A Pooja room or prayer room or your mandir is more than just a space for rituals; it’s a sacred corner of your home where you can connect with divine energies. It’s one of the most auspicious space of home fostering peace, prosperity, and spiritual growth.
According to Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian science of architecture, the design and placement of your Pooja room/mandir can have a significant impact on the overall well-being of your home.
I personally feel praying is a very personal thing, and each one of us has different ways to praying to our Gods. But there are some basic principles that applies to all as per Vastu. Following these guidelines helped me correct the Vastu dosha that my house was facing for years.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best practices for placing and designing your Pooja room as per Vastu to boost positivity.
1. Importance of a Pooja Room in Vastu
In Vastu Shastra, the Pooja room is considered a bridge between the physical world and divine energies. When placed and maintained according to Vastu principles, it becomes a source of tranquility, prosperity, and spiritual upliftment.
Aligning this space correctly not only enhances the flow of positive vibrations but also promotes harmony, well-being, and success in every aspect of life.
2. Ideal Location for Pooja Room/Mandir in Vastu
The location of the Pooja room is crucial for attracting positive energy. According to Vastu, the following guidelines should be followed for the best results:
- North-East Corner (Ishaan Kon): The North-East direction is considered the most auspicious for a Pooja room or keeping your mandir. This direction is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, and performing rituals in this space is said to bring spiritual growth and prosperity.
- Furthermore, the North-East (NE) is a space that naturally receives the first rays of the morning sun, filling the room with fresh energy and vitality, ideal for daily prayers and meditation. It is the perfect spot to invite blessings and divine grace, fostering a balanced, serene, and positive atmosphere in the home.
Other Acceptable Directions: If the North-East corner is not available, the following directions can also be considered:
- East: If the Pooja room is located in the East direction, it invites prosperity and health.
- West: The West direction may be used if there is no other option, but it is less favorable than North and East.
Avoid placing the Pooja Room or your mandir in the South-West, South, or South-East corners. These directions are inauspicious and not ideal for your pooja room.
- South-West: This direction is associated with Pitru (ancestors) energy, and it is believed to be the space where ancestral energies reside. Placing a Pooja room here can disturb the balance, as it’s not meant to hold divine energies for worship.
- South: Ruled by the fire element, the South direction can create a fiery and intense atmosphere that disrupts the peace and harmony needed for spiritual practices, potentially leading to conflicts and stress.
- South-East: Also ruled by fire, the South-East can generate excessive heat and instability, affecting both emotional and financial well-being.
For these reasons, it’s best to avoid these corners and choose more auspicious directions like the North-East, East, or West for your Pooja room.
While constructing a mandir/pooja room make sure you don’t build it;
- Under a staircase
- Right in front of the main door/entrance
- Next to a toilet or
- Sharing common wall with washroom/toiler
3. Layout and Design of the Pooja Room
The layout and design of the Pooja room should reflect serenity and purity. Here’s how you can design your Pooja room to align with Vastu:
- Size of the Room: The Pooja room should not be too large or too small. It should be proportional to the size of the home. Ideally, the room should be big enough for a small altar and easy movement.
- Avoid Clutter: A clutter-free space is essential for maintaining positive energy. Keep the Pooja room tidy and organized, ensuring that the altar is the focal point of the room.
- Height of the Altar: The altar or mandir should be at a comfortable height. It is best to place the idols or pictures of deities on the altar at eye level or slightly above. This ensures respect and reverence towards the divine.
- Materials and Colors: The Pooja room should be made of natural materials, such as wood or marble, for the altar. The walls can be painted in soothing colors like white, light yellow, or pale green, which are conducive to spiritual practice. Avoid dark colors, which can create a gloomy atmosphere.
4. Placement of Idols and Pictures
- Direction of the Idol: The idols of Gods and Goddesses should be either Northeast, East. This direction promotes peace and positive energy during worship. The idols should be placed on the Northeast, East or west wall of the mandir.
- You should face towards, East or West direction to face while worshipping. Always keep in mind never to face south while prayer.
- Arrangement of Idols: It is essential to ensure that idols are not placed directly on the floor. Place them on a clean, elevated surface, such as a wooden pedestal or a marble platform. The idols should never be stacked on top of each other, as it is considered inauspicious.
- Number of Idols: Vastu advises not to overcrowd the Pooja room with too many idols. Keep you important deities that resonate with you. Also try not to have multiple idols or photos of same God.
5. Things You Should Not Keep In Puja Room
- Old or Broken Idols – Keeping damaged or old idols in the Pooja room is considered disrespectful. It is believed that broken idols or statues can attract negative energy and disrupt the peaceful aura. Replace them with new, clean idols or pictures of the deities.
- Dead Plants or Flowers – Avoid keeping dead plants or flowers in the Pooja room, as they are seen as a symbol of decay and negativity. Fresh flowers and plants are ideal, as they promote life, purity, and vibrancy.
- Pictures of Ancestors – Avoid placing pictures of ancestors in the Pooja room. The Pooja room is dedicated to worshiping deities and should not be mixed with ancestral rituals. Ancestors are usually honored in a separate space, often in the South-West corner, to maintain spiritual clarity and respect.
6. Pooja Room Vastu Tips
- North-east (NE) corner of home is best place for pooja room or mandir.
- Keep the idols in east and/or west of the mandir.
- The pooja place should never be in South direction.
- If the roof of pooja room is pyramid shape then it’s very auspicious.
- Never have photos of deaseased/passed away people in the pooja area.
- Make sure that all the idols are always in perfect condition and not broken or torn.
- Always try and keep the pooja place on ground floor if you have multi-storey or basement.
- Never keep a dustbin in the pooja place; it reduces positive energy of the room.
- No one should sleep in the prayer room (except if the prayer room is in bedroom).
- According to Vastu, you must place the lamps and the mandir’s agni kunds in the southeastern direction.
- For the pooja ghar, you need a high-quality wood two-shutter door with a threshold so insects don’t enter this sacred space.
- The Northeast (NE) direction that is ideal for your pooja room is denoted by the color light shades of green and blue. And a lot of people use red, orange colors in their mandir as curtains and other things. Be sure if you have your pooja room in NE, don’t overuse colors of fire zone (red/orange and other fiery colors)
Common FAQs About Pooja Room Vastu
Q1. Can I place the Pooja room in the bedroom?
A. It is generally not recommended to place a Pooja room in the bedroom. However, if it’s unavoidable, make sure it’s in the North-East corner of the room and use partitions to separate the sacred space from the rest of the room.
Q2. Can I use a small corner of the living room as a Pooja space?
A. Yes, you can place a small Pooja corner in the living room. Just ensure that it is in the North-East direction and is kept separate from the regular living space.
Q3. Can I place a mirror in the Pooja room?
It is advised to avoid placing mirrors in the Pooja room, as they can reflect the energy and disturb the flow of positivity. If necessary, ensure that mirrors are positioned in a way that they do not reflect the idols.
Q4. What is the best time to worship in the Pooja room?
A. The best time to worship is during Brahma Muhurta, which is approximately one hour before sunrise. However, you can also perform Pooja in the evening during Sandhya time.
Q5. In which direction we should not worship?
A. According to traditional Vastu Shastra principles, worshippers are generally advised not to face the south direction while praying. South is often considered the direction of Yama, the deity of death, and it is believed that facing this direction during worship can have negative implications.
Q6. Which direction should you face when worshiping?
A. You should face towards, East or West direction to face while worshipping. Always keep in mind never to face south while prayer.
Q7. Which direction should Puja room not face?
A. The mandir direction in a home should not be in the south.
Q8. Can we keep 2 mandir at home?
A. According to Vastu Shastra, it is generally not recommended to have two pooja rooms in a house.
Feel free to share your queries and feedback in the comments below, and spread the wisdom of Vastu Shastra on social media to inspire others!
Disclaimer: The insights shared in this article are based on my knowledge and understanding of Vastu Shastra. While these principles are meant to guide and inspire, it is recommended to consult a qualified Vastu expert for personalized advice tailored to your space and requirements.
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