VASTU | An Indian architecture philosophy

Vastu 

(or Vastushatra) is an Indian concept of designing buildings. According to Vastu, every building has some positive and negative effect of placement of spaces in the house to its respective direction. Today people who practice Vastu as a consultant have very in-depth knowledge of it. Sometimes they have a scientific reason for it. But sometimes they do mal-practice to earn money only.

Vastu Shastra is the textual part of Vastu Vidya, the latter being the broader knowledge about architecture and design theories from ancient India. Vastu Vidya knowledge is a collection of ideas and concepts, with or without the support of layout diagrams that are not rigid. Rather, these ideas and concepts are models for the organization of space and form within a building or collection of buildings, based on their functions about each other, their usage and to the overall fabric of the Vastu. Ancient Vastu Shastra principles include those for the design of Mandir (Hindu temples), and the principles for the design and layout of houses, towns, cities, gardens, roads, waterworks, shops and other public areas.

As an architect, I see Vastushatra as a science of designing a building in the Indian context. I found that every basic rule of Vastu has some scientific reason for it. Let’s understand what basic rule of Vastu to design a home is?

First of all, let’s understand the value and scientific importance of the directions in Vastu.

As we all know the sun rises in the east direction and sets in the west direction, that’s why the east direction is considered as a source of positive energy and west direction is considered as a source of negative energy. that's why In Vastu, they say to have a kitchen, living room, temple or pooja space or any other spaces that involve human interaction for the whole day kind of space in the eastern part of the house. 

The general wind direction in summer in India is from south-west to north-east and in winter it from north-east to south-west. that's why having a room which needs proper ventilation and rooms that can generate fumes or bad smell are located either on the south-east corner of the north-west corner.

India is located in the northern hemisphere of the earth that's why throughout the year sun is slightly tilted on the south side. that's why in Vastu they say to avoid openings on the south side or have the minimum opening to avoid heat gain in the house.

There are so many scientific reasons on which the whole Vastushatra is developed.

There are few other things like the energy of the material, several opening with respective direction, shape of the plot, surrounding of the plot, plantation in various directions, the flow of the water and many more. There are considered by the person who practices the Vastu in detail. But all these things are secondary and depend upon the condition. There are remedies also that are available to solve the problem because of wrong Vastu of the house.

In Vastu, They consider natural or man-made material to construct a new house. because it has positive energy. they also advise using fresh material so that we can avoid recycled or previously used material's negative energy. 

 In Vastushatra, they believe that each piece of land has its soul that is known as Vastu Purusha. Like I have shown in the image.

A site of any shape or size can be divided into many squares using pada-vinyasa. They range from 1x1 to 32x32 grid system depending upon the area of the site.

·         Sakala (1 square) corresponds to Eka-pada (single divided site)

·         Pechaka (4 squares) corresponds to Dwi-pada (two divided site)

·         Pitha (9 squares) corresponds to Tri-pada (three divided site)

·         Mahaapitha (16 squares) corresponds to Chatush-pada (four divided site)

·         Upapitha (25 squares) corresponds to Pancha-pada (five divided site)

·         Ugrapitha (36 squares) corresponds to Shashtha-pada (six divided site)

·         Sthandila (49 squares) corresponds to Sapta-pada (seven divided site)

·         Manduka/ Chandita (64 square) corresponds to Ashta-pada (eight divided site)

·         Paramasaayika (81 squares) corresponds to Nava-pada (nine divided site)

·         Aasana (100 squares) corresponds to Dasa-pada (ten divided site)

·         Bhadrmahasan (196 squares) corresponds to Chodah-pada (14 divided sites)

Each square is represented as pada with a unique name depending upon the position of that particular square. They believe that each pada have its unique characteristic and depending on them we can place the function of our house or building.

First of all, let’s see which shape of the site is better for home.

Vastu says that for home, square, rectangle, bhadarsan, hexagon or Gurmukhi (narrow from frontand wide from the rear side of the plot) are best and auspicious. Other than this shape, some remedies are necessary before planning to build a house on it.

There are some general rules  to practice Vastu,

·         Rooms should only be square or rectangular-shaped, and not irregularly shaped. Kitchen, toilets and puja room should not be next to each other.

·         The kitchen should not be directly in front of the main door.

·         Study rooms, treasury rooms and living rooms should preferably be on the north side of the house.

·         Bedrooms and storerooms should be in the southern part, avoid bedrooms in the central portion (brahmasthan) of the house.

·         Dining room, children’s bedroom and study room in the western corner of the house are considered appropriate.

·         Bathroom, study room and stores in the eastern corner of the house.

·         The stairs should not be made in north-east or brahmasthan, the preferred location is in west, south-west or south.

·         Have lofts and attics in the south and the west side of the rooms.

·         Puja room should be in the northeastern corner or it can also be inside the study room or dining room in the north-east corner.

·         Rainwater or drainage should have an outlet in the north, east or north-east side.

·         Elderly people are more comfortable in the south-west corner of the house.

·         The number of doors and windows should be more on the ground floor and less on the upper floors.

·         Allow plenty of natural light and fresh the air within the house, as dark houses collect a lot of negativity.

·         There are certain dates when neither muhurta nor auspicious time is required, so you can begin your construction or move into your house on Akshaya Tritiya, Phulera Duj, Vijaya Dashmi and Vaisakhi.

there are so many books available on the internet for free to learn more about it.

I have one e-book book to share. Click here to download.