What to Decorate and What Not To: Ancient Advice Made Easy:

In ancient India, decorating a home, temple, or palace wasn’t just about looking pretty. People believed that decorations should bring good energy and not disturb the peace of a place. That’s why old books like the Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra gave clear advice on how to decorate wisely.

Chapter 43 of this book talks about two kinds of things:

• Things you should not decorate with (Aprayojya)

• Things you should decorate with (Prayojya)

Let’s take a closer look.

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What You Should NOT Use for Decoration (Aprayojya)

The book says some things bring bad vibes and should not be used in decoration. These include:

1. Scary or Strange Beings

• Most gods (except a few special ones)

• Demons, ghosts, evil spirits, and magical creatures like snake-people and star beings

2. Guards with Weapons

• Door guards (men and women) holding weapons

3. Fancy Celestial Groups

• Sky fairies and their teams

4. Sad or Sick People

• People who are sick, hurt, very poor, blind, deaf, mad, or really old

• People who don’t believe in religion or follow strange paths

5. Scary or Violent Scenes

• People swinging on swings

• Animal fights and hunting

• Elephants being caught

• Battles between gods and demons

• Angry kings fighting

• Sad or scary scenes in stories

6. Unlucky Vehicles and Places

• Chariots, flying machines, elephants, and horses

• Forests, temples, or houses that are on fire

7. Unhealthy Trees

• Trees with no fruit or flowers

• Dead, dry, broken trees or trees near haunted spots

• Thorny or bitter trees

8. Unlucky Animals and Birds

• Owls, crows, hawks, vultures, and doves

• Meat-eating animals like lions, tigers, jackals, cats, and elephants

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What You SHOULD Use for Decoration (Prayojya)

Now for the good stuff! Here’s what the book says is great for decoration:

Happy and Lucky Symbols

• Goddess Lakṣmī (goddess of wealth)

• The Eight Good-Luck Signs (Aṣṭamaṅgalā)

• Cows, baby cows, and swans

• Gardens, ponds full of lotus flowers, and pretty nature scenes

Where to Put Decorations

• A small statue of your favorite god or goddess on the roof

• Pretty designs on doors with pictures of the door guardian lady (Pratihāriṇī) and treasure symbols

• Paintings on the inside and outside walls of rooms, especially where people live.

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Final Thoughts

The decorating rules from the Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra help us remember that decoration isn’t just about beauty—it’s also about creating a peaceful and happy space.

Even today, we can learn from these ancient ideas. Choosing decorations that bring joy, peace, and good energy makes our homes feel better and more balanced.

So next time you decorate your room, think: is this something that brings good feelings? If yes, go ahead and use it!