About Vastu Shastra

Home is our abode of love where we expect to enjoy the fruits of our labor. We expect to enjoy our peace & happiness, progress & prosperity, health & wealth and faith & spiritual development from our home. If its surroundings and construction are poor and the atmosphere eerie, we can neither be happy nor healthy. Hence to ensure that the house is built properly, in modern times we take the help of the professionals who can build a good house with a solid foundation, strong walls, a proper structural balance with the right weight and pressure distribution, proper plumbing, electricity, air light etc. This branch of modern knowledge is  called architecture, or civil engineering.About Vastu Shastra

The ancient seers of India knew not only the above, but quite a few other things beyond. Hence their house building principles included: the North-South flow of magnetic forces: the East-West earth motion and Solar energy forces: and with Divine Spiritual Perception, they also knew the various Deities who rule the different sections of the house and based on the Nature of the Deities, what type of room/function is ideal in that part of the house (Details given in the section Vastu Purusha Mandala). This branch of ancient Indian knowledge is called Vastu Sastra, or Vastu Shilpa sastra, or Vastu Nirmana sastra. It was employed to build not just houses but to plan and build entire towns and cities and temples.

During the last 10 years, first Vastu was in fashion, then it became a fad, then came fanaticism and now the society is full of blind beliefs. People with all kinds of false notions are rejecting excellent houses just because they are facing the west. The truth is that there is nothing against a west facing house in Vastu!! Self styled Vastu “expert consultants” are taking people for a ride.

The Vastu principles included: on which side(s) of the plot the road(s) should be, the size & shape of the plot, how far minimum away it should be from the public places, what type of plot/house should be there next to the house, the height-length-breath of the boundary & the rooms and their placement/function, the door & window placement etc. It makes the optimised ideal use of the magnetic, solar & spiritual forces and the five basic elements – Earth, Fire, Water, Air & Space. The principles are based on very practical reasons. For example if the East side boundary wall is too high one will not get enough sunlight.

Like any other ancient sastra, Vastu must also be understood, interpreted and implemented based on the changed socio-economic conditions. Take for example the rule “Bathroom should not be next to kitchen – fire and water must be away”. This is because in those days the kitchen-fire was produced by burning either wood or coal and bathroom water source was a well. So this would dampen the fire wood/coal. In the modern kitchen, if you have a gas stove at one corner and a tap and sink at the other corner, its not going to take you to hell. Similarly the toilet in those days was an open space and for hygienic reasons used to be at the end of the house. But the modern toilets are ok to be attached to bed rooms.

In modern times, especially in cities, only a multi millionaire can follow all the Vastu rules. The rest 99%, especially the flat dwellers can only do the best adjustments. Vastu is like life where you want ideal parents, ideal brothers & sisters, ideal teachers & education, ideal job & money, ideal wife & children and ideal health. This is rarely possible and hence you have to live with and make the best of what you get.

The following pages will give you the authentic Vastu principles. Read them and you can understand Vastu. At least no one can take you for a ride.

One final word. At the time of entering a new house if you get a vastu shanti pooja done, which is part of the Griha Pravesh pooja, it takes care of the Vastu doshas. Vastu cannot adversely affect the house where God is regularly worshiped with pooja, stotra path or mantra japa. Keeping a Vastu Ganesha at the Pooja place is another antidote to all Vastu Doshas. For the past 3 years I have been living in a flat where every thing is totally wrong according to Vastu but this house has given me more peace, prosperity, fame and money than all the other “good Vastu” houses. And mind you, I am going through the peak of my sadesati and Rahu antardasa!

God power is always stronger than Vastu power.

Shape and size of the plot: The best shapes for plots of land are square or rectangular, facing squarely on the four cardinal directions.

It is good if the plot is narrower at the entrance and wider at its rear, but the opposite is not good.

Round, oval, and triangular plots should be avoided. The house should not be built in the shape of a diamond, with the corner facing north. L-shaped plots are also inauspicious and should not be purchased.

If the land is cut in the corner this is not good. If possible the land to fill in the missing corner should be purchased. If the land is cut short on the northeast side it is very bad and is not auspicious; do not purchase it. It is like a headless body.

A land tilt of 20 degrees, off square by 20 degrees, is acceptable. If the plot is rectangular, it is better that the longer sides run north to south rather than west to east. The best properties are either square or rectangular. If the plot is not a perfect rectangle, it is best if at least the southwest and southeast sides of the land are at 90º angles from one another. The southwest side of the quadrilateral should definitely not be extended past the southeast side, even if that means giving away a portion of the plot. Land that extends past the northeast side of the quadrilateral, however, brings wealth, happiness, and good name. Land extending on the northeast side is very good. Extensions on any other side are inauspicious. Extensions of the northwest side will cause you to lose money and peace.

The following chart shows the different shapes of plots and their suitability and effects.

Shape of the plot Figure Effects Square (all corners straight and at 90°) shaped Very auspicious, brings health,wealth and happiness. Rectangular Shaped Good and auspicious. Brings all round prosperity. Circular Shaped Good for constructing circular Shaped buildings only. Wheel Shaped Owner loses financial status and faces poverty. Odd Shaped (irregular shaped) Causes all types or problems and poverty. Triangular Shaped Affects progress and causes problems from government. Bhadarshan Shaped Not good for residence. Can be used for special type of buildings like government buildings only. Cart Shaped Causes wants and poverty, even imprisonment. The owner has to run here and there like a Cart. Long bar Shaped Not good if used for cattle shed, the cattle reared here perish. Damru shaped (a tiny size musical damru with deep bend in the middle) Will have very bad effect on the eye sight of inmates. Also everyone in the house will lose discretion fright judgement. Visham Bahu (disproportionate shouldered) Affects health, involves in mates in court litigations, drives them to poverty. Drum or Dholak or Mirdung Shaped Will cause loss of wife and other female members of the family Hand-Pan Shaped Creates loss of wealth, cattle etc. This can be corrected and used if other aspects conform to Vastu principles. Varahan Mukhi Akaar (pig faced Shaped) Causes death of brothers and relatives. Turtle shaped plot Causes to the owner and his family members imprisonment, untimely death and murders. Window shaped plot (used for hand winnowing to separate grains from chaff) The inmates of this plot lose mental peace and face poverty. Bow shaped plot Inmates of this plot face fear of theft, loot, attack by enemies etc. Muslakar plot (long oval like plot with cut in one side) It brings enmity and loss of friendship Hexagon shaped plot This is considered good if all other Vastu principles are followed. Is said to be helpful in progress of family members. Ellipitical plot (a regular oval shaped) Loss in many ways like money, women and respect. Polygonal plot (Panch Mukh) Such plot should not be inhabited before making it a rectangular plot otherwise it will bring legal litigations and false allegations. Octagonal (Astha Kon) plot Is auspicious and will bring all round prosperity. Pot type plot People who live on this plot face problems and obstacles for progress. Simha Mukh (lion faced) like a lion’s face wider in front Not good for residential purposes. Is very auspicious for business organisation. Gaumukh (cow faced) like a cows face narrow in front Auspicious provided the roads are in Southern and Westeren sides of plot. Projections, retractions & closed/cut corners Not all plots are square or rectangular. There are some plots with projections or extensions, missing corners. Their effects are as follows: Projection/Retraction Shape Effects North East projected towards as well as North Wealth and prosperity, peace of mind and plenty. North-West projected at West Good for women organisations and politicians. North West projected North Suffering of women, mental problems, heavy expenditure and losses in business. South East extended at East Losses and harassment by government. South East extended at South Health problems, litigations decline in income. South West extended at South Misery to women folk and sickness. South West extended at West Bad names to makes, mental problems to women, loss of wealth. North East Mars progress and prospects. Loss of children and wealth. Mental unrest and sickness leading to happiness allaround. North West Disease, loss of wealth, fear of life and theft. South East Poverty and diseases South West Sickness of wife, mental worry and unhappiness. North East Disastrous South East Wealth will be destroyed and children’s progress in affected. North West Progress of the family will be effected leading to bankrupty and mental problems. South West Permitted without blocking the pathway.

Trees & plants: Plants should be planted during auspicious constellations. It is ideal to plant during the bright half, i.e., close to full moon. Saplings should first be planted in clay pots and only later placed in the ground. This enables them to grow better.

It is always good to grow a Tulasi plant on one’s property. Tulasi should be located on the north, northeast, or east sides of the house, or in front of the house. Trees should not be planted directly in front of the house’s main entrance. There should be an even number of trees on one’s property, not an odd number. Trees should be planted on the south or west sides of the house. Ideally, they should be planted on both these sides rather than on only one side. It is not good to plant a tall tree on the north, northeast, or east sides of a building.

Smaller trees may be planted on the east or north sides, but no trees should be planted in the northeast corner. Tall trees should not be too close to a building as they block the sunlight. A tree’s shadow should not fall on the house. Large trees should not be located too near the house as their roots can damage the foundation and compound wall. Also, the roots of large trees absorb sunlight quickly, meaning these positive rays will not be received by the building. Do not allow tree branches to touch the house.

Stone sculptures and rock gardens should be located on the southwest side of the house because they are heavy.

Thorny plants should not be planted near the house. Cactus should not be planted at all. Thorny plants other than roses have a negative energy. Ideally all thorny plants should be pulled up and destroyed.

A list of good trees to plant: coconut, neem, betal, sandalwood, lemon, pineapple, bilva, almond, jackfruit, pomegranate, mango, amla, and katha.

Banyan and Pipal (Aswatha) are sacred trees; they should usually only be planted near a temple or at a sacred place.

Creepers or other plants should not be grown by using the building or compound wall as support. Creepers should only be grown in a garden, and they should have their own independent supports.

If a tree must be removed because it is inauspicious or for other reasons, it should be removed in the months of Magh or Bhadrapada. The day before cutting the tree, worship it and express regret that it must be removed from its rooting. Promise to plant a new tree in its place. Do so within three months. When cutting the tree, it should fall east or north, not south or west.

Dining Room
The dining room should be located on the west side of the house, or on the east or north side of the building. If the kitchen is on the ground floor, the dining room should not be on an upper floor but should also be located on the ground floor.

The door leading into the dining room should be on the east, north, or west side of the room. It should not have arches.

The house’s main entrance door should not face the dining room’s door.

It is best to face east or west while eating. The head of the family should face east during meals. Other members of the family can face east, north, or west, but it is not advisable to face south.

The dining table should not be round or oval but either square or rectangular. It should not fold from the wall or be attached to the wall.

A sink can be located in the northeast corner of the dining room, or on the north or east sides of the room.

No toilets should be attached to the dining room.

Worship should be done in the north east, north, or east sides of the house. It is best that the temple room is in the northeast corner of the house.

The worship room should not be to the south.

The place of worship should be on the ground floor and not upstairs.

The altar should be located on the northeast side of the temple room.

The deities or pictures of the deities should either face east or west, and should not face north or south. It is best that the Deities face west and the worshipers face east.

The altar should not be set into the wall but should be at least 2.5 cm (an inch) from it.

The door to the temple room should have two shutters.

Toilets should never be above or below the place of worship.

White, light yellow, or light blue are good colors for a temple room. It is good if the worship room is shaped like a pyramid, sloping inward as it goes upward toward the roof in the four directions.

Upper Floor

It is best that there are more doors and windows on the north and east sides of the building. There should be fewer windows and doors on the upper floors than on the lower ones. It is also said that the number of doors and windows on the upper floor should not equal the amount of doors and windows on the ground floor.

The ceiling height of the rooms on the upper floor should be less than the ceiling height of the rooms on the ground floor.

If only part of the upper floor is used, this part should be built in the southwest area.

The balcony should be on the north, east, or northeast side. The balcony should not be in the southwest corner.

Bedrooms and studies should be located on the upper floor. A storage area for heavy items should be located on the lower floor, and not the upper.
Vastu & astrology: There is a relation between Vastu and the astrological planets. The following chart illustrates this.

The Legend of Vastu Sashtra

The ancient Indian text Mayamata, written thousands of years ago, describes Vastu Sastra – the science of ancient Indian architecture. Hindu mythology explains the history of how it all started.

In the beginning, Brahma, the creator of the Universe, experimented with the creation of a new creature. He created a large and monstrous creature that grew so rapidly that its shadow fell on the earth as a permanent eclipse. After that this ever growing monster began to devour everything in its path as nothing could satisfy its insatiable hunger.

Shiva and Vishnu begged Brahma to do something before everything was destroyed by this Creature. Brahma realised his mistake and called the astha dikapalakas, the Gods of the eight cardinal directions. Together they overpowered the Great Monster and held it flat against the earth. Then Brahma jumped in the middle and held the monster down. He then asked another forty four Gods to join him and help pin it down. Their 45 positions can be seen on the classic mandala of the Vastu Grid.

Then the Monster cried “You created me like this. So why am I being punished for what you made me?” Brahma offered him a compromise and made the Monster immortal with the boon that he would be worshipped by any mortal that builds a structure on earth. He was named Vastu Purusha.

Sloping of the Plot: The north east half of the plot is called the Solar half and the South west half is called the Lunar half. Ideally the Solar half should be lower and the Lunar half should be higher. This ensures the ideal flow of light, solar energy & polar energy from east and north and water flows from West to East and from South to North. This type of plot brings joy and happiness, good children and all the success in life to the occupants of the building erected on it.

Avoid plots humped at the center and sloping on all sides. Same with the plots that are depressed at the center.

The north east side of the land should be the lowest side. If the northeast side is at a higher elevation than other sides of the property, you can dig soil from that one side and use it to build up the other parts. The land should either slope down toward the north or east, but not toward the west or south. Land sloping north brings riches, sloping east brings good fortune, sloping south brings ruin, and sloping west brings financial loss. The following chart illustrates the details.

Soil & land: While purchasing land, it is ideal to buy land that can be cultivated, i.e., where the vegetation can grow. Land with too many rocks, worms, bones and thorny trees is not considered good. If it is high at the center and sloping towards the sides it is not good.

During the ancient days, the color of the soil was selected as per the Varna, or Cast. White soil is good for the Brahmans, red for the Kshatriyas, yellow for the Vaisyas and black for sudras. It was advised to dig 12 ft down. If the soil is black up to 3 ft down and white or red below that, the land is suitable.
Black and clayey soil is not good for building. If the soil is crumbly rock, money comes without effort. Yellow soil is ideal for the business community.

The materials that come up during the excavation for construction are indicators of the following results:

Soil test: According to King Bhoj, the ancient Indian Vastu Specialist, dig a 2′x2′x2′ hole and then fill it up again. If some soil left over after filling, the land is good. If there is no soil left after filling up, it is average. If the hole is not fully filled, it is not good. This is the test to determine the soil’s natural moisture, density and aeration.

Dig a 2′x2′x2′ hole and fill it with water. If the time taken to absorb the water is more than an hour, it is good. After the water is absorbed, if there are many cracks in the hole the foundation of the house must be extra strong and will cost more.

From whom to purchase: According to Vastu sastra you should not purchase land from the following types of people:

1) From those who have became insolvent.
2) From person suffering from leprosy.
3) From lunatics.
4) From people who have left the country.

What not to purchase: Land donated to a temple, allotted to the watchman of the village or colony, land in possession of charitable trusts, land without any title deed should not be purchased.

Outside of Main Building: It is best if the house is built on the southwest section of the land. Any open space should be to the north and east. Open space on the west side of the land is not good for the family’s male members.

It is also good to keep a tulasi plant in the northeast corner.The electric generators should be situated on the southeast section of the plot, not the northeast, which is inauspicious. Loud machinery should not be placed near the house.

If there is to be a swimming pool, waterfalls, or fountains, they should be set to the north, east, or northeast. Gardens, plants, or the lawns should also be set to the north, east, or northeast. Plants should be less than 1m (3 ft) in height. Swings should be to the north or east, and should swing from east to west.

Outdoor seats should be placed in the south or west of the open area, and people should face north or east while sitting.

It is considered inauspicious to block the entrance to a house, such as with a tree or telephone pole. If one of these things is more than twice the distance of the house’s height away, it will not have any effect.Trash or dirty water should not be kept near a house’s entrance (or the entrance to a place of business), and neither should it be kept near the property’s entrance. An unclean stream or pool of unclean water should not be located in front of the house.Annexes or outhouses should not be on the north or east sides of the house, and they definitely should not touch the eastern or northern boundary walls.

A garage, building, or servants’ quarters built separately from the house should be located to the southeast or northwest of the main house but should not touch any of the boundary walls. Ideally such quarters should not touch the southeast corner, but should be slightly west (without touching the east wall). They should also not touch the northwest corner but should be slightly south (without touching the north wall). They should be established about 1m (3 ft) from the wall.

Parking: Cars should be parked facing east or north. A car should never be parked facing south. If a car is parked facing west or northwest, the owner will spend a long time traveling.

The parking lot should be in the northwest corner of the property. It should not be located to the southwest or northeast. Parking can also be located in the basement, on the north or east side.

A parking garage should not be connected to the compound wall or the main building.
The parking garage should be painted a light color, not a dark color.
Bathroom & Toilet

Bathrooms can be on the west or north west sides of the building, but not on the eastern or north eastern sides. The toilet room should also not be located on the south east, the south west, or in the center of the building. The morning sun falling on the body after bathing is good, so windows should be set in the north or east sides of the room.

Ideally, toilets should face south, not east or west (in the direction of the sun). The toilet should be located on the west or northwest side of the room and should be built 30–60cm (1 or 2 feet) above the ground. An attached bathroom should be on the west or northwest side of a room, never on the northeast side.

Sinks should be placed on the northeast, north, or east sides of the room. Bathtubs should be located on the northeast, west, or east sides.

Bathroom walls should be painted white, sky blue, or another light shade. Do not use black or dark red.

Water should leave the bathroom from the east or northeast side. Water should not leave from the southwest or southeast directions. The overhead septic tank should be on the northwest side of the house.

Griha Pravesh

Before entering a new house, a pooja ceremony known as Griha Pravesh ceremony should be performed.

A good time to enter a new house is in the period of Uttarayan, from June 21 through December 20, in the months of Vaishaka, Shravan, and Margashirsh, in the constellation of Uttara, Magha, Ashwini, Swati, Pushya, and Revati, on an auspicious day. It is good to confirm this time with a qualified astrologer/priest.
Ganesh-puja, Navagraha-puja (worship of the nine planets), and worship of the Vastu purusha should be performed. The residents of the building should then circumambulate the building. Then puja should be done to the threshold.
Vastu & Office

First of all an ideal site, free from any of Vastu defects should be selected. After selecting the site, in designing a lay-out for industry and providing for utilities special attention should be paid for the following aspects :
The sloping of floors should be towards East, North and North-East, More open space should be left in the East and North side.
Building’s height can be equal in all sides, otherwise South and Western sides should not be taller in height as compared to East and North.
Well, bore well, underground reservoir, sink, pools, swimming pools etc. should be located in North-East or Eastern zone, preferably between Mid East and North East.
Stair cases should always be provided in South West part of the building.
Overhead water tank may be erected in South West, South or West. Its height should be more than that of buildings height in North East corner.
Toilets may be placed in North West or South East. North East and South West corners should be strictly avoided for this purpose.
Weigh bridge or weighing machines may be placed in North West or Central East.
Parking of heavy vehicles like trucks, tractors, trolleys or cranes etc, should be on the roads outside or if it is to be inside, they should be parked in South West zone.
Cycles, scooter, cars, light commercial vehicles can be parked in North West, North or East side of buildings. North East should always be free from any parking of vehicles.
Lawns with big avenue trees can be developed on South and West sides.
Small lawns with fountains etc (without big trees) can be developed in North East, North and East also. Here only small plants can be grown.
Administrative and other office blocks can be constructed in North, East, South or South West keeping the heights of these buildings lower than that of main factory.
Staff quarters may be built on East without touching East wall, in North, West or South East. Multi storied flats may be constructed in South zone without touching main factory building.
Staff canteen may be placed in South East.
Guard Room should be placed near gates in such an advantageous position so that the guards can see approaching persons, vehicles etc. without any obstruction. North East direction should be avoided for a guard room or security cabin. For East facing gate the security office should be on South East side of gate, and for North facing gate it should be on North West side.
Time office should be placed near gate for entry for workers but not in the South direction.
Heavy plants and machineries should be erected in West, South and South West zones leaving the North West and South East corners. North East and centre of the building should be avoided for placing heavy machineries.
Light and auxiliary machines, work equipments and tools can be placed in Eastern and Northern sides except in North East, North West and South East corners.
Generator, boilers, ovens, oil fired or electric furnaces, switch gears, capacitors, transformers, control panels, smoke chimney etc. all should be located in South East.
Heavy raw materials stores may be placed in South West, South or West.
Semi processed materials can be stocked in South or West sides.
Finished goods stores, packing and forwarding can be in North West, in East or South East. North West is preferable. North East should always be avoided.
Maintenance workshop may be in South, South West avoiding North East and centre. Maintenance and consumable stores should be nearer to the workshop.
A temple (even a small will do) in the North East corner should be built and maintained neat and clean. No material should be stacked here.
Toilets in the administrative building or in other parts of factory or mill should be made in South East or North West area and if septic tank is to be built for that purpose, it should be built in between North and North West or between East and South East.Vastu Purusha & Vastu Mandala

The diagram bellow, known as Vastu Mandala, illustrates how the Vastu Purusha was pinned down by Brahma and the 44 Gods – face down, with his head to the North East and feet towards South West. It is divided in to 9×9 = 81 parts. These Gods rule various aspects of life and have certain inherent qualities. Hence while constructing a building, the purpose/function of a room must be in tune with the nature of the deity placed and ruling that part. This is illustrated in the next picture. Not many houses are likely to have that many rooms. Hence adjustments can be made by combining several areas. One noteworthy point is that in the olden days the central portion ruled by Brahma was kept open.

Picture of Vastu Mandala

north

south

This picture bellow illustrates how the various places can be ideally utuilised for a house, office or factory. By combining 2 sections each this gives 5×5 = 25 sections.

Picture showing how the Vastu mandala can be utilized for home/office/factory

West East

This picture is the adjustment example for a still smaller place using a 3×3 = 9 combinations.

Picture showing the vastu mandala utilisation for a smaller plot

Construction: After choosing and purchasing land, plants should be grown on the land. Also, if possible, keep a cow and her calf on the land for a while to make it more auspicious.

Before starting the construction a Bhoomi Pooja ritual should be performed. The land should be installed at an auspicious time, during an auspicious constellation. Mondays and Thursdays are auspicious days for such rituals. Ideally, a qualified astrologer should set the time of installation.

Worship should be done in the northeast corner of the land.

Before installing the land, it should be cleared. Dirt, stones, holes in the ground, and trash should be removed. Thorny bushes should also be uprooted and removed.
The installation should not be done if a woman in the household is more than seven months pregnant. The groundbreaking ceremony for the house should only be done during the Uttarayan period, when the sun is in the northern hemisphere, and when the days are longer than the nights, from June 21 through December 20.

Construction should not stop once it begins. Workers should not be unnecessarily pushed to speed up their work; work for the day should stop at sunset. No construction should be done at night. A qualified engineer should always oversee the construction.
Building materials should be stored in the southwest corner of the property during construction. The storage area or structure can also be built in the southeast corner, at least 1m (3 ft) from the property boundary. The guard should stay in a house in the southeast corner. Thieves will be a danger if the guard stays in the northwest corner, and the guard should not stay in the southwest corner.
Order of construction: the well, the storage house, and then the boundary wall.
Building Material
Only new bricks, wood, and materials should be used when building a new house. Materials from an old building should not usually be used to build a new one in case those old materials repeat negative incidents that occurred in the old house. There is unhappiness in using old things. If there are old materials available, better to sell them and use the money to buy new materials.
Wood from thorny trees should not be used, as it will have a negative effect. Materials that have been stored for a long time should also not be used. Iron grills should only be used when needed.

Well or Water Source
It is advised that the first construction project for the new house is to dig the well. If water is used from this well for the construction, it is auspicious for the family who will live in the house. It is best that the well or water source is on the north or northeast side of the land, or if water comes from the municipality, it should enter from the northeast side. If you draw a line from the southeast corner to the northeast corner, the well should be to the right or left of the line, not on it.
The well can also be in the north or east sides of the property. The well should not be in the northwest or southeast corners, as this is inauspicious. It is especially inauspicious if the well is dug in the southwest corner. It is also inauspicious to have a well in the middle of a house.
Wells should be round. Ideally, the well water should be exposed to sunlight for five hours a day. It is not recommended to share wells between two properties.
The well should be dug after puja (worship) has been performed on the land at an astrologically auspicious time. This will insure that the water will be pure.
The well should be dug under an auspicious star, such as Rohini, Hasta, Uttara Bhadrapada, Uttara, etc. It should be dug on an auspicious day—a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. The well should be dug during a downward-facing constellation or star, such as, Krittika, Purva Phalguni, Mula, Bharani, Ashlesha, Purva Bhadrapada, or Purvashadha.Water departing from the kitchen and bathroom should flow to the northeast and leave the house from this side.

Storage Room
The storage areas should be located in the northwest part of the building, but not in the north or east. The storage room door should not be on the southwest side of the room. Storage cabinets should be located on the west or north sides of the room. Butter, ghee, oil, and cooking gas should be kept in the southeast corner.
Compound Wall and Gate
The compound wall should be built before the house is constructed. Construction should begin during an auspicious constellation, and on a favorable day—a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. It should also be begun during an auspicious day of the lunar month—Pratipada, Panchami, Shashthi, Dashami, Ekadashi, or Purnima. The compound wall should not be higher than the house, and construction of it should begin on the southwest side.
The southwest part of the wall should be higher than the rest of the wall. The walls on the north and east sides should be 53cm (21 inches) shorter than on the west and south sides. If this is not possible, then the north and east sides should be a minimum of 8cm (3 inches) shorter.
Do not set the gate on the south side. It is best that there are two gates to the compound, so evil things entering one gate will exit from the other.

Obstructions in front of the main gate: Several types of obstructions before the main gate must be avoided as they give rise to the following problems according to Brahusanhita & Vasturaja Vallabha.
Big Tree – obstruction to the progress of children,
Gutter or Ditch – grief,
Open well – mental problem,
Corner of another building – mental unrest,
Water drain – draining of income by unwanted expenses,
Straight street – affecting longivity of inmates,
Dilapitated house or walls – affecting prosperity,
Staircase railings – sadness,
Pillars; Electric and telephone post – affecting females.
These are called Vedha Doshas. But in between the plot and obstacles if there is a public road, these deficiencies are nullified.
Similarly, if the distance between the obstacles and the house is two times the height of the house, these deficiencies will have no effect. For example, if the height of the house is 11 feet and if the obstructions are more than 22 feet away, Vedh Dosha does not occur.

Bedrooms
The main bedroom should be on the southwest or northwest side of the house. If there is an upper story in the house, the master bedroom should be on this floor, in the southwest corner. Adult married children can also use this room. Younger children, however, should not use it because that will cause trouble in the household.

Bedrooms on the northeast side of the house will also cause trouble.

The children’s bedrooms should be in the northwest or west. The younger children’s bedroom can also be on the east side of the house, Newly married couples should not use a bedroom on the east side. Guest bedrooms are best located in the northwest corner, but can also be located in the northeast corner.

Bedroom walls should be painted a light rose, dark blue, dark green, gray, etc. Some authorities say that the walls should not be painted white or a light yellow. The door should be set in the east, west or north, and should ideally be one shutter.

One should sleep in his own house with his head facing east or south. If one is staying in someone else’s house, or while traveling, he should sleep with his head facing west. One should never sleep with his head facing north. Upon rising from bed, the right foot should be placed on the floor first. If one is to study in the bedroom, the east side should be used. The wardrobe should be located on the northwest or southwest side of the bedroom. TV, heaters, and air conditioners should be located in the southeast corner.

The southwest corner of the room should not be vacant. An attached bathroom could be built on the west or north sides of the room. It is best not to keep the safe in a bedroom, but if this is the only place for the safe, it should be located on the south wall, opening north.

Avoid keeping the photo, calendar or idols of any Deities in the bedroom..

At night it is advisable to keep a light burning. A night bulb will do. Never keep the bedroom pitch dark.Study Room

The library or study should be located on the west side of the building, but should not be located in the corners of the house. When using a library or study, it is best to sit facing east or north.

The bookshelves should not be in the northwest or southwest corner. Books should be in the east, north, or west sides of the room.

The door should be two-shuttered and should be located in the northeast, north, or west. Windows can be set on the east, north, or west walls. The walls should be painted white, sky blue, cream, or light green.

If one will not sleep in the room, a pyramidal shape (walls sloping inward as they go upward towards the ceiling) will help study and meditation.
Basement

Basements should ideally not be built under the entire house. If that is impossible, use only the northeast section. Heavy equipment can be kept on the south and west sides.

It is best that the basement should only be in the northeast side of a house. It can also be located on the east side of the house. It should not, however, be located only on the south, southeast, or west side.

The floor of the basement should slope downward towards the northeast. The walls should be at least 3m (9 ft) high. The basement should be painted white but should not be blue. The heater, water heater, or electrical panels should be in the southeast corner of the basement.

Since sunrays do not enter basements, this highly reduces the basement’s positive effect on the persons living in them. Therefore, a basement should not be used for living as far as possible. Basements are also not good places to conduct business. The basement’s effects will be improved if one-fourth of the basement is above ground.

Main Door
The main door of the house should be larger than the other doors entering the house.

The main door should have two shutters and open to the inside of the building. Teak is a good material for the entrance door.

It is best that a house has two entrances. The exit door should be smaller than the entrance, and it should have only one shutter. If there are two external doors for the house, they should not be set in a straight line.

When one enters the house, there should not be a wall in front of the entrance. There should be a door that opens to the next room. A shadow should not fall on the main door. The main door of the house should not be below ground. Neither should the main door be in the center of the house, nor in the extreme corners. If the door is set in the north wall, move it east of center; if it’s in the east wall, move it north of center. If it is set in the south wall, it should be moved east of center; if it is in the west wall, move it south of center. Some authorities say that if the house’s entrance is in the west wall. It should be centered. Some Vastu authorities say that to figure out where to place a main door, divide the house into nine parts. The door should be in the fourth section of the house from the left hand side. From the right side of the house, the entrance is in the sixth division from the right.

The main door should not be situated across from the main door of another house. The entrance doors of two houses should not be exactly opposing one another. Neither should two houses share a common entrance.

If the entrance of the house is to the south, there should not be a balcony or verandah in front of the door.

It is good to set gates to both the property and the entrance to the house on the north or east sides. It is also all right to have the main door on the west wall. It is not advised to have the main entrance on the south side.

It is considered auspicious if the entrance to the property and the main door of the house are on the same side. It is not considered good if the main door to the house is on the opposite side to the entrance of the property.

There should not be an underground tank, septic tank, or canal under the main entrance. There should not be any abandoned, wrecked buildings in front of the main entrance.

It is good to decorate a house’s entrance with pictures or statues of Laksmi, Ganesh or Kuvera and auspicious signs such as OM or the Swastika.

Inauspicious pictures should not be on the door.

Doors should have thresholds.

Shoes should not be kept in front of the door, but to the side.

The door should not be slanted, sliding, or circular.

Safe Room
Money, valuables, or a safe should be stored in a room on the north side of the house. This is the side of Kubera, the god of wealth.

The door to this room should be facing north or east.

The walls should be painted yellow or mustard, because these lead to an increase of wealth.

If the safe is large, it can be placed in the south, southwest, or west sides of the house, but it should always be set a few inches from the wall.

It should not be in the southwest or southeast corner, and should definitely not be in a northeast corner.

The safe should face north and open toward the north or east. It is inauspicious to have a safe opening to the south—this will cause a loss of money.

The safe should not be located under any beams.

Safes should be installed on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, when the Sun is in the constellations of Dhanishtha, Rohini, Uttara, Swati, Shravan or Punarvasu.

Living (Sitting) Room

The living room should be on the north side of the house. Furniture should be square or rectangular, not round or oval.

It is good if the ceiling slopes down toward the northeast direction.

The air-conditioner should be in the west, not the southeast.

Furniture should mainly be in the west and south section of the room.

The walls should be painted white, yellow, green, or blue, never red or black. Depressing paintings should not be placed on the walls.
Overhead Water Tank

The overhead water tank should be in the southwest (best) or west corners of the building. An overhead water tank should not be located in the northeast or southeast corners, or in the middle of the roof. It is also best that it is not located in the northwest unless the tank is small and is located approximately 1m (2 or 3 ft) from the building’s corner. The tank should be elevated at least 1m (2 or 3 ft) above the roof, on a platform.

If possible, the tank should not be made of plastic. If it must be plastic, however, it should either be black or dark blue plastic, because such colors aid the absorption of sunlight. A dark water tank while absorbing sun for heat doesn’t encourage microbial growth as quickly as a light-colored tank would do.

If possible, there should be different tanks for the kitchen and bathrooms.

The size of the rooms

According to the Tamil Manaiyadi shastram (Vastu Sastra), the room size has an impact on the people residing in the house. It is applicable to each and every room in the house. Therefore care should be taken while fixing the length and breadth of every single room because this might adversely affect the person who is living in that room. The good and bad effects of fixing a particular dimension for rooms in the house are given below in a table.

The room size is in feet

General useful tips about construction, placement etc.

If which room should be constructed in which direction is not kept in mind while planning a house, the whole building may go against the principles Vastu Shastra and it will create lot of troubles causing irreparable harms and loss to the owner / inmates.
The other things which must be kept in mind are:
Doors of each room should be facing East.
Bedrooms should be in South and West.
Placement of mirrors on South and West wall are inauspicious.
While sleeping head should be in South or West but never in North.
Pooja room should be in North East.. All idols and photographs should be facing East or West.
Toilet seat should be in North-South only. It should not be in East-West.
Out houses should not touch the compound wall of North and East side.
Stairs should always be in clock-wise direction.
Anything underground should be in North or East.
Anything above ground should be in South or West.
Porch should not touch the North or East compound wall.
Big trees should not be grown in North or East. They should be in South or West side of the house.
Face East or North while reading or transacting any business deal.
Face East while cooking, West is allowed if there is no alternative, but never face South while cooking.
Total number of doors and windows should be in even number for each floor, but should not end in zero like 10, 20, 30. The width of the door should be half the height of the door. The door should not be too high, too low, too wide or too narrow. The doors should be rectangular and square doors should always be avoided.
Ventilation should be looked after and good cross ventilation should be present.
Never put the poster of crying girl, war scene, sexy scenes, angry man, owl, eagle etc. They are inauspicious.
Doors should open inside the room and not outside.
In bed rooms, always use bed of four legs only. Never use box type bed because it stops the air circulation under the bed which is bad for health.
Never eat or drink in standing position.
No room should be built under the stairs.
The cupboard in the wall should be in the Southern or Western part direction of the house.
In these kitchen, grinder, fridge, shelf and other heavy items should be towards South and West wall.
There should be no water body in front of any entrance door of the house.
The ratio between length and breadth of the building should normally be 1:1 or 1:1.5 or maximum 1:2. It should not exceed 1:2 in all circumstances. The building dimension should preferably be longer in North-South, shorter in East-West.
Ground level should be higher in West, South West and South as compared to East, North and North East. It is better to keep North East the lowest
Floor level should be higher in South, South West, South East and Western portion and lower in North, North East and East. The water should flow towards East or North and not in other directions. Central zone should be even.
It is better to keep roofing sloping towards East and North.
Now a days it has become a fashion to keep roofs sloping deeply :

(1.) Keeping the roofs sloppy symmetrically in all sides : or
(2.) If the slope is on East or North sides only, keeping the East or North or both sides down. The idea is to keep South and West heights in level. Slanting towards South or West only should be avoided as that will lead to serious health problems.

There are two options for building height:
(1.) Height can be equal every where in the building.
(2.) Keeping South, South West and West higher as compared to other parts of the building.
Conversely North, North East and East should be lower in heights.
Terrace, portico, porch & balconies should be located only in North, East and North East sides of the building to bring health, wealth and happiness. Balconies should face North and East.
The mezzanine floor should be placed in West or South side of the building.
Normally building cellars and basement rooms etc. below the road level of a house should be avoided. Due to paucity of space now a days building cellars or basement is being widely adopted. Care should be taken to keep the height of the cellar or basement projecting up above the road level to some extent. Cellars or basement covering the entire plot is all right. If it is to be constructed only in a portion of basement it should be located only in North, North East and East sides preferably with entrance from North East. If constructed on South West that should be used for heavy storage. North West and South West portion should be used for servants, car parking etc.
If cellars or basement are built in South, South West and West and used for living that will create mental tension and loss of wealth for inmates.
Placing stair case in North or West zone turning right in the middle and emerging in the first floor facing East or South or South West zone is also auspicious. While climbing one should face West or South up to middle point and after that one can face any direction; emerging at the end at North East portion is considered auspicious.
It will be auspicious to keep doors both at beginning and at the end of the stair case. It is also essential to ensure that the stair case does not touch Eastern or Northern wall.
The steps should be in odd numbers like 11, 17, 23 etc. In other words, if the number is divided by 3, the remainder.
The best place to construct servant quarter is South-East or North-West corners. Care should be taken to ensure (i) not to block the corners at South East or North West. (ii) the quarters should not touch the walls on East or North..
The best place for garage is South-East or North-West and the garage walls should not touch the walls on East or North.

The guard room: A regular concrete shelter or alternatively a wooden chowki is made in South West or other place near main gate. The shelter should be facing East or North. It is important to ensure that the watchman can easily see every movement from a distance itself.
North West or South West zones are the right places for overhead tank. Since it is of having weight at a height, South-West is the best. Precaution should be taken to ensure that the overhead tank does not touch the main building.
The right place for underground reservoir or water tank is the North East, the place of Eshwar, the God Supreme. The next choice is East Zone on the Northern side.
The best place to locate a swimming pool is the North East side. It is better to build the swimming pool in a corner ( and not exactly at junction of North and East points ) where privacy is ensured.
For this Southern or Western side should be used. South-West or North-West corners and central place of the house or building should never be used for this purpose. If possible Eastern and Northern side should also be avoided. The person sitting in water closets should face North or South or South-West and never the East Direction.
Vastu concepts regarding the plants and their plantation must be kept in mind so as to make your home not just superficially beautiful, but also Vastu oriented. As a general rule, gardens in homes or factories should always be in the North or West and of the compound. The South-East and South-West are not to be selected for any kind of garden or plantation. Fruit bearing trees or trees with good foliage are always preferred to thorny trees. Care should be taken not to grow trees which have huge penetrating roots as it can prove harmful for the house.
Generally gates in North, North-East and East directions are auspicious and good. Road facing South is not generally preferred. In South road plots, South West gate should be avoided. South-East gate is a better choice. In a plot facing West (road on Western side) South West main entrance gate should be avoided; North West gate is a better option. East or North direction is the best for placing main gate.
Height of the building should be uniform to get the most advantageous results. There must be uniformity among projections or elevations.

It is best if the building’s walls are higher on the west and south sides and lower on the north and east sides. Also, the south and west walls should be thicker than the north and east walls, if possible. The building’s floor and roof should be higher on the south and west sides, lower on the north and east sides. Neither the ground nor the building should be higher in the northeast than in the southwest. Rooms in the House

Furniture, such as sofas, should be placed in the southeast, south, or west sides of a room. The house’s owner should sit facing north or east, and his guests should sit facing west or south.

It is best that the northeast corner of each room in the house be left empty. If furniture must be set in the northeast corner, it should be set 15cm (six inches) from the wall.

Do not align doors within the house. One door should not lead directly into another.

It is best when a student studies that he face north, northeast, or east. Therefore a table in a study room should be placed in the south or west sides of the room. Books should be stored in the southwest side of the room.

Do not keep money in a place facing south.

When one prays, he should face either north or east.

Beds should face either west or south to insure that when a person rises in the morning, he is facing either north or east. While asleep, one should place his head to the south, east, or west, not north.

If one’s place of worship is in the bedroom (in the northeast), one should sleep with his head facing east to avoid pointing his feet toward the altar.

Mirrors should be placed on the north or east walls, not on the south or west walls. Do not keep broken mirrors in the house.

Clocks should be placed on the west, north, or east walls.

Clothes should be washed in the southeast corner of the house.

Medicine should be kept in the northeast corner of the house, and a person should face northeast while taking it. It is best to nurse those who are ill in the southwest corner of the house, although the northwest corner is also good.

Rainwater and wastewater should leave the house from the northeast side. It should flow west to east or south to north.

There should be an even number of columns and beams in the house, not odd.
Doors should generally be made from a single piece of wood and should open on the left side.

A television can be placed in the southeast side of a room. An overhead water tank should be located in the southwest side of a building.

Stairways should be on the south, southwest, or west sides of a building.

Certain pictures should not be hung in a house such as nudes, animals fighting, captured elephants, hunting scenes, trees without fruits or flowers, snakes, owls, bats, vultures and pigeons.

Vastu Colour Indication

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The Origin of Vastu

The origin of vaastushastra may have taken place well over thousands of years ago. The learned men of those days may not have lived in houses themselves but they most definitely dedicated their lives to the development of the science “vaastushastra” or “vaastu”, as it is popularly known today.

The principles of the science laid down during those days were based purely on the effect of sunrays during different times of the day. The observations and corrections made were noted and concluded only after in-depth screening of the situation.

Vastu is a part of Vedas, which are believed to be four to five thousand years old. Through penance and meditation yogis of that period acquired answers believed to have come from the cosmic mind itself to their questions. Hence Vedas are heeded with divine knowledge. The art of Vastu originates in the Stapatya Veda, a part of the Atharva Veda.

It used to be a purely technical subject and it was only confined to architects (Sthapatis) and handed over to their heirs. The principles of construction, architecture, sculpture etc., as enunciated in the epics and treatise on temple architecture, have been incorporated in the science of vastu. Its description is there in epics like Mataysya Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana, Garuda Purana, and Vishnu Purana. There are some other ancient shastras that pass over the knowledge of vastu shastra to next generation, like Vishvakarma Prakash, Samraangan Sutradhar, Kashyap Shilpshastra, Vrihad Sanhita, and Praman Manjaree.

In the Mahabharata it is said a number of houses were built for the kings who were invited to the city Indraprastha for the Rajasuya Yagna of King Yuddhistira. Sage Vyasa says that these houses were as high as the peaks of Kailasa mountains, perhaps meaning that they stood tall and majestic. The houses were free from obstructions, had compounds with high walls and their doors were of uniform height and inlaid with numerous metal ornaments. It is said that the site plan of Ayodhya, the city of Lord Rama was similar to the plan found in the great architectural text Manasara. References are also to be found in Buddhist literature, of buildings constructed on the basis of Vastu. They contain references to individual buildings. Lord Buddha is said to have delivered discourses on architecture and even told his disciples that supervising the construction of a building was one of the duties of the order. Mention is made of monasteries (Viharas) or temples, buildings which are partly residential and partly religious (Ardhayogas), residential storeyed buildings (Prasadas), multi-storeyed buildings (harmyas) and Guhas or residential buildings for middle class people.

The Vastu, with word meaning ‘dwelling’, is believed to be the residing places of god and man. According to its modern meaning it covers all buildings irrespective of their use like residences, industries, business establishments, lodges, hotels etc. It is based on the five basic and essential elements, such as Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jal (water), Bhumi (earth) and Aakasha (space), which are known as Panchabhutas. Everything on earth is built from these elements.

The Origin of Vastu

The origin of vaastushastra may have taken place well over thousands of years ago. The learned men of those days may not have lived in houses themselves but they most definitely dedicated their lives to the development of the science “vaastushastra” or “vaastu”, as it is popularly known today.

The principles of the science laid down during those days were based purely on the effect of sunrays during different times of the day. The observations and corrections made were noted and concluded only after in-depth screening of the situation.

Vastu is a part of Vedas, which are believed to be four to five thousand years old. Through penance and meditation yogis of that period acquired answers believed to have come from the cosmic mind itself to their questions. Hence Vedas are heeded with divine knowledge. The art of Vastu originates in the Stapatya Veda, a part of the Atharva Veda.

It used to be a purely technical subject and it was only confined to architects (Sthapatis) and handed over to their heirs. The principles of construction, architecture, sculpture etc., as enunciated in the epics and treatise on temple architecture, have been incorporated in the science of vastu. Its description is there in epics like Mataysya Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana, Garuda Purana, and Vishnu Purana. There are some other ancient shastras that pass over the knowledge of vastu shastra to next generation, like Vishvakarma Prakash, Samraangan Sutradhar, Kashyap Shilpshastra, Vrihad Sanhita, and Praman Manjaree.

In the Mahabharata it is said a number of houses were built for the kings who were invited to the city Indraprastha for the Rajasuya Yagna of King Yuddhistira. Sage Vyasa says that these houses were as high as the peaks of Kailasa mountains, perhaps meaning that they stood tall and majestic. The houses were free from obstructions, had compounds with high walls and their doors were of uniform height and inlaid with numerous metal ornaments. It is said that the site plan of Ayodhya, the city of Lord Rama was similar to the plan found in the great architectural text Manasara. References are also to be found in Buddhist literature, of buildings constructed on the basis of Vastu. They contain references to individual buildings. Lord Buddha is said to have delivered discourses on architecture and even told his disciples that supervising the construction of a building was one of the duties of the order. Mention is made of monasteries (Viharas) or temples, buildings which are partly residential and partly religious (Ardhayogas), residential storeyed buildings (Prasadas), multi-storeyed buildings (harmyas) and Guhas or residential buildings for middle class people.

The Vastu, with word meaning ‘dwelling’, is believed to be the residing places of god and man. According to its modern meaning it covers all buildings irrespective of their use like residences, industries, business establishments, lodges, hotels etc. It is based on the five basic and essential elements, such as Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jal (water), Bhumi (earth) and Aakasha (space), which are known as Panchabhutas. Everything on earth is built from these elements.