Timing, Planets, and Measurements in House Construction
Building a home is not just about bricks and mortar—it's about aligning your construction with the cosmic forces that influence prosperity and well-being. According to Vastu Shastra, the timing of when you start building, the strength of planets at that moment, and even the measurements you use can determine whether your home brings happiness or hardship. This ancient wisdom helps ensure that your new house becomes a source of wealth, health, and harmony for your family.
House Construction in Different Lunar Months
Ancient wisdom describes the results of beginning house construction in each lunar month. These outcomes are based on long traditions of observation:
- Chaitra (March–April): Starting construction in this month may cause illness to the builder.
- Vaishakh (April–May): Brings wealth and prosperity.
- Jyeshtha (May–June): Leads to great suffering, even compared to death.
- Ashadha (June–July): Causes loss of servants and valuable possessions.
- Shravana (July–August): Brings gain of friends and companions.
- Bhadrapada (August–September): Results in loss and misfortune.
- Ashwin (September–October): May lead to quarrels and disputes.
- Kartik (October–November): Ensures wealth and grain prosperity.
- Margashirsha (November–December): Brings financial growth.
- Pausha (December–January): Creates fear of theft and robbery.
- Magha (January–February): Increases the risk of fire hazards.
- Phalguna (February–March): Brings prosperity and growth of Lakshmi (goddess of wealth).
From this, we see that some months are auspicious, bringing health, wealth, and harmony, while others are considered inauspicious due to risks of illness, conflict, or loss.
| चान्द्रमास | १. चैत्र | २. वैशाख | ३. ज्येष्ठ | ४. आषाढ़ | ५. श्रावण | ६. भाद्रपद | ७. आश्विन | ८. कार्तिक | ९. मार्गशीर्ष | १०. पौष | ११. माघ | १२. फाल्गुन |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| गृह-निर्माण का फल | व्याधि | धनरत्न | मृत्युतुल्य कष्ट | भृत्यादि की हानि | मित्रलाभ | हानि | युद्धभय | धनलाभ | धनवृद्धि | चोरभय | अग्रिभय | लक्ष्मीवृद्धि |
House Construction in Different Solar Months
Apart from lunar months, solar months are also considered while deciding the right time for building houses. The Sun’s position in different zodiac signs creates different results:
- Mesha (Aries): Highly auspicious, brings all-round good results.
- Vrishabha (Taurus): Brings financial prosperity.
- Mithuna (Gemini): Causes suffering or even death-like troubles.
- Karka (Cancer): Favourable and auspicious for construction.
- Simha (Leo): Increases prosperity through servants and helpers.
- Kanya (Virgo): Brings disease and health troubles.
- Tula (Libra): Gives comfort and happiness.
- Vrishchika (Scorpio): Brings wealth and grain prosperity.
- Dhanu (Sagittarius): Causes great losses.
- Makara (Capricorn): Results in financial gain.
- Kumbha (Aquarius): Brings valuable gems and treasures.
- Meena (Pisces): Causes frightening dreams and disturbances.
Among these, certain solar months—Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces—are considered highly inauspicious and should be avoided.
| सूर्य की राशि | १. मेष | २. वृष | ३. मिथुन | ४. कर्क | ५. सिंह | ६. कन्या | ७. तुला | ८. वृश्चिक | ९. धनु | १०. मकर | ११. कुम्भ | १२. मीन |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| नया घर बनाने का फल | शुभप्रद | धनवृद्धि | मरण | शुभफल | भृत्यवृद्धि | रोगकारक | सौख्यप्रद | धनधान्य | महाहानि | धनलाभ | रत्नलाभ | दुःस्वप्न |
| विधि निषेध | प्रशस्त | प्रशस्त | अशुभ | प्रशस्त | प्रशस्त | अशुभ | प्रशस्त | प्रशस्त | अशुभ | प्रशस्त | प्रशस्त | अशुभ |
Auspicious Solar Months
The tradition also highlights specific solar months as especially auspicious for house construction. These are:
- Jyeshtha (May–June)
- Ashvina (October–November, known as Urja month)
- Magha (January–February)
- Bhadrapada (August–September, Simha month)
Constructing houses in these months is believed to bring sons, grandsons, and wealth to the family.
When Lunar Month Can Override Solar Month
In some cases, even if the solar month is considered inauspicious, house construction may still be started if the lunar month is auspicious and supported by a good day, tithi, and nakshatra.
For example, although the solar month of Pisces is considered unfavorable, if it coincides with the lunar month of Phalguna, construction may be carried out successfully with proper timing.
This principle emphasizes that the lunar month can provide favorable results even in a solar month that is generally condemned. Thus, in the presence of an auspicious lunar month, supported by a good weekday, tithi, and nakshatra, permanent house construction may still be undertaken with confidence.
Strength of the Builder (Karta) and Planetary Conditions
Before the foundation of a home is laid, the strength of the karta, or the person for whom the house is being built, must be examined. Each varna (social group) is traditionally linked with specific ruling planets whose influence needs to be strong at the time of construction.
For instance, Kshatriyas are guided by the power of the Sun and Mars, Vaishyas depend on the Moon and Mercury, while Shudras require the favor of Saturn. Regardless of varna, the Sun and the Moon are always considered vital. If these guiding planets are weak, construction is believed to invite difficulties for the karta and the household.
Effects of Weak Planets
When these planets are weak or afflicted, the effects ripple into the life of the karta and his family. A weak Sun brings suffering directly to the karta, while a weak Moon afflicts the wife.
Venus governs wealth and prosperity, and its weakness results in loss of fortune. Jupiter, the planet of wisdom and dharma, when weakened, leads to loss of happiness and blessings.
Mercury governs children and learning, so its affliction causes harm to children and grandchildren. Mars relates to brothers and close kin, while Saturn governs servants and labor—both bring difficulties when not favorable.
Above all, scholars highlight that the Sun’s strength must be checked carefully, as it directly impacts the karta’s vitality and authority.
Daśā, Antardaśā, and Surya Bala
Astrology emphasizes that not only planetary transits but also the running daśā and antardaśā periods must be considered. If the ruling planet of the current period is weak, beginning construction is discouraged.
Special attention is given to Surya Bala, or the strength of the Sun. When the Sun occupies certain houses from the natal sign, the results vary greatly. In some positions, the Sun can bring illness, loss of wealth, harm to children, or even fear of death.
In others, especially the third, sixth, tenth, and eleventh houses, the Sun bestows strength, prosperity, and success in undertakings. This is why construction is ideally begun when the Sun is strong and favorably placed.
| जन्मराशि से गोचरादि का क्रम | १ | २ | ३ | ४ | ५ | ६ | ७ | ८ | ९ | १० | ११ | १२ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| फल | उदररोग | धनहानि | धनलाभ | भयप्रद | सन्ततिकष्ट | शत्रुनाशक | जीवनसाथी को कष्ट | मृत्युसम कष्ट | धर्मनाश | कर्मसिद्धि | लक्ष्मी की प्राप्ति | व्यय |
| शुभाशुभ | सामान्य अशुभ | १३ दिन के उपरांत शुभ | शुभ | अशुभ | १३ अंश के उपरांत शुभ | शुभ | मध्यम | अशुभ | १३ दिन बाद शुभ | अति शुभ | शुभ | अशुभ |
Remedies for Afflicted Planets
If the planetary conditions are not favorable, remedies are prescribed before starting construction. Worship of the afflicted planets is essential when they are weak due to debilitation, combustion, retrogression, malefic aspects, or eclipses.
By offering prayers and performing appropriate rituals, the harmful influences can be pacified, ensuring that the new home does not carry the burden of planetary afflictions.
Auspicious Nakshatras for Raising Pillars
The stage of pillar-raising (Stambhoccaya) in house construction is considered highly important. Ancient tradition prescribes that this work should be done only under specific nakshatras.
The favorable nakshatras for pillar raising are: Swati, Anuradha, Jyeshtha, Dhanishta (Gandharva), Purva Phalguni, and Rohini.
Other nakshatras are not considered suitable for this work and should be avoided.
Measurement of the House
Another important consideration is the measurement of the house itself. The unit of measurement, called hasta, should be derived from the karta, his eldest wife, eldest son, or even the chief mason responsible for the construction.
The distance from the fingertip to the toe when the hand is stretched is taken as the measure, and a fifth of this length is treated as the precise unit. This method ensures that the dimensions of the house are harmonious with the physical and spiritual energies of its owner, bringing balance and prosperity.
Forbidden Times for Construction
Even with favorable planets and correct measurements, construction should never begin during certain times. Days such as Sundays and Tuesdays are avoided, as are specific tithis from Krishna Paksha Shashti to Shukla Paksha Shashti.
Astrologers also caution against beginning work during Surya Sankranti, Bhadra Karana, or malefic yogas like Vyatipata, Vaidhriti, Shoola, Vajra, and others.
The alignment of lunar days and constellations has a direct bearing on the harmony of the home, so avoiding these prohibited times is seen as essential for peace and prosperity.
Building a home is not merely a material act but a spiritual journey that intertwines with the rhythms of time and the forces of the cosmos.
By choosing the right lunar and solar months, ensuring the strength of the karta and his ruling planets, performing remedies for afflicted celestial bodies, following traditional measurements, and respecting forbidden times, one invites blessings of health, happiness, and abundance into the home. This timing knowledge works in harmony with Rahu's position in foundation digging and vastu guidelines for auspicious excavation.