Part 9.5 - Auspicious and inauspicious Door

[Full title: The arrangement of doors (dvāra-vidhāna) (5) Auspicious and inauspicious Door]

The ancient vāstu texts prescribe different parameters to determine whether the door is auspicious inauspicious. The present text, Mayamata, highlights some viewpoints on the auspicious and inauspicious signs of doors. It is noted that during the opening and closing of the door, if it creates resembling to the beat of a drum noise (bherisamāna), or roar of an elephant or lion, or sounds like a vīṇā or flute, it is considered as favorable for the building. However, if the door produces sounds like clearing of the throat (kandaragarjana), crying (kroṣana), a mournful song (kūjana), or other kinds of noise, it would not be appropriate for the building. It is also stated that the door should open equally from the top to the bottom. The interior bolt of the door should always be larger than its clasp, and it should not rub against the jambs. Otherwise, Maya warns that otherwise, it may lead to the breaking of friendships and the rise of the number of enemies. When the interior bolt is larger than its clasp and doesn't rub against the jambs, it ensures that the door can function smoothly without unnecessary obstruction. This smooth operation of the door signifies stability and healthy living space.

It is mentioned that if a door aligns with a tree, a boundary, a corner, a well, a pillar, a temple, or a vulnerable point (marmasthāna), it should also be considered inauspicious for the building.

Matsyapurāṇa recorded some points which should also be recognized as inauspicious signs for the door.

tathā vāṣṭusu sarvatra vedhaṃ dvārasya varjayet |
dvāre tu rathyayā viddhe bhavet sarvakulakṣya ||
taruṇaddeṣavāhulyaṃ śokaḥ paṅkena jāyate |
apasmāro bhavennyūnaṃ kupavedhena sarvadā ||
vyathā prasravaṇena syat kīlenāgnibhayaṃ bhabet |
vināśo devatāviddhe stambhena svikritaṃ bhavet || (Matsyapurāṇa 255, 10-14 )

[“The doorways should never be blocked with anything. The exits and entries should not be hindered by anything. These being blocked by a thoroughfare, tree, corner of another house, are inauspicious. By its being blocked up by a lane means the annihilation of the family; by being blocked up by raised earth it brings jealousy, by being blocked up by moist soil or mud, it brings misery; by being blocked up by a well it gives epilepsy; by being blocked up by a waterfall, it brings in some evil; by being blocked up by some nails, it brings in danger from fire, by its being blocked by any Deva there is danger of destruction.”]^[1]

It is also mentioned that:

gṛhabhartturvināśaḥ syat gṛheṇa ca gṛhe krite |
amedhyāvaskaraividdhe gṛhiṇī vandhakī bhabet ||
tathā ṣastrabhayaṃ vindhādantyajasya gṛheṇa tu |
ucchvāyādviguṇāṃ bhūmiṃ tyaktvā vedho na jāyate || (Matsyapurāṇa 255, 10-14 )

[“If there is the corner of another house in front of it, it means the death of the master. The doorway being blocked by a filthy drain or other impurities causes sterility to women. If there be any obstruction in the shape of pillar it indicates difficulties to the wife; and if it be obstructed by the house of a lower caste, it indicates the fear from weapons. No obstruction is recognized at a distance greater than twice the height of the house.”]^[2]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

B.D Basu, Matsyapurāṇa, p. 298

[2]:

B.D Basu, Matsyapurāṇa, p. 298