Mandir Facing Directions: Understanding the Significance in Vastu

Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian study of architecture, design, direction, and décor, offers guidelines that will help you harmonise the natural elements and energies in your home. Following Vastu principles helps bring the family good health, happiness, abundance, and success.

The home temple or the mandir is at the heart of every household. It is the place where we start our day with prayers and gratitude to the Divine. It is usually where we sit down to meditate and release all the stress and pent-up energy. The mandir direction, as per Vastu Shastra, is one of the most important aspects of home design that we must focus on when setting up a new home.

Vastu Shastra and the importance of directions

Vastu Shastra bases its principles on the tenet that every direction is governed by a celestial body and a devata. The different parts of the Vastu Purusha represent their energies, and thus, the functional areas of our homes, too, must be in sync with the directions.

The ideal directions for areas like the kitchen are easy to discern. This is because much of our cooking is heat-based, and the southern direction is attributed to the fire element. However, finding the direction based on elemental synchronicities becomes difficult when it comes to the prayer room. In this case, we must look at the energy we look for in a home temple. Our home temple is a place of calm and peace but should also leave us energised and enthusiastic about facing the day.

Keeping this in mind, let us try to find the ideal home temple or mandir direction, as per Vastu Shastra.

Best direction for the home temple or prayer space

In olden times, the central courtyard of the home was reserved for a tulsi mandir. Praying here every morning brought together the energies of all the five main elements – the pancha tattva. However, main pujas and rituals were often conducted in the Brahma muhurta or early morning time. This made it important to conduct these religious rituals in the part of the home that received the rays of the rising sun. This is perhaps why Vastu Shastra adjoins the placement of the prayer room to the east of the home. We often face a space crunch in modern-day flats and apartments and install small wooden mandirs. Placing these on the eastern wall or in the eastern quadrant of the home is considered auspicious. This direction is governed by Indra, the lord of the demi-gods, and such a placement brings joy, happiness, and harmony. If this is not feasible in your flat, consider placing the mandir in the north-eastern direction.

The south and the north must be completely avoided for the pooja room or mandir. The south represents Yama, the god of Death, and is incompatible with Divine energies.

Other tips for mandir placement

Apart from the direction of your mandir, it is important to follow the following Vastu guidelines for attracting positive vibes.

• The mandir or prayer room should not be under a flight of stairs. It is also important to remember that the mandir should not share a wall with a toilet or a bathroom.
• Modern homeowners often use a cupboard or a shelf in the kitchen to place the idols or pictures of gods and turn the space into a home temple. This should be avoided, according to Vastu Shastra.
• The mandir or home temple should not face the main entrance or a cluttered storage space.
• Do not place the idol or the photo of the deity on the floor. Use an elevated platform or a wooden or marble shrine to create your home temple. Similarly, while meditating or offering prayers, you must be seated on a mat, a chowki, or a low seat.

Conclusion

Having picked the right direction for the mandir, according to Vastu Shastra, cleaning and caring for this sacred space daily is also important. Our traditions teach us that cleaning the home temple, placing a few flowers in front of the deity, lighting a lamp, and offering incense can bring peace and joy and help us get through the day without taking on much stress. Bringing the family together to offer morning puja together is also a beautiful way of strengthening the bond you share.