Shankusthapana : A Sacred & Auspicious Ritual Performed To Establish The Foundation

Shankusthapana : Also Known As Bhoomi Pooja is a ritual performed before the construction of a house or building to establish its foundation in a sacred and auspicious manner.

Earth has three types of faults.

Sparshadosa, Drishti Dosha, Shalya Dosha.

Sparshadosa means the doshas/diseases caused due to touch.

Drishti dosha is a dosha caused by short-sightedness.

Mrityu Dosha or Shalya Dosha means the remains of the dead body, where a death has happened, Deity worship does not happen at that place.

So Shankusthapana is done in such a place to increase the sanctity and it is called Bhumi Puja or Vastu Puja

Shankusthapana & Important Aspects

Here are some important aspects of Shankusthapana:

1. Location of the foundation: The length of the house is divided into nine equal parts. Three parts from the feet side are left empty, two parts from the direction of Vastu Purusha’s feet are left empty, and the remaining part represents the navel position of Vastu Purusha. The foundation is laid at the navel position, where a Shankam (cone) is established.
2. Construction of Shankam: A Shankam, resembling a conch, is constructed using materials like sandalwood, maredu (Indian fig tree), mud, neem, and moon stick. The Shankam is placed on grains and worshipped during the Vastu Puja.
3. Method of the Puja: The owner of the land should select an auspicious Muhurta (time) for the ceremony and seek the assistance of a priest. The following pujas are typically performed:

• Ganapati Pooja: Worship of Lord Ganesha to remove obstacles and ensure prosperity.
• Punyahavachana: A purification ceremony to remove impurities from the land.
• Navagraha Puja: Worship the nine planets to seek their blessings.
• Vastu Puja: Worship of the Shankam and the foundation area with Shodashopacharams (16 ritualistic offerings).
• Sankhupuja: The Shankar is wrapped in jute, adorned with gems, worshipped, and then buried in the northeast part of the land.

1. Strength of benefic planets: The foundation stone should ideally be laid when benefic planets are strong in the foundation lagna (ascendant). Planets like Sun, Mars, Saturn in the third, sixth, or eleventh positions or in their own favorable positions (Uchcha, Mula Trikona, Svakshetras) are considered favorable. It is preferable to avoid having planets in the 4th and 8th positions of the lagna.
2. Auspicious timings: The most favorable time for Shankusthapana is during Gurubalam (an auspicious time based on the position of Jupiter). The month of Vaisakh is highly auspicious, while Jyeshta is considered normal. Ashadham is deemed harmful, and the months of Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashviyuzam, Kartikam, Margashiram, and Falguna have specific implications related to wealth, poverty, respect, financial development, spiritual thinking, and restlessness.
3. Avoid inauspicious timings: It is advisable to avoid Shukra Maudhyam (influence of Venus) and Guru Maudhyam (influence of Jupiter) for the foundation stone laying and house entry. Shankusthapana during Pushya, Ashadha, and Bhadrapada months is considered harmful.

Performing Shankusthapana and following these guidelines is believed to remove potential errors and bring positive outcomes for the construction project.

Also Read : https://telugutraditions.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=835&action=edit