What it does
Explains why every plot has 45 devta positions and why they must be honoured.
Where
Every plot (45 positions of the 81-pada grid)
Cautions
Explanation and notes
Like the nose, eyes and ears of the body, each of the 45 positions has its own work. In scientific terms the devtas are names for the energy of the land: the sun, moon, 27 nakshatras and 9 planets strike each spot at particular angles (1, 5.625 and 11.25 degrees) and change its chemistry. Energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed. Working with each spot according to its chemistry brings success in business, education, spiritual life and politics. Like dry fruits that give energy only when eaten, a devta helps only when activated. Learning the 45 devtas of the 81-pada grid well is learning complete vastu, because the devtas are the land itself.
Shikhi, also called Shiva, is the first outer devta of the pishach bhoomi, at E1 near the North-East corner. A mahayogi and a highly sensitive maha-dowser, its pad reacts at once to anything done there; it governs vision, foresight and decisions.
Parjanya, the cloud and rain devta (megh, badal) at E2 next to Shikhi, brings rain, productivity and fertility and fulfils plans and wishes like a kalpavriksha. It is the doctor of crops, people and animals.
A quick manual method to divide any plan into the concentric bhoomis of the 81-pada grid by multiplying the centre-to-corner distance by 0.33, 0.55 and 0.77.
After the bhoomi rings are drawn, the outer ring is cut into 32 pads of 11.25 degrees each, starting with Som devta centred on North, and the middle ring into 12 inner pads with an 18-54-18 degree split for each direction.
Both grids hold the same 45 vastu devtas, but the 81-pada mandala is used for homes and business premises while the 64-pada mandala is used for temples, villages, palaces (raj mandir), towns and city gates.
The biggest pooja, havan and sthapana of the 45 devtas should be done at garbh vinyas or shilanyas, while the devtas are on open ground and can receive their samagri at their own pads; the building is then raised over them.
In earlier times, after garbh vinyas and the plinth beam, builders left the work for a season of about three months so that the sun, moon, 27 nakshatras and 9 planets could fully act on the newly acquired and worshipped land.
Each of the 32 outer devtas holds a 45-minute period of sadhana, so together they complete the 24 hours. Havan, offerings and jaap done in a devta's own period wake and activate it quickly.