Matsya Purana 253.8

253.8

ādityabhaumavarjyāstu sarve vārāḥ śubhāvāhāḥ.
varjyaṃ vyāghāta śūle ca vyatīpātātigaṇḍayoḥ .. 253.7

Barring Tuesday and Sunday all the other days are said to be auspicious The following are known to be the evil Yogas for building a house, viz, Vyâghâta, Sûla, Vyatipâta Atigaṇḍa The following Yogas are beneficial —Viṣkambha, Gaṇḍa, Parigha and Vajra The following are said to be the best Muhûrtas, viz, Śveta, Maitre, Mâhendra, Gâmdharva, Abhijita, Rohinî, Vairâja and Sâvitra First see that the Sun and Moon are benefic, and fix an auspicious Lagna; then leaving all other work, fix a pillar within the ground This is the rule to start a building, well or tank —7-10 In laying the foundations of a building or digging a tank or well first it is necessary to test the nature of the soil before commencing the operations and lying Vâstua. White earth is lucky for the Brâhmaṇas, red is good for the Kṣatrıyas, yellow earth for the Vaiśyas, and black earth is auspicious for the Śudras. This can be ascertained by digging. The earth tasting sweet is good for the Brâhmaṇas, pungent one is suited for the Kṣhatriyas, the bitter earth is fit for the Vaiśyas and the astringent earth is good for the Sûdras. After the earth is examined a hole is to be dug one foot and a half square and it is to be leeped with cowdung, melted butter is then to be placed on a kuchcha earthen pot and four wicks should be placed in it, one in each direction. If the eastern wick burns more bright than the rest, it means the plot of land is good for the Brâhmaṇas, similarly if the southern wick is more bright, the land is good for the Kṣatrıyas, if the western wick is more bright the land is good for the Vaiśyas the brightness of the northern wicks shows that the land is good for the Sûdras, and if all the four wicks are equally bright the land is good for all the four class of people. Such is the test of the land dugged in one and a quarter cubit of land.—13 16.