If you’re building or designing your home, you’ve probably come across the term ‘Vastu Shastra’ and may even be thinking of incorporating its principles in your home. This science of architecture, laid out in ancient Hindu texts, sets guidelines for designing your home in ways that radiate positive energy. Vastu experts talk about the balance that is needed in life and believe that every room comes with its own inherent energy that is skewed toward positive or negative aspects. If there are negative elements in a particular space, the energy should be balanced out by adding a positive element.
Harmonising with nature is one of the basic tenets of Vastu, and plants are a great way to add the required balance to your home. Not only do they purify the air and remove toxins, but they also give out an abundance of positive energy that can improve the Vastu of any space. The science of Vastu prescribes specific rules for planning and designing your garden. It talks about the indoor and outdoor plants that you should choose to energise and vitalise your home, locations to avoid, and the directional alignments that are preferred.
We’ve put together some expert-endorsed guidelines that you could follow if you want to ensure that your home is Vastu compliant!
Vastu Energies in Nature
The four directions signify the elements of nature, as laid down in the Vedas. The South West quadrant represents Bhumi or earth, while the North East is the home of Jal or water. The North West represents Vayu or air, and the South East is Agni or fire. The fifth element, Vyom is the central space in the house.
Elements in Harmony
To maximise the flow of positive energy in your home, these five elements should always be in harmony. Try to choose plants that will enhance the energy in each part of your home, keeping these elements in mind.
- If you have an outdoor lawn, it should be located in the North or East.
- You can also plan a water body in the North East quadrant. Strictly avoid water elements in the South West, as this will result in loss of wealth and mental peace. Any flow of water should be from the North-East direction toward the South West.
- A tall structure like a rock garden should be planned in the South West only.
- Large plants and trees should be grown in the South West. Avoid trees that attract snakes, worms, owls and honey bees as they will bring bad luck to your family.
- The entrance to your home, regardless of the direction, should not be dominated by tall trees that block the flow of energy.
- The Tulsi plant or holy basil is considered to remove any traces of negativity. It has a very strong spiritual energy and can be planted in the East or North-East. Traditionally, devout Hindus would light a lamp in front of the Tulsi plant every evening, which would radiate warmth and positive energy into the home as well. Make sure that the plant never dries out, as that is supposed to be bad luck.
- Thorny succulents like the cactus must be avoided at all costs. They represent a life that is filled with hardships.
- Similarly, bonsai plants are said to have stunted energy and lead to loss of freedom and stagnation of wealth.
- The peepul tree has religious significance and should only be grown near a temple, never in the compound of a home.
- Most Vastu exponents believe that evil spirits live in the Tamarind tree, so you might want to avoid planting this in your garden as well! Paradoxically, some people believe that this tree, when planted in the South West, leads to a long life span.
- All flowering plants, especially sweet-smelling ones like Jasmine, refresh the air and bring in good luck. While the best energy is obtained from potted plants, fresh-cut flowers in a vase can also clear the vibes of rooms that have energy deficits. Ensure that the petals are not drying out, as the energy can quickly turn negative!
- Lavender is well known for its fragrance and is said to relax and soothe the senses. Keeping a lavender plant in the bedroom is suggested to improve marital happiness.
- The bamboo plant is believed to be a harbinger of good luck. It is interesting to note that Feng Shui also suggests that a bamboo plant with 10 stalks will bring in health, wealth and happiness, and you will find ‘Chinese bamboo’ stalks tied with a red ribbon in many homes. Bamboo should ideally be located in the East or South East for the greatest benefits.
- Growing money plants in the South-East direction is suggested to bring wealth and abundance to your family. Money plants are also known to improve the indoor air quality and remove pollutants from the air.
- The peace lily ushers in peace and tranquillity and balances harsh energies in any space. It is also known to have strong air-purifying qualities and removes toxins from the air.
- Aloe vera is a plant that has been lauded for its healing and medicinal qualities. The juice of the plant is said to work wonders in curing burns, soothing inflamed skin and even curing digestive ailments. These properties are enhanced if the plant is placed in the North or East of your home.
- The leaves of the neem tree are said to be a panacea for many ailments. The neem tree should be planted in the North West of your garden, in such a way that the air passing through the branches flows into your window. The juice obtained from crushing the leaves is very bitter but is said to cure a host of digestive and metabolic ailments.
- Citrus is not only good for health but also great to have in your garden! The citrus plant refreshes the air, making it clean and aromatic. It ushers in good luck and generates happy vibes.
Plants allow you to connect with nature in a way that balances your energy with that of the universe. By aligning your garden with the guidelines laid out by the science of Vastu, you will find that your home is filled with peace and harmony, and you are able to attract abundance and well-being into your life.
However, all this comes with a rider. It goes without saying that you should take good care of the plants in your home to make sure that the energy stays positive. Dried, brown leaves and poorly nourished plants will surely have the opposite effect!
