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In the Veda, house can be interpreted as
either our subtle body or as the external physical residence.
Constructing the subtle body means developing all the requisite
psychological qualities which have a structure of their own.
We focus in this essay only on the meaning
of house as a physical construction.
The house is an important aspect of family and
there are two hymns related to it (3.12) and (9.3), including its
consecration.
The house could be
of many sizes, 2-sided, 4-sided, 6-sided, 8-sided and 10-sided.
(9.3.21).
The dwelling is
said to be built by poets, kavi (9.3.19) indicating the
high regard of the society for both builders and designers. The
house is said to be the home of Soma or delight (9.3.19).
The house, it is said, adjusts itself to all just like a new bride
adjusts herself to all members of the joint family.
The Vedic poets
viewed a house not merely as a inanimate block of sand and grass,
but as a living and conscious entity. The divinity associated with
the house is addressed in (3.12.5).
“Queen of the mansion,
our shelter, kind goddess, thou art made by the devās.
May thou, robed in
grass, be gracious to us
And give us great
heroes and felicities”.
The house consecration ceremony described
in
(3.12) is similar to the one done
even today in Hindu families on entering a new home.
ATHARVA VEDA (3.12)
TO A HOUSE (At Its Consecration)
Rishi: Brahman
Here I fix my dwelling;
may it stand in
safety,
flowing with light
(ghrta).
May we approach thee, O
House,
with all our people,
our fine people,
our people
undiseased.-------------------
(1)
Stand firm on this
spot, O House,
possessed of horses
and cattle,
and of sweet voices,
rich in food,
rich in butter and
milk,
and rise up for great
good fortune. -------------------
(2)
With thy lofty roof, O
House,
and thy clean barn,
thou art a sanctuary
for everything.
May there come to thee
in the evening
the calf and the little
boy,
and cattle streaming
along. -------------------
(3)
May Sāvitri and Vāyu
and Indra
and Bŗhaspati who
knows all,
establish this house.
May Maruts sprinkle it
with energies and clarities,
and King Bhaga make
our fields thrive. -------------------
(4)
Queen of the mansion,
our shelter,
kind Goddess thou art
first made by devās:
May thou, robed in
grass,
be gracious to us,
and give us brave sons
and wealth. -------------------
(5)
Rise on the pillar, O
Pole,
with Eternal Law,
shine brightly and
scare away the foe.
Let not those who dwell
within thee suffer.
May we live a hundred
autumns
with all our
people. -------------------
(6)
To this may the small
boy come,
the calf and the
cattle come;
to this may come the
overflowing pitcher
with jars of
curds. -------------------
(7)
Lady, bring this full
pitcher
and the streams of
ghee mixed with nectar;
and with the nectar anoint the drinkers well.
May our hopes,
fulfilled,
preserve this
dwelling. -------------------
(8)
I bring this water,
free from disease,
disease-destroying,
and with deathless
fire
I enter and dwell in the
house. -------------------
(9)
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