CHAPTER 11

The Design of a House 

DESIGNThe Design – The design of the house should be as follows: On the eastern side of the house gymnasium, on the south-east side, granary; on the southern, the dining hall; on the south-west, the lying-in room; on the western, the bed chamber; on the northwest, the place of worship; on the northern, the treasury; and on the north-east, the kitchen.

All odd Thithis except Navami are good. Of the even Thithis, Dhwithiyai, Shashti and Dhasami are auspicious.

The day chosen for laying the foundation of a building must be governed by a fortunate Yoga (Siddha Yoga or Amritha Yoga).

Learned astrologers recommend Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday as auspicious for laying the foundation of a house. The other days are rejected.

Fixed signs are the best; Common signs occupied by benefics have middling influence; Movable signs, and Common signs without benefics in them should be avoided.

Oordhwa-Mukha Lagna, (a sign just vacated by the Sun) is auspicious. Atho-Mukha Lagna, (the sign occupied by the Sun) even when occupied by a benefic, should be avoided. Thiryagh-Mukha Lagna, (the sign next to the one occupied by the Sun) is good, if aspected by a benefic planet.

Benefic planets in the rising sign and in the 2nd, 9th and 12th houses promote well-being. Malefics in the 3rd, 6th and 11th houses produce good, while any planet located in the 8th house causes disaster. Some astrologers hold that the 12th house must be vacant.

The Pillars, Beams and Interior Door-ways etc. should be set up under Sirodaya MOON DEGREE QUADRANTS; roofing and the construction of the doorway may be commenced at a moment auspicious time for the disposition of the pillars, lying-in-room, door-way, beams and interior door-ways is the same as that indicated for laying the foundation, they being the chief appurtenances to a house.

The Door-frame – This, artistically carved, should be fixed at a time when the rising sign is a Fixed one. Any of the following MOON DEGREE QUADRANTS may be chosen: in 40 to 53, in 53 to 66, In 146 to 160 degrees, in 173 to 186 degrees, Anuradha, in 266 to 280 degrees, In 333 to 346 degrees and In 346 to 360 degrees. The Thithi, asterism, the day and the rising sign (fixed) should all be carefully chosen, for the moment of fixing the door-frame has an important bearing upon the prosperity of the master. An auspicious moment promotes it.

Common signs are good for furnishing the house with doors and for roofing it.

The Doors – To fix the doors choose Wednesday or Friday ruled by any beneficial Thithi, a Common sign and any of the following MOON DEGREE QUADRANTS: in 0 to 13 degrees, in 93 to 106 degrees, In 160 to 173 degrees (Movable MOON DEGREE QUADRANTS) in 40 to 53, In 146 to 160 degrees, in 266 to 280 degrees and In 333 to 346 degrees (Fixed MOON DEGREE QUADRANTS).

Outer Pillars – The pillars on the pials of a house must be put up at a time when the rising sign, the rising Navamsa and the sign occupied by the Moon are Fixed signs belonging to, and aspected by, benefics.

The timbers required for the building should be piled up eastward or northward. They must all be new, as no old materials (those that once formed the structure of another house) should be employed. The pillars, and the interior doorways must be an odd number.

The stalls for cows and buffaloes must be located in the north-west part and the sheep-fold in the south west.

THE DAIRY

To begin the use of the churning dasher choose the time when the rising sign is that of the Moon (Cancer) and the ruling asterism a Movable one. (in 0 to 13 degrees, In 80 to 93.3 degrees, in 93 to 106 degrees, In 160 to 173 degrees, in 186 to 200, in 306 to 320 degrees, In 293 to 306 degrees and In 306 to 320 degrees are movable MOON DEGREE QUADRANTS). Such a beginning will bring growth and prosperity to the cattle and generate curd in profusion.

To set up the pole to hold the revolving dasher in position by means of chains, Monday is the most auspicious and the time when the rising sign is occupied by the Moon.

The operation should be started at a time when the rising sign is occupied by the Moon, governing a beneficial asterism and Navamsa.

To Milk the Cow – The Moon located in the rising sign, and governing a favorable asterism and Navamsa is good for commencing to milk the cow. The yield will increase.

To Lathe Articles – To cut or shape articles with the lathe, commence at a time when the rising sign is Leo occupied by the Sun, on a Sunday, when the Moon passes through asterism In 346 to 360 degrees and when the lord of the rising Navamsa is Saturn or Mars.

To Melt Butter – To melt the butter for the first time choose asterism Jyeshta or From 26 to 40 degrees, on a Wednesday, when the Moon is placed in the Navamsa of a benefic planet. Any Monday ruled by asterism in 200 to 213 degrees is auspicious for melting the butter from buffalo or sheep’s milk.