Days 33-36 ~ Follow me on my Feng Shui Study Tour of the Far East, 6 countries in 6 weeks, on my Travel Blog

Day 33 ~ May 5th, 1999, Left Delhi for Udaipur – Daily Seminars with Nimish & Parul along with Site Visits – First day a walking tour of Udaipur

My teachers for the next several days: Nimish and Parul Patel: Established their firm over 40 years ago now. Top students from Vastu Shilpa Research Foundation School of Architecture. They began their study of the ancient way of building science aligned with the cosmic order called Vastu Shastra. For many years they lived in Udaipur, actively working with the local crafts people learning the indigenous styles of buildings. They have pioneered not only heritage restoration work in Udaipur, but also the integration of indigenous building material and Vastu designs. Nimish and Parul are leading lights in energy efficient designs and ecological considerations in India and have successfully incorporated these principles into many major projects.

4/3/2020 – As I looked up where they are today – Nimish Patel – a noted Indian Architect and conservationist passed away on December 12, 2018, at the age of 70.  The Indian architectural community is shocked by the untimely demise of one of its most respectable and revered colleagues.  Nimish Patel was the founder Principal architect of Abhikram – an Ahmedabad based architectural practice which he established in 1979 ALONG WITH his architect wife Parul Zaveri. The awards and accomplishments are so vast I will put a link here where excerpt above was taken from:  www.worldarchitecture.org

I am honored and humbled to have been led by such master teachers in their fields.

About Vastu (Vaastu Shastra): According to Indian manuals on architecture and town planning, the Vastu Shastra, some of which are over 2000+ years old, state how a dwelling and city had to function as a mandala, or sacred diagram. Mandalas were governed by the precise dimensions and proportions, repeating in miniature form the mathematical scheme of the cosmos. Zones within the mandala represented different levels of the universe and were identified with particular symbology. Vastu philosophy states that everything is fundamentally ‘shabda’ or sound, which is the basic pulse of energy, which is then woven into the design. Vastu Shastra (Indian Feng Shui) provides extensive knowledge about design principles following the laws of the universe. Collectively, these underlying rhythms are sympathic to human needs, enhance good health and prosperity, are known to radiate positive energy and represent ecologically sustainable environments.

Udaipur, India (City of Lakes):

Surrounding the vast, shimmering Pichola Lake and dominated by dramatic palaces, Udaipur is one of the most exotic and picturesque cities in the world. High whitewashed houses and narrow alleys give it a medieval charm; it epitomizes Rajasthan’s romantic allure. The 1998 Vastu Shastra group fell in love with Udaipur and promised to return. 40+ years ago our teachers and guides, Nimish and Parul, threw their architectural books away to relearn the art and science of Vastu Shastra from the craftspeople of Udaipur. We join them for a five-day adventure, discussing Vastu techniques and principles of indigenous building and working close at hand on some practical projects. We will also explore the town’s temples and palaces and the scenery in the nearby valleys.– Above taken from the itinerary of the study tour.

On Our walking tour with site visits today some of the places we got to see: 

~ City Palace

~ City Palace Museum

~ Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh)

~ Jagdish Temple

~ Lake Pichola

~ Lake Palace (we had dinner there in the middle of the lake it was amazing)

~ Saheliyon ki Bari

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Day 34 ~ May 6^th, 1999 – Site visits today with Nimish & Parul – Second Day Walking Tour and Seminar of Jagdish & Eklingji Temple

This morning we drove out to the county side to two temples. One was in ruins and the other was active. We walked around the village and the temples as our site tour and teachings from Nimish and Parul – Second part of the day was a class seminar. I love how cows and goats wander around the towns and villages…I asked how they find their homes at night…the answer was…they all know where to go when its feeding time.

My friend Suzanne, and some of the other classmates, are my muses but mostly I enjoy taking in the scenery with the camera that best describes in vision form how the people, the culture, and nature live together. For me that’s what catches my eye in photography. Enjoy!

Jagdish Temple:

Is a large Hindu Temple, A major monument, in the middle of Udaipur in Rajasthan just outside the Royal Palace. It has been in continuous worship since 1651. A big tourist attraction, the temple was originally called the Temple of Jagannath Rai but is now called Jagdish-ji – Wikipedia

Eklingji Temple:

Ek means ‘one’ while ling means ‘lingam’ or the lifegiving, a phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. The Eklingji Temple is one of the popular pilgrimages of Rajasthan and is located at about 22 km away from Udaipur. It was initially built by the then King of Udaipur Bappa Rawal, on the side of 72 rooms. Jain temple which housed a four-faced statue of Adinath, the first Jain Saint. It stands with the great historic significance dedicated to Lord Eklingji, the benefactor deity of the Mewar Clan.

Class Notes from Udaipur, Nimish and Parul Patel:

Vastu (Vaastu) Principles – Based on mathematics, horoscope, and cardinal directions (each assigned a Goddess to it) Similar to feng shui except all the mathematics in Chinese equate to the male and needs to be converted for female clients.

Vastu Purusha Mandala – Purusha is the body of HuMan – If you were to lay a human figure down in the floor plan of the space:

NE – Is the head in chart,

SW – Is the feet with maximum weight- courtyard usually in center to release the contained energy. Another similar connection to feng shui.

E – Goddess of Wealth

SE – Fire Corner – A lot of things to activate there – kitchen – or any activity things

S – Yama – God of Death but also Karma “you’ve done good, you get good’ and so on – more God fairing people

SW – Forefathers, usually no entrances in this corner.

W – God of Verune – To go forward, progress, grow

NW – Wind, slow but stead progress, intelligence, your children, library, office or scholarly person should be in this corner.

Center remains open, high-energy center. 

First take permission of the land by intension, ‘please let us live in harmony and peace together’ – buried icons in the center to release energy

• Water in the East – with higher land in the SE or S
• No water in the west because it creates internal problems, fights, politic problems.
• You can man make the land higher in Vastu with the same results as natural.
• NE high energy center as well – do not sleep in NE
• NE needs clean water source, like fountain (N, E or NW)

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May 7th – 8th, 1999 – Class Notes from Udaipur & One Month Anniversary of Group

Class Notes Continued from Udaipur, Nimish & Parul Patel: -The Cardinal access in the center is for flow, cosmic energy.

– Four are sub directions which are named in parenthesis and are always in the corners.

– Archways with square windows, you see examples of this in my pictures

– Black & Red is combo of devil’s colors otherwise colors don’t really come into play like they do in Feng Shui’s Five Elements.

– NE (Ishan) Kitchen in the NE causes problems in Vastu between husband and wife, coworkers, servants, help, etc… NE (Ishan) – is water, underground water, fountain, a lot of energy here. Ishan (Eshon), best for Temple or Meditation room if spirituality is the focus of your life.

– NW (Vayaya) & South is good for storage India depending on if you live in the north or the south, the same applies in feng shui in China…. Cold climates have South facing and Warm climates have NW or N facing as a general rule of thumb.

– SW (Nirutya)

– SE (Agneya)

In my notes I have written: “Cameron” Aurameter, Life Understanding Foundation PO Box 30305, Santa Barbara, CA 93130 When I googled the above, a bookstore of sorts came up but does not appear to be in business today, this was 20+ years ago.

However, when I googled the Aurameter, this is what came up: The Original Cameron Aurameter was invented and developed over a 22-year period prior to 1952, by the late Dowsing Master, Verne L. Cameron, it is a truly ingenious device serving five distinct Dowsing functions, replacing the need for L-or Swing Rods, Wands, Pendulums, and Forked Switches.

One of the classmates had such a device with him on the trip. Its why we include and teach Pendulum Dowsing in Feng Shui.

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5/8/1999 Our study group has now been officially together for a month and we celebrated by all going out to dinner on the island of Taj Lake Palace it was a lot of fun being together and enjoying the great food, masters of their subjects (our teachers), the trip in general and amazing people who had traveled all over the world to be together for this once in a lifetime trip.

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Back to notes:

• E – Wealth, Goddess of wealth and prosperity, open, less weight, lots of openings in that area of the space, Less openings in the S and SW.
• N – Open & Cool

Common sense, common knowledge and innovation when it comes to designing a space in Vastu, and in Feng Shui, whether it’s a commercial or residential.

Next stop on the Travel Blog…Goa, India via Mumbai