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Vaastu
Shastra
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Vaastu
Shastra
Vaastu Shastra deals with various aspects of designing and building
living environments that are in harmony with the physical and
metaphysical forces. Building practices based on limited
interpretations of these principles are still sustained in parts of
India. Though Vastu is conceptually similar to Feng Shui in that it
also tries to harmonize the flow of energy (Also called life-force,
and Prana in Sanskrit, similar to Chi in Chinese) through the house,
it differs in the details, such as the exact directions in which
various objects, rooms, materials etc are to be placed.
Vaastu Shastra is an ancient Vedic science of layout and planning of
buildings with intent to manage the flow of cosmic energy through
and around them to influence the peace and prosperity of the
inhabitants. Vaastu principles are applicable to individual
residential houses, industrial and educational institutions,
commercial complexes, theatres, hospitals, churches, etc. If
neighbourhoods, villages and cities are planned on its principles,
it is said that they will all be very prosperous.
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Terminology
All places of dwelling are termed Vastu however the actual physical
manifestation of the dwelling is called Vaastu (the vrddhi, vāstu).
Both terms are from the root vas "to dwell, live, stay, abide"
(cognate with the English past tense was).
There are four categories of Vaastu-
The earth/site - Bhoomi, the principal dwelling place on which
everything else rests
The structures on the earth - Prasada
Movable objects (vehicles) - Yaana
Furniture - Sayana
As these categories suggest, the principles of Vaastu Shastra extend
from the macro level to the micro level - site selection, site
planning and orientation, zoning and disposition of rooms,
proportional relationships between the various parts of buildings
and the character of buildings.
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Basics of
Vastu: The five elements
Vaastu is the science of direction, movements and architecture that
combines all the five elements of nature and balances them with the
man and the material. Vaastu Shastra is creating a congenial
settings or a place to live or work, in most scientific way taking
advantages of the benefits bestowed by the five elements called
“Paancha Maha Bhootas” of the nature thereby paving the way for
enhanced health, wealth, prosperity and happiness in an enlightened
environment.
The world comprises five basic elements, also known as the
Paanchbhootas. They are Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Space. Out of
the nine planets, our planet has life because of the presence of
these five elements.
EARTH (Bhumi) - Earth, the third planet in order from the sun, is a
big magnet with North and South poles as centers of attractions. Its
magnetic field and gravitational force has considerable effects on
everything on the Earth, living and non-living.
WATER (Jala) - This is represented by rain, river, sea and is in the
form of liquid, solid (ice) and gas (steam, cloud). It forms part of
every plant and animal. Our blood is nothing but water with
haemoglobin and oxygen.
AIR (Vayu) - As a life supporting element, air is very powerful life
source. Human physical comfort values are directly and sensitively
dependent on correct humidity, air flow, temperature of air, air
pressure, air composition and its content.
FIRE (Agni) - It represents light and heat without which the life
will extinct. All the days and nights, seasons, energy, enthusiasm,
passion, vigour is because of light and heat only.
SPACE (Aakasha) - It is the shelter provider to all the above
elements.
There is an invisible and constant relation between all the five
elements. Thus, the man can improve his conditions by properly
designing his buildings by understanding the effectiveness of these
five natural forces.
The Modern Theory of Vastu has worldwide application and
furthermore, God needs a Vastu compliant place to gain popularity on
earth. This has been observed in several case that where a worship
place is in accordance to Vastu, that place gains huge popularity.
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Vaastu
Purusha
The legend of the Vaastu Purusha is related thus. Once a formless
being blocked the heaven from the earth and Brahma with many other
Gods trapped him to the ground. This incident is depicted
graphically in the Vaastu Purusha Mandala with portions allocated
hierarchically to each God based on the contributions and positions
in performing this act. Brahma occupied the central portion - the
Brahmasthana- and other Gods were distributed around in a concentric
pattern. There are 45 Gods in all including 32 outer Gods.
The principal Gods/ presiding deities of each direction (called the
ashtadikpalar) are:
Northeast- Eeshanya- Ruled by Lord of all quarters or Eeshwara Siva
(Religions,Luck and Faith)
East- Aditya- Ruled by Sun God - Aditya (Seeing the world)
Southeast- Agni- Ruled by Lord of Fire - Agni (Energy Generating)
South- Yama- Ruled by Lord of Death - Yama (Damaging)
Southwest- Pitru/Nairutya, Nairuthi- Ruled by ancestors (History)
West- Varuna- Ruled by Lord of water (Physical)
Northwest- Vayu- ruled by Lord Of Winds (Advertisement)
North- Kubera- Ruled by Lord of Wealth (Finance)
Center- Brahma- Ruled by Lord/Creator of the Universe (Desire)
The Vaastu Purusha is the presiding deity of any site. Usually he is
depicted as lying on it with the head in the Northeast and the legs
in the Southwest but he keeps changing his position throughout the
year.
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Aspects of
environment and energy
Vaastu Shastra describes various criteria which determine the choice
of a site. The most exalted shape for a site is square, however
rectangle is also acceptable. It explains about soil examination or
Bhu- Pariksha. One particular test involves the digging of a hole
and refilling it again with the dug soil. Based on the volume
occupied by this soil in the pit, its characteristics are
determined. A gnomon is used in determining the orientation; this
practice is called Sanku Sthaapanam. Vaastu Shastra also prescribes
sites suitable for different castes.
Vaastu Shastra prescribes desirable characteristics for sites and
buildings based on flow of energy. Many of the rules are attributed
to cosmological considerations - the sun's path, the rotation of the
earth, magnetic field, etc., The morning sun is considered
especially beneficial and purifying and hence the East is a
treasured direction. The body is considered a magnet with the head,
the heaviest and most important part, being considered the North
Pole and the feet the South Pole. Hence sleeping with one's head in
the North is believed to cause a repulsive force with the earth's
magnetic North and thus considered harmful. Bedrooms are therefore
designed keeping this in mind. This is a wide spread practice in
India even today.
Energy is primarily considered as emanating from the Northeast
corner and many site and building characteristics are derived from
this. Sites sloping down towards North or East from higher levels of
South and West are considered good. Open spaces in site and openings
in the building are to be more in the North and East than in the
South and the West. No obstacles are to be present in the North and
the East. Levels and height of buildings are to be higher in the
South and West when compared to the North and East. The Southwest
corner is to be the highest, followed by Southeast, then by
Northwest and finally by Northeast. The triangle formed by joining
the Southwest, Southeast and the Northwest corner of the site is
attributed to the moon and the triangle formed by joining the
Northeast, Northwest and Southeast corner of the site is attributed
to the sun. The former are prescribed to be heavier and higher and
the latter light and lower. Sites having a longer East- West axis
are considered better. The diagonal connecting Southwest and
Northeast is to be longer than the diagonal connecting Southeast and
Northwest. An extended Northeast corner is considered beneficial.
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Background
Vaastu Shastra evolved as a compilation of planning principles for a
healthy living based on the knowledge base of the time (similar to
Western treatises such as Vitruvius') and was not meant to be
absolute. Its current popularity stems from its focus on a holistic
approach to space and form.
Vastu was earlier used in the design of Hindu homes, but became less
prominent in the industrialization period during and following the
colonial British Raj. But it is used extensively in temple design,
and so survived in the clans of temple designers and architects. In
recent years, it has again gained mainstream popularity, and there
are several Vastu 'consultants' in India, some dubious, some
genuine.
The greatest living exponent and only living Shilpi Guru is Dr. V.
Ganapati Sthapati of Chennai. He has authorized the American
University of Mayonic Science and Technology (www.aumscience.com) to
be the only authorized teaching agent of Vaastu Shastra in the
western world.
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