Why does Goddess Lakshmi get angry at sweeping at night? Know the religious, architectural and scientific secrets behind it

In Sanatan tradition, cleanliness of the house is not just a matter of cleanliness, but it is seen to be directly linked to happiness, prosperity and flow of positive energy. Our elders often strictly forbid sweeping the house after sunset or at night. In Hindu religion and Vastu Shastra, broom is considered a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi. It is believed that sweeping a broom at an inappropriate time or disrespecting it displeases Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and poverty begins to reside in the house. Let us understand in detail what religious reasons, Vaastu principles and ancient scientific logic are hidden behind the prohibition of sweeping at night.

According to religious beliefs, broom is not only considered a tool to remove dust but also a medium to drive out Alakshmi (poverty) and invite Goddess Lakshmi into the house. It is mentioned in the scriptures that evening time i.e. twilight and night time is the time of entry of Goddess Lakshmi.

At the time of evening aarti, when the lamp is lit at the main entrance of the house, the positive energy inside the house should be at its peak. If a person sweeps at the same time or after that, it is believed that he is pushing out the Lakshmi and auspicious energy coming into the house. It is also believed that the dust and garbage flying from the broom disturbs the peace of the house, due to which the goddess of wealth and prosperity gets angry and returns from that door and financial crisis, unnecessary expenses and discord start increasing in the house.

According to Vastu Shastra, different waves of energy remain active in every corner of the house. Broom is considered a tool in Vastu to remove negative energy.

• Energy imbalance: After sunset, the amount of Tamas (darkness and dullness) naturally increases in the atmosphere. Sweeping at this time breaks the cycle of positive energy present in the house and negative energy becomes active.

• Abode of Alakshmi: It is believed that the person who sweeps the doorstep of the house at night, ‘Alakshmi’, the elder sister of Goddess Lakshmi, enters his house, who brings with her debt, disease and unrest.

• Direction of keeping broom: According to Vastu rules, the broom should always be kept hidden at a place where it cannot be seen directly by any outsider. Moving the broom at night adversely affects the financial balance of the house.

If we analyze the life and lifestyle of ancient times apart from religious beliefs, then there are very solid practical and scientific reasons behind this tradition:

In ancient times, every house did not have electricity and bright lights like in the modern era. People lived in the dim light of lamps or lanterns at night. In those times, like today, valuables, gold and silver coins, jewelery or small items of need used to fall on the floor or around the beds. By sweeping in dim light, there was a strong possibility that something valuable might inadvertently get thrown out with the garbage. To avoid this loss, the ancestors made a strict rule of not sweeping at night, which later became a part of tradition and religious belief.

Moreover, night time is for relaxation and peace after the hustle and bustle of the day. Sweeping at night causes fine dust particles to float in the air in the room, which can reach the lungs while sleeping and cause allergies or respiratory problems.

Many times such a situation arises that glass breaks in the house, food gets spilled or due to dirt, cleaning at night becomes unavoidable. The scriptures and elders have suggested some simple solutions for such helplessness:

• If you have to sweep at night, never throw the garbage outside the main entrance of the house on the road.

• Sweep the garbage and keep it in a dustpan or dustbin in a corner.

• The garbage should be thrown out of the house only after sunrise the next morning. By doing this there is no blame of Lakshmi going out of the house.