Vastu Shastra lays down guidelines on all aspects of house designing, including the planting of auspicious trees and plants around the house. While many regard Vastu as a superstition, in reality it is a science, developed thousands of years ago by the ancient Indian Architects. They laid down these guidelines with the aim to create buildings that vibrate with Universal Energy and brimming with good positive energy by manipulating the elements of nature, so that the inmates always have a sense of well being and contentment. As these guidelines have a scientific basis I have explained them here along with the possible logic and reasoning.
WHAT TREES SHOULD BE PLANTED IN THE HOUSE GARDEN ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA?
Some of the auspicious trees according to Vastu, that are good for the inmates are described below along with their usefulness:
PEEPAL TREE - It is also known as the Aswatha tree. Scientists have found that the oxygen produced by this tree is in large amounts and is found in high concentration under the branches, probably due to the thick foliage. Hence it is considered very healthy to circumambulate this tree in the morning. Probably it is for this reason that it is considered a sacred tree and is worshiped in India. It is usually found near temples or temples are erected near Peepal trees. It has a very long life and can survive for centuries. It is prohibited from being cut. However, it is not suitable near a house, since it has far spreading roots which can affect the foundation of the building.
NEEM TREE - This tree has great medicinal value and its extract is used in pesticides. Its twigs are used to brush teeth and neem oil is used in physiotherapy. As neem leaves are very bitter, a mixture of neem leaves, tender green mango and jaggery is eaten on Ugadi or the New Year in South India, as a symbolic gesture, that one is prepared to face the sweet, sour and bitter experiences of the coming year with equanimity. Hence this tree can be planted in a house garden.
MANGO TREE - Most of the parts of the mango tree have medicinal value. It's leaves are used as a pesticide, and its twigs are used for brushing teeth. Mango fruit is very tasty. The raw mangoes are used for making pickles and as a vegetable. Its leaves are used for puja purposes. It is considered very auspicious if the dead are cremated using mango tree fire-wood. Mango trees also have a very long life and can survive for 400-500 years. Hence this tree is also a very useful tree to have in your garden.
JACK-FRUIT TREE- Like mango tree, the jack-fruit tree also produces very tasty, large fruit, from which different types of sweets are made. Its seeds are also nutritious. The beautiful yellow coloured wood from this tree is used to make furniture, doors, windows etc.Its leaves are also used for puja purposes. Therefore, it is useful and can be planted in your garden.
BANANA TREE - The tender saplings are used for decorating doors of houses, pandals etc, during functions and festivals, as they are symbols of prosperity and wealth. Bananas are available through the year, and are very nutritious. They are rich in potassium and the best source of instant energy. Raw bananas are cooked and eaten like a vegetable. Banana leaves are used for eating traditional meals as they are considered hygienic. So this is a must-have in your garden.
COCONUT TREE - Every part of this tree is useful. The tender coconut water is a very healthy, cool, low fat drink. The coconut flesh is used in South Indian cooking in large amounts and gives it a distinctive flavour. The oil extracted from coconut is used in cooking as well as a hair oil. Coir is a very useful by-product which is used in making mats, carpets etc. The leaves of the coconut tree are weaved and used as roofing for huts by the poor. Its dry leaves are also used as fire-wood. It has a long life of about 100-150 years and is prohibited from being cut. Due to its usefulness it is considered a sacred tree. Hence it is considered a must, in every one's garden.
SANDAL WOOD TREE- Sandal wood is very expensive as it is used to make exquisite handicrafts, and its oil is very fragrant. Sandalwood paste when applied on the forehead, cools the head, and so is used in temples and in hot places like Kerala. The sandalwood is used to make incence sticks. It is very rare to find sandalwood trees and hence there have been so many instances of robbers cutting down trees in the middle of the night, if found in any house compound. If you like this fragrant tre, it is a good idea to try and grow one- but you may need to secure it!
ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHERE SHOULD THE TREES BE PLANTED IN THE PLOT?
* Smaller trees may be planted on the east or north sides, but no trees should be planted in the northeast corner as they block the useful morning sun rays.
* Tall trees like Coconut can be planted in the South-West, West sides but should should not be too close to a building as they block the sunlight completely. A tree’ should be planted such that it's shadow should not fall on the house.
* Large trees like Peepal, Banyan should not be located too near the house as their roots can damage the foundation and compound wall. Also, the large trees absorb most of the sunlight, meaning these positive rays will not be received by the building.
* There should be an even number of trees on one’s property, not an odd number.
* A list of good trees to plant are useful trees like coconut, neem, betel, sandalwood, lemon, pineapple, bilva, almond, jackfruit, pomegranate, mango, amla, and katha.
* Trees with insects, worms, honey bees, bumble bee, owls, serpents, should be avoided.
* If a tree must be removed because it is inauspicious or for other reasons, the day before cutting the tree, one should express regret to the tree, and it must be removed from its rooting. A new tree should be planted in its place within the next three months. This is a way of conserving nature.
ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHICH PLANTS ARE TO BE GROWN IN THE HOUSE GARDEN?
TULASI (BASIL) - It is always good to grow a Tulasi plant on one’s property. Tulasi should be located on the north, northeast, or east sides of the house, or in front of the house. Tulasi is a medicinal plant and is used extensively in Ayurvedic medicines. It purifies the blood and improves the digestive system. It is believed to be useful in treating many types of diseases. Hence it is recommended to eat a few leaves every day. Its probably for this reason, that it is considered a sacred plant and used in daily worship.
JASMINE - In general, sweet smelling plants like jasmine, red lotus, blue lotus etc are good in the house compound as they give out a pleasant perfume, and can also be used in daily worship.
THORNY PLANTS - Thorny plants should not be planted near the house. Cactus should not be planted at all. Thorny plants other than roses have a negative energy. Ideally all thorny plants should be pulled up and destroyed. The reason could be that the thorns can hurt you when you brush past them.
CREEPERS - Creepers or other plants should not be grown using the building or compound wall as a support. Creepers should only be grown in a garden, and they should have their own independent supports.
PEEPAL TREE - It is also known as the Aswatha tree. Scientists have found that the oxygen produced by this tree is in large amounts and is found in high concentration under the branches, probably due to the thick foliage. Hence it is considered very healthy to circumambulate this tree in the morning. Probably it is for this reason that it is considered a sacred tree and is worshiped in India. It is usually found near temples or temples are erected near Peepal trees. It has a very long life and can survive for centuries. It is prohibited from being cut. However, it is not suitable near a house, since it has far spreading roots which can affect the foundation of the building.
NEEM TREE - This tree has great medicinal value and its extract is used in pesticides. Its twigs are used to brush teeth and neem oil is used in physiotherapy. As neem leaves are very bitter, a mixture of neem leaves, tender green mango and jaggery is eaten on Ugadi or the New Year in South India, as a symbolic gesture, that one is prepared to face the sweet, sour and bitter experiences of the coming year with equanimity. Hence this tree can be planted in a house garden.
MANGO TREE - Most of the parts of the mango tree have medicinal value. It's leaves are used as a pesticide, and its twigs are used for brushing teeth. Mango fruit is very tasty. The raw mangoes are used for making pickles and as a vegetable. Its leaves are used for puja purposes. It is considered very auspicious if the dead are cremated using mango tree fire-wood. Mango trees also have a very long life and can survive for 400-500 years. Hence this tree is also a very useful tree to have in your garden.
JACK-FRUIT TREE- Like mango tree, the jack-fruit tree also produces very tasty, large fruit, from which different types of sweets are made. Its seeds are also nutritious. The beautiful yellow coloured wood from this tree is used to make furniture, doors, windows etc.Its leaves are also used for puja purposes. Therefore, it is useful and can be planted in your garden.
BANANA TREE - The tender saplings are used for decorating doors of houses, pandals etc, during functions and festivals, as they are symbols of prosperity and wealth. Bananas are available through the year, and are very nutritious. They are rich in potassium and the best source of instant energy. Raw bananas are cooked and eaten like a vegetable. Banana leaves are used for eating traditional meals as they are considered hygienic. So this is a must-have in your garden.
COCONUT TREE - Every part of this tree is useful. The tender coconut water is a very healthy, cool, low fat drink. The coconut flesh is used in South Indian cooking in large amounts and gives it a distinctive flavour. The oil extracted from coconut is used in cooking as well as a hair oil. Coir is a very useful by-product which is used in making mats, carpets etc. The leaves of the coconut tree are weaved and used as roofing for huts by the poor. Its dry leaves are also used as fire-wood. It has a long life of about 100-150 years and is prohibited from being cut. Due to its usefulness it is considered a sacred tree. Hence it is considered a must, in every one's garden.
SANDAL WOOD TREE- Sandal wood is very expensive as it is used to make exquisite handicrafts, and its oil is very fragrant. Sandalwood paste when applied on the forehead, cools the head, and so is used in temples and in hot places like Kerala. The sandalwood is used to make incence sticks. It is very rare to find sandalwood trees and hence there have been so many instances of robbers cutting down trees in the middle of the night, if found in any house compound. If you like this fragrant tre, it is a good idea to try and grow one- but you may need to secure it!
ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHERE SHOULD THE TREES BE PLANTED IN THE PLOT?
* Smaller trees may be planted on the east or north sides, but no trees should be planted in the northeast corner as they block the useful morning sun rays.
* Tall trees like Coconut can be planted in the South-West, West sides but should should not be too close to a building as they block the sunlight completely. A tree’ should be planted such that it's shadow should not fall on the house.
* Large trees like Peepal, Banyan should not be located too near the house as their roots can damage the foundation and compound wall. Also, the large trees absorb most of the sunlight, meaning these positive rays will not be received by the building.
* There should be an even number of trees on one’s property, not an odd number.
* A list of good trees to plant are useful trees like coconut, neem, betel, sandalwood, lemon, pineapple, bilva, almond, jackfruit, pomegranate, mango, amla, and katha.
* Trees with insects, worms, honey bees, bumble bee, owls, serpents, should be avoided.
* If a tree must be removed because it is inauspicious or for other reasons, the day before cutting the tree, one should express regret to the tree, and it must be removed from its rooting. A new tree should be planted in its place within the next three months. This is a way of conserving nature.
ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHICH PLANTS ARE TO BE GROWN IN THE HOUSE GARDEN?
TULASI (BASIL) - It is always good to grow a Tulasi plant on one’s property. Tulasi should be located on the north, northeast, or east sides of the house, or in front of the house. Tulasi is a medicinal plant and is used extensively in Ayurvedic medicines. It purifies the blood and improves the digestive system. It is believed to be useful in treating many types of diseases. Hence it is recommended to eat a few leaves every day. Its probably for this reason, that it is considered a sacred plant and used in daily worship.
JASMINE - In general, sweet smelling plants like jasmine, red lotus, blue lotus etc are good in the house compound as they give out a pleasant perfume, and can also be used in daily worship.
THORNY PLANTS - Thorny plants should not be planted near the house. Cactus should not be planted at all. Thorny plants other than roses have a negative energy. Ideally all thorny plants should be pulled up and destroyed. The reason could be that the thorns can hurt you when you brush past them.
CREEPERS - Creepers or other plants should not be grown using the building or compound wall as a support. Creepers should only be grown in a garden, and they should have their own independent supports.
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