Fire, is an oxymoron of an element. It can be essential for sustenance as well as a destructive force, destroying anything that it engulfs. This element is of primary use in the kitchen. Hence, Vastu Shastra has numerous tips and ideas to ensure that this element is utilized to its full positive potential thereby attracting all the good fortune it is believed to offer.
Location of the Kitchen:
The correct location for the kitchen as per the Vastu Shastra is the South-East corner of the house as the fire God, Agni Dev is believed to reside in this direction. An alternate location to this, if the South-East direction is not an option is the North-West direction.
The kitchen should never be located directly under or above the prayer room, the bedroom or the toilet. Note that the Kitchen can never be placed in the North-East.
Ideal Colours for the Kitchen Walls and Floors:
Yellow, orange, rose, chocolate or red are the desired colours to paint the walls and floors of the kitchen or similar coloured tiles are chosen, if tiles are to be installed. Black colours are to be avoided.
Ideal floor for the Kitchen:
Ceramic tiles, mosaic and marble floor is a better option compared to the wooden floor.
Placement of the Stove or the Cooking Gas:
South east corner of the kitchen is the preferred site to place the stove or the cooking gas, maintaining a distance of a few inches from the walls.
The stove or the cooking gas should never face the entrance/ door directly.
Direction while Cooking:
It is suggested by the Vastu to face the East while cooking whereas facing the West and the South while cooking is contraindicated. While cooking, facing the East is said to increase good health.
Placement of the Doors, Windows and Ventilators in the Kitchen:
According to the Vastu Shastra the correct direction for placing of the kitchen doors should be on the Eastern, Western or the Northern wall. The East or the West walls are best suited for windows. Ventilators, if any, can be placed in the South.
It should be noted that the doors are never to be placed in the corners.
Locating other Appliances and Utility inside the Kitchen:
- Electrical appliances: It is advised to keep the microwave, oven, coffee maker, mixer, grinder, blender, toaster, rice cooker, electrical kettle, induction cooker etc towards the South or the South-East wall of the kitchen avoiding the North-East direction as best as possible.
- Refrigerator: While installing the refrigerator, it is to be kept in mind that it should never be placed in the North-East direction. It can be kept in the South-East, South, West or the north direction. If it is placed in the South-West direction, it should be kept away from the walls.
- Wash basin, taps, water pipes and water tank: The wash basin, tap and water pipes are always to be placed in the North-East direction. However, the water tank is avoided being placed in the North or the North-East direction. It is ideally kept outside the kitchen, in the Western part of the house. As fire and water are two opposing elements, the cooking appliances and the wash basin, taps or water pipes are best kept apart. All of these should not be on the same platform or parallel to each other.
- Dining table: If a dining table is included inside the kitchen then it should be kept in the North-West or the Western area.
- Exhaust fans: Eastern walls are the option to install the exhaust fans.
- Drinking water and utensils: The drinking water and the utensils to drink water are suggested to be placed in the North-East or the Northern direction.
- Cupboards for storage: Cupboards for the storage of grains, spices, pulses, crockery and utensils should be ideally placed in the South, West or South-West direction, avoiding the Northern and the Eastern side walls.
The Ill-Effects of Vastu Non-Compliant Kitchen:
- Loss of Health: Not following the basic principles of Vastu during the construction of the kitchen may lead to loss of health for the cook or the head of the family. It may lead to terminal illnesses and premature death.
A kitchen located in the North-Eastern part of the house may lead to mental stress and major losses related to health.
The cook should not face the west while preparing food as it is believed to pose a serious threat to the cook’s health.
- Family disputes: South-West located kitchens may cause clashes among family members. The close proximity of wash basin and cooking range may bring about unnecessary or unintentional arguments between couples.
Clashes within the family, misunderstandings, quarrels, separation and divorce are likely.
- Financial breakdown: Since it is believed that Lord Kuber, the God of Wealth resides in the North, it is said that placing a kitchen in the North can lead to unexpected expenditure. The cook facing the South when cooking may attract monetary loss. While it is considered acceptable to place the kitchen in the North-West, it is also believed to cause increase in monetary expenditure
Remedies for a kitchen placed in the North-East direction
Locating the kitchen in the North-East is strictly prohibited by the Vastu and is considered highly inauspicious. However if the kitchen is already built in this direction, there are a number of remedies to correct or lessen the harmful effects that it may cause.
- Three bronze bowls can be hung upside down from the kitchen ceiling. Avoid hanging these bowls directly above the stove or cooking gas. The first bowl is hung in the North-East corner followed by the second bowl on its left and the third bowl on its right.
- The Siddha Vastu Kalash, a sacred water vessel representing the three deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, should be placed in the North-East and simultaneously Lord Shiva is to be worshipped regularly.
- A window should be constructed in the North-East wall of the kitchen and should be kept open at all times. If possible an exhaust fan can also be installed here.
- The colour of the kitchen walls should be blue, yellow lemon shade.
- The gas stove should be placed in the South-East corner of the kitchen.
- Make an auxiliary kitchen by boiling milk or cooking something in the South-East direction, the correct location of the kitchen.
- The North-east corner of the kitchen should be kept clean and clutter free
- The North-East portion of the kitchen can be extended and a prayer room or a wash basin can be constructed there.
- Image of Goddess Annapurna or a Vastu pyramid can be placed in the North-East portion if the extension is not possible.
The benefits of a Vastu friendly kitchen are attracting good luck, good health and prosperity. A Vastu friendly kitchen secures the financial stability of the house. The Vastu believes that the fire element is responsible for the financial strength of the family. Hence, the kitchen is associated with the fire element, given to the obvious presence of this element while cooking and preparing food.
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