Vasthu : Influence of the five elements of nature

Source: RAVI N.S.A. The Hindu

VASTHU is the foundation that determines the strength of a site by identifying respective positions and sources of the elements of nature such as water, fire, soil, space or the cosmic spirit and air on the site. Let us assume that we discuss vasthu for an apartment that is located on the fifth floor. To assess thestrength of the apartment, we need to determine its position within the vasthu grid. Assuming that the apartment fits into a single grid, whose portent is fire, then it is subjected to the influences of fire or agni. Perhaps, you are too far away from air or vayu that can nurture fire and add to the positive qualities of Agni.

Let's go deeper.

Vasthu is a grid of portents that comprises facets of life such as knowledge, wealth, marriage and so on, on the positive side, and sickness, theft, frictions and financial losses and so on, on the negative side. There are 64 such portents you are exposed to. The complexion differs as per the function such as domestic use, office, learning and so on. All the portents are interlinked through a neutraliser or a pacifier called the Brahma Sthana. When we look at the features of a particular portent, we should not evaluate it in isolation. We must find out if a proper link is established to turn the same portent favourable or not.

For example, if positive agni were established through an unblemished Brahma Sthana, the events related to these portents would be favourable. A proper link of agni to vayu, on the positive side, can provide the pleasures and potency in sex life resulting in comfortable childbirth; on the negative side, the same may turn out to be indulgences outside the family, resulting in frictions at home.

Similarly, it can lead to availability of luxuries like expensive cars that result in pleasure of travel on the positive side or lead to accidents on the negative.

The sustaining power of the resulting portents is controlled by other influencing portents of vasthu. For example, when a child is expected, the qualities of Easanya on the Northeast determine the gender, health and longevity of the same.

Creation of vasthu grid

The positions of water, fire, soil, space (to capture the cosmic spirit) and air found in proper order determine the evolution of vasthu in an enclosed property. The proximities and positions with respect to compatible directions establish the strength of Vasthu.

Northeast is attributed to water; southeast is to fire, Southwest to soil, northwest to air and the centre to the Brahma Sthana. When the elements match the directions, you have created a solid foundation.

The positions of water underground in Northeast and fire in Southeast regulate the spectrum of solar energy as ultraviolet rays and infrared rays respectively on the eastern stretch. A water source identified in the Northeast is subjected to ultraviolet filtered water for consumption and the food cooked in Southeast eliminates contamination and food poisoning. So is the well in Northeast and kitchen in Southeast. Bathroom, in the east centre, fights germs and neutralises body temperature, provided you bathe in the morning.

Adherence to the above rules will ensure the blessings of the God of New Beginnings and Growth (Lord Indra) in the East, God of Career & Income (Lord Kubera - He has three legs) in the North, God of Abundance & Settlement (Lord Varuna) in the West, God of Accomplishments & Salvation (Lord Yama) in the South and God of Creation (Lord Brahma) in the centre. Lord Indra holds the lightning streak in his right hand and keeping a basil plant in the East acts as an earth against lightning.

The starting point of Vasthu is from where the front is identified. The front of Man or donkey or jellyfish is where the mouth is. The same way, the point of entry that separates your premises from a public space, be it a street or lift lobby or the floor corridor, is where your front is.

Identifying the point of entry with respect to the positions of elements of nature and the condition of the Brahma Sthana determine the state of life of the inmates.Out of 64 points of entries, which is yours? Every single cardinal direction has 16 sub-directions. If you assume your house faces east, remember that there are 16 easts, of which to find out the exact one, we need an exact compass reading, physically taken on the spot.

How on earth a person on the TV or the telephone is competent to guide you, just by asking you which general direction your house faces? The same way, be cautious of persons who want `only the sketch of your house'.

While seeking professional help, ensure that the person moves out of his seat or else (1). You are his/her yet another provider of the day, (2). The recommendations he/she proposes may result in disasters. We will examine the characters of directions later.

The author is a Chennai-based architect and geomancy consultant

“Maintaining bonsai needs patience”

 

Photo: V. Ganesan 

Nurturing bonsai trees is becoming popular as a hobby in Chennai. —  

Source :S. Aishwarya, The Hindu , April 9,2010 

 
  

CHENNAI: A few years ago, the sheer joy of nurturing the saplings, the innate bonding that they developed and the pleasure of being in the midst of green made many take to gardening. But with the cost and constraints of land in the city and the shrinking size of the homes, residents of apartments now have to be content with adorning their kitchens with potted plants and blanketing balconies with creepers.

But not everyone is willing to compromise. As a result, banyans and peepuls now line up some balconies, while mangoes and tamarind rest on the terrace. Only, they have shrunk a bit to fit inside compact homes.

Bonsai trees are increasingly finding a place in many apartments as they simulate a lush ambience. Mammoth banyans with lush canopy come in miniature forms, retaining the weather-beaten look and fitting in even the most space-starved places.

The passion for the hobby has egged on many in the city to meticulously tend, prune and wire the miniature trees.

When a handful of bonsai growers accidentally got together at a workshop in the city a couple of years ago, they realised the need to start an association to help grow each others' foliage. Bodhi, a Chennai-based Bonsai association, was born some months after the workshop.

“There aren't a good number of materials available to assist Bonsai growers. We decided to start an association, which will popularise the art of dwarfing trees and help us grow trees in the right way,” explains K. Sivaji, president of the association.

His little backyard has space to accommodate over 400 petite trees, each of different variety and age. Sourced from Japan, China and Chennai, they retain almost every aspect of the fully grown trees.

Suseela Vergis has nearly 200 potted trees bordering her house.

From extravagant ceramic vases to plain-looking terracotta ones, the stout-rooted woods are placed in a variety of containers. “Maintaining a bonsai needs a lot of patience, particularly if you want to buy a sapling and nurture it into a tree. Mature ones are sold in the market but they are very expensive,” says Ms.Vergis, who is also the vice-president of Bodhi.

The association, with 20 members, organises periodical workshops and exhibitions to popularise the art of growing Bonsais.

When P.B. Yogesh took up the hobby, little did he know that these small trees would take up a major chunk of the space in his house. His terrace is lush with greenery, with an astounding line up of petite pots holding triangle-shaped trees. “Fruits will be of the same size, despite the miniature form of trees. Bonsai is all about such incredible facts of nature,” says the dental surgeon.

While the rules of shaping bonsais are well laid out in Japan and China, Ms.Vergis says nature should be the teacher for any bonsai grower. “You can grow a tree in any shape you want as long as it gives you happiness when you look at it. Bonsai is a great stress buster. It provides a soothing contact with nature,” she adds.

Mr. Sivaji suggests novices to opt for banyans, as they are easy to maintain.

Think local, act global

Sourcr:FC Estate:Sarbajeet K Sen Apr 07 2010


Increasing number of Indians might spend their future overseas jaunts in the leisure of
their own homes in destinations spread across the globe. With their purses heavy with cash, coupled with a desire to possess a second home away from the country’s shores, high net worth Indians are scouting overseas markets to seal property deals, especially at a time when things are selling cheap in many places.

London appears to remain the top pick, but new destinations are getting added to the list for Indian investors seeking to purchase property overseas. Sensing bargain deals post global financial crisis, the Indian rich are beginning to scout markets as diverse as Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Mauritius and also the United States.

Experts tracking trends in real estate sector point out that the Indian property investor is beginning to show higher interest in acquiring properties abroad in the wake of the sharp fall in prices, making investments in overseas market quite attractive in risk-reward terms.

“We are seeing higher interest among Indians to acquire property in overseas markets where prices have fallen sharply over the past year. I would not say there is huge rush but certainly the enquiries are on the rise,” Anshuman Magazine, chairman and managing director, CB Richard Ellis –south Asia, told FC Estate.

Pranab Datta, vice-chairman and managing director, Knight Frank India, agrees. “Post the global real estate meltdown which led to price correction in most markets, there is no doubt that property prices have become attractive in many locations leading to renewed buyer interest,” Dutta says.

However, he feels that anticipation of a further fall in prices is holding some of them back from going ahead immediately with the purchase. “Indian buyers are generally perceived to be more cautious, particularly after the correction in the local markets. Hence, while interest in overseas buying is finding expression, yet anticipation of further downside in prices is leading to cautious buyer behaviour,” says Dutta.

Property market experts say that from the earlier limited interest in buying property mainly in the UK, Indian tastes seem to be getting increasingly more global. “Earlier, the United Kingdom was the most popular destination for property purchase by the richer Indian. Many new destinations are now being added to the list. These include the Middle East, especially Dubai, besides Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand. Lately, it is found that Malaysia and Mauritius are also coming under the radar and there is also a small interest in the US market,” magazine said.

Knight Frank’s Dutta also points out that London remains among the top picks for India property buyers. “The most preferred markets are London and Singapore,” he said.

He feels that investors are still cautious about places such as Dubai, where there is a possibility of further downside. “While prices in Dubai have crashed, the general impression is there is room for further downside. Hence, under these conditions the approach is one of exercising caution,” Dutta said.

Sanjay Dutt, CEO, business, Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, adds Australia and Canada to the list. “Indian investors are traditionally quite familiar with the property markets in the UK, Canada, the US, Dubai and Australia. These are markets that are always being monitored at various levels from Indian shores,” he says. Dutt feels that Dubai is emerging as a focus destination. “Many Indian investors are beginning to focus their investments within Dubai because they see an opportunity to pick up previously overpriced properties cost-effectively, with the expectation that demand will revive again in the long term. Moreover, many Indians also have commercial interests in Dubai, which has a close emotional fit with the Indian community because of the large diaspora existing there,” he said.

Even real estate developers from Dubai are increasing their focus on Indian investors, Dutt points out. “Many real estate developers from Dubai are zeroing in on Indian investors now. This makes business sense because Dubai is both geographically and sentimentally in the close neighbourhood of the Indian subcontinent. This creates a natural affinity for investments from this country. Another factor would be the relative ease of investment that exists for Indians in Dubai. The fact that a large number of Indians have business and personal interests there also makes them a natural customer catchment,” he said.

Thomas George Muthoot, managing director, Muthoot Pappachan group, a non-banking finance company that extends home loans, says that the Middle East market, especially Dubai, is hampered by the ongoing uncertainty that the emirate is facing. “Real estate prices in the Middle East have come down sharply during recent times and there may be good opportunity for those with investible resources to strike deals in these markets. However, purchases might be restricted due to the ongoing uncertainities and the somewhat restrictive laws for owning property is some markets, including Dubai,” Muthoot said.

The desire by Indian HNIs to buy overseas property is being backed by liberal remittance rules of the Reserve Bank of India that permit a person to remit up to $200,000 (Rs 90 lakh) per year for the purpose. “The most important procedure is with regard to the RBI regulations – transmission of monies for acquisitions of property abroad. As per the present regulation, the amount that can be remitted for this purpose is a maximum of $200,000 per individual per year. Hence, a family of two can remit approximately $400,000 per annum for property purchased abroad,” Dutta points out.

Magazine feels that it is not just the bargain deals available that are prompting the Indian HNIs to look overseas but other factors as well such as the pure glamour quotient. “Owning a second home overseas in some of the better known destinations has a glamour quotient involved. Other than that, we are seeing the income levels in India going up and more Indians are travelling abroad which is giving them greater awareness of the places,” he says.

Magazine also points out that after the recent slide in prices overseas, the value of property in many markets might appear to be cheaper than those in India. “Properties in many of the more sought after destinations have become relatively cheaper compared to the offerings in India, except perhaps in London and New York. The quality of construction is often of higher standards,” he said.

Pranab Datta points out that the demand is more for high-end properties meant for self use. “Overseas properties are being sought by business people, industrialists and very senior professionals who prefer to buy in locations regularly frequented by them. Typically, these would be high-end properties for self use,” he said.

Magazine agrees that properties abroad are being sought mostly by end-users. “Queries are mostly by end-users. Those buying may be having businesses abroad or want some kind of a holiday home,” he said.

On advisability of buying property abroad, Knight Frank’s Dutta says that an individual’s decision should be based on the familiarity with the market. “Whether to invest in a property abroad totally depends on the individual and their familiarity with the foreign market. Those who are conversant with the property market abroad and follow it closely may be equipped to invest in these markets,” he said.

Pallav Sinha, managing director and chief executive officer, Fullerton Securities & Wealth Advisors, feels that it is always advisable to diversify investments into various markets. “A smart investor should be looking at investing in overseas real estate market. We always advise diversification. This is same as in equities. Ultimately, as in equities, our advice for a high networth individual is that if you are really stacked up on Indian equities then do start looking at some of the other emerging market offshore funds for diversifying,” Sinha told FC Estate.

What’s in store, going forward? “In the days ahead, I feel that with higher disposable incomes and greater awareness, there would be a much higher interest among Indians in overseas markets,” says Anshuman Magazine. A classic case of the high neworth Indians looking beyond the seven seas.