How long do the sun's rays take to reach the earth, and which materials capture the most of the planetary energy they bring?
The sun's rays take about 8 minutes 20 seconds to reach the earth, and only about 55% of their energy arrives; the other 45% is lost on the way. Of what arrives, trees and plants capture about 95%, mirrors 80%, yantras 60 to 90%, pyramids 65% (which is why fruit kept under a pyramid stays fresh), water 60% (mainly the Moon's energy), metals 45% and stones 35%. Plastic and other petroleum by-products capture none, so interiors should rely on natural materials and on indoor and outdoor plants chosen for the planet of each direction.
Related questions
Can Kota stone tiles be used?
Yes, Kota stone is among the best floors and produces very good energy. It is a fine-grained sedimentary rock that stays cool.
Can artificial plants be used in the kitchen?
Yes, there is no problem in using artificial plants in the kitchen.
I cut grooves on three sides of a toilet, inserted steel strips and kept artificial green plants inside, but got no result. Why?
Metal is a good conductor, so it carries and spreads energy instead of blocking it, and blocking works only when it covers all sides. Metal should not be put into the ground for this. Use a bad conductor, just as the plastic cover on an electric wire stops the current from reaching you. Plastic pyramids and random items sold in the name of vastu do not help.
Is a rooftop water storage tank also counted as the water element?
Yes. Water stored anywhere, including on the roof, represents the water element. But if the tank is built in a square shape, it moves to the earth element, because the square is the earth element's shape, and it becomes an earth combination.
What are the five parts used in the panchang test, and what should be watched for?
Panchang means the five parts of any tree: its root, bark, fruit, flower and leaves. Boil them in water and watch whether any sound comes, like the crackling heard when ghee or oil is used for tempering. Quiet boiling shows good land; jumping and crackling show negative energy.
Why is the banana tree prohibited when it belongs to Jupiter?
No fruit-bearing tree is meant to be an indoor plant. If there is a garden, plant it there, not inside the house; otherwise fruit trees bring trouble for the children, as Varahamihira says.