Throw a lucky man in the sea, and he
will come up with a fish in his mouth.
                                                                .. .Anonymous

The word ‘Veda’ means knowledge and the Vedas first appeared in India more than 5000 years ago. Their different sections describe the universal laws of nature pertaining to all the fields of life. The Vedas articulate the practices of Ayurveda, (the world’s first science of health), Yoga, Astrology and Vastushastra.

Vastu for Students

Vastu is an ancient Vedic science related to architecture and interior design. It explains the universal laws of nature vis-a-vis built structures and the environment. The Vedic sciences are all connected and inter twined with each other.

They have an intimate bearing on our style of living. Contrary to popular notion, Vastu is not only about houses and principles of architecture, but is a holistic way of living in harmony with nature.

Vastushastra also contains tips on the placement of five elements in order to create peace, harmony and happiness. Problems of different nature and bad luck can arise due to improper placement of the elements. To eliminate such problems, you need to create a harmonious balance of five elements. The application of Vastu is universal and not restricted to Hindus. Since this art originated during the Vedic way of life, Hindu deities reign over the realms covered by the principles of Vastu. Introducing images or symbolic representations of the deities can restore the harmony in the space that you inhabit and as well as within yourself. The goddess Saraswati is especially important for the students as she is the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. Lord Ganesha is also very important, as he is the remover of obstacles and also the deity worshipped first in most Hindu ceremonies. The tips on placement of elements and appeasing the various deities will show you how you can invoke blessings from gods through simple rites.

The Northeast is very Important for Students

The northeastern region of a house occupies an important place in Vastu. Ishana is the ruling deity of the northeast; hence this direction is also known as Ishanya. Ishana is depicted as a white figure with three white eyes, riding a bull and holding a trident. He is an incarnation of Lord Shiva who helped king Bhagirtha bring the holy river Ganga from heaven to earth. Hence, the northeast is considered to be a zone of purity and water. Brihaspati (Jupitor) is the lord of the northeast and he is golden in colour with brown hair. The areas signified by him are health, spirituality, knowledge, information, nobility,; reliability, devotion, self-control, longevity and fame. The northeast is the resting place of the Vastupurusha’s head in] the Vastu mandala. This direction, if kept open, has! beneficial effects on the mental and physical health of a] person as it allows an unobstructed flow of light and air.] Vastu considers the northeast an ideal direction for water! sources which can act as a beneficial receptacle for the positive energy that comes from there. The northeast is the gateway to heaven and radiates positive energy. The northeast is closely related with knowledge, information,] wisdom and learning; hence very important for students.

Northeast has relationship with two cardinal directions—| north and east. The gods ruling over the north are Kuber andf Soma, the lord of wealth and indulgence, and the lord of health, respectively. The east is ruled by Surya, the Sun god I who provides us with light and enlightenment. These are the | very qualities considered essential for a student’s progress. I Proper attention given to the northeast will help you in taking ] steps that can enhance the benefits of this direction.

The Vastupurusha or the god of Vastu is believed to be1 born out of Lord Shiva’s sweat. The lord granted him a boon i and his wish was to devour all the three worlds. The celestial beings, 45 deities including Brahma held him down to prevent him from doing so and he has since been lying down, surrounded by the celestial beings. Thus, Vastupurusha is the spirit of the site who sits in a squatting position with his face downwards. His head and face lie in the northeast while his thighs and feet lie in the southwest. This body position determines the division of the directions. The Vastupurusha troubles those people who do not pay heed to positions inconvenient him. Uncomfortable positions and placements invoke his wrath. The Vastu principles teach us how to create harmonized spaces while respecting the domain of the Vastupurusha. He has his head in the northeast portion, which represents brain and intellectual activities. According to the principles of Vastu, northeast is the most beneficial direction and it is always advisable to leave an open space in this direction while constructing a building. Similarly, in interior decoration, the east and the northeast should never be blocked. If this portion of the room is blocked, the free flow of positive energies within the room will also be blocked, and only negative energies will reign in the room. To avoid such a situation, the east, north and northeast portions of the room should be left open and not blocked. These are the ideal locations for a door or window, which will allow the free flow of air and sunlight into the room.

The northeast is the recipient of positive cosmic energies. The north, east and northeast should always bear less weight and have lesser contraction than the south and the west, because the weight on the Vastupurusha’s head should be lesser. A slope in a property or even in the interiors of the house should extend down the north, the northeast or the east. A depression in this region yields prosperity and growth, both on the personal front as well as the family front. This area should not have any tall or heavy obstacles that repel the positive cosmic energies. Vastu principles assert that a slope in the realm of the northeast will lead to a prosperous life. This is true in the case of the student also. The inside of your study room should ideally have a slope in the northeastern section for success and happiness.

The Study Room

The study room is a home for your soul seeking its objective in the work you do there. It is a living entity filled with natural, God-made elements, which are freely endowed j upon everyone. A study room should be maintained with care J for the soul to grow and accomplish its goals in this room. A student needs to focus on his studies while widening his understanding of nature and his relationship with the universe. The central focus of Vastushastra is to build larmony between other elements present in our surroundings md us. Vastu aims to align the vibrations of our study room with the vibrations of our body. Every student should be able to experience God-given bliss in his study room and personal space. Complete bliss and inner peace yield a carefree mind, which is more receptive to learning. Vastu guidelines will help you attain that inner peace through careful maintenance of your interiors; the study room in the case of students. Remember, an enriched environment always nurtures an enriched mind.

The study room is an important place for a student. In this room, he prepares himself to face the various examinations and interviews in his career. The study room should not only be Vastu-compatible but also comfortable, well lit and airy. It should be located in the northeast of the house. Various Vastu aspects such as colour coordination, ventilation, furniture placement, if followed meticulously, can bring a positive change in quality learning.

Entrance to the Study Room

The entrance to your study room must be spacious, clean and neat. Remember that whenever you enter your study room, you are entering a holy space as if to perform a divine function. The doorway to your study room, therefore, attains greater importance than just serving as an entrance. Cleanliness is a must to maintain the sanctity of the room. The entrance should be preferably two-shuttered and should be located in the north, east or northeast. The positive forces that abound in this direction will, therefore, be released into the room as soon as the door is opened. This is also the ideal location for a window. 

Colour Coordination of the Study Room

Do not use harsh or trendy shades on the walls of your study room. Choosing the colours of the study room walls with care is important because the right colours determine the rhythm and theme of the room. After some time, your personality will get incorporated into the room and the harmony and rhythm created by the colours will influence you in a number of ways. Good colours for your study room walls are white, sky blue, yellow, cream or light green. You can even use these colours in different ways within the room itself, besides painting your walls with them. Avoid too much use of black or brown colours in your furnishings. White is good because it represents harmony in the way it blends with all the colors of the rainbow. White also represents Saraswati, the goddess of learning. Blue is the colour of heavenly consciousness, truth, harmony, calmness and hope. Green is soothing, healing, peaceful and cool in its positive aspect. Blue and green together can stimulate the highest level of talent and creativity.

Shun Broken Mirrors

If you have a mirror in your study room, make sure that it is intact and whole. Broken mirrors are considered inauspicious not only in Hindu homes but by people all over the world. Even a hairline crack in the mirror brings bad luck. Moreover, the pieces of a broken mirror could fall and harm you if not replaced. Discard a mirror immediately once it is broken or damaged; otherwise it might become the source of negative influence that could harm your academic pursuits. Mirrors should not be fixed on the south and southwest walls.

Proper Ventilation

The five elements, namely space, air, water, fire and earth that lord Brahma used in the creation of the universe were derived from his own essence. Air is the second of these elements to be created after space and it contains the characteristics of both space and air. These elements continuously influence our bodies and our surroundings. Their presence in our lives is beneficial for us. A study room should be constructed with proper and adequate ventilation, which will allow the free circulation of fresh air. The air that we breathe in, to an extent, determines our physical and mental health. It is essential to have more openings, like windows, on the east, north or northeast to avail of uninterrupted flow of cosmic energy.

Drinking Water in the Study Room

Water is the best drink. One should drink at least one litre of water everyday. Your study room should have provision for drinking water. One of the forty-five deities holding Vastu Purusha to the ground is Ishana. This deity rules over the realm of the northeast and the element of this realm is water. In Vastu, the northeastern part of a property is perfect for storing water. The drinking water inside the study room should be placed in the northeast portion, most preferably on your table. Water in this quadrant acts as aj beneficial receptacle for the positive energy that comes from j this direction. 

Create Harmony in the Study Room

Since the Vedic texts assert that the divine exists within^ all of us, you should try and draw forth the divine inside you to bear upon your study room as well. Gandhiji had said, ‘Nothing turns out right so long as there is no harmony between body, mind and soul’. To create the harmony you need, make the personal items in your study room reflect your inner self. Surround yourself with an array of colours in the form of your pencil box, pencils, erasers, sharpeners and paperweights. These items of stationery improve the ambience of the room. Besides, the use of colourful items creates a refreshing environ and thwarts possible effects of monotony and a boring atmosphere. This will be to your advantage, as a monotonous surrounding will only stifle your creativity and natural ability to learn.

No TV or Conversation During Studies

Under the guidance of Vastu principles, a television set should never be put in the study room and bedroom, because the TV is a powerful and attractive machine, which could easily distract you from your studies and steal a part of your study time. A TV could be placed in the living room and other members of the family should be advised to keep the volume low, so that you are not disturbed. The study room should be located at a place where the sounds coming from a TV set will not disturb you while you study. Never switch on the TV even when you are taking a break from your studies or having meals. If your favourite programme is being telecast, you must resist the temptation to watch it, as most of the programmes are repeated on some channel or the other.

Certain programmes on the TV can be educative as well as informative. Parents can allow their children to watch these programmes in a deal that after that particular programme, TV would be switched off and studies be taken up seriously.

Another disturbance is conversation among family members. They should avoid loud conversation in the vicinity of the study room. Once your concentration is disturbed by a TV show or a conversation, you will lose the focus of your studies altogether.

Globe on Your Study Table

Vastu recommends awareness and friendship with environment and our planet. Be a geography friend. Keep an Atlas or a globe in your as a tool to locate any place, on the earth. Globe is a symbol of earth which provides stability. It can be kept in the southwest portion of the room or table. Very often, we keep talking about a place without even knowing its exact location. The world has become a global village, thanks to faster communication. When we hear news from around the world, it is easy to just record the names of places without bothering to find out more about the place. This is true especially in the case of some headline-making story. The story is often repeated both on the visual and print media and people may talk about it as if the incident happened in our neighbourhood itself. Mostly, we are not aware where the place is, and which country it is situated. Lacking such a vital knowledge could make you lose precious marks in your exams. Competitive exams have important questions pertaining to such details. There was a question in the UPSC exam once where the candidates were required to mark the places where a news event occurred on a given map. Only a few could do it. Strive to acquire a full-fledged knowledge rather than a half-baked one.

Music for Your Mind 

Your study room should have a music system for listening to soft music occasionally in order to soothe your nerves. The great thinker Plato has said, “Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to imagination, charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything. It is the essence of order and leads to all that is good, just and beautiful.” Hindus have deitified Saraswati as the goddess of learning and wisdom, symbolizing her as the dynamic form of eternal sound. Music is filled with the divine energy. Sweet music helps mental concentration as well.

The spheres of music referred to as NADA leave a lasting sense of peace in the person who hears it and the experience is more vivid and real than any other sensory experience. Listening to soft music while taking short breaks during study will help you to concentrate better, besides refreshing your mind. However, one should remember that the music of the gods is not the kind that is likely to break your concentration or distract your mind from your purpose.

Sit Facing the Northeast

A student should face the northeast, north or east while studying. The northeast is the direction of knowledge and information as per Vastu principles. The early rays of the morning sun fall on the northeastern region, destroying germs and bringing in positive energy and a refreshing effect. The unobstructed flow of cosmic energies, light and air from the northeast also creates a refreshing atmosphere. If the student faces the northeast, the mind can benefit from the favourable effects of the positive energy, light and air flow. Therefore, a student should face the direction of knowledge and reap the advantages of the favourable conditions that nature herself has created.

Sunlight—The Best Source

The eyes are very important body organ, giving us the sense of sight. They are extremely sensitive and need proper and regular care. There should always be proper lighting for the eyes to work without strain. If one has to read for a long period while studying, extra care should be taken to ensure that there is enough light. Harsh and inadequate light may cause an unnecessary strain to your eyes, which will harm them. Today, the rise in the number of children wearing glasses is alarming. Though this can be attributed to genes to some extent, many cases are due to improper care and inadequate provision for reading light. Natural light from the Sun is best suited for eyes. Indoors or at night, this should ie supplemented with artificial light. In order to get sufficient latural light, your study table should be placed in the lirection which receives direct sunlight, i.e. the northeast, ast or north. Read outside in the Sun on a clear day. It will •rove relaxing for your eyes.

Leights to Correct Vastu Imbalances

Lights create balance and harmony in the study room, rhey are good for correcting Vastu imbalances associated vith rooms of irregular shapes. Lights are a powerful tistrument in creating an illusion of shape and can make odd-haped rooms and furniture appear better. This is a very imple and easy way to correct the Vastu imbalances, which iring about negative influences. A well-lit room is always leasing and more welcoming than a dimly lit one. The eyes ne quick reactors to light and their very nature requires that lue importance be given to lighting as well. The pupil size idjusts according to the intensity of light and increases when he light is not bright, raising stress. To avoid this, use omfortable bright lights. Do not place electric bulbs in the lirection you are facing because this will give rise to hadows that come in your range of vision, disturbing you nstead of correcting imbalances. Place the main source of ight in the direction of your back, at a higher level, throwing ight on your reading and as well as in the whole room. Use ights creatively and build a relaxing atmosphere conducive o concentration in your study room.

Supplementary and Proper Light is a Must

Natural light will not be sufficient for reading at all hours of the day. A table lamp for your study table is necessary. The light from your lamp should fall directly on your reading material. To increase its effects, the bulb of the table lamp should not be exposed, but covered with a shade. The shade prevents the light from getting diffused and does not become faint over your area of focus. The harshness of the light, which may be harmful to your eyes, will also be deflected.

Light should come simultaneously atleast from two sources like two bulbs or tube lights while you study on your table. Single source of light is generally not sufficient inside a room for the purpose of reading and writing.

We use items like bulbs and tubes that can and do get dusty or damaged. A regular checking must be made of all sources to get proper light. Check to find and replace any damaged bulbs or holders during the daytime when the natural light is there to help you. Have a ready stock of bulbs, plugs, holders, or wires, which you might need to replace faulty lights. 

Windows

It is good to have two windows on either side of the main door to make it look like a human face. Winds laden with pranic energy come in from the north and the east. If you follow Vastu directions in the structure of the house, your main door will be in these directions and windows on the sides will, be beneficial. The two windows in these directions will allow the incoming forces to enter the house and increase the benefits. Windows are good in a study room, particularly opposite your chair to enable you to have an outside view whenever you want. If you have windows in the other directions, try to avoid opening them or curtail the duration of leaving them open. The windows and ventilators provide ventilation, which is beneficial in maintaining an even temperature and driving out the stale air. Nature is abundantly present in a room, which is well ventilated and has a good circulation of air.

No Creaking

The doors and windows of the study room should be preferably wooden and should not be creaky. They should be well fitted and balanced and not open without human effort. Creaky doors are inauspicious and should be oiled immediately. Moreover, creaky hinges will only add to the noise pollution and will pose a distracting factor for the student. Another point to note is that doors and windows should open wide to let in more light and air.

The Room should be well Proportioned

The breadth, height and length of the study room must be well proportioned. The best shape for a room is a square because all the energy fields are present in a square. All the positive influences of the eight directions are well balanced in this structure. In a rectangular room, the energy lines are stretched and they grow weaker but this is still a better shape than other irregular shapes that a room might acquire. Odd-shaped rooms, which have a missing corner or an elongated side, will lose an energy force or have an excess of another, depending on their irregularities. The energy fields are like the cosmic forces, they are constant and it is very important that we learn to tap these forces in the shape and structure of the room. The science of energy fields understood by the division of directions is at the base of Vastu preferring certain areas for specific activities. Having a well-proportioned room will ensure that positive forces remain inside the structure, ensuring a full life for the inmates. If your room has a missing corner, you can add a light on the wall towards the missing area to enhance particular energy related to missing area. If it is elongated, you can put a curtain to balance the energy.

Placement of Furniture

The proper placement of furniture is important in creating a Vastu-enriched environment for your study room. Positive energy enters the room through the gateway to the gods in the northeast and travels in an arc to the southwest of the home. The furniture placement can help either to trap or release the energy flow. Care should be taken not to disrupt or disturb this energy flow by proper positioning of furniture. As heavy furniture can stop the circulation of the energy flow, Vastu advices on how pieces of furniture, particularly heavier ones can be placed, so that the positive energies can be trapped to remain inside the house. All items of furniture must be kept at least three inches away from the wall in the north, east and northeast. The four cardinal directions and the intermediate directions, which are so central to Vastu, are also to be taken into consideration in the placement of furniture inside the house.

Vastushastra can help achieve beneficial surrounding space in your study room through the correct placement of the various kinds of furnitures. The care given to your physical space enriches the environment and promotes a healthy mind.

Have a Spacious Study Table

The study table should be spacious enough to accommodate the items that you frequently use in addition to the ones you use at specific times. You may like to place items of stationery on the table. A study table often contains some personal items, like a favourite picture or photograph as well. Vastu recognizes that our dwellings should reflect the rhythm of the universe and our connection to nature. As such, a vase of flowers or some other natural product on your study table would create harmony between the interior of the room and the world outside. The study table has to be large enough to effectively carry all these items and still have enough empty space to produce a sense of tranquility.

Shape of the Table

The shape of your study table should ideally be either square or rectangular. The four corners of a square or rectangle represent the four cardinal directions of north, south, east and west giving rise to the intermediate directions of the northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest and the centre with their respective elements of air, water, earth, fire and space, the presiding deities and symbolisms. The four corners of the square and rectangle represent the first four elements while the fifth that of space is provided around the table. To have a study table without the four corners would mean to lose out on any of the elements, thus missing out on the identification of a cardinal direction and the blessings of its ruling deity. The use of odd-shaped furniture should, therefore, be avoided.

Use a Good Table and Chair

A student must develop the habit of studying only on the chair and table provided in his study room. Since these items of furniture are frequently used, they should be comfortable, ergonomically perfect and adjustable to the user’s height. You should be able to sit straight and erect on the chair with your feet touching the floor or the footrest. The table should be of a height where you can read comfortably. Incorrect posture is the biggest cause of backaches and medical advisers also recommend correct postures at all times. A good sitting posture will improve your physical health and also enhance your mental abilities. Added to this, heavy items of furniture like the table and chair should be placed in the direction of the Southwest side of the room, which is the realm of earth and heaviness.

The Decor of your Study

Every individual has his or her own distinct personality and specific needs that require well-thought out choices. Learn to know yourself well so that the choices you make in life will always be best suited for the person that you are. Vastu living advises the expression of each person’s individuality in the home and workplace. For a student, the study room is his personal workplace and the decor of the room should reflect the same. Thinking of yourself and your soul as a deity and the study room as its temple will make you consider the study room as a sacred space, connecting the soul to the Supreme Creator. The physical space, where we spend most of our time, has an enormous effect on us and Vastu helps us to ensure that this effect is positive. The decor of the study room should invite concentration of the mind and a place where you will like to spend your time. Your ability to express your individual personality in your study room is an important factor that adds to the harmony existing between you and your space.

Vastu offers time-tested advice for the decor of the study room. Tips in the use of colour are those that can best help a student. Accept that you have your own distinct personality and work towards its expression in the decor of your study room.

Welcome Sign

The entrance to your study room will be in the northeast quadrant, filling the room with enlightenment and inspiration, provided you follow the Vastu principles. Hang a welcome sign on the door of your study room. Opening your heart to others leads to opening your mind. A welcome sign is a positive omen, which shows that you are not an anti-social person, and that you are willing to share what you are and what you have with those who might need it. Many successful people have been known to have good relations with people they come across. Be open-minded enough to enhance your personal and public relationships. A welcome sign at the entrance to your study room will be a good indicator of your intentions.

Selective Pictures

Do not keep photographs or paintings that generate negative feelings in your study room. The pictures you hang on your walls are important and you need to be selective about them because you will have to look at them every time you enter your study room . There are certain pictures which should not be hung in a house, such as depictions of nudes, animals fighting, snakes, owls, bats, vultures and pigeons. Do not put up pictures that might distract you while you study. The study room is your private space, not a showroom for display. Make it a point to ensure that the ambience of the room encourages your mental activities, not distract them. Negative energies are the last things you need in the room, so avoid putting up pictures that might release them.

Inspirational Walls

Keep inspirational quotes and pleasant images on the walls of your study room. The decor of the room should be designed in such a way that the moment you walk into the room, it immediately fills you with the desire to study. You must have seen pictures and photographs of national leaders hung on the walls of government offices and educational institutions. This is done to show respect and also because these depictions are inspirational in nature. Their pictures remind us of the great lives these leaders have lived and motivate us to emulate them in whatever way we can. Similarly, you can hang pictures of your heroes and people who inspire you on the walls of your study room. Pleasant images, which have a calm effect on your senses, can also be used to fill the walls. Inspirational quotes that will constantly remind you of your goals and encourage you should also be put up as wall hangings. Photographs of your family and role models are best placed within a frame either lined with gold or in golden colours.

Updated Markers

Calendars always form an important part of decor of a study room. Make it a point to update the calendars and year planners you have in your study room . Do not put up outdated calendars and year planners. Always discard them immediately. It is important for you to remain in the present so that you are always focussed on your task. Any outdated markers on the study table might set you back and disrupt your routine. Besides calendars and planners, make sure that your clock is also always on time. It does not pay to be late or to miss some opportunity because of a faulty clock on the wall. There have been many cases of students missing out on an important exam or failing to show up for an interview because their markers were not updated. Avoid such careless mistakes by ensuring that you keep the correct time in your study room.

Colourful Paperweights

A careful and skillful use of colour will always brighten up a room. With this aim in mind, add colours into the decor of your study room that will lift your spirits and make you enthusiastic towards working on your lessons. The use of a paperweight is quite necessary on any worktable and your study table is no exception. You need it to keep loose sheets in place to prevent them from flying all over the place. This will become more useful as you progress in your studies because there will be an increase in your study matter. A single book will cease to provide everything you need. Collection of data becomes very important and you will need paperweights to keep your materials in place. Use a colourful paperweight that is as attractive as it is useful. Adding colour in your study room in this manner will enhance your creative abilities and increase your mind power as well.

Fresh Flowers in the Study

Fresh flowers in a vase in your study room are excellent Vastu tools that will lift your spirits. Introducing Nature inside your room will be a great advantage, especially if you live in a city where there is hardly any space to let nature grow undisturbed. People of all ages, of every age and in places all over the world use flowers to compliment each other and show their appreciation. The sight of fresh flowers in the room will delight your senses and sharpen them for the tasks ahead of you. When you bring flowers for display in the room, you can use a vase or container but always keep the proportion of the space in mind and do not overwhelm it, so that it appears refreshing and not stifling or congested. You can even bring the outdoors into the room’s interiors by displaying various strains of plants and flowers if you have Sunlight coming inside the room.

No Dried Flowers or Cacti

Take care not to use dried flowers or cactus because these release only negative Vastu energies. Dried flowers should not be used as a part of decoration in homes particularly the study room. Dried flowers have spent thei| life and are now truly dead. Death releases negative for The cactus is virtually a dry plant having hardly any wati Having thorns all over a cactus does not suggest or repr a vivid life and thus, should be avoided.

Display a Photograph of Goddess Saraswati

Saraswati is the consort of Lord Brahma, the god of creation. She is herself the goddess of wisdom and knowledge and all the fine arts. She is also the deity of learning. Being the embodiment of spiritual wisdom, Lord Brahma also requires her knowledge in the act of perfect creation. For a student, the worship of Saraswati is a must as she is the giver of knowledge and wisdom. A photo of the deity should be placed in the northeast corner of the study room so that the scholar can worship and gain her blessings on his efforts. The appearance of the goddess is symbolic; she is normally shown with four hands. Two hands play the veena, a stringed instrument. With one hand, she holds one of the Vedas, reminding us that wisdom is contained in these texts, while the fourth hand holds rosaries showing the need to concentrate through meditation and chanting. A photograph of the deity displayed inside the study room will be a source of constant inspiration for the student. You can also keep images of Lord Shiva and Brihaspati in the northeast of your study room as symbols of energy and wisdom.

Veena in the Study Room

Music that aids mental concentration, is the blessing of Goddess Saraswati. She is the goddess who gives man the sense of hearing and energy for sound, producing music. It is this sense which can lead man back to the infinite, if only he understands how to use it. In her symbolic representation, two hands of Goddess Saraswati play the veena through which she makes music, the vibration of sound, and spreads the word. Placing a real or a symbol of the veena in the Northeast realm of the study room would be advantageous for the student. Other symbolic representations of the goddess, which you may add to the decor of your room are: a sheet of music, a lotus, a carving or picture of a swan or a peacock. Some students even believe that peacock’s feathers bring them luck and so they put them inside books or under their pillows during exams. It is always good to select discreet, symbolic representations of the deity for Vastu of the study room.

Pyramid

Pyramids are classic examples of Vastu. They have immense power to generate positive energies. A pyramidal shape in the construction of the room will help in studying and meditation. This should be done, however, only if you are not going to use the study room for sleeping. The pyramidal shape has walls sloping inward as they go upward towards the ceiling. Even if you cannot construct the room in such a shape, it would still be a big help to have a small pyramid on your study table to enhance energy in your room. Pyramidal-shaped things can be used in the room in the form of cushions and lampshades. You may also display a set of pyramid shaped wooden blocks.

Windchimes

Windchimes are useful for circulating positive energy and can be strategically placed. When placed at the entrance, they make a cheerful sound and encourage positive energy into the room. It is good to hang them inside the study room also. Windchimes were originally used to discourage ghosts and evil spirits that were believed to be scared of the pleasant sounds created by the chimes. Today, Windchimes come in all shapes and sizes. The ones with hollow rods and sweet sounds allow positive energy to rise through them and are best for use in your study room. In choosing an appropriate chime for your study room, you can take advice from a Vastu expert or make a personal choice that reflects your inner self and with which you can identify and experience harmony and rhythm.

Aquarium in the Northeast

The importance of the northeastern direction for the student has been emphasized continually in the previous tips. This intermediate direction is dominated by the element of water and its deity, Isan. Following the principles of Vastu, the orientation of your study room will be in the northeast. It is good to keep a small aquarium in your study room, symbolizing the presiding deity. It also serves the purpose of decorating the room. It can be a very interesting eyepiece. If this is not possible, hang a picture of a fish on your wall to symbolize the element of water. Moreover, it is also considered auspicious to see a fish or a picture of one before you go for your exams. It will have a soothing effect on your senses by influencing the element of water present in your body with its four characteristics, i.e. sound, sense of touch, shape and taste.

Fountains Inside Your Study

Fountains are beautiful, ornamental and decorative objects. Many parks have fountains as their main attraction. These water features are also found at a lot of open spaces, which have been created to beautify the natural surroundings. Fountains are moving objects that generate positive energies. Today, fountains are not confined to outdoor decorations. Knowing its positive influence, fountains are now available in smaller sizes, which can be kept inside homes. Keep a small fountain in your study room in order to create a pleasant atmosphere and reap the benefit of the positive energies that it radiates.

No Redundant Photos

Photographs of dead people should not be kept in the study room. Hanging superfluous pictures that are totally unnecessary can only create a feeling of claustrophobia and make you feel suffocated. Such feelings will cloud your mind and prevent it from realizing its full potential. It is considered inauspicious to have photographs of your dead relatives inside the study room. The memories of our loved ones may still be a source of comfort for us but they do not enrich our life pursuits because they are now in the realm of death. We should train ourselves to focus on the present and prepare for our future instead of languishing in our past.

No Redundant Equipment

Do not keep defective calculators, leaking pens, etc., on your study table. Discard them immediately. Any item, which is broken or defective, emanates negative energy flow and disrupts the circulation of positive elements inside the room. Such things are never touched and they only collect dust. They symbolize that the room is very ill maintained or not cared for. It will disturb the maintenance of your private space. A good inner life can only come out of an ideal relationship with your surroundings. If the space around you is dirty and filled with redundant things, this is the environment that your soul will relate to. Remember that such an association can never produce excellence in any life, especially that of a student. The collection of things you keep in your study room and their value in terms of use will be a reflection on your personality and will also have a strong influence on your life.

Keep The Study Clean

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Your studies are a form of worship and the place that is assigned for it should be maintained with care and respect. Keep the study room neat and clean. Always keep it free from clutter, dust, dirt, etc. Every article should be given its proper place and a habit of following such an arrangement should be developed. If books and papers are carelessly scattered around the room, the sanctity of the study room will be destroyed. To avoid unnecessary distractions and troubles, which may arise due to improper arrangement, utmost care has to be taken in assigning a proper place to all the items and by strictly following the arrangements. Sweep and wipe the floors of the study room on a regular basis and do not let any item of furniture or any article to get dusty. To motivate you in your studies, the room should always have a pleasing appearance of cleanliness and neatness.

Special Cleaning of the Study Before Diwali

Take extreme care to get rid of unwanted material from the study room before Diwali. This is the festival of lights and crackers and colours. It symbolizes the end of the old and the beginning of the new. Hence, the things that have become old and useless are discarded and new things are brought into the house. Diwali stands in a complimentary relationship with the principles of Vastu—the need to surround us with beneficial objects and create an enriched environment. An untidy building or room will restrict the entry of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. At Diwali, Vastu Purusha is also worshipped. At this time, one must sing his aarti, praising his kindness in order to attain success,j prosperity and protection from all evil.

Keep Your Things in Place

Learn to keep your things in their allotted place and havel a specific place to store different things in your study room.j This habit will go a long way to help you later in life. Pu a pen stand or a pencil box on your study table to store your writing tools. Have a separate box for coloured pens oil pencils. Arrange your books according to their contents oij subjects on the bookrack so that it becomes easier for you to locate books on specific topics. Other objects that you in your study room should also have their proper storage spaces. This will not only give the room a clean look but als instil a habit of disciplined living, which will last a lifetime. Keeping things at their proper places will save a lot of time that you can otherwise use for your studies. It will save you the unnecessary trouble of turning the room upside down to find things as and when you need them.

Paper Tray

Use a paper tray on your study table and keep all the loose papers neatly arranged in it. This will give your table a polished look and keep it neat and tidy. A paper tray should not be filled up so much that the purpose is defeated. Make sure you check the contents periodically so that you may discard the things that you no longer need. Experiment with colour in choosing your paper tray—it will prove quite interesting, though they are functional and will be useful no matter what they look like. The choice of colour adds to the overall effect of the room. Coordinating the colour of the tray with the rest of the room will be an added advantage in making the room more pleasant. If the interior of the room is pleasant, you will be motivated and encouraged to stay in it and enjoy the time that you spend studying.

Vastu For Arrangement

Tables, chairs and other articles in the study room can be arranged in accordance with Vastu to get support from nature and also to strike the right balance. The ideal location for your chair and desk is the southwest, south or west, especially if your chair and desk are heavy, because this is the realm of the element Earth and of heaviness. You can also put other heavy articles like bookracks in this direction. When you sit down, face the northeast while your chair is placed in the southwest. This will reinforce the qualities of strength and power and the northeast will bring you serenity and positive cosmic energies. Make the study room a cheerful place, which beckons you to enter and make your stay here a pleasure. The study room, however, should not be stuffy.

You should not face a blank wall while study. There can be an open space, a window or ever a beautiful painting