Maharishi Sthapatya Veda is the knowledge of correct orientation in space. However, this orientation is only meaningful and effective if temporal components are also included. Therefore, the right time to start a building activity plays an important role.

Breaking ground

The first essential act that marks the beginning of a construction activity is the ground-breaking ceremony. The ground-breaking ceremony transforms the land into building land. The right time to break ground is determined by astrologers.

The optimal date calculated by soma for the ground-breaking ceremony was on 17 July 2020 at 9 am.

Although the season was summer, only a few family members and friends of the Schachinger family gathered at the soma site in Reitting, Geboltskirchen on a very cool and rainy day. In a short ceremony, a small hole was dug at the construction site of the planned building, symbolic of the coming earth movement that would be necessary for the construction of the building.

All participants considered the rays of sunshine that interrupted the grey rainy day exactly during the ground-breaking ceremony as a favourable sign from Mother Nature.

Submission plans

At the same time, architect Herbert Schrattenecker and his team worked diligently to complete the submission plans. This task was very complex. The plans had to meet the requirements of Vedic architecture as well as the practical needs and the requirements of the authorities.

Finally, in mid-July, the time had come: the submission plans could be handed in to the municipality of Geboltskirchen. At the same time, preparations were made for the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone.

Laying of the foundation stone

In beautiful summer weather, the foundation stone was laid on 31 July 2020. Vedic architecture dictates the north-east corner of the building as the correct point for the laying of the foundation stone. The Mayr construction company from nearby Waldzell, which had been awarded the contract for the shell of the building, carried out precise trigonometric measurements in order to measure the exact point and elevation of the foundation stone in the terrain.

About 50 people attended the foundation stone laying ceremony. To the delight of the builders, many friends and supporters of the project came to take part in the celebration. Among them were the Member of Parliament Alfred Frauscher, Mayor Fritz Kirchsteiger, KR Klaus Pöttinger, Univ. Prof. Dr. Bruno Buchberger and many more.

The neighbours of the property were also very well represented and were happy to see the start of construction, which had been so long in coming. After the short ceremony at the property, all guests were invited to a snack at the neighbouring farm of the Höftberger family.

A wonderful breakfast buffet by the well-known Ayurvedic chef Heide Maria Vendler delighted the eyes and palates of all participants.

Why there were still delays in the start of construction despite the completion of the building negotiations and what the special features of our soma building are, you can read in the next part.