from a permissible place.
The cots and seats made of wood of fruit trees will
give wealth. One can use upto 4 types of wood (trees) for making a single
furniture. But furniture made of 5 or more number of different woods is not good
for the one who uses it and for his entire family.
Measurement
The length, width and height of the cot / bed must
be in the ratio of 5:3:1-1/2 or 1. Any
increase in the size can be in the range of odd numbers – if not in feet, it
can be in inches.
Any seating and bedding furniture must not be kept
under places where the ceiling beams are running. In multi-storeyed dwellings,
it must be ensured that they are not sitting on top of the beams.
Stand for domestic worship
The seat or stand for doing rituals or placing the
deity can be designed using Vaastu principles. The ideal shapes are square, rectangular
or circular tops. The height must be half or sixth or eighth of the width of
the top plank. The width of the top plank must be in even numbers of inches or
feet.
For decoration, lotus design in the centre of the
top is desirable. It is called ‘Shobhana’ and supposed to please Gods. The
entire structure must be decorated in multi-colours.
The wood of Nyagrodha tree,
Udumbara, pippala, banyan, bilva or amala are recommended for making the seat
for worship or placing the deity. Such a stand is suitable for all rituals
according to Maya-Vaastu.
Related articles:
Residential houses around temple
Trees around the house.
