Vedic Studies Articles

What Is Shakti?

March 30, 2012 | Faye Martins

Eventually, he began to pray for respite and the Goddess Shakti appeared. She told him that it was she, and only she, who gave him the energy to move through the world. With the bestowal of her grace, Shankarcharya was able to move again. He was not only able to move again, Shakti led him into the depths of his own heart, the hub of all sacred places.

Shakti and Shiva are two sides of the same coin. Shiva is the masculine energy of the power of creation and Shakti is the female energy. Shakti is the energy that breathes within you. She moves through you and pulsates in every cell of your body. Shiva and Shakti are like the moon and the stars. They are like the light and the flame of a fire - Inseparable, yet unique in and of themselves. They are present in both the manifested and absolute aspects of existence.

The term shakti is used to describe both a Hindu goddess and a creative, feminine energy. The Goddess Shakti is referred to as the great mother in Hinduism, because it is only from her essence that the universe is able to manifest. The underlying creative, pulsating, vibrant, feminine energy of the universe is also referred to as shakti.

Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

Vaastu Shastra Tips For Peace & Harmony In Your Home

August 5, 2011 | Ginger Red Hawk

The house should face in the North (N) or East (E).
There should be more open land in the N and E, than in the South (S) and West (W).
Any kind of pit (for a swimming pool, plumbing etc.) should be dug in the NE.
The first stone or founding brick should be laid in the NE or Center of the house.
S and W fence walls should be higher and thicker than the N and E walls.
Excavation should begin from the NW.
Foundations should begin from the SW.
Kitchens should face SE but the cooking platform should be in the E.
Sink should be on the left side of the cooking platform and the cooking range on the right side.
Dining rooms are best situated in the W.
Closets and wardrobes, shelves and storage spaces should all be in the S and W directions in all rooms.
Doors of all rooms should face E.
Mirrors should never be on the S and W walls of any room if possible.
Restrooms go in the SE or NW directions.
Any kind of animal shelter or a house for your pets should be in the NW away from the N fencing.
Bedrooms should be in the S and W.
The master bedroom goes SW.
The headboard of the bed must never be in the N. It can be either in the S or the W.
Any place of worship or idol, the bible or any holy objects should be in the NE. All photos and idols should face E or W only.
All rain water should flow from S to N and W to E only.
Drainage and plumbing should be in the N and E.
In case the house is on a slope, the SW should be the highest and the NE the lowest.
The WC or commode should be in the N-S only and never in the W-E directions.
No cellar is to be constructed in residential properties. However, if one must have a cellar or basement it should be in the NE corner.
Out houses or changing rooms, shower stalls should not touch the N and E fences.
Staircases can be in the S, W or SW directions. Wooden staircases however can be in the N and E directions also.
Stairs should go from N to S or E to W.
Stairs must always be clockwise.
Overhead water tanks should be in the SW. If the tank is in the NE, then a structure taller than the tank must be constructed in the SW. Also, the base of the tank should be elevated on four pillars - it should not touch the house.
All under ground structures should face N and E.
All structures above the ground should face S or W.
The porch should not touch the N or E fence.
Large trees should not be grown in N or E. They should be in the S or W.
Business deals should be transacted while facing NE. One must also read in this direction.
Total number of doors and windows should be even on each level but never end in a 0 like in 10, 20 , 30 etc.
Doors should open inside a room and not outwards.
Doors of the restrooms and kitchen must however, open outwards and not inwards.
Face E while cooking. W is permissible if there is no option. However, S is a complete no-no.
All four sides of the house must be open (have doors or windows). If the house is small or in a crowded neighbourhood at least 2 opposite sides must be open. Having just 1 open side lets in negative energies.
Bed rooms must always have beds with 4 legs. Beds that rest on the floor (like box springs or waterbeds) create negative energies.

All the tips are based on some simple principles of Vaastu Shastra. The North and East are directions of positive and high energy. The South and West directions are to expel negative energies. Positive energies must be welcomed into the home and negative energies expelled from it.

Boost Your Business With Vaastu Shastra

June 17, 2011 | Ginger Red Hawk

The company CEO or Managing Director or President - in short the head honcho - should sit in the South West (SW) and face the East (E) or North (N).
Computers / software labs should be placed in the South East (SE).
The pantry should be in the SE or North West (NW).
Accounts needs to occupy the Northern most corner.
NW is a good direction for marketing.
NE is a good area for the receptionist to welcome guests.
Purchase / procurement should be located in the S or W.
The entrance to the office should be completely free of all obstacles.
Telephones, communication instruments need to be in the SW corner.
The way your files are organized also plays a major role. Some tips to organize your filing cabinets.
Accounts - SE corner of the shelf
Personal - SW shelf of the office
Purchase & Procurement - SW shelf made on the S wall
Sales - NW shelf on wall
Real Estate & Property - SW shelf made on the S wall
Stocks - NW shelf on N wall for stock you want to sell and SW shelf on S wall for stocks you want to retain
Taxes - SW corner shelf
Litigation - NW corner shelf
Bad debts - NW shelf will help in early recovery of dues

Other than the actual office, Vaastu Shastra also has some principles that can be applied while setting up a manufacturing unit or industry.

The main streets or roads leading up to the industry should be towards the E, N or NE. It is advisable to have two huge gates at the entrance.
Gates should be NE or E and NW or W.
The security should be either NW of the N gate or SE of the E gate.
Maximum space for plantation and large trees should be left in the N and E. S and W sides need little greenery.
The SW floor levels and ceiling must be higher than the floor and ceiling in the rest of the construction.
Any storage space needs to be built in the SW and storage must always be filled to capacity.
NW is a good direction for car parking.
Administrative staff is to be located in the N or E. They must be kept away from boundary walls and the height of the administrative offices needs to be less than that of the main building. Keep the NE corner open.
Restrooms go SE or NW.
All water bodies (storage tanks, wells) should be in the NE area.
Heavy machinery should be installed in the S, W or SW.
Raw materials to be stored in the S, W or SW.
Unfinished products or products under constructions need to be kept in the W.
Finished products ready for sale go NW. It will speed up the selling process.

It is important to remember that while the principles of Vaastu Shastra are scientific in nature, they only work towards creating an environment conducive to successful ventures. Vaastu Shastra is not magic and cannot breathe life into a dead business. Also, by taking care of the various Vaastu Shastra tips, you are not buying a lifetime guarantee free of troubles. You are only empowering yourself to be better equipped to fight whatever hurdles you may face.