Vaasthu - Basics

[Guest guest]

The word Vaasthu in Sanskrit, means 'dwelling'. ('Shastra' means 'Science').It deals with details such as measurement, shape, direction and nature of the soil, in the construction of buildings. It was supposed to have developed in the period of 6,000 B.C to 3,000 B.C. In those days, Sthapathis (architect-engineers) were the specialists in this science. Individual houses, public halls, palaces and temples were constructed strictly as per Vaasthu principles, also known as Agama Shastra in ancient India. Now, in the new millennium, most of the builders in the city say that they still follow the rules of Vaasthu. In both residential and commercial ventures, Vaasthu plays an important role.

PLOTS

The shape of the plot should be close to square. The length and breadth ratio of a rectangular plot should not exceed 1: 2. It is not advisable to purchase a circular or a triangular shaped plot. The plot should either be right angled or its angles should be approximately 90 degrees. East and North facing sites must be preferred. It is better to have roads on more than one side of the plot. The ground level of the plot should be lower on the North-East than on the South and West. The ground level of the adjoining plots or roads on the East and North should be lower than that of the plot. It is always best to have ponds, tanks or rivers on the northern and north-eastern sides of the plot.

HOUSES

The house should be constructed with open space on all sides. Northern and eastern sides must have more open space than southern and western sides.The building should be at a higher level on the South and West than on the North and East.Water sumps should be built on the North-East below the ground level.Doors and Windows should face northern and eastern directions and their numbers should be even.Gates should face North or East if the road is on northern or eastern side. If the house faces South then the gates must face South or South-East.Kitchen should be on the South-East but never on the eastern, northern , western or southern directions. The stair case should always be on the South-West.Over head tank can be constructed on the South-West, North-West or North-East corners.Bath rooms may be constructed either on the East, South-East or North-West. It is advisable to have balconies facing East or North.Bedroom may be constructed towards South-West. Verandahs may either be on the East or North with Pooja room on the North-East.Car garages should be constructed along with out houses. These out houses might be either on the South-East or on the North-West. Septic tanks may be constructed on the South-East or North-West.KITCHEN

Kitchen should be towards the South-East and drinking water pots should be placed on the North-East directly on the floor.Refrigerators may be placed in the southern or western rooms along the western wall. There should be empty space on the western side of the house . A person should face East while cooking. The oven must be arranged on the eastern south-east of the house.Brooms should be placed in the south-west corner and never in the north-east corner. The house must be swept towards North or East. Dining tables may be arranged in any of the southern rooms along the southern wall. Almirahs must be placed on the South-West, facing North or East.

INDUSTRYMain roads on the East, North or North-East are advisable with wide gates on two sides. It is better to have more open space on the northern and eastern sides so that lawns and greenery can be grown.The floor level on the South-West should be higher than that of the others.The main entrance of a factory should be on the northern, north-eastern or eastern north-east.Transformers, boilers, generators, motors, furnaces and oil engines should be installed on the South-East or close to South-East.Raw materials may be stored on the South or West. Products being processed should be placed on the West while finished products may be stored on the North-West.Wells, bore wells and water sumps should be in the north-east area.Machinery can be installed on the South, West or South-West of the factory.Guard room may be constructed on the south-eastern side of the eastern gate or on the north-western side of the northern gate.Over head tank of the factory should be located in the western south-west.Toilets may be constructed on the north-western or on the south-eastern region of the building.Cars may be parked on the North-West. COMMERCIAL

A complex should never be constructed covering the entire area up to the northern or eastern boundary. If there is no cellar for parking, more space should be left open on the North and East for parking. If cellar is used for parking, then the building may be designed with more open space on the North and East than on the South and West.The owner of a plot facing South or West, with parking space on the South or West, will run into financial difficulties.Drinking water in shops must be stored in the north-eastern corner while bore wells and sumps may be dug on the North-East. In shops, show cases should be on the South and West and never on the North or East. Stocks may be stored on the western, southern or south-western areas of the shops. Pooja place may be arranged in the north-eastern corner.

Hotels Main entrance of hotels must be on the East or North-East. Conference halls may be constructed on the first floor with rooms on upper floors. Balconies must be constructed on the East or North-East. Construction of toilets on the north-eastern sides of the rooms should be avoided. A.C. equipment must be installed on the South-East of the complex and never on the North-East.Electrical generators and transformers have to be installed on the South-East. Cash counter and reception must be on the South-West on an elevated platform.

TheatresThe south-west corner of the building should be right angled.Open space must be more on the East than on the West. The site selected for construction must be a perfect square.Canteens, cycle stands and scooter parking sheds should never be constructed along the northern border as they have an adverse effect on finances. Gates must be fixed on the North-East and never on the South-West.