KATHMANDU, Sept 17: Artisans are observing Vaastu Diwas and the Bishwakarma Parba today by worshipping and paying reverence to Bishwakarma.
The Bishwakarma Parba or festival is observed on the day of Ashwin Sankranti (the first day in the month of Ashwin as per the lunar calendar) every year. On this occasion, various workshops, artisans, and general people formally worship the image of Lord Bishwakarma to celebrate this day.
Bishwakarma is considered to be the divine architect of the universe and the personification of divine creativity in the Rigveda. He is credited with the construction of the city of 'Ved Dwaraka' for Lord Krishna, the palace of Indraprastha for the Pandavas, and many fabulous weapons for the Hindu gods, such as the Sudarshana Chakra of Vishnu, the Trishula of Shiva, and the lance of Kartikeya.
Bishwakarma puja being observed across the country
Bishwakarma is also considered a distinguished expert of architecture (vaastu).
He is also regarded as having authored the Sthapatya Veda (the Veda dealing with architecture), the science of mechanics and architecture. He is regarded to be the patron deity of all craftspeople, with implements of trade often venerated in his honour on the occasion of Bishwakarma Puja.
Artisans decorate their workshops specially and celebrate this day with grandeur. They also offer worship to the tools, machinery and implements used in their profession.
There is a religious belief that if you worship the tools Kaligadh will use today, they will last a long time, not break while working, and help you do a good job.
Vaastu experts usually celebrate today as Vaastu Diwas or Vaastu Day in memory of the authors and scholars of Vaastu Shastra books. Recently, the revival of Vaastu knowledge has also begun in Nepal.
One of the four Upavedas, the Atharvaveda, mentions the subject of architecture. The number of people building houses and other structures based on the nearly out-of-use architectural Veda has also started to increase. Because of this, the importance of Vaastu Shastra has grown in recent days.
