Since the middle 1990s, there has been a sudden interest in the subject of the Vaastu Shastras. People seem to have rediscovered a long lost panacea for their ills. All they need to do is to make a few changes to their home or office layout and overnight, they have the health, wealth and happiness that they lacked for so long!

To understand the basic principles, it is essential to start at the very beginning; to travel back in time to the Early Vedic period, for the origins of and to the original, Vaastu Shilpa Shastras.

We can define this science Vaastu Shastra as the study of the effect on Man, the Planets, the Stars and the balancing of five elements called Fire, Air, Space, Earth and Water. In China this study is called Feng -Shui. In India we call this ancient science as Vaastu Shastra.

This science is not only good for health, wealth, peace and prosperity but also for the upliftment of the soul. Today top priority has been given to relationships which is the main problem in this materialistic world. We can purchase every thing required for the comfort of the body, but peace of mind and harmony in relationships cannot be bought. Here Vaastu Shastra plays an important role in our life.

As the Vaastu Shastra is the science of living in our house in harmony with nature. We will try to study this science right from the beginning of entering in to a house.

Graha Pravesh (i.e. first entry into the newly built house) is also as important aspect of Vaastu-Shastra. After the house is complete in all respects, living in that house is started at some auspicious moment determined on astrological considerations. The first entry in the house at the auspicious moment is called Graha Pravesh ceremony. Three types of Graha Pravesh have been mentioned in the scriptures:-

Apoorva: First entry to live in house newly constructed on a newly selected land is called Apoorva (new) Graha Pravesh.

Sapoorva: Entry into an already existing house to live in it after traveling abroad or migration elsewhere, is called Sapoorva Graha Pravesh.

Dwandwah: Entry into a house to live in it after reconstruction/renovation of the house damaged by fire, flood-waters, electricity, wind etc. is termed as Dwandwah (or old) Graha Pravesh.

Scriptures have described the procedures of Graha Pravesh at auspicious time (muhurat) and purity (defectless) of Panchang. For Apoorva Graha Pravesh perfect auspicious time should be adhered to and for Graha Pravesh in a reconstructed house or after migration the purity of Panchang should be given consideration.

If the doors of a house are not fitted with shutters, or the roof is not covered, or the God, Vaastu have not been worshipped and offered sacrifices, and if the priests etc. have not been offered feast, first entry into such house (Graha Pravesh) should not be accomplished till the above things are completed, otherwise living in that house will be full of troubles and miseries. Therefore living in a house should be started only after offering sacrifices and worshipping Vaastu as per procedure given in scriptures.

Entry into a house built of grass and leaves etc. may be performed on any auspicious day. In houses built with bricks, stone, mud, cement etc. the first entry is auspicious when the sun is Uttarayan.

As far as possible Graha Pravesh should be accomplished in the day only, it will be auspicious. Normally, it can be done at any auspicious moment in the day or night. Guru (Jupiter) or Shukra (Venus) being set (invisible) i.e. Tara does not matter in case of Graha Pravesh in a old renovated house.

For the ceremony of giving food to a child for the first time (Anna Prashan), wearing new clothes, daily travels, first entry into an old renovated house and entry of a bride in the house, invisibility (setting) of Jupiter (Guru) and Venus (Shukra) i.e. Tara should not be considered, only the purity and auspiciousness of the Panchang should be considered in such cases. Auspicious months for Graha Pravesh and the results of the same are as given below:

Besides these, the months of Kartik and Margshirsh give medium results. Graha Pravesh in the months of Ashadh, Shravan, Bhadrapad, Ashwin Paush is inauspicious and causes loss, troubles and pains, and fear of enemies.

The tithies (dates) 4/9/14 and 30 (Amavas - no moon night) should be avoided and Graha Pravesh should not be done on Tuesdays.

One has to be very careful while making the blue print of the home. If optimization in space utilization is gelled with vaastu shastra then you can make a sweet home out of a house.

To read how to prepare the master blueprint for your home... Click here!