What it does
Long life for the family.
Where
West, facing North or East
Samagri used
See every other use of:
Cautions
Explanation and notes
The tortoise lives very long and wishes its keeper a long life too. A live tortoise kept at home on dry floors, away from water and its own kind, gets no joy, so do not bring live tortoises home.
The mirror is one of the eight mangal items (ashtamangal) and is considered the best of them; it drives away negative energy and reflects energy when placed in the right direction. It represents the water element and the Moon, so it belongs on the North or East wall.
A mirror placed for income (aay) increases income: people keep a small mirror in the wallet or fix mirrors inside the galla or tijori so the money appears multiplied.
As taught in class, a convex mirror makes a small space look bigger and extends it, while a concave mirror makes a big space look smaller; so a convex mirror treats a cut and a concave mirror treats an extension. A plain mirror can also extend a cut.
Square and rectangular mirrors are very good, but triangular and pointed-end mirrors are harmful, and mirrors cut into small pieces for scenery or glass temples (kaanch mandir) turn an auspicious item into an inauspicious one.
A mirror deepens the surface it is on: on a wall it makes the space look extended, on the floor it creates a pit. Highly reflective tiles, marble or stone must not be used in the South to West zones or the Brahmasthan.
A mirror on the ceiling of the Brahmasthan is very good because it makes the ceiling open to the sky; this is why old chandeliers (jhoomar) had mirror bases.
In a dressing room or bathroom mirrors should go on the North or East walls. If a wash basin is already in the South and its mirror must be there, fix a mirror of the same size on the North wall to balance it.
A signature can pass or cancel a proposal, a cheque or a property deal, so the pen used for signing is chosen by the rashi of the name you sign with: the cap or body colour and the ink colour are matched to that rashi. Only three inks are used for the 12 rashis: red, blue and green.