What is Vastu Shastra
Vastu Shastra means science of architecture and construction.Funded in India, Sanskrit word vastu means a dwelling or house with a corresponding plot of land.The term shastra may loosely be translated as “doctrine, teaching”.
Vastu Shastra is one of the ancient teachings from the Indian civilization. It deals with the science of the architecture and tells how a building should be planned to channelize the positive energy in our lives. The proper implementation of Vastu techniques has brought peace and prosperity to many households for centuries. Though Vastu started out with the construction rules for Hindu temples, it soon branched out to residential houses, office buildings, vehicles, sculpture, paintings, furniture etc. The science of Vastu is mostly based on directions and the building materials used, along with many other minor factors.
The principle laid down in Vastu Shastra were formulated keeping in view, the cosmic influence of the Sun, its light and heat, solar energy, directions of wind, the moon position, the earth’s magnetic field and the influence of cosmos on our planet. The system is an admixture of science of directions, astronomy and astrology.
Out of the nine planets, our planet has life because of the presence of these five elements. The world comprises of five basic elements, also known as the Paanchbhootas. They are Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Space. Earth and Water have limited and localised availability for the human habitat and growth.
Other than the elements, the directions in Vastu Shastra are the most important factor of this ancient practice. When constructing a house, making sure that everything is in the right corner is of utmost importance and this is why it is necessary for people to know all about this. Here are the eight directions in Vastu Shastra and their specific characteristics:
- East: East stands for sunrise, or new beginnings. It is very advantageous for people who are trying to end something bad and getting started with something new. It is the direction of prosperity. Here are the things in the house that can be in the eastern part of the house or face the eastern direction:
- The entrances to the house, living room, study and the place of worship should face the east.
- Treasure boxes, lockers etc. should open towards the east to promote prosperity.
- No kitchen or toilet should be in the east.
- East direction should not be in a more elevated range than the west, south west and the North West directions.
- West: West, is probably the most pitiable direction. Out of all the Vastu directions, this is the one that has more instructions for ‘don’ts’ than ‘dos’. People who live in the western part of the house or have entrances opening to the west direction do not lead a happy life or a prosperous one. The western direction is the direction for women; however, even then the success of the woman will not be complete or really big. The west is the direction where the sun sets, which means that this direction is not really good for beginnings. There are the things that one needs to be aware of about the western direction:
- It is better to have a staircase or a tank in the west than anything else.
- One could consider having an office here, as a second choice of offices, especially within the house.
- Store the garbage bins or build the garage in the western direction of the house.
- North: North is the direction that is best for the business people who are interested in applying some Vastu in their lives. The planet that rules over this direction is mercury, which makes it really beneficial for people to have offices in this direction. In fact, it has been found that the UV rays cast by the sun have the least negative effect in the northern parts, so having any open space in the northern area would be a good move. The north is really auspicious and the following steps have to be taken care of when one is trying to take advantage of Vastu for better life.
- Have the office in the north part of the house or the building for maximum success.
- It is better if there is a slope or elevation on the north side.
- Keep construction in the north to the minimum, so as to maintain the efficiency at highest. If there are perennial constructions in the north, prosperity will certainly vanish.
- Do not have any toilets or garbage bins in the north.
- Do not put any staircases in the north, for it can promote financial loss in one’s life.
- Do not keep the kitchen in the northern part of the house either.
- South: The south is quite a contradictory direction. There is some fear among those who follow Vastu Shastra about this direction. This is because of the fact that there are mixed feelings about whether this direction works for people or not. Say, if one builds a house with a south facing entrance, they might be successful for the first few years, but after that the money will begin to stagnate and eventually start decreasing. Hence, it is better to use the south direction in cycles, so as to keep all the bad luck far away.
- Keep the south direction portion elevated compared to the rest of the house.
- Try keeping a tank or an overhead tank in the south portion.
- Put the staircase to the house in the southern part.
- Do not put a basement in the south direction.
- The kitchen and dining room should not be in this direction.
- North-East: North-east is the direction of god. It is the most auspicious one and it is known to promote positive aspects in men and women. When taking care of the northern corner or side of the structure, remember the following details to take advantage of Vastu:
- Open spaces in the north-eastern direction is a good idea.
- Having a slope in the north-eastern area would be a smart step.
- Try having a street outside the entrance, especially if the entrance is in the north-east.
- North-West: The north-west is the direction that handles interpersonal relationships. The kind of relationships people have with the other members of the family certainly depends on the same. Here are a few things that you would certainly have to keep in mind:
- There should be no underground water tank in the north- west part of the house.
- The kitchen, the dining room and the master bedroom should certainly not be in this direction.
- No extensions should be made from this direction.
- Avoid having a basement in the north-western part of your house.
- South-East: South-east is the direction of the logical and reasoning person. Here are some of the important things you need to know about this direction:
- It is very beneficial to have the kitchen in this direction.
- Any electrical instruments, like TVs, motors, batteries, inverters, home theatre, etc. should be placed on the south- eastern side of the room.
- Do not have a toilet or a tank in this direction.
- South-West: This is the direction of the demons, the opposite of north-east. As a result of this, it can command the business field and the decisions made in that field. Here are some important things for you to keep in mind:
- Rent out the place in the south-west part of your house.
- Do not have any overhead tanks or basements in the south west for it promotes discord.
These are the basics that you need to know about Vastu Shastra. Now, you will certainly be able to attract the positive energy you want!