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Grih

Ghar.  House.  Most people aspire for their own house - a shelter for living. Some live in rented house, but many are able to have their own house too. According to Hindu belief house (or the land on which the building is built) is a very important for good or bad luck. Some lands are so bad for a person that as soon one moves to that place he loses everything there. So one should be very careful about choosing the land and building the house or business building on the land. It has Devtaa also of its own. Mostly it is a male and he should be worshipped. This Devtaa is the "center of energy of the premises", and that Devtaa says "Tathaastu" (So be it) whatever is uttered there that is why one should be very careful whatever is uttered there. One should never speak abominable words in the house.

This is called Science of Premises (or Vaastu Shaastra).

The Matsya Puran (265.10-11) quotes that in the context of a house, that a fire sacrifice of a premise (Vaastu Yagya) needs to be performed under the following five circumstances -
1. When laying the foundation of the house or planning the construction,
2. When raising the first pillar of the house,
3. When fixing the first door,
4. During the house-warming ceremony (Grih Pravesh),
5. When performing the ritual of Vaastu Shaanti to ward off evil or distressing energies.

Grih Pravesh (Entering theHouse for the First Time)
In modern times only the ritual of house-warming is done and has gained a considerable amount of importance. Normally people perform it at an auspicious moment (Muhoort). The ritual of Va stu Shaanti is also performed on the same day. Grih Makh is a part of the ritual of Vaastu Shaanti. It includes placing a box of burnt bricks in a pit, dug in the north-eastern corner of the house. Seven types of food grain, moss, flowers, etc. are placed in that box. The owner of the house enters the house along with his wife, sons and Braahman (priests) to the accompaniment of music, carrying a pot (Kalash) filled with water. That pot is then placed on a heap of food grain. This is followed by the ritual of Punya Vachan by Braahman. The Braahman are served meals after they bless the host. The host then dines along with his close friends. The house owner receives the well wishing gifts from friends and relations. Elders bestow their blessings to the family.

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 11/07/11