Vaastu Shastra
Vedic Feng Shui

DESTINY -- WITH -- ARCHITECTURE

Dear Readers:

In what direction is your head facing when you
sleep may well decide the course of your life. . . . .
Just as, the numbers of widows in your house
may blow the winds of destiny a little too vividly
in the courtyard of your life.

Vaastu or Shipa Shastra, traces it's origins to the Stapatya Veda, part of the Yajur Veda (origins of Ayurveda) and deals with the principles of designing and constructing buildings. In ancient India. not only healthy bodies and minds was a goal, but the homes that housed these spiritually evolving beings were important to. Indeed, Vaastu Shastra , is a fascinating mix of science, art, astronomy and mysticism.

The fundamental principles of Vaastu Shastra, as of any other ancient science emanating from India share with it's sister science Ayurveda the common tenet of The panch mahabhuta therory that is the Five essential elements I this universe - akash 9spave), vayu (air), agni (fire), Aap (water) and prithvi (earth), and it is in the invisible and inevitable interaction between these elements both within (ayurvedic Prakruti) and outside a person (vaastu shastra -that determines a person's living and working conditions.

By understanding the natural power of these five elements and using them effectively in the location, direction and disposition of a building (either home, or office), Vaastu Shastra can improve an individual's living and working conditions. Vaastu Shastra only underscores the fact that since nature has such a direct bearing on our lives (as we come from nature, live in nature, and return to nature); harnessing nature and all it's splendid magical power while building a structure, can only lead to health, wealth and prosperity for it's inmates.

Vishwakarma, the divine builder, declared that because of VaastuShasta the entire universe enjoys good health, hapiness and prosperity. Vaastu and the existence of this world are inter related/. Followers of Vaastu not onl enjoy worldly pleasures but experience heavinly bliss as well.

Directions and Zones:
We all know that the eastern direction is special as the Sun rises in the east, and sets in the West. And because, the rays of Sun play such an integral part in our lives, these two directions are very important. . as it is, all four directions are controlled by one divine element each. While the east naturally belongs to Surya (Sun God), the west is controlled by Vayu (wind), the north by Kubera (Lord of wealth) and the south by Yama (lord of death). Besides the four directions, the center is considered to be the Brahmasthana (cosmos). Besides these four directions, the corner where two directions meet i.e north-east or south-west is believed to be even more relevant, as it combines the forces emanating from both directions.

The east is the pitrusthana and should not be blocked as it is the source of male issues. South-east is the source of health and related to fire, cooking, and food. South is the source of wealth and happiness. South west is the source of character, behavior, longevity, and death. North west is the source of change in course of business, friendship, and enmity. North is the mathrusthana and should not be blocked as it is the source of female issues. North east is the source of health, wealth and male issues.

Applying the Vaastu Principles to daily Life:
Since the south east stands for health and fire, obviously the kitchen should be in that direction. Another principal of Vaastu states that since the early morning sunlight emits more light and less heat, there should be more doors and windows facing the east and north. And because the noon rays emit more infra red rays, rooms in the west and south west should have thicker walls and less windows. Neither should there be too many tall trees or walls in the east or north east as these can hinder the beneficial morning rays from reaching the house. Instead, the trees should be planted in the west and south , to protect the inmates from the afternoon heat.

Since the Sun has the power to destroy germs ( krimi and Krumi), all water tanks, whether overhead or underground , should be facing towards the north or the east, especially the north east as pure rays of the morning Sun can purify water.

According to Vaastu, like the Sun, the earth's magnetic field's also wield considerable influence on human life.
That is so because the human body likes a magnet with the head as the heaviest and most important part of the body as the north pole. If the head is towards the north while sleeping, the north pole of the Earth and the head acting as north pole of the body repel each other , thus affecting blood circulation, and resulting in disturbed sleep and tension. Thus, vaastu recommends us to sleep with our heads facing the south not the north.

Never sleep or work under a beam either, as this impedes the flow of energy to your body and exerts mental pressure to cause tensions and headaches. similarly, since the earth rotates from the west to east, Vaastu recommends sitting facing the east as much as possible.

Since the centre of the house is regarded as the brahmhasthana, it should be left vacant or empty to facilitate the flow of energy through this space. No wonder most ancient houses in India have a central courtyard, around which the rest of the rooms were built.

Vaastu Purusha mandala;
This is the intellectual foundation of the building represented by a diagram or a mandala of a square. Vaastu stands for a surrounding environment, matter or nature. Purusha for energy, work power, soul of the building; and mandala for the astrological chart which relates the lay out to orientation.

It is also thought to be the representation of the body of the Vaastu Purusha. So this is a male energy that resides in our homes, it is the life force of our homes, bulidings , etc. we have all gone to splendid homes only to feel a certain chill run down our spine, as if we have entered a home of the dead. Well, if the Vaastu is all wrong, never mind how expensive the building, the male energy of that structure (Vaastu Purusha) is more dead or choked than alive. Houses with open court yards, and construction as per Vaastu, humble may be, but bubbling with a healthy Vaastu Purusha. We can feel the natural healthy up beat vibration.

The image of the Vaastu Purusha is like drawn in the likeness of a man with his head in the north-east, legs in the south-west, right hand in the north west and left hand in the south west. According to this graph, the master bedroom should be in the south west. The rest of the bedrooms toon b should be as much as possible in the west. The position of the bed should be such that one can sleep with his head towards the south or east , never towards north.

According to Vaastu, when you sleep with your head towards south or east, it ensures long life; towards the east, enlightenment; towards the west, sorrow; and towards north means death.

The prayer or pooja room should be in the north east, while the son's room should be in the south and the daughter's room in the north-west. The bathroom may be in the east, but toilets never in that direction as this corresponds to the Vaastu Purusha's head. The Kitchen in south east, the dressing room in south west, dining room in the west, while safe or treasury in the north. In a duplex or two storied house, the staircase should lead from east to west or north to south not vice versa.

Vaastu even gives details on peripherals like doors and windows, columns and beams. Doors should be even in number, but 10 is not a good number as it end's in zero. Windows, beams and columns should also be even in number. The main door should face north or north east as this brings financial gains. A door facing the east or north east will bring enlightenment; south or south east is just okay; west or north west is again good as t spells success. But a door facing north, north west brings instability; east, south east , south, south west and west, south west are not the best directions as they bring financial loss and ill health for the women of the family.

Even the month in which you start building your house has significance for the inmates . if you start in march - April you will suffer financial loss. But if you start in April-May you will get good results. n may-June there will be fear of death and in June -July you will suffer loss of wealth. A house started in July-August will mean welfare for the family, but one started in August-September will bring illness. A house started in Sept-Oct will cause unnecessary fights, if it's built in Oct-Nov you will acquire wealth. A Nov-Dec house brings the fear of fire, while a house built in Jan-Feb is good for the entire family. So is a house built in Feb-March as it stands for gain in wealth.

According Vaastu a square plot is the best as it means all - around prosperity and happiness. A rectangular would mean health and wealth, provided the breadth and length ratio does not exceed 1:2. But a triangular plot can lead to court litigation and problems, and a circular plot, too, will mean some problem or the other. Vaastu suggest correcting a defective plot or even selling it .

So am I advising you to tear down walls, sell plots and homes just because the Vaastu logic is not correct? Certainly not. If you are happy where you are living presently I think then that it self is a gift of nature. Obviously you are doing some thing right . keep it that way.

I wish my readers happy contemplating.
Sincerely,