Scientific Explanation of Vastu Shastra December 21, 2014

Vastu is a logical explanation of scientific truths and facts. These Vasthu Rules are basically
derived from few properties of our Mother Earth. By strictly following these Vasthu Rules,
human race can gain quite a lot of benefits and live peacefully. In other words Vasthu rules
instruct the ways to create buildings in harmony with the Nature.

Vasthu Shastra is based upon two important scientific facts:-

1. Magnetic Property of the earth and the gravitational and magnetic forces created by the
materials inside the earth.

2. Rotation of the Earth on its axis, and the centrifugal and other forces created by its
movements.

1. Magnetic Property of the earth:-

Our Mother Earth was created from the minerals and dust from the lava of Sun millions of years
ago. Due to the large content of iron particles present in the form of solid and molten state in our
Earth, it has a magnificent magnetic property. The North Pole emits the positive magnetic energy
and the South Pole performs the Negative part receiving this energy. Hence our Earth is
surrounded by a magnetic field all over its mass.

If we break a small magnet in to pieces, each part will get its own North and South poles and
start acting as an individual magnet. Similarly, when the earth is divided into small parts as an
individuals property, every division will attain a magnetic field having its own North and
South Pole. As the buildings are constructed with the materials containing iron particles this
magnetic effect is further magnified. Vasthu Shastra applies certain principles to gain from this
magnetic force

2. Rotation of the Earth:-

The main logic behind almost all the rules of Vasthu Shastra
depends on these principles: We are traveling along with the Earth with all our belongings
towards North East direction constantly at a speed of 1670 kilometers per hour. The forward
 direction is North East due to the inclination of the earth. The division of the earth, constructions
buildings and utilization of the buildings shall not be against this motion.

For example supposing we have to carry a large and heavy box in a two wheeler (Bike):

If the box is kept in the front side on the handle bar, it will reduce our speed and comfort as well
restrict our vision.

If the box is kept on either left or right side, our balance will not be easy and fall down.

The only best option is to tie the box in the backside in a carrier, so that our travel is totally
comfortable.

This is the theory applied in the Vasthu rules:

Our Earth is rotating inclined about 23.5 degrees towards North East direction and rotates on its
own axis without any rest since more than 400 crore years and also rotates the sun without any
axles, bearings or motors. The weight we keep in our place should not hinder its movement.

A good example is loading a bullock cart, which runs on only two wheels and without any ball
bearings. The cart man balances the cart by distributing the weight, so that pulling it is
comfortable for the bullocks. Imagine how your car would strain to accelerate if you load heavy
weight in its front side. The earth is rotating and rolling towards the North-East direction, hence
keeping heavy weight at that direction would strain its moment.

Vasthu Shastra divides a place mainly into nine parts aligning with the directions: North, East,
South, West, North East Corner, South East Corner, South West Corner, North West Corner and
Center.

1. North, North East Corner, East and

the center are the places in the Forward direction of the Movement (like the handle bar of a
motorbike). Keeping any heavy weight in these places will obstruct the movement and create
discomforts. Avoiding heavy weight in these areas make the life peaceful and prosperous.

2. South, West and South west Corners form the rear side of the movement. Keeping
maximum weight at these places will make the travel comfortable and in harmony with the
nature. Acquiring wealth and safe keeping them is the important factor of life. For creating the
free flow of finance and saving money, keeping heavy weight in a building in these areas are
important.
3. North West and South East Corners are the two sides of the motion. We can keep light
weight in these places and balance the movement. North West Corner denotes the social status
and the South east Corner improves the health. By keeping balanced weight in these places
improves the status and wealth of family members.

Vastu Shastra, an ancient Indian science developed thousands of years ago by ancient Indian
sages lays down rules for the construction of buildings and temples and has been practiced for
centuries and used to create old architectural wonders like temples, palaces, monuments etc.
Vastu shastra contains principles, tips and practices of constructing buildings which ensure a
harmonious balance between man and nature and thereby brings all round happiness, health,
wealth and prosperity.

Vaastu Shastra, an intangible part of Indian Architecture, has its roots extended in Indian
Philosophy, maths, geology, geography, religion and takes into account, factors influencing a
Site, such as topography, roads, structures around, Suns effects, Earths magnetic field,
cardinal directions, Earths energy fields and elements of Nature.

WHAT DOES VAASTU SHASTRA TRANSLATE TO?

Vaastu literally means house or dwelling place of human beings and consists of the following:

Bhoomi which means the site/plot or extent of land where the building is proposed.
Prasada which includes the compound wall and buildings which are built within the Bhoomi
(Site).
Yaana which means all the vehicles parked within the Bhoomi (Site).
Shayana which includes all the furniture and utensils in the buidling (Prasada).

Vastu is also derived from the sanskrit word vasathi which means comfort. Comfort is
related to the right proportion and positioning of the five elements agni=fire, vaayu=air,
vaari=water, prithvi=earth and akash=sky in our surroundings. The complex interplay of the
above elements along with the eight directions (E, W, N, S, NE, SE, SW, NW) can profoundly
influence the lives of the people living or working in the premises either positively or negatively.

Shastra is the sanskrit word for science and stands for the principles and guidelines laid down
for the construction of a building. Therefore, Vaastu shastra is the science of arranging the
above-mentioned elements in their respective places so that they are in harmony which in turn
will make the lives of the inmates happy and peaceful.
Vaastu has evolved over centuries and from experience, it has been documented that the
improper positioning of rooms with respect to the elements causes disharmony in the
equilibrium of the house. Making the necessary changes to buildings can rectify the above
problems, so that the five elements are in harmony.

The fundamental principle of Vastu Shastra is to add Value to the Life of man staying in a
building by bringing about harmony between man, nature and the built environment. So,
buildings designed according to Vastu guidelines are believed to vibrate with Universal Positive
Energy and create a feeling of contentment and well-being for the occupants.

INTRODUCTION TO VASTU
Vastu Shastra literally translated means the Science of Buildings since Shastra means a
Science and Vastu means all places of dwelling and Vaastu means the actual physical
manifestation of the dwelling. Both terms Vastu and Vaastu are from the root Vas which
means to dwell, live, stay, abide (cognate with the English past tense was). So Vastu Shastra
basically means Architecture (Art & Science of buildings). There are four categories of Vaastu-
BHOOMI The earth/site, the principal dwelling place on which everything else rests.
PRASADA Structures on the earth.
YAANA Movable objects like Vehicles
SAYANA Furniture

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, the character of buildings and
the minute details like furniture.

WHAT IS VASTU SHASTRA?

Vastu Shastra is an ancient Indian Vedic Building Science which lays down guidelines on the
construction of buildings, so that they are in harmony with the natural environment by managing
the flow of cosmic energy (prana) through and around them, which in turn promotes the well-
being, peace and prosperity of the inhabitants.

According to Vastu Shastra, when buildings and forms are in tune with the underlying cosmic
principles, they become a part of the basic structure of the universe and vibrate in harmony with
it. These positive vibrations are believed to have a positive effect on t by he inhabitants.

Common sense tells us that a properly designed house is one which is aesthetic, hygienic,
comfortable, easy to move around and thereby a pleasure to live in. Naturally the inhabitants will
be happy and content in such a house, whereas, a poorly designed house will be unaesthetic and
not comfortable to live in and hence create irritation in the minds of the inhabitants.

Vastu Shastra takes advantage of and manipulates the natural resources like sun, wind, air etc.
and the topography of the site, the surrounding roads, trees, water sources, structures etc. to
channel positive energy and prevent imbalance in the building and thus bring about harmony
between man, nature and his built environment.

ARE VASTU SHASTRA AND FENG SHUI SIMILAR?

Though Vastu Shastra is conceptually similar to Chinese Feng Shui in that it also tries to
harmonize the flow of energy, (also called life-force or Prana in Sanskrit and similar to Chi in
Chinese) through the house, it differs in that, Vastu gives the exact directions in which various
objects, rooms, materials etc are to be placed.
Also, Vastu shastra incorporates Architecture, Sculpture, Mathematics, Geometry, Geology,
Geography, Religion and Philosophy and lays down principles on all aspects of Construction
such as Site selection, orientation and location of the building on the site, space to be left on all
sides of the building, orientation and location of each and every room and element of a building,
direction of the front door, location of wet areas, water sources, trees to be planted, colour
scheme and even the best date and time for having the Foundation Laying Ceremony and the
Griha Pravesham or House Warming Ceremony.

IS VASTU SHASTRA A SCIENCE OR SUPERSTITION?

Vastu Shastra as the name suggests is a Shastra or a rational Science based on observations,
facts, laws of nature and governed by a set of principles. It was formulated by our ancestors
nearly 4000 years ago and has evolved over centuries and generations. The very fact that it has
survived the test of time and has shown itself to be practicable, indicates that it is a Science and
not a Superstition.

The ancient Rishis who formulated Vastu Shastra, in all their wisdom knew that unless they
enforced the principles of planning very strictly, people would build according to their whims
and create ugly and unaesthetic structures, since people have differing tastes and ideas on
aesthetics. (This can be seen today on any street, you may find just 1 or 2 aesthetically
designed houses while the rest can be termed ugly or monstrous. Also the space left around each
house is too little for the inhabitants to get proper light or ventilation). Perhaps to prevent such a
situation, the principles of Vastu Shastra were made strict rules. It was said that if one followed
the Vastu principles strictly, one would be happy, content and prosperous whereas if they were
not followed, the inhabitants would be sick, unhappy, quarrel with each other and even die early.
As a result, this Science became a Superstition.

Even today most people insist that we, Architects, follow the basic Vastu principles when
designing their house, as they fear that there could be adverse effects if not followed. This is
because there are people to exploit the common mans fears and superstitions the self
proclaimed Vastu Consultants. They charge exorbitant fees by exploiting the ignorance and
beliefs of the people. Not all, but most of them give solutions by blindly following the standard
thumb rules of Vastu Shastra, without realising that the socio-economic conditions have changed
in cities today from those of earlier times and without considering the fact that each site is unique
by virtue of the surrounding structures, trees, water sources, orientation, topography etc., and
hence should be planned accordingly.
To really create a positive energy in a building, one has to study Vastu Shastra in depth and
understand the logic and reasoning behind each and every principle and only then apply them to
the specific site and building.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I am not a Vastu Specialist but in my experience as an Architect, I have applied the principles
of Vastu logically in the buildings that I have designed as well as in my own house and I can say
with certainity that they do make a positive difference to the state of mind of the inhabitants.
These Vastu principles are based on common sense and when applied correctly, create a well-
designed, well-ventilated, bright, hygienic, beautiful building that stands apart and is noticed by
others. Naturally the inhabitants are happy to be in this building and are proud of it as it adds
value to them. My aim is to explain Vastu Shastra scientifically with whatever knowledge I have,
so as to make you realise that it is a Science which can bring positive effects to your lives by its
correct application.

ORIGIN AND TEXTS ON VASTU SHASTRA

Posted by admin on Oct 19, 2008 in UNCATEGORIZED | 5 comments

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF VASTU SHASTRA?

Vastu Shastra was formulated by our ancestors nearly 4000 years ago, as a
vedic science of layout and planning of buildings, and it has evolved over the centuries as a
result of mans efforts to improve his standard of living. Vastu Shastra is a Vedanga, a branch of
Sthapatya Veda, which in turn is a part of Yajur Veda. The body of Vastu knowledge is
monumental with lakhs of shlokas, which were handed down to succeeding generations by word
of mouth and through hand written monographs such as:

Manasara Silpa Shastra (by Manasara),

Mayamatam (by the Mayasuras),
iswakarma Vaastushastra (by Viswakarma),
Samarangana Sutradara (by Raja Bhoja),
Aparajita Priccha (a dialogue between Viswakarma and his son Aparajita, written by
Bhuvanadevacharya) Silparatna.
Other treatises such as Agni Purana and works by Kautilya and Sukracharya are not
popular even though they preceded the above mentioned documents.

There is a distinction of style based on the place of origin of the Text. Mayamatam and Mansara
Silpa Shastra are considered Dravidian because they are from South India whereas
Viswaskarama Vaastu Shastra is considered Aryan due to its North Indian origin.
AMONG THESE TEXTS, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE?

Mayamatam and Vastu Prakash have been found to be the best because
of their comprehensiveness and coherence. Mayamatam was edited by the hierarchy of
Architects known as the Mayasuras while Vastu Prakash was edited by the renowned and most
respected Architect of ancient India, Acharya Vishwakarma.
Though, Vastu Prakash is a notable Text, it is an individuals concept and has its limitations
whereas the Mayamatam is a hierarchy which originated from the Ramayan era to the
Mahabharat era and beyond. Therefore, Mayamatam as a concept has a span of hundreds of
years and has evolved over the centuries and is considered the most relevant today.

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE MAYAMATAM?

Mayasura the first, an Architect of South India was given the task of designing Sri Lanka, a rich
and resourceful kingdom in those days, as his daughter, Mandodari, was married to the king of
Sri Lanka, Ravana the Great, (of Ramayan fame). From this first Mayasura, architecture became
the family profession of the Mayasuras and prevailed upto the Mahabharata period and many
years after.

Various derivations, proven by experiments in construction technology were put down in

Sanskrit Shloka form, by the first Mayasura and this style was religiously followed by the next
generations till about the 13th Century. Somewhere between the 11th and the 12th Century,
someone out of the hierarchy of Mayasuras, edited the vast bank of Shlokas that had been
collected over the centuries into a very concise book titled the Mayamatam or The Opinion
of the Mayasuras. This very valuable book took birth after the efforts and experiments of
generations of good Architects and is considered the best reference book on Vastu Shastra today.

Mayamatam is not just a theoretical thesis on Architecture, but a definitive and coherent text on
practical aspects of construction. It comprises 36 chapters and handles subjects like Village
planning, Town Planning, Temple Complex Designing, Designing of houses for various
categories, and subjects like Orientation, inspection of site, selection of materials, style of
construction, ventilation, carpentry joinery, furniture, every aspect that an Architect must
consider while designing any structure, qualities an Architect must possess, rituals to be
performed, house warming ceremony, etc are discussed elaborately chapter wise.

If you observe, my Site ARCHITECTURE IDEAS also covers topics similar to the ones
mentioned in the Mayamatam because as an Architect, I am aware that these are the topics of
interest for any layman. I shall attempt to review the chapters of Mayamatam under the heading
of Vastu Shastra, and it will surprise you to see that lots of concepts of the Mayamatam are
relevant even today.

VASTU SHASTRA FACTORS - Vastu Shastra takes into account environmental factors
that affect man and his buildings, in laying down guidelines for the design of buildings, so
that man can benefit from the positive and useful effects of these factors and is protected
from their harmful and negative effects. The environmental factors and their effects on
man and his buildings have been explained here, scientifically:

VASTU FACTORS | FIVE ELEMENTS, PANCHABHUTTAAS

VASTU FACTORS | SUN AND ITS EFFECTS
VASTU FACTORS | EARTHS MAGNETIC FIELD
VASTU FACTORS | EIGHT CARDINAL DIRECTIONS
VASTU FACTORS | EARTHS ENERGY FIELD

VASTU SHASTRA FACTORS | FIVE ELEMENTS (PANCHABHUTAAS)

WHAT ARE THE FIVE ELEMENTS OR THE PANCHABHUTAAS AND THEIR EFFECTS
ON LIVING THINGS?

Vaastu rests on the assumption that the Earth is a living organism out of which other living
creatures and organic forms emerge, and so every particle on Earth possesses live energy. The
life on Earth is possible because of the five basic and essential elements known as the
Panchabhutaas.They are Aakaasha (Space), Vaayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Jala (Water) and
Bhoomi (Earth). All creatures on the Earth including buildings are physically made up of these
elements.

Space (Aakaasha) is the unending region beyond Earth in which not only our Solar System
but the entire Galaxy exists. It provides shelter to the other four elements. The effective forces of
Space are light, heat, gravity, magnetic field and waves.

Air (Vaayu) the atmosphere above the Earth consists of Oxygen (21%), Nitrogen (78%)
Carbon Dioxide, water vapour, Dust etc which are all essential for living things and even fire to
flourish. 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 life will be extinct. It also represents
days and nights, seasons, energy, lightning, volcanic heat and all other aspects of the Sun and
the solar system. The enthusiasm, passion, vigour in living things are because of light and heat
only.

Water (Jala) Represented by rain, river, sea and is in the form of liquid (water), solid (ice) and
gas (steam, cloud). It is a combination of Hydrogen and Oxygen in the ratio of 2:1 and is
perfectly neutral. Every plant and animal is composed of water in different proportions.

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
effect on everything on the Earth, living and non-living. The Earth rotates about its axis from
West to East, resulting in day and night. It revolves round the Sun once every year (365.25 days)
and is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees, because of which seasons are formed. Because of the
Earths tilt, a year is divided into 2 periods Uttaraayana from Jan 14 July 15, when the
Northern Hemisphere (India) is tilted towards the Sun and Dakshinaayana from July 16 Jan 14,
when the Southern Hemisphere (Australia) is tilted towards the Sun. In Uttarayaana, the days are
longer than the nights and vice-versa during Dakshinaayana.

WHY ARE THE FIVE ELEMENTS AN IMPORTANT VASTU FACTOR?

All these five elements sustain life on the planet and are neutral, unbiased and impartial to us
yet we cannot control them. There is an invisible and constant interaction between these
elements. In an open field these elements operate freely and are in equilibrium. However, when a
structure is placed in this field, the equilibrium is affected because these elements act for or
against each other to create either harmony or disharmony. If there is disharmony, then the
equilibrium needs to be restored so that the cosmic energy flows harmoniously.

Surprisingly, the Vastu pundits were aware of the Five elements (panchabhutaas) and their
effects. So, they were considered an important Vastu Shastra factor and taken into account in
designing buildings. Vastu Shastra guides us to use the five elements to our advantage to create
a balanced and harmonious environment to live in. Living things animals, insects, birds, plants
and humans have for centuries manipulated the 5 elements to create comfortable dwellings or
environment, as explained below.

HOW DO LIVING THINGS MANIPULATE THE FIVE ELEMENTS TO THEIR

ADVANTAGE?

Animals, Birds, Insects, Plants have natural defenses against a wide variety of unfavourable
climates. They adapt their body size, shape or temperature to adjust with the hostile climate. But
some creatures like termites, birds, ants not only adapt to nature, they seek to create a
comfortable living environment by building a suitable home.

Compass termites - For example, the Compass Termites of Western Australia, maintain the
temperature inside their nests to within 1 degree of 31 Celcius, day and night, summer and
winter, while the external temperature varies between 3 C to 42 C. This is achieved by building a
wedge shaped tower mound of 3 Metres height which always points North. As the tower heats
up, air inside rises drawing fresh cool air from below. Also the wind blowing across the top of
the mound helps to suck in fresh air through the nest. And the termites regulate the flow of air
through their nests, by blocking and unblocking the channels.

Humans- Similarly, for centuries, man has manipulated the five elements to build comfortable
houses even in the most hostile environments. For example, in the Desert, where the heat of the
Sun (Fire) can make it impossible to live, man has built houses with internal courtyards (Space),
thick walls (Earth), slit windows (Air) and water bodies and fountains (Water) to cool the house
by ensuring good ventilation and flow of air, just like the termites mentioned above. But
unfortunately today, man gives precedence to the appearance and size of his house as his social
position and personal ego are more important. In the process he has forgotten to manipulate the
elements to create a naturally comfortable, airy house. To create comfort he is forced to use
gadgets like Fans, Air Conditioners, Heaters etc which consume so much of energy and are
believed to be unhealthy too.

HOW DOES VASTU SHASTRA HELP YOU MANIPULATE THE FIVE ELEMENTS?

Vaastu Shastra guides us to use the five elements scientifically, to create a comfortable and
harmonious place to live or work in, which will ensure enhanced health and happiness. It lays
down principles on the location, direction and disposition of the building, so that you can absorb
the positive effects of the five elements throughout the day.

VASTU SHASTRA | DESIGNING

Vastu Shastra, an ancient mystic science for designing and building, unifies science, art,
astronomy and astrology. The goal of Vastu Shastra is to restore the balance between buildings
and the universe so as to make the lives of the inmates better.
The surprising thing is that Vastu Shastra principles are applicable even today, though ancient
India has changed from a largely agricultural society to the birth of many urban cities today. This
is because the Vastu factors namely the elements of Nature, Suns effects, Earths magnetic
field, cardinal directions and Earths energy (Prana) have not changed over the centuries and
Vaastu Shastra is essentially the science of manipulating the above-mentioned Vastu factors in a
building, so that they are in harmony which in turn will make the lives of the inmates happy and
peaceful.

VASTU SHASTRA FACTORS | THE SUN AND ITS EFFECTS

Sunlight has two spectra the visible spectrum and the invisible spectrum.

VISIBLE SPECTRUM The visible spectrum consists of white light which is a combination of
seven main colours called VIBGYOR which stands for the colours, Violet, Indigo, Blue,
Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. These Colours, depending on the colour and intensity have
deep psychological effects on a persons moods and hence have to be used sensibly for creating a
good, positive environment. The effect of colours has beeen explained under Vastu Colours of

a House.

INVISIBLE SPECTRUM The invisible spectrum flanks the visible spectrum on either side
and consists of the Ultra Violet (Chemical) Spectrum and the Infra Red (Thermal Heat)
Spectrum. The Ultra-Violet (UV) rays have a shorter wavelength than the visible light rays and
are invisible. They kill bacteria and aid in the synthesis of Vitamin D in our bodies. The Infra
Red rays have a longer wavelength than the visible light rays and are also invisible. They are the
cause for the heat of the sunlight.

WHY IS SUN CONSIDERED A LIFE- GIVING ORB?

The Sun illuminates the Earth and it sustains life. It is for these reasons that Indians, from time
immemorial, worship the Sun God also known as Surya.

Sustain life - Plants make glucose (energy rich food) from Carbon dioxide of the air and water in
the presence of sunlight and release oxygen as a by-product into the air. This process called
Photosynthesis, is absolutely necessary to sustain life on Earth, because all living things get a
continuous supply of oxygen and animals get food (Carbohydrates) from the plants.

Illuminates the Earth - The white bright light of the Sun illuminates the Earth and is the reason
we are able to see. Even the colours we see all around is because of the Sunlight since it contains
all the possible colour variations. When sunlight falls on a coloured object, it reflects the light of
the objects color into our eyes while all the other colours of the light are absorbed into that
object, giving us the perception of colour. Thus, an apple appears red because it reflects red light.

HOW IS SUNLIGHT BENEFICIAL TO HUMANS?

Synthesis of Vitamin D: Sunlight synthesizes Vitamin D, a very important mineral (new

research suggests it is a hormone) for sup porting

and maintaining the overall health in our bodies, by exposure of our bare skin to the Ultra-Violet
rays of the sunlight. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain
strong bones. Vitamin D deficiency causes brittle, soft, thin bones, and leads to bone softening
diseases like rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, and possibly contributes to
osteoporosis. Also recent research suggests that Vitamin D deficiency is linked with a higher
incidence of Cancers and Parkinsons disease. It has been observed that in countries further away
from the Equator, like U.S.A., Great Britain, Canada, there is a high incidence of Vitamin D
deficiency as there is a need for longer sun exposure for Vitamin D synthesis.

Endorphins: Sunlight increases the amount of endorphins in our blood which creates a
feeling of well being in us and reduces the incidence of depressive conditions like SAD.
(Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a kind of winter depression that affects lots of
people during winter due to shortening of daylight hours.
Weight loss: Sunlight reduces weight caused by water retention.
Lowers Blood Pressure (BP): Sunlight lowers blood pressure.
Good for the immune system: Sunlight strengthens the immune system.
Positive effect on cholesterol: Sunlight increases the good cholesterol and lowers the
bad.
Normalises blood sugar: Sunlight increases low blood sugar and lowers high blood
sugar.
Good for the Liver: Sunlight helps detoxify the liver. Doctors recommend exposing
jaundiced new-born babies to the morning sunlight.
Increases endurance: Sunlight increases muscle tone and endurance.
Good for healing: Sunlight speeds up healing of unwell people. Elderly people and
people who have been unwell for a long time, feel a lot better after sitting out in the sun.
Kills germs: The UV rays of the sunlight kill germs.
Increases alertness: Sunlight boosts serotonin levels which help a body to stay alert.
Regardless of the season, it is important for our bodies to get at least 15 to 20 minutes of
natural sunlight every single day, to provide us with positive health benefits. However, we need
to protect ourselves from over-exposure for long periods of time as it can be harmful.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO EXPOSE TO THE SUN?

It is best to expose to the Sun when it is not too hot to cause sunburn and other harmful effects.
The intensity of the sunlight and heat is related to the height of the sun in the sky and the
pathway of the beam of sunlight through the atmosphere. At mid-day the sun is almost directly
overhead and therefore, the pathway of sunlight is half the length compared to the pathway in the
morning or evening. Hence the intensity is maximum at noon and least in the morning or
evening.

However it feels hotter in the evenings as compared to the mornings, because the ground reflects
and re-reflects the heat waves back into the air. Whereas, in the morning, since the sunlight just
starts to heat up the cold Earth after a dark night, it feels a lot more pleasant. Also, since the
morning air is thick with carbon dioxide (exhaled by living things through the night), it filters out
most of the UV radiation allowing only a small amount which is not harmful to us.

Hence it is most comfortable and beneficial to expose ourselves to the morning sunlight - when
it is not too hot for at least 15 to 20 minutes a day.

WHY IS THE SUN AN IMPORTANT VASTU SHASTRA FACTOR?

Scientifically, it has been proven that the Sun is very important and essential to humans in their
day to day life and surprisingly, the Vastu pundits knew this fact, so many thousands of years
ago. Therefore, the Sun became an important Vastu factor and was taken into account in the
design of buildings. Vastu Shastra takes into consideration the the changing intensity of the
sunlight from place to place, sunrise to sunset and from season to season in the design of
buildings as explained here:

Constant light from the North direction: In India, since it is in the northern hemisphere close
to the equator, there is constant light from the North side most of the year.
Morning light from the East direction: When the Sun rises in the East in the morning, the
intensity of the light is much less and so this is the right time to expose. Also, the UV rays of the
morning sunlight can destroy the germs that would have multiplied during the night.
Infra-Red heat in the West and South direction: When the Sun sets in the West in the
evening, the intensity of the sunlight is reduced. However, the Infra Red heat rays of the Sun are
projected to the South and West sides. And since the infra-red rays get reflected and re-reflected
by the ground, the West side and the South side are much hotter in the evenings and even at
night.

HOW DOES VASTU SHASTRA ENSURE THAT THE INMATES OF A BUILDING

BENEFIT FROM THE USEFUL EFFECTS OF THE SUN?

The main aim of Vastu Shastra in designing a house, is to ensure that the inmates of a house are
inadvertently exposed to the useful rays of sunlight while performing their activities, even if they
are inside the house the whole day. But during a day, people perform different activities in
different rooms at different times and the Suns position keeps changing from sunrise to sunset.
So to ensure that the inmates get exposed to sunlight constantly, each room is positioned so that
it faces the Sun at the time of the day when it is most likely to be used by them. This has been
prescribed in an ideal plan called the Vastu Purusha Mandala.

HOW DOES THE VASTU MANDALA HELP THE INMATES TO BENEFIT FROM THE
USEFUL EFFECTS OF THE SUN?

The Vastu Mandala is a square, metaphysical plan of a house which shows the position of the
rooms of a house. In the Vastu Mandala, the rooms have been positioned in specific directions,
keeping the beneficial effects of the Sun in mind. They are explained here:

Water source, wells: The water source, wells are preferred on the East and North sides of the
house so that the UV rays of the morning sunlight can kill the germs and purify the water before
you start using it.

Kitchen: It is advisable to have the kitchen platform on the Eastern side so that the morning
sunrays will destroy the germs on the kitchen counter and prevent the food from spoiling.
Moreover, the person who is cooking is inadvertently exposed to the useful, morning sunlight.
(In the olden days, women stayed at home and never stepped out, and so this was a way for them
to get exposed to the beneficial sun rays).
Windows: There should be fewer windows on the South and West side, and the walls should be
thicker to reduce the heat. However there should be more windows in the North and East to
allow constant sunlight into the House.

Toilets, Store rooms: Lesser used rooms like the toilets, store rooms etc should preferrably be
on the West side as they tend to get hotter. Moreover they serve as buffers and prevent the rest of
the house from getting heated up. And the heat keeps these rooms dry and free from moisture,
germs, fungus etc.

Obstacles: There should be no obstacles, tall trees, high compound walls on the North and East
sides of the house, so that the constant sunlight from the North and the morning sunlight from the
East, can engulf the house, brighten it and kill the germs and bacteria that would have multiplied
during the night.

Balconies, Terraces, open spaces: More Balconies, terraces and open spaces are desirable in the
East and North sides again for the same reason as above.

Trees: It is advisable to have tall trees on the South and West sides, to protect the house from the
direct sunlight and also to give pure oxygenated air to the inmates (since trees and plants produce
oxygen during the process of photosynthesis).

VASTU SHASTRA FACTORS | THE EARTHS MAGNETIC FIELD

The Earths magnetic field is similar to that of a bar magnet with one pole near the geographic
North pole and the other near the geographic South pole. The Earths magnetic field is mostly
caused by convection of molten iron within the outer liquid core, along with a Coriolis effect
caused by the overall planetary rotation, which organizes these electric currents in rolls aligned
along the North-South polar axis.
When we allow a bar magnet to swing freely on a string, the end that points towards the
geographic north pole is called the North seeking pole of the magnet, and is labeled N . Its
opposite end is labeled S for South magnetic pole. So this means that the Earth actually has a
magnetic South pole near the geographic North pole in order to attract the N end of the bar
magnet. But, we call it the magnetic North pole because it is close to the geographic North pole.
Similarly, the Earths stronger magnetic North pole is actually near the geographic South pole
but is called the magnetic South pole.

The magnetic energy flows out of the stronger magnetic North pole (near the geographic South)
into the magnetic South pole. To avoid confusion just remember that the magnetic energy is
stronger in the South and flows to the North as shown in the diagram above.

HOW DOES THE EARTHS MAGNETIC FIELD AFFECT LIVING THINGS?

It is scientifically known that the Earths magnetic field affects humans and animals in different
ways because every cell within them not only reacts to electromagnetic currents but also
produces them. For example the Earths magnetic field could generate electric fields and currents
around the heart and slightly impede the flow of blood.
Humans: Psychiatrists have noticed a correlation between increased geomagnetic activity and
increased suicide rates and clinical depression. This has been explained by Kelly Posner, a
psychiatrist at Columbia University in the US: The most plausible explanation for the
association between geomagnetic activity and depression and suicide is that geomagnetic storms
can desynchronise circadian rhythms and melatonin production. The circadian regulatory
system depends upon repeated environmental cues to synchronise internal clocks, and magnetic
fields may be one of these environmental cues. Geomagnetic storms could disrupt body clocks,
precipitating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and therefore increased suicide risk.

Herd animals: It has been observed that cattle and other herd animals, such as red and roe deer
apparently dont just stand around randomly chewing the cud they in fact behave like huge
compasses, aligning themselves with magnetic north-south axis, as if involuntarily directed by
the earths magnetic field lines to the poles.

Lobsters: have been shown to exhibit magnetic sensitivity, relying upon the earths magnetic
lines to navigate.

Birds: Though its not conclusively proven, there is compelling evidence that birds can actually
see the Earths magnetic field. Their eyes contain specialized light receptor molecules that
communicate with the visual center in the brain, just as a compass relies on a tiny magnet to
tune in to the earths magnet.

Baby sea Turtles: rely on the earths magnetism to make their way to and fro in the Atlantic
Ocean (thats 8,000 miles round trip). Their bodies tell them when theyve strayed off course
its just like having an internal GPS.
Animals align themselves with the Earths magnetic North

WHY IS THE EARTHS MAGNETIC FIELD AN IMPORTANT VASTU SHASTRA

FACTOR?

Though geomagnetic storms have a negative effect on humans, on the positive side, it has been
observed that the stronger magnetic North pole (Earths geographic South) has a positive effect
on the body while the magnetic South pole (Earths geographic North) has a negative effect. The
reason for this has not been scientifically explained. But this effect has been likened to a shower.
The shower head is symbolic of the magnetic North poles energy. It is fresh, clean and
powerful in its delivery whereas the magnetic South pole is similar to the drain. The grungy,
spent water flows more slowly down a bigger opening.
It is astonishing that the ancient Indian pundits, so many thousands of years ago, knew of the
adverse and positive effects of the Earths magnetic field on humans. Thus the Earths magnetic
field became an important Vastu Shastra factor and was taken into account in the designing of
buildings. One of the goals of Vastu in designing buildings, is to ensure that humans are
constantly aligned in the right magnetic axis while they are inside the house, so that the Earths
magnetic field has a positive effect on them rather than the opposite.

HOW DOES VASTU SHASTRA TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EARTHS MAGNETIC
FIELD IN THE DESIGN OF STRUCTURES?
Some of the Vastu Shastra principles that ensure humans benefit from the positive effects of the
Earths magnetic field are explained below. Since Vastu is a science, every guideline is based on
logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and
scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what you dont.

One should never sleep with the head in the North. In fact it was said that only a dead body
should be allowed to lie with the head in the North. To make it easy for us to remember, Vastu
Shastra likened the Human body to a magnet with the Head as the North Pole and the feet as the
South pole. Therefore, if the head is directed towards the Earths North Pole, the two North
Poles will repel each other and cause tension, disturbed sleep and other related health problems.
So, the Vastu rule is that one should always keep the head away from the North while sleeping or
sitting for long periods. The Scientific Explanation - Since the Earths magnetic North pole
(situated near the geographic South) is stronger and has a positive effect on humans, especially
on their brains, one should always try to sleep or sit with the head in the South. Also, because
the magnetic South pole (located near the Earths geographic North) has a negative effect, we
must avoid sleeping with our heads in the North.

When sitting at the dining table or in the living room, one should sit facing East, North or
West but avoid sitting facing South: The Scientific Reasoning - When you sit facing
South, your head is effectively in the North and your feet in the South. So, this causes the
negative effect described above.

In the Puja room avoid idols facing North because then the worshipper has to face South
which is not advisable. The Scientific Reason When a worshiper sits facing South, his feet are
towards the South and his head is in the North. This causes the negative effect explained above.

VASTU SHASTRA FACTORS | THE EIGHT CARDINAL DIRECTIONS

According to Vastu Shastra, the entire universe exists in endless space and has no direction
whatsoever. However, on Earth our directions are defined with respect to the Sun and there are
eight cardinal directions. They are:

East (poorva): It is common knowledge that the Sun rises in the East.

West (Paschima): The Sun sets in the West.

North (Uttara): When one faces the East, the direction to the left is the North.

South (Dakshina): When one faces the East, the direction to the right is called the South.
The cardinal directions superimposed on the Vastu Purusha Mandala image

The corner where two Cardinal directions meet, is also significant since it combines the forces
emanating from both the directions.

North-East (Eeshanya): This is where the North and East meet.

North-West (Vaayavya): This is where the North and the West meet.

South-West (Nairuthya): This is where the South and the West meet.

South-East (Aagneya): This is where the South and the East meet.

WHY ARE THE EIGHT CARDINAL DIRECTIONS AN IMPORTANT VASTU SHASTRA

FACTOR?

The Sun sustains life and is very important to living things. Since the directions are defined with
respect to the Sun, the cardinal directions are also an important Vastu factor. In Vastu Shastra it
is believed that the right dispositon of the rooms of the house with respect to the eight cardinal
directions has a direct positive influence on the residents.

Since the Vastu pundits knew of the importance of sunlight to humans, along with the the Sun,
the eight cardinal directions were taken into account in the design of buildings. The main aim
of Vastu Shastra is to ensure that the inmates of a house are inadvertently exposed to the useful
rays of sunlight, even if they are inside the house the whole day. But during a day, people
perform different activities in different rooms at different times and the Suns position keeps
changing with respect to the cardinal directions. So to ensure that the inmates get exposed to
sunlight constantly, each room should be positioned in a specific cardinal direction so that it
faces the Sun at the time of the day when it is most likely to be used by them.

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHAT IS THE IDEAL LAYOUT OF A HOUSE

WITH RESPECT TO THE CARDINAL DIRECTIONS?
Vastu Shastra prescribes a plan called the Vastu Purusha Mandala, in which each room
(depending on its function) is located in a specific cardinal direction and to make it easy to
remember, Vastu assigns symbolic gods (who have certain inherent qualities) to each of the eight
cardinal directions. For example, the Kitchen (where cooking is the main activity) is positioned
in the South-East direction and Agni, the god of fire is assigned to this direction.

Plan according to Vastu purusha mandala

Here, I have explained the eight cardinal directions with the preferred rooms and the
symbolic gods that rule these directions. Since Vaastu is a science, every guideline is based on
logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and
scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what you dont.

NORTH-EAST (Eeshanya), the direction of the supreme being is suitable for open
space,Water source and Puja Room/meditation room: The Logic Just before dawn, between
3am and 6am, the Sun is in the North-Eastern part of the house and as these hours are ideal for
yoga, meditation or prayer, this is t he right direction for the Puja/meditation room. Since the
North-East corner gets constant sunlight (through the year) from the North and morning sunlight
from the East, it is preferable to have lots of open space to allow unobstructed sunlight into the
house. In addition, because of the available open space and the Suns germicidal UV rays, the
Water source (in ancient times an open well) can be located here.

EAST (Purva) ruled by the Sun god, Surya is the ideal direction for Main doors and
windows, Bathrooms:The Logic-The rising Sun is in the East between 6am and 7.30am and as
this is the right time for bathing etc, this is the ideal position for Bathrooms. Since the rising Sun
represents the essence of all beginnings, having the main door here is a sign of veneration to the
Sun. Lots of openings in the East will ensure that the UV rays of the morning sunlight can engulf
the interior of the house and destroy the bacteria that would have multiplied during the night.

SOUTH-EAST (Aagneya) the direction of Agni, the god of fire is best for the Kitchen: The
Logic- The Sun is in the South-East from 7.30am to 9am and as this is the best time for preparing
and cooking food, the Kitchen can be located here. The germicidal UV rays of the Sun will keep
the kitchen counter free from germs that spoil the food.

SOUTH (Dakshina), the direction of Yama is suitable for Office, Childrens bedrooms,
Store rooms: The Logic The Sun is in the South between 9am and noon and is the right time to
do work. Therefore this is the best direction for an office and Childrens bedrooms. By noon, the
intensity of the heat is high and so the South is also ideal for store rooms which need to be
moisture proof.

SOUTH-WEST (Nairutya) the direction of Pitru, the ancestors is suitable for Master
bedroom, safe, wardrobes, library : The Logic - The Sun is in the South-West section of the
house between noon and 3pm and this period is called Vishranti (resting period). Hence, this is
the best position for the Master bedroom. Since the owner sleeps here it also makes sense to have
his safe here. However, the South-West tends to get heated up by the sunlight reflected from the
West and so it is advisable to have a library or wardrobes on the West wall of the room to
reduce the heat.

WEST (Paschima) governed by the water God, Varuna is the best direction for Childrens
bedrooms, study room, Bathrooms, Toilets, Trees: The Logic The Sun is in the West
between 3pm and 6pm and since this is the ideal time for children to study, the Childrens
Bedrooms and study room can be located here. The West gets heated up more than the other
directions beacuse of the hot afternoon Sun and the re-reflection of its infra red rays from the
ground. Therefore, less used rooms like Toilets, Bathrooms and Store rooms can be placed here
as they will serve as a buffer and prevent the rest of the house from getting heated up. Also, they
will remain dry and hygienic due to the heat.

NORTH-WEST (Vaayavya) the direction of the wind God, Vaayu is right for the Dining
room, Childrens bedrooms, Toilets, garages: The Logic -The Sun (though not visible) is in the
North-West after 6pm and this is the time to eat, relax and go to bed. So this is the best position
for a dining room and bedroom. The North-West too gets heated up by the evening Sun. So, the
less used rooms like Toilets, Store rooms, garage can be placed here as they will serve as buffers
and prevent the rest of the house from getting heated up.

NORTH (Uttara) ruled by the god of wealth, Kubera is the ideal direction for Living room,
open spaces: The North is the direction of the Pole star, the fixed point in the sky that denotes
stability and security. Hence, this is the direction to transact all business. The Logic In India,
(being in the northern hemisphere near the equator), there is constant light form the
North, through the year. Hence it makes sense to have open spaces in the North, so that the light
is not obstructed and can permeate into the House. Similarly, the Main entrance door can be here
as it can be easily accessed from the open spaces. The Living room too, can be on this side as it
is close to the main door and is convenient for business transactions, since the outsiders will be
entertained here.

VASTU SHASTRA FACTORS | EARTHS ENERGY (PRANA)

Vastu Shastra takes into account the various natural energies which are available free of cost on
the Earth and in the atmosphere like: Solar Energy from Sun, Lunar Energy from Moon, Earth
Energy, Sky Energy, Electric Energy, Magnetic Energy, Thermal Energy, Wind Energy, Light
Energy, Cosmic Energy.

WHAT IS PRANA OR COSMIC ENERGY AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT

HUMANS?

Prana is the Sanskrit for vital life. It is the notion of a vital, life-sustaining force of living
beings, comparable to the Chinese notion of Chi. It is an auto-energizing force which creates a
magnetic field and permeates each individual as well as the Cosmos at all levels. This self-
energizing force is is the bond between the galaxies, the planets, humans and molecules which
keeps the whole Cosmos in order. All beings are born through it and live by it. When they die,
their individual breath dissolves into the cosmic breath.

The Cosmic Energy exists everywhere in the Cosmos and is essential to maintain the order of
human life and to expand the Consciousness. Humans use cosmic energy in their day to day
activities. In order not to feel exhausted and tired they need to get Cosmic energy through the
day.

WHY IS PRANA OR COSMIC ENERGY AN IMPORTANT VASTU SHASTRA

FACTOR?

According to Vastu Shastra, there are invisible energy lines that run like a large grid across the
Earth from North to South and from East to West. The electromagnetic field thus generated
affects the human body at the cellular level and controls the organs of the human body. It is
believed that when a structure is placed on Earth, the equilibrium is affected because the physical
structure causes a break in the electomagnetic field. Hence this equilibrium needs to be restored
so that the the cosmic energy or Prana (read electromagnetic energy) flows harmoniously
through the building as well as around it.

It is surprising that the Vastu pundits of ancient times knew of this life-force and so, Prana or
the cosmic energy was considered an important Vaastu factor and taken into account while
designing buildings. One of the goals of Vaastu in designing, is to restore balance between the
building structure and the cosmos because when buildings echo the underlying cosmic
principles, they vibrate in harmony with the universe and these vibrations affect the inmates in a
positive way creating peace, prosperity and contentment in their lives.

HOW CAN YOU RESTORE THE BALANCE OF COSMIC ENERGY PRANA IN

BUILDINGS?

In Vastu, the movement of cosmic energy also called prana through a 4-sided building is
believed to be similar to the flow of energy across the Earth. It flows in a definite direction fom
the North-East direction towards the South-East and North-West corners before heading to the
South-West. Keeping this flow in mind, Vastu Shastra prescribes an ideal plan called the Vastu
Purusha Mandala to ensure that the prana or cosmic energy moves smoothly through a
building and around it.

The Vastu Purusha Mandala plan

HOW DOES THE VASTU MANDALA HELP IN RESTORING THE BALANCE OF
PRANA IN A BUILDING?

It is believed that if a house is designed on the lines of the Vastu Mandala, the prana will flow
smoothly through the building and around it without any obstructions. The Vastu Mandala is a
square, metaphysical plan of a house which shows the position of the rooms of a house in the
eight cardinal directions. In the Vastu Mandala, the main entrance door is positioned in the
North-East to facilitate the entry of prana into the house from the North-East. Also, there is a
cental open court which facilitates the flow of prana into all the rooms.

WHY IS IT BELIEVED THAT THE PRANA ENTERS FROM THE NORTH-EAST

CORNER?

The Scientific Explanation: Every creature on Earth starts its activities at sunrise and goes to
sleep after sunset and therefore the Sun, assumes a lot of importance to living things. Because of
the importance of sunlight to humans, the main aim of Vastu Shastra is to ensure that the inmates
of a house are inadvertently exposed to the useful rays of sunlight while performing their
activities, even if they are inside the house the whole day. But during a day, people perform
different activities in different rooms at different times and the Suns position keeps changing
from sunrise to sunset. So to ensure that the inmates get exposed to sunlight constantly, each
room in the Vastu Mandala is positioned so that it faces the Sun at the time of the day when it is
most likely to be used by them.

At the crack of dawn, the Sun is positioned in the North-East direction. Then it moves to the
East, South-East, South, West and North-West in India. In the Vastu Mandala, the main entrance
door is positioned in the North-East corner to ensure that the early morning sunlight floods the
house. This explains why the prana or life-giving energy, is symbolically believed to enter from
the North-East, early in the morning.

The prana or life-giving energy, is symbolically believed to enter from the North-East
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF VASTU SHASTRA - Vastu Shastra lays down
fundamental principles of Architecture that should be followed in designing, so as to ensure a
beautiful, aesthetic, proportionate, comfortable sized and well oriented building. These
fundamental principles are explained here:

VASTU PRINCIPLES | ORIENTATION

VASTU PRINCIPLES | SITE PLANNING
VASTU PRINCIPLES | PROPORTIONS
VASTU PRINCIPLES | DIMENSIONS
VASTU PRINCIPLES | AESTHETICS

VASTU PRINCIPLE | SITE ORIENTATION

Site Orientation refers to the location or position of the Site with respect to the cardinal
directions(or the points of the Compass). The Sites orientation is identified by the direction
that the front of the Site faces i.e. the side facing the road. So, when you stand in the Site and
face the road, the directon you face is said to be the Sites orientation. Therefore, a Site with a
road in the East, is called a East facing Site.

Site Orientation refers to the location or position of the Site with respect to the cardinal
directions

WHY IS ORIENTATION SO IMPORTANT IN VAASTU SHASTRA?

For the ancient Indians, Orientation played a very important role in in their daily lives
because the environmental factors that affect man and his buildings, like the Sun, the Earths
magnetic field and the direction of the monsoon winds, were always taken with reference to
the Cardinal directions The Sun rises in the East and sets in the West, and there is constant
light from the North for countries in the Northern hemisphere during Uttaraayana (Jan 14 July
15) and vice versa during Dakshinaayana (July 16 Jan 14) in the southern hemisphere.
Similarly, the Earth is a huge magnet with a magnetic North pole close to the actual North pole
and a magnetic South pole near the actual South pole.

Therefore in laying down guidelines for the design of buildings, Vastu Shastra takes into account
these factors and the orientation so that man can benefit from the positive and useful effects of
these factors and is protected from their harmful and negative effects.

WHY IS THE SUN SO IMPORTANT IN VAASTU SHASTRA?

From time immemorial, the Sun has been considered the Giver of Life because without the
Sun, there can be no life on Earth. The Suns UV rays help in the synthesis of Vitamin D, a very
essential nutrient/hormone in our bodies and they also destroy germs and bacteria. The Sun
uplifts our spirits and improves our overall health; in fact in scandinavian countries, during the
winter months when the hours of sunlight are considerably reduced, a majority of people suffer
from a depressive illness called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). The Sun illuminates the
world. In addition the seven constituent colours of the Sunlight; VIBGYOR, are the reason we
see this world in colour and they are very useful in treating several diseases. Read more in
Colour Therapy. Readmore about the Suns positive effects.

Therefore it is important that all humans must expose themselves through the day to the Sun.
However, overexposure is not good as the intense UV rays of the Sun can cause skin cancers and
the Infra-red heat rays can cause sunburn. It is best to expose to diffused and indirect sunlight
within the house and to direct sunlight only in the early mornings, when the intensity of the UV
rays is less since they have to pass through the dense envelope of Carbon dioxide that is formed
during the night, when all living things- animals and plants exhale CO2.

The Sun has many positive effects on living things

HOW DOES VASTU SHASTRA TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SUN IN DESIGNING?

In Vaastu Shastra, there is a lot of emphasis on designing buildings in such a way that all rooms
get maximum benefit of the Sunlight by default and irrespective of whether the occupants desire
it or not. Thus the East direction (for the useful, early morning sunlight) and the North direction
(from where there is constant, pleasant sunlight through most of the year in India) assume a lot of
importance in Vastu Shastra as explained here.

The most frequently used rooms during the day are oriented in the East and the North
whereas the rooms that are used mostly at night are restricted to the South and the West, which
are hotter directions.
More Doors and windows - are placed in the East to allow the suns UV rays to penetrate into
the house.
Trees and tall shrubs are planted in the South and West of the site to protect the inmates from
the afternoon heat and to provide them with oxygen.
Tall trees and plants are avoided in the North and East - so as to allow an unhindered flow of
useful morning light into the house.
The open wells and other water sources are kept in the North-East - to enable the morning
UV rays of the sunlight to destroy germs and bacteria before the water is used.
Kitchens - where germs thrive due to the presence of food and moisture, are oriented to the East
so that the UV rays of the morning Sun kill the microbes.

WHY IS THE EARTHS MAGNETIC FIELD SO SIGNIFICANT IN VASTU SHASTRA?

Like the Sun, the Earths magnetic field, also has a significant influence on the well being of the
inmates of the house. Just as the Earth is a huge magnet with its magnetic North pole near the
arctic North pole and the magnetic South pole near the antarctic South pole, the human body
behaves like a magnet with the head as the North pole and the feet as the South pole. The
magnetism in our body is caused because of the presence of Iron ions in our blood. So it is
impotant that at all times we should ensure that our head does not lie towards the North since like
poles always repel each other. And scientifically it has been proven that if one sleeps with the
head in the North, the blood circulation is affected and it causes headaches, tensions and
disturbed sleep. Read more about the Earths magnetic field here.

HOW IS THE ORIENTATION OF A SITE ASCERTAINED?

To ascertain the Orientation of the Site, nowadays we use a compass. It is recommended

that one stand with the compass in the centre of the plot, which is considered the navel of the
Vastu purusha and determine where the North is. Accordingly we can find out the Orientation of
the Site.

However, in earlier times a procedure called Shankustaapana was followed, wherein a

gnomon was erected in the centre of the plot. A circle was drawn with the bottom of the gnomon
as its centre and a radius twice its length. Two points were marked where the shadow of the
gnomon before and after noon met the circumference of the circle. The line joining these two
points is the East-West line. Two circles are drawn at the East-West points with their distance as
the radius. The intersecting points are the North and South points.

This post was about the Vastu Shastra principle | Site Orientation. Read about another
important Vaastu Shastra principle | Vastu Purusha Mandala Site Planning, which
explains the positioning of rooms in a House according to a diagram known as the Vastu Purusha
Mandal
VASTU PURUSHA MANDALA

WHAT IS THE LEGEND OF VASTU PURUSHA?

The ancient Indian text Mayamatam on Vastu Sastra, written thousands of years ago, explains
the legend of the Vastu Purusha. According to Hindu mythology, in the beginning Brahma the
creator of the Universe, experimented with a new creature. He created a large cosmic man, who
grew rapidly as he began to devour everything in his path to satisfy his insatiable hunger. When
he became unmanageably big so that his shadow fell on the Earth like a permanent eclipse, the
gods 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 monster and held it flat against the Earth while
Brahma jumped on its middle. Then the Monster cried out to Brahma, You created me like
this. So why am I being punished? Brahma offered him a compromise and made the Monster
immortal with the boon that he would be worshiped by any mortal that builds a structure on
earth. He was named Vastu Purusha.

Vastu Shastra gives the directive principles regarding construction of buildings so as not to
displease the Vastu Purusha. These principles are explained with the help of the diagram called
the Vastu Purusha Mandala.
WHAT IS THE VASTU PURUSHA MANDALA?

The diagram shown above, known as Vastu Purusha Mandala, is a metaphysical square plan that
illustrates how the Vastu Purusha was pinned down by Brahma and 44 Gods face down, with
his head to the North-East and his feet towards the South-West.

The diagram is divided into 99 = 81 parts. The positions of the 45 gods who are holding down
the Vastu Purusha are shown. (32 in the external enclosures and 13 in the internal enclosures).
These symbolic Gods rule various aspects of life and have certain inherent qualities. For
example, there should be no weight on the central portion as it is ruled by Brahma, the supreme
one. It is to be kept open in the form of a central courtyard. (This was mainly to allow proper
flow of air and cross ventilation). The function of the rooms placed in each area of the house was
in accordance with the nature of the deity ruling that particular area. This has been shown in the
two examples given below:

THE DIAGRAM BELOW SHOWS THE IDEAL POSITIONS OF DIFFERENT ROOMS IN A

SMALL HOUSE, BASED ON THE THE VASTU MANDALA GRID OF 3X3.
ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF DESIGNING
A HOUSE BASED ON THE VASTU PURUSHA MANDALA?

According to Vastu Shastra, if the house is designed as per the Vastu Purusha Mandala, a
perfectly balanced environment which ensures enhanced health, wealth and happiness is
created. The Scientific Explanation: This is actually based on scientific principles wherein, the
Sun, the five basic elements (panchabhutaas), the Earths magnetic field, Earths energy
fields,and the eight directions are manipulated to create an atmosphere beneficial to man. The
Vastu pundits figured out that, when the different rooms were placed according to the Vastu
Mandala created by them, good disposition to the Sun, proper ventilation and lighting and
privacy would be ensured in the building.
THE DIAGRAM BELOW SHOWS THE IDEAL POSITIONS OF DIFFERENT ROOMS IN A
BIG HOUSE, BASED ON THE THE VASTU MANDALA GRID OF 5X5.
WHAT IS THE LOGIC BEHIND THE POSITIONING OF DIFFERENT ROOMS
ACCORDING TO THE VASTU PURUSHA MANDALA?

Because of the importance of sunlight to humans, the main aim of Vastu Shastra is to ensure
that the inmates of a house are inadvertently exposed to the useful rays of sunlight, even if they
are inside the house the whole day. But during a day, people perform different activities in
different rooms at different times and the Suns position keeps changing from sunrise to sunset.
So to ensure that the inmates get exposed to sunlight constantly, each room should be positioned
so that it faces the Sun at the time of the day when it is most likely to be used.

The 24 hours of 1 solar day are divided into eight parts which are associated with the eight
cardinal directions. In each of these eight periods, the Sun is positioned in one of the cardinal
directions. So the room which is most likely to be used during that period is located in this
direction. This is explained here:

Puja Room or meditation room in the North-East: The Reasoning The period between 3am
and 6am, just before sunrise is called Brahma Muhurta. At this time, the Sun is in the North-
Eastern part of the house. These hours are ideal for Yoga, meditation, or study as it is very quiet
and peaceful. Therefore, the North-East corner is the best position for the Puja Room or
meditation room.

Bathroom, doors/windows in the East: The Reasoning From 6am to 7.30am, the Sun is in the
eastern part of the house. This is the time for bathing and preparing for the day, so East is a good
location for a bathroom used for bathing purposes only. In addition, there should be lots of
openings and no obstructions in the East so that the beneficial ultraviolet rays of the morning Sun
will engulf the house.

Kitchen in the South-East: The Reasoning The time between 7.30am to 9am, when the Sun is
in the South-East part of the house, is the best time for preparing food to be eaten later in the day.
Therefore, the kitchen can be located here as the UV rays of the Sun will keep the kitchen
counter free from germs that spoil the food.

Bedroom, office, Store room in the South: The Reasoning - The period between 9am and noon
is the time for work. The Sun is now in the South, and hence this is the best position for an office
and a bedroom. By noon, the intensity of the heat is high and so the South is ideal for store
rooms which need to be moisture proof.

Master bedroom, Wardrobes in the South-West: The Reasoning After lunch it is time for
rest, so the time between noon and 3 pm is called Vishranti, the resting period. The Sun is now in
the South-West section of the house and so it is the ideal location for a Master bedroom and the
wardrobes should be kept on the west wall to reduce the heat.

Childrens bedroom, study room, toilets in the West: The Reasoning - The period between
3pm and 6pm is the time for children to study. The Sun is in the West and this is the best location
for a childrens bedroom or study room. Since the West gets very heated up, it is beneficial to
have less used rooms like toilets which serve as buffers to the heat.

Second bedroom, dining room in the North-West: The Reasoning The time between 6pm
and 9pm, when the Sun is in the North-West part of the house, is the time for eating, relaxing and
sleeping. Therefore this direction is good for another bedroom and dining room.

Safe, Living room in the North: The Reasoning - The time between midnight and 3 am, when
the Sun is in the Northern section, is the time of darkness and secrecy. The North is therefore the
best place to hide valuables and to keep them protected.

This post is about the Vastu principle | Vastu purusha Mandala and the positioning of different
rooms of a House according to this diagram. Read about another important Vaastu Shastra
principle | Maana Proportions, which explains the right proportions, ratio of height to breadth
for buildings, here:
 VAASTU PRINCIPLE | MAANA PROPORTIONS
VASTU PRINCIPLE | MAANA PROPORTIONS

After the Selection of Site, it is worthwhile to apply the Vastu principles to the design of the
building so as to ensure a proportionate, aesthetic and beautiful building with the right
measurements. The Vastu principle Maana-Proportions prescribes the perfect ratio of height-
to-breadth of a building, to make it look proportionate.

WHAT IS MAANA PROPORTIONS IN VASTU SHASTRA?

Whether one is creating a building, a craft item or an article of daily use, the aim of the design
should be that:

The designed product must be useful and lend itself to easy application.
The designed product must be aesthetically pleasing. This principle covers the exterior of a
building as well as the interior.
The designed product must be capable of evoking a feeling of well-being and contentment.

For this, certain proportions should be followed when designing an object or a building.
Maana is the Vaastu Shastra principle of Proportionate Measurement. According to Vaastu
Shastra, adherence to Maana is imperative in all creative activity, be it sculpture or architecture
because only then will an object created by man look perfect, proportionate and pleasing to the
eye. The ancient Indian Vaastu pundits after trial and error, arrived at the perfect measurements-
ratio of height, length and breadth- to create a proportionate three dimensional building. So for
centuries afterwards, this became an easy formula for Architects to follow when designing
buildings.

WHAT ARE THE MEASUREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH BUILDINGS?

In Vastu Shastra the standards of measurements were Angula (3/4th. of an inch) and Hasta (18
inches). The measurement is divided into 6 categories:

1. Measurement of height,
2. Measurement of breadth,
3. Measurement of width or circumference,
4. Measurement along plumb lines,
5. Measurement of thickness and
6. Measurement of interspace.

Vaastu Shastra prescribes proportionate ratios of these 6 measurements in order to create

buildings with good proportions.
The height to breadth ratio of the Taj Mahal building is 1.

WHAT ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, IS THE BEST RATIO OF HEIGHT TO

BREADTH FOR BUILDINGS?

The following ratios of Height to Breadth are the best for buildings and each ratio indicates a
certain aspect of beauty and proportion. It is best to follow one of these ratios, according to
requirement.

1. Ratio of 1: When the Height is equal to the Breadth, the structure is considered to be
aesthetically proportionate.
2. Ratio of 1.25: When the Height is 1.25 times the Breadth, the structure is considered to
have good stability.
3. Ratio of 1.5: When the Height is 1.5 times the Breadth, the structure is considered to
have a pleasant appearance.
4. Ratio of 1.75: When the Height is 1.75 times the Breadth, the structure is good in every
way and will appear to be both strong and beautiful.
5. Ratio of 2: When the Height is twice the Breadth, the structure will appear gorgeous.

According to Vaastu Shastra, if a house is strictly built according to the proportionate

measurements described above, then the house becomes worthy of living in. The Scientific
Explanation - It is obvious that a proportionate building will appear aesthetic, pleasing to the eye
and get a lot of attention making it a pleasure to live in. However, most of the buildings that have
sprung up in recent times in our cities, with no regard for proportion are actually eye-sores! The
only consideration in the design of such structures is about maximising the F.A.R./F.S.I. and no
thought is given to the height or proportion. This is why the science of Vaastu Shastra insists on
the strict adherence to proportions, so that the resulting structure is always pleasing to look at,
and the overall architecture of the street and the City on a larger scale, is beautiful.
A well-proportioned building is pleasing to the eye

Anecdote: I am reminded of an aquaintance who lives in a very shabby-looking house but in a

street with several aesthetically appealing houses. When somebody asked her, why she continues
to live in this shabby house without any desire to renovate it or improve its appearance, her reply
exposed the selfish mindset of most people. Her answer was that, since she spends most of her
time inside her house, she gets to see the neighbours beautiful houses from her window and
hardly ever gets to see her own house. So the disadvantage is not hers, but the neighbours who
live around her. And she is not ready to spend money to improve the appearance of her own
house, just for the neighbour to have a good view.

Since most people think similarly, there has been no effort to follow proportions or aesthetics in
our buildings today. This is why a science like Vaastu Shastra should be referred to, when people
have doubts about proportions and aesthetics. All the proportions and measurements for creating
a beautiful house have been handed down to us on a platter, in the form of formula. So benefit
from it!

This post about the Vastu Shastra principle | Maana Proportions explains the right
proportions and ratio of height to breadth for buildings. The Proportion is related to the
dimensions of the buildings. Read about the formulae used for fixing the dimensions, Length x
Breadth x Height of a building in the post, Vastu Principle | Aayadi Dimensions, here:

VASTU SHASTRA PRINCIPLE | AAYADI DIMENSIONS

VASTU PRINCIPLE | AAYADI- DIMENSIONS

After the Selection of Site, it is advisable to apply Vastu principles and tips to the design of the
building. This will ensure a proportionate, aesthetic and beautiful building with the right
measurements. The Vastu principle Aayadi dimensions prescribes six formulae to work out
the right dimensions (length, breadth and height) of a building.
In Vastu Shastra, formulae called Aayadi are used to work out the length, breadth, height,
perimeter of buildings

WHAT DOES THE VASTU SHASTRA PRINCIPLE, AAYADI MEAN?

Though the science of Vastu follows generic rules for the design of spaces, a specific set of six
formulae called Aayadi are used to work out the Length, Breadth, perimeter, area and the height
of the building. Here, the length and breadth mean the outer measurements of the foundation
seen above the ground. The height of the building is considered to be from the bottom of the base
to the topmost point of the building. Like the other Vaastu principles, it was necessary that one
follows the Aayadi formulae strictly in order to experience positive effects within the building.
In fact even today, Aayadi is the only aspect of Vaastu Shastra that is followed in many parts of
India.

EXPLAIN THE AAYADI FORMULAE?

Aayadi constitutes six formulae Aaya, Vyaya, Yoni, Raksha, Vara and Tithi which are
explained below. The remainder obtained by using these formulae determines whether it is a gain
or loss. If it is a gain, then the structure is proportionate and stable and the dimensions are right.
However if it is a loss, then it means the dimensions are not right and should be suitably
corrected.

1. Yoni is the remainder of Breadth x 3 divided by 8

2. Vyaaya is the remainder of Breadth x 9 divided by 10
3. Aaya is the remainder of Length x 8 divided by 12
4. Raksha is the remainder of Length x 8 divided by 27
5. Vara is the remainder of Height x 9 divided by 7
6. Tithi is the remainder of Height x 9 divided by 30

The Aayadi formulae is used to check whether the length, breadth and height of a proposed
building are in proportion
HOW DOES ONE FIX / CHECK THE DIMENSIONS OF A BUILDING USING THE
AAYADI FORMULAE?

One can use the Aayadi formulae to check whether the length, breadth and height of the
proposed building are in proportion. Accordingly, the dimensions of the length, breadth or height
can be corrected.

BREADTH: The Yoni and Vyaya formulae are used for fixing the breadth of the building. If
the remainder obtained in the Yoni formula is an odd number, then it is good whereas if it is
even, then it is considered bad Yoni. 1, 3, 5 and 7 remainders are considered good Yoni and
associated with the directions East, South, West and North, respectively. Therefore depending on
the direction the building faces, the corresponding Yoni should be used to fix the breadth of the
building/rooms. Also, the Yoni of the first floor should be the same as the Yoni of the ground
floor. When an old house is being renovated, then a new Yoni different from the Yoni of the old
house should be used for the renovated house.

LENGTH: Aaya, Vyaya and Raksha formuale are used to fix the Length of the
building/rooms. Aaya also known as Aadhayam, means income and Vyaya means loss or
expenditure. Therefore, the Aaya should always be greater than the Vyaya. Using the Aayadi
formulae it has been concluded that for the Aaya to be more than the Vyaya the length of
rooms/building should preferrably be 1.5 times the breadth or at least 1.375 times the width. This
is why we find that sites are generally not square but rectangular with a Length 1.375 1.5
times the Breadth. For example: Sites have dimensions of 40 x 60, 30 x 40 and 50 x 80.

ORIENTATION: The Yoni formula defining the breadth measurement is useful for buildings
that are not oriented to the cardinal directions. Vastu Shastra clearly emphasizes the importance
of orienting the buildings to the four cardinal directions (North, East, South or West). As far as
possible, buildings should not be oriented to the intermediate directions. But in rare situations, if
the site faces an intermediate direction, the 1 Yoni should be used for fixing the breadth of the
building.

The Scientific Reasoning- The ancients were aware of the power of monsoon winds and other
energies (physical and metaphysical) on structures. Scientifically, it was seen that if the 4 faces
of the buildings were oriented towards the cardinal directions, they could withstand the impact of
these energies and also benefit from them. In fact most religious buildings, palaces, cities,
villages and roads of ancient India and many other parts of the world have been found to face the
cardinal directions. Examples: the Giza and Great pyramids of Egypt are all oriented to the
North. So if it was not possible to orient a building to the cardinal directions, it was important
that the dimensions of the building should be such that it can withstand the forces of nature. This
is where the Yoni (Breadth) calculation was useful.

HEIGHT: The height of the building can be fixed using the Vara and Tithi formulae. The
height of the first floor should not be more than that of the Ground floor. For arriving at the right
height of a building, the Proportion should also be considered. This has already been explained
in the post VASTU PRINCIPLE | MAANA PROPORTION.
The height of the first floor should not be more than that of the Ground floor.

WHY WAS IT NECESSARY TO FIX DIMENSIONS ACCORDING TO AAYADI IN

VASTU SHASTRA?

The Scientific Explanation: One reason was that, in those days the units of measurement were
not uniform in different regions. The units of measurement were Angula (3/4 of an inch) and
Hasta ( 18 inches) so that 1 Hasta equals 24 Angulas. However the value of Hasta and Angula
were different in different regions. Therefore, by using the Aayadi formulae for fixing the
dimensions of a building, the risk of creating disproportionate spaces was eliminated.

Another reason was that these formulae were formulated in order to make it easy for the
Architect to create rooms with the right sizes for the correct fit of tiles on roof purlins and roof
purlins on rafters and rafters on the walls of the rooms, since in olden days, most houses had tiled
roofs with wooden rafters and purlins.

The formulae were formulated to ensure rooms with the right sizes for the correct fit of tiles on
roof purlins and roof purlins on rafters and rafters on the walls of the rooms,
Typically in any wooden roof construction, the inclined roof rafters rest on the
lintels/walls/under-purlins and are typically spaced at 18 or 24 centre to center or closer.
Horizontal roof-purlins are placed on top of the rafters,to which both the top roof tiles and the
decorative ceiling tiles are fixed. Since the whole roof system is visible from the inside of the
house, care is taken to have neat joints and decorative rafters, purlins and ceiling tiles. So for
such precision work it was ideal that the room dimensions be in multiples of the rafter /purlin/tile
spacing.

This post about the Vastu Shastra principle | Aayadi Dimensions, explains the six formulae
used for fixing the dimensions of a building. The dimensions, Length x Breadth x Height, are
related to the form/shape of the building. Read about the different forms of buildings in the post,
Vastu Shastra principle | Chanda Aesthetics, here:

VASTU PRINCIPLE| CHANDA AESTHETICS

Posted by admin on Jan 27, 2010 in UNCATEGORIZED | 0 comments

After the Selection of Site, the next step is to apply Vastu principles to the design of the
building. This will ensure a proportionate, aesthetic and beautiful building with the right
measurements. One of the Vastu principles known as Chanda aesthetics/form, describes the
different forms or elevations of a building.

Vastu shastra describes different Chanda (forms) for different types of buildings

Chanda means Beauty. So Chanda is the beauty aspect or aesthetics of buildings. Chanda in
Vaastu literally means, a view of the contour of a structure against the sky, i.e. its perspective
view. In ancient Indian architecture, the contours of buildings were different for buildings with
different functions. The forms of different classes of buildings varied to satisfy different
functions and they never were identical in appearance. According to Vaastu Shastra, adherence
to Chanda would ensure an aesthetic looking building that is pleasing to the eye. Also, it ensured
the easy identification of buildings (of different functions). For example, a temple can easily be
identified by its mountain like form.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CHANDAS IN VASTU SHASTRA?

There are six chandas in Vaastu Shastra. They have been explained below along with suitable
architectural examples.

1. Meru Chanda,
2. Khanda Meru Chanda,
3. Pataaka Chanda,
4. Sushi Chanda,
5. Uddista Chanda,
6. Nasta Chanda.

In Meru Chanda, the form of a building is like the mythological, sacred, Hindu mountain,
Meru which is believed to be the centre of all physical, metaphysical and spiritual universes.
The Meru perspective appears like a central pinnacle which rises considerably above the ground
surface and having sides sloping step by step in an easy gradation all round. Many hindu temples
are modelled on the Meru aspect to symbolically represent Mount Meru.

Many hindu temples are modelled on Meru Chanda principle of Vastu Shastra

In Khanda Meru the outward peripheral ends of the building do not form a complete circle, but
has a vertical cut side, i.e., it appears like Meru which has been cut off vertically leaving the
exposed surface as a precipitous cliff. An example of a building with this contour is the well
known Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, the second tallest hotel in the world at a height of 1050 feet.

Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai is an example of Khanda Meru chanda principle in Vastu shastra

In Pataaka Chanda the building appears to be like a flagstaff with a flag unfurled, i.e. with a
narrow lower portion and progressive, cantilevered upper floors. For example, the Throne Pillar
at Fatehpur Sikri, India. Shown here is an example of such a structure, the CN tower in Toronto,
Canada which is a communications and observation tower at a height of 1815 feet.

The CN tower in Toronto, Canadais an example of Pataaka chanda principle

In Sushi Chanda the building has the appearance of a needle. An example is the recently
completed, tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa towers in Dubai at a height of 2717
feet.

The Burj Khalifa towers in Dubai is an example of Sushi (needle) chanda principle

Uddista and Nasta Chandas are not independent and they have no perspective view of their
own.
The above mentioned Chandas or forms were used in the design of different buildings meant for
different functions. For example, temples all over India took the form of the mythological
Mountain Meru, thought to be the seat of Lord Brahma in Hindu mythology.

This post about the Vaastu Shastra principle | Chanda Aesthetics explains the different
forms/shapes/aesthetics of Buildings. After working out the right proportion, fixing the external
dimensions of the building and deciding the external form or elevation, one needs to design the
interior layout of the building. Read about another important Vastu Shastra principle | Site
Planning which explains the ideal position of different rooms in a building VASTU
SHASTRA PRINCIPLE | SITE PLANNING.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES ON SELECTION OF SITE The Selection of Site is an

important consideration since the plot represents a fixed form which radiates positive as well
as negative energy depending on its, location, shape, orientation, slope and soil condition. The
Vastu guidelines for selecting the right Site are explained here, scientifically:

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | LOCATION OF SITE

According to Vastu Shastra, the location of the Site is very important. Some locations
are very auspicious while some others are best to be avoided. Vastu Shastra lays down
guidelines to aid you in the Selection of a Site with the best Location.

Since Vastu is a science, every guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an
Architect, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so
that you can decide what you want to follow and what you dont, instead of blindly
following them like a superstition.

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHAT IS THE IDEAL LOCATION OF A

SITE?
Peaceful, calm place with lot of greenery and good water source and good soil. The
Logic - Fertile soil is an indication of good soil for construction. Peace is what everyone
seeks.

Trust your intuition: When purchasing a property, it is a good idea to stand on the land
and feel its vibration for a few moments. If you feel positive about it, consider buying the
land. If not, it is probably not good for you. The Reasoning - It is always advisable to
trust your instinct but make sure you are not influenced by anything or anyone else.

A peaceful, calm place with a lot of greenery is the ideal site for a house
Plot with a good history: It is best to buy land where happy and successful people have
lived. The Reasoning Psychologically, you will feel that a land where people were
happy and prosperous, has good vibrations or energy.
Plot with roads on all four sides is considered the best: It ensures health, wealth and
happiness. The Reasoning - This is because a Plot with roads on all four sides is not
abutting any bodys property and hence one can derive maximum lighting and ventilation
from all four sides.
The next best option is a Plot with roads on the North or East. The Reasoning So
that more light and air can enter from these sides in the mornings.
Plots with a water source in the North, East or North-East are good: The Reasoning -
The germicidal UV rays of the morning sunlight, which engulf the North-East corner in
the morning, can purify the water before you start to use it.
Ideally a plot near a river is the best
ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHAT ARE THE SITES THAT ARE NOT
CONSIDERED GOOD?
Avoid Plots sold by a person in distress: Such Plots should be purchased only with
caution. The Reasoning - You feel psychologically unhappy and guilty, knowing that the
Plot was sold out of helplessness and that the previous owner must be still holding onto
it.
Avoid Sites near a public place: The Plot should not be abutting any public place like
temple, hospital, factory, school, college, Kalyan Mantapa etc The Reasoning - These
places will constantly be crowded and noisy. But if they are at least 80 ft away, then the
plot is acceptable.

Avoid Sites that were previously owned by a temple or charitable trust: The
Reasoning People are looking for reasons to raise a temple and if it is known that the
plot was previously owned by a temple trust, there will be a lot of pressure to donate it
for the temple or charity.
Avoid Sites near smelly places: The Plot should not be near a meat shop, workshop,
leather tannery, laundry, shoe shop, dustbins, sewage drains etc. The Reasoning - The
stench emanating from these places will permeate the house permanently and naturally
not create a relaxed atmosphere in the house.
Avoid a haunted/dilapidated house: The Plot should not be purchased, if in the recent
past someone has committed suicide on it, or if there have been several deaths over a
period of a couple of months. The Reasoning - You may psychologically feel uneasy if
you happen to know of such a past.

 Avoid dilapidated houses

Avoid sites where cactus grows. The Reasoning Such sites indicate sandy soil which
will not support the foundation effectively.
Avoid sites in which there are lot of termites: The Reasoning - Even if anti-termite
treatment is done on the foundation, there is a every likelihood that the termites will not
be eradicated completely since the termites form a vast underground network.
Avoid a Plot sandwiched between larger plots: The Reasoning The owner of the
smaller Plot can only construct a much smaller house than the owners of the larger plots
and thus, may subconsciously feel small and overpowered with respect to the
neighbours. This can create a feeling of inferiority in the owner.
Avoid Sites with obstructions: Dont buy a Plot with obstructions like hills, tall
buildings or towers on the North, North-East or East sides. The Reasoning - The useful
morning suns rays will be blocked. However having such obstructions on the West or
South sides are considered good as they block the hot western rays.
Avoid plots with an electrical pole or power supply station in the North-East corner:
The Reasoning It is an obstruction and can create harmful electric waves,that can
permeate the house from the open North-East corner.
Avoid plots with lot of cracks or too much wet soil: The Reasoning Cracks indicate
dried up clayey soil and too wet soil also indicates clayey soil that does not allow the
drainage of water. Such soil is not suitable for a building foundation as it will retain
moisture and necessitate extra expenditure for water-proofing the foundation
Avoid Plots with trees: If the Plot is a small one, there should not be trees like Peepal,
Mango, Banyan, Tamarind etc on it. The Reasoning These trees have far-spreading
roots and branches, which can cause damage to the building foundation. However, if the
Plot is quite big, it is good to have these trees, but away from the building and not in the
North-East corner.
Avoid Plots facing a T or Y intersection: The Reasoning This is because you can see
oncoming traffic and this may make you feel a bit nervous or lack of privacy. However,
in some cases, as explained below, such plots are acceptable.
Avoid plots facing an intersection
ACCORDING T O VASTU SHASTRA, WHAT IS VEEDI SHOOLA?

Plots facing a T or Y intersection, where roads or lanes run right into the face of the site
from different directions are called Veedi (road) Shoolas (Arrows) or Therukuthus. Since
it is difficult to comment on the different permutations and combinations of roads,
oncoming roads, directions etc, that form the Veedi Shoolas, let us examine the basic
considerations, in naming them as good, not bad, bad and very bad.
 (
ENE ) If the oncoming road is from the East, and hits the North-East part of the Plot, it
is considered a good site.
( NNE ) If the oncoming road is from the North, and hits the North-East part of the
Plot it is considered a good site.

( W NW ) If the oncoming road is from the West, and hits the North- West part of the
Plot, it is considered as a not bad site.( SSE ) If the oncoming road is from the South,
and hits the South- East part of the Plot, it is considered as a not bad site.
( E SE ) If the oncoming road is from the East, and hits the South- East part of the
Plot, it is considered a bad site.
( N NW) If the oncoming road is from the North, and hits the North-West part of the
Plot, it is considered a bad site.
( W SW ) If the oncoming road is from the West, and hits the South-West part of the
Plot, it is considered a very bad site.
( S SW ) If the oncoming road is from the South, and hits the South-West part of the
Plot, it is considered a very bad site.
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS FOR VEEDI SHOOLAS IN VASTU
SHASTRA?
If your Plot is facing an intersection, (called a Veedi Shoola), as you can see the
oncoming traffic and people, you may feel a bit nervous or a lack of privacy. In order to
overcome this, you can use the corner of the Plot that faces the intersection as a garage or
car porch etc so that the main house is not facing the intersection. Or you could fence off
that part and use it for some other purpose like a garden or outhouse etc.
VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | SITE SHAPE

According to Vastu Shastra, the Site Shape affects the well being of the inmates. Some shapes
have a good effect, while others have a bad effect and some others can be used after making
corrections by building a Vastu compound wall in a suitable shape.
Since Vaastu is a science, every guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I
have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide
what you want to follow and what you dont, instead of blindly following them like a
superstition.

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHAT IS THE BEST SHAPE OF A SITE AND

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SHAPED SITES?

Square shaped site is the best shape: According to Vastu, it ensures the inmates
all round prosperity and happiness. The Reasoning- In earlier times, since most houses were
designed around a central square courtyard, for good cross-ventilation and protection from the
hot summer heat, a square Site was considered the best, as the Site could be used fully, without
any wastage.

Rectangle shaped Site is also considered good: especially if the longer sides
runNorth to South, rather than West to East. It bestows good health, wealth and prosperity. The
Reasoning- Like in a square site, it is easy to design a square or rectangle shaped house in a
rectangle site even though there will be some extra land around the house. But this space can
be used for trees, outhouse etc and hence is not wasted.

Today, in the modern context, as an Architect, I also subscribe to this view. I find the rectangle
shape the best for Sites- It is easier to design a house on rectangular lines since this allows for a
good flow of interior spaces and the proportion of the rectangles sides are most suitable in
designing rooms. It may be for this reason that Sites in cities are usually available in
rectangular shapes such as 30x40, 40x60, 50x80 etc.
 Triangle shaped Site is not considered good: However, if the site is very big,
then it can be used by constructing a Vaastu compound wall so that it appears to be a square
shaped site and then designing the house within it. The Reasoning- In a triangular site, it is
difficult to design a square or rectangular house, which is the preferred shape for an efficient
plan. There will be a lot of wastage of land on all three corners and very little space on the
periphery of the house. Also, the plinth area of the house will be much less than, if the same plan
is drawn on a square or rectangular site of the same area.

Circular/Elliptical/Oval shaped Sites are not considered good for houses:

According to Vastu, such Sites are only good for constructing circular/elliptical shaped
buildings, like public buildings. The Reasoning- Just like in a triangle shaped site, it is difficult to
construct a rectangle or square house and there will be a lot of odd-shaped waste land around and
hence is not considered worth buying for a house.

Pentagon, Hexagon, Octagon shaped Sites are not considered good:

However, if these shapes are made rectangular or square by building a Vastu compound wall, so
that it appears to be a square or rectangular Site, it can be used. The Reasoning- Just like in a
triangle shaped site there will be lot of wastage of land around the building and so is not
considered worth the money you spend for the land.

L-Shaped Site is not good for a house: However, if it is possible to buy the site
on the inside of the L-shaped site to form a rectangle site, then it is fine. Or if the arms are wide
enough then the site can be fenced off into a rectangle and the remaining portion can be used for
a garden or some other structure. The Reasoning- It will be difficult to design a square or
rectangle shaped house in a L-shaped plot, unless the arms are very wide.
 Gou-mukh (Cow faced) site is considered auspicious: According to Vastu, if
the plot is narrow in the front and wide at the back, like the face of a cow, it is auspicious. The
Reasoning- A square or rectangle shaped house can be designed in this plot with some excess
land in the back which can be used for various things like a kitchen garden, outhouse etc.

Simha-mukh (Lion faced) Site is considered inauspicious: According to

Vastu, if the plot is wide in the front or entrance and narrow at the back, like the face of a lion, it
is inauspicious. The Reasoning- In this plot, though a rectangle or square shaped house can be
designed, the excess land will be in the front, and an outhouse or kitchen garden cannot be
placed here. So the excess space will be wasted and hence not considered worth the money spent.

Sites with cut corners are not good: If possible, you should be able to purchase
the cut part as well, so that the site looks whole. The Reasoning- It will be difficult to design a
house if any of the corners are cut, as some parts of the house will not have proper ventilation.

Sites with cut-corners in the North-East are not good and should not be purchased. It is
like a headless body, because as per Vastu Purusha Mandala the Vastu Purushas head lies in
the North-East. The Reasoning- The North-East is the direction from which the sun light engulfs
the house in the morning and hence should be kept open without any obstructions. So, if it
belongs to someone else, that portion cannot be kept open to the useful sunlight.

Sites with projections/extensions in the North or East are considered good: The Reasoning-
The North-East is the direction from which the sun light engulfs the house in the morning and so
if this corner is projected, there can be a lot more open space that will ensure more unobstructed
sunlight.

Sites with projections/extensions in the North-West, South-East or South-West are not

considered good: but can be used after corrections by building a Vaastu compound wall. The
Reasoning Having open spaces to the South and West of a site are not preferred, as the hot
sunrays projected towards these directions, will heat up the house.

Irregular shaped sites have a negative effect on the human psyche, but can be used after
building a square or rectangular compound wall around it: The Reasoning: The compound
wall protects the building and the space surrounding it from negative energies and so, in irregular
shaped properties, square or rectangular shaped compound walls can be built and the remaining
area should be left for growing trees and plants.
VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | SITE ORIENTATION

According to Vastu Shastra, orientation of a Site is one of the most important criteria to be
considered when selecting a Site. Vastu Shastra lays down guidelines to aid you in the Selection
of a Site with the ideal Orientation.

Since Vastu is a science, every guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have
attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what
you want to follow and what you dont, instead of blindly following them like a superstition.

WHAT DOES SITE ORIENTATION MEAN?

Site Orientation means the position of the Site with respect to the Cardinal directions (or the
points of the Compass). The Sites orientation is identified by the direction that the front of the
Site faces. When you stand in the Site and face the road, the directon you face is said to be the
Sites orientation. So, a Site with a road in the North, is called a North facing Site.

WHAT ARE THE CARDINAL DIRECTIONS RECOGNISED BY VASTU SHASTRA?

Vastu Shastra recognises eight Cardinal directions, which are identifiable depending on
the position of the Sun in the sky. They are:
East (poorva): It is common knowledge that the Sun rises in the East.
West (Paschima): The Sun sets in the West.
North (Uttara): When one faces the East, the direction to the left is the North.
South (Dakshina):When one faces the East, the direction to the right is called the South.
The corner where two Cardinal directions meet, is also significant since it combines the forces
emanating from both the directions.
North-East (Eeshanya): This is where the North and East meet.
North-West (Vaayavya): This is where the North and the West meet.
South-West (Nairuthya): This is where the South and the West meet.
South-East (Aagneya): This is where the South and the East meet.
WHY IS SITE ORIENTATION IMPORTANT IN THE SELECTION OF A SITE?

The Sun is very important to living things as it sustains life, is necessary for the synthesis of
Vitamin D in humans and has germicidal properties. For this reason, when planning the layout
of a building, the main aim of Vastu Shastra is to ensure that the inmates of a house are
inadvertently exposed to the useful rays of sunlight, even if they are inside the house the whole
day. But during a day, people perform different activities in different rooms at different times
and the Suns position keeps changing with respect to the cardinal directions. So to ensure that
the inmates get exposed to sunlight constantly, each room should be positioned in a specific
cardinal direction so that it faces the Sun at the time of the day when it is most likely to be used
by them.

Vastu Shastra prescribes an ideal plan called the Vastu Purusha Mandala, in which each room
(depending on its function) is located in a specific cardinal direction. But, depending on the
Orientation of the Site, it becomes either easier or more difficult to design the layout of a house
in line with the Vastu Mandala. This is why Site Orientation is important in the Selection of a
Site.

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHICH IS THE BEST DIRECTION FOR A

SITE?

Vastu Shastra lays down guidelines to aid you in the Selection of a Site with the ideal
Orientation. These guidelines are based on Common sense, Scientific reasoning and logic, since
Vastu is a Science and not a Superstition. According to Vastu Shastra:

All directions are considered good and each has its own advantages. The Reasoning- In any
city or town, there are roads in all four directions and naturally there have to be houses on both
sides of the roads. Also, the city looks more aesthetic if there are houses in all the four directions.
Hence, according to Vastu, all plots are considered good. It is the pseudo Vastu pundits who say
that South or West facing sites are not good.
East facing Site: is good for scholars, philosophers, priests, professors, teachers etc. The Logic-
East (morning sun rays) is considered the source of enlightenment.

North facing Site: is good for those in power, administration and those who work for
government.

South facing Site: is good for business class and for those who work in business organisations.

West facing Site: is for those who provide supporting services to the society.

The Reasoning- The reason why Vastu attributes each direction to a different class of people, is
because in ancient times, Indian society was divided into four classes of people, based on their
occupations. But gradually these classes became castes and there was very little social mixing
between the castes and so people of each caste preferred being with their own people. Hence
their homes were grouped together.

According to Vastu, all directions are good for sites

In a Site that does not squarely face the cardinal directions: then its axis is not parallel to
the magnetic axis (North-South axis) of the Earth. In such a case, the house should be built on
the Site facing the four directions. The Reasoning- In order to benefit from the useful effects of
the Sun and other natural elements, it is better if the house is built facing the cardinal directions.

There is a technical procedure by which the cardinal points are ascertained for the orientation of
the buildings. It should be done in the centre of the plot which is considered the naval of the
Vaastu Purusha. This procedure is called Shankustaapana and you can read about it here:
VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | SITE SOIL

According to Vastu Shastra, the Site soil decides the type of foundation for the building and
therefore the cost. Some soils are good for holding a regualr foundation while others may require
specially designed (and more expensive) pile foundations.

The foundation of a building is designed according to the type of soil

Vastu Shastra lays down guidelines to aid you in the Selection of a Site with the ideal Soil.
Since Vastu is a science, every guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I
have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide
what you want to follow and what you dont, instead of blindly following them like a
superstition.

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHAT IS THE IDEAL TYPE OF SOIL IN A

SITE?

The most suitable soil is cultivable, fertile soil

Cultivable land: While purchasing land, it is best to buy land that can be cultivated, i.e., where
vegetation can grow. The Logic - There are different types of soil based on the colour- brick
red, dark brown, white, red, yellow, black etc. Generally the soil which is good for cultivation
like red, brick red, brown, yellow soil etc is also good for the foundation of a building. Whereas,
black and clayey soil which is not good for cultivation is also not good for buildings as it retains
water and can cause dampness to the foundation.
Avoid a site with black and clayey soil: The Reason Black soil indicates soil that retains
water and doesnt allow good drainage. It is best to avoid such a site because it will require
special kind of foundation and water-proofing which will cost many times more than the usual
foundation.

Avoid rocky soil: Land with too many rocks and thorny trees is not considered good. The Logic
- This is because it may be an indication that there is rock below which will have to be blasted
out before laying the foundation, resulting in unexpected expenditure.

Avoid land with lot of worms: The Logic This may be an indication that the soil is very loose
and will not support the foundation well.

Avoid a Site in which a grave has been found while excavating: The Logic - Psychologically,
it can be very unsettling for the residents.

Avoid soil with a lot of worms

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, IS THERE ANY WAY OF CHECKING THE

SUITABILITY OF THE SOIL FOR CONSTRUCTION?

According to King Bhoj, the ancient Indian Vastu Specialist, there are two simple tests to test the
soil type.
Filling a pit with water: Dig a 2x2x2 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 then it is not good. The Logic - If the water is absorbed readily, then the soil is too loose
(sandy) and not firm enough for supporting the foundation. If there are cracks, it indicates clayey
soil, which will retain water and hence, can cause dampness to the foundation. Sites with sandy
or clayey soils will necessitate extra strong foundations with proper water proofing, which in
turn will be more expensive.

Refilling a pit with soil: Dig another 2x2x2 hole and then fill it up again. If some soil is 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. The Logic - This is the test to determine the soils natural
moisture, density and aeration. If the hole is not fully filled up, it means the soil is dense and
clayey and hence will retain water which is not good for a building foundation.

Surprisingly, even today we adopt the same method for testing the soil at a Site. In fact, it is the
first thing an Architect instructs the Client to get done, so that the kind of structure can be
decided and the structural engineer can design the structure and foundation accordingly.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | SITE SLOPE

According to Vastu Shastra, the Site slope affects the design of the house and the flow of the
run-off around the house. Vaastu lays down guidelines to aid you in the Selection of a Site with
the ideal Slope.

Since Vastu is a science, every guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I
have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide
what you want to follow and what you dont, instead of blindly following them like a
superstition.
ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, HOW SHOULD THE SITE SLOPE?

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 (Sun) should be lower than the Lunar half (moons surface). In
short, Vastu recommends that always, the:
North-East corner should be the lowest,
North-West should be higher than the North-East corner,
South-East should be higher than the North-West corner,
South-West should be higher than the South-East corner.

The North-East corner should be the lowest and the South-West corner should be the
highest: The Logic- This ensures the unobstructed flow of light and solar energy from the North-
East corner (morning light and constant light) into the house. Also, when the South-West corner
is higher than the North-East corner, it serves as a buffer (to the West and South-West sunrays)
and prevents the heating up of the rest of the house.

Avoid plots with a depressed or raised centre: Avoid plots humped at the center and sloping
on all sides. Similarly avoid plots that are depressed at the center. The Logic- If the center is
either too depressed or humped, it is difficult and expensive to level the site as it may even have
rock below, which will have to be blasted out.

The road level should be lower than the Site: The Logic- Normally there is a storm water drain
between the Site and the road, so when there is heavy rainfall, even if the drain overflows, the
excess water will flow onto the road instead of the site. Also, all the excess water from the site
will flow out into the drain and road instead of vice-versa.
IS THERE ANY SOLUTION FOR SITES THAT DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED SLOPE
AS PER VASTU SHASTRA?

In cities, it is difficult to get sites that meet the requirements of Vastu. However, there are ways
of correcting sites that are not in accordance with Vastu.

Plot sloping down from the North-East: The Solution- If the North-East corner is at a higher
elevation than other sides of the property, you can dig soil from that corner and dump it in the
South and West portions. This way the land will slope down from the South-West toward the
North-East.

Plot with a raised/humped centre: The Solution- If the plot is raised in the centre then, the
earth can be dug out and dumped towards the South-West of the plot.

Plot with a depressed centre: The Solution- If the plot is depressed in the centre, then earth can
be dug out from the rest of the Site and filled in the centre to balance out the levels.

VASTU GUIDELINES ON DESIGN OF HOUSE | INTERIOR ROOMS Vastu Shastra

lays down guidelines on the design of the Interior of a House so that the inmates get
maximum benefit of the natural elements like the Sun, wind, Air, etc. These guidelines are
based on scientific reasoning and common sense and when applied correctly, create well-lit,
bright, well-ventilated, spacious and well-designed spaces (rooms) which then create
contentment, peace and serenity for the inmates.

VASTU GUIDELINES | VERANDAH

VASTU GUIDELINES | ENTRANCE DOOR
VASTU GUIDELINES | LIVING ROOM
VASTU GUIDELINES | PUJA ROOM
VASTU GUIDELINES | DINING ROOM
VASTU GUIDELINES | KITCHEN
 VASTU GUIDELINES | BEDROOM
VASTU GUIDELINES | STUDY ROOM
VASTU GUIDELINES | HOME OFFICE
VASTU GUIDELINES | TOILETS, BATHROOMS
VASTU GUIDELINES | BALCONIES
VASTU GUIDELINES | STAIRCASES
VASTU GUIDELINES | UPPER FLOORS
VASTU GUIDELINES | DOORS AND WINDOWS
VASTU GUIDELINES | INTERIORS OF A HOUSE
VASTU GUIDELINES | COLOURS FOR A HOUSE
VASTU GUIDELINES | CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLOURS
VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | VERANDAH
Posted by admin on Jan 18, 2009 in UNCATEGORIZED | 12 comments

A verandah is a roofed, open, pillared gallery built in front of the House that leads into
the House. It is often partly enclosed by a railing and frequently extends across the front
and sides of the building. It is the space that one enters after entering through the Main
Gate.

A verandah is a roofed, open, pillared gallery

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for the Entrance Verandah. Since Vastu is a
science, every guideline is based on sound logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have
attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide
what you want to follow and what you dont.
WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION FOR A VERANDAH ACCORDING TO VASTU?
Verandah should be in the North or East part of the House: The Scientific Reason - A
Verandah is a good place to sit out and relax. And while sitting, it is useful to get exposed
to the Suns rays as they aid in the synthesis of Vitamin D and improve the general well-
being of a person. The ideal position for this would be in the North, where there is
constant sunlight and the East where there is morning Sunlight.
 The Verandah should not be to the South or the West sides of the main building. The
Scientific Reason The West and South sides tend to get too heated up since the Sun is in
the South and West at midday and in the afternoon.

A Verandah should be open and not closed

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR A VERANDAH?
Heavy furniture and seating should be placed in the South-West of the Verandah:
The Scientific Reason - The North and East parts of the Verandah should not be
obstructed by heavy furniture, so that the pleasant, morning sunlight can stream in and
light up the whole place and permeate further into the house.
The Swing should be in the East-West axis: The Scientific Reason This way, the
person sitting on the swing, faces either North or South and thus the sun will not hit him
in the face directly.
Small plants can be placed in the North-East of the Verandah: The Scientific Reason
- Plants need sunlight to thrive and so should be placed in the North-East, where there is
constant, morning sunlight. However, only short plants and small flower pots are
preferred because if they grow too tall or grow up a pillar, they will obstruct the light into
the Verandah.

Keep short plants on the Verandah

Avoid rounding or cutting the corners of the Verandah: The Logic If the corners of
the Verandah are cut or rounded, when you push back the chair to sit down, you may
miscalculate and end up falling off the Verandah.
 The height of the Verandah roof should be less than the roof of the main building:
The Logic A Verandah is a small space and will look proportional only if the roof is a
bit lower than the rest of the building. In addition, the sunlight can directly enter the
house if there are ventilators above the verandah roof.
Avoid using asbestos or tin roof for the Verandah: The Logic - Tin or asbestos roof
absorbs and traps heat within a space, making it uncomfortably hot for the users.
Verandah should have maximum number of windows opening into the rest of the
house: The Scientific Reason A Verandah extends across the front of the house and so
it should have maximum number of windows to allow light and air into the house.

The height of the Verandah roof should be less than the main building
This post was about the Vastu guidelines for the design of the Entrance Verandah. The
Veranda leads to the next space namely the Living Room through the Main Entrance
Door

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | ENTRANCE DOOR

One enters the House, through the Main Entrance Door from the front Verandah. Every time
you enter your house you activate a presiding energy in relationship to the mandala of the house
at that point. A door must be precisely located for the activation of most beneficial energy.
As Vastu is a science, there is logical, scientific explanation for every guideline. As an
Architect, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically.

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHERE SHOULD THE MAIN DOOR BE

LOCATED?

The main entrance door should be fixed on an auspicious day after performing Vastu Pooja. The
Location of the Main door is also very important. To figure out where to place a main door,
imagine that you are standing in front of the house and divide the front facade of the house into
into two parts with an imaginary, middle, vertical line. The door should be placed towards the
centre, either in the left or the right half, depending on the direction the door faces.

North- facing door should be in the left half when facing the house, that is more towards
the North-East. Avoid placing a door in the right half (North-West). The Reason - Its preferable
to have more openings in the North and East to allow the useful sunlight constantly, through the
day. Since the door is opaque, it should be placed more to the centre of the wall and windows
should be kept in the North-East.

The door should not be at the corner of the walls, but a few feet away from the corner
junction. The Reason - Its preferable to have more window openings towards the North and East
to allow constant sunlight through the day. Since the door is opaque, it should be placed away
from the N-E corner, more to the centre.

West facing door: can be located in the left half when facing the house, that is favouring the
North-West. Avoid placing a door in the right half (South-West). The Reason - Its preferable to
have more window openings towards the North to allow constant sunlight through the day. It is
best to avoid openings in the South-West since the Sun is in the South and West at midday and in
the afternoon.
If a house has a main entrance in the West it should have a corresponding door in the East
also. The Reason -To allow maximum, useful UV rays found in the morning sunlight, into the
house, since it is beneficial for health of the inamtes. (vitamin D synthesis)

South facing main door: must not be in the center of the building but should
be in the right half when facing the house, that is more towards the South-East. Avoid placing a
door in the left half (South-West). The Reason It is always preferable to have few openings in
the South-West as explained above, since the hot infra-red rays of the afternoon sunlight are
projected, maximum towards this direction.

If a house has a main entrance in the South there should be one more corresponding to it in
the North direction also. The Reason To allow the constant light from the North into the
house.

East facing door: can be located in the right half when facing the house, that
is more to the North-East. Avoid placing a door in the left half (South-East). The Reason - Its
preferable to have more openings in the North and East to allow the useful sunlight constantly,
through the day. Since the door is opaque, it should be placed more to the centre of the wall and
windows should be kept in the North-East.

Thus you can see in Vastu, there is no bad location for a main door. Its the pseudo vastu pundits
who claim that South and West entrances are bad and the entrance door should only be in the
North or East, because they take the Vastu Shastra guidelines too literally Since Vastu
recommends more open space in the North and East to enable the pleasant morning light and
constant North light to permeate the house, it makes sense to have the entrance from either of
these directions. But its not a hard and fast rule.

IN VASTU SHASTRA, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE MAIN DOOR?
 Avoid the main door directly facing the main door of the
opposite house. The Reason- It is quite uncomfortable when both the doors are open, as one
unconsciously tends to look into the other house.

Avoid the main door directly facing an abandoned, rundown or dilapidated building: The
Reason- It is quite disconcerting, every time you open the door to see an eerie looking building
right in front of you.

The entrance gate and the main door should be 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. The Reason- It
doesnt make sense to have the entrance on one side and then have the main door on the opposite
side as guests and outsiders are forced to walk right across the length of the site, thus invading
into the privacy of the inmates.

Avoid having an underground tank, septic tank under the main entrance: The Reason - In
case the tank has to be opened or cleaned, it can be very inconvenient if it is right in front of the
main door.

Avoid locating the main entrance door in the corners of the house: The Reason- If the door is
in the extreme corner, it will be difficult to have a neat furniture layout in the room, as the
corner is used for movement.

Avoid locating a wall directly in front of the entrance door: There should be a door that
opens to the next room in line of sight, opposite the main door. The Reason- The fresh air
entering the house, every time you open the door, can flow into the rest of the house and finally
go out through the exit. This allows the house to breathe properly.

It is preferable to have two doors, an entrance and an exit door: However, the exit door
should be smaller than the entrance door. The Reason- The fresh air entering into the house
through the entrance, will go out through the exit and thus be forced to pass through the rest of
the house, thus allowing the house to breathe.
 The main entrance door should be the largest door of
the house: The Reason- A large main door looks inviting and allows big objects, like beds, to be
brought in from outside without difficulty.

The main door should open inside and clockwise: The Reason- If the door swings open in a
clockwise motion, you use your left hand to open the door for the guests, thus enabling you to
guide them in with your right hand.

Avoid self-closing doors: The Reason- With self closing locks available nowadays, the doors
can shut and close by themselves, but there is the risk that the door will close accidentally in the
breeze while the keys are inside the house.

Avoid creaking doors: The Reason- Doors that creak indicate bad workmanship and that the
door hinges are not well oiled.

The main door should have a threshold: Shoes should not be kept in front of the door, but to
the side. The Reason- The shoes in front of the door can be an eyesore and cause you to stumble.

Auspicious signs on the door like Om and Swastika': The Reason- When you or a guest
stand in front of the door it is better to see some pleasant images instead of just a plain door.

Wood of Teak, Honne, Matti are good for the main door: Wood from Peepal, Coconut, trees
giving flowers and fruits out of season, Thorny trees, Fragrant trees, etc should not be used. The
Reason Its important to protect useful trees that provide us with fruit etc.

The main door should have a threshold: The Reason The threshold will deter ants and other
pests from entering into the house.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | LIVING ROOM

The Living Room is the front room where guests are entertained, once they enter the house. This
is the room where they make their first impression. Members of a family also sit around, and
have their daily discussions here. In a way, the living room is the heart of a home. The Living
Room is accessed through Main Entrance Door.
A living room with a beautifulview

Here I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for a Living room. Since Vastu is a science, every
guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted toexplain these
guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what
you dont, instead of blindly following them.

WHAT IS THE BEST LOCATION OF THE LIVING ROOM, ACCORDING TO VASTU

SHASTRA?

Since the Living room should be near the entrance, the location of a Living room is based on the
direction a house faces:

In a North facing site: The Living room can be in the North-East.

In a West facing site: The Living room can be in the North-West.
In a South facing site: One can have a South-East Living room.
A living room can also, be in the Central East, central West, central North or central South of a
house.
Sofas should be placed against the walls

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR ARRANGEMENT OF FURNITURE IN

THE LIVING ROOM?

Sofa sets should be placed against the South and West walls: If there is no other choice, then
place them against the East walls. The Reason It is best to have big window openings on the
North and East walls as they allow theconstant North light and the morning East light into the
house. So it is better not to obstruct these windows with furniture.

Avoid a cluttered sofa arrangement and allow free movement:The Reason - It is obvious that
a cluttered arrangement will not allow free movement and creates tension in our ordered minds.

Avoid furniture near sharp corners of columns:The Reason These sharp edges can be
dangerous when moving around and can cause damage to the furniture when moved against
them. Hence it is better to camouflage them by placing something in front of them, like indoor
plants.

Water fountain/Aquarium should be in the North: A small, wall/floor or tabletop mounted

water fountain that runs throughout the day, and made of natural materials like copper, stone,
glass, clay, stainless steel, bamboo, etc., or a Fish Aquarium is recommended. The Reason The
soft and soothing sound of falling water in a fountain is pleasing to the ear. Also, watching fish is
a very relaxing pastime. This helps in better interaction between the family members and guests
as the aquarium becomes a talking point.

Watch TV, facing East or North: The Reason - Since one tends to sit in front of the T.V. for
long hours, it makes sense to sit facing North or East, as will be inadvertently exposed to the
suns rays, entering from the North or East windows.

Air conditioners should be placed on West walls:The Reason Since the Sun is in the West in
the evenings, the West wall tends to get heated up by evening and during the night, hence it is
logical to have Air coolers or air conditioners that release cool air on this side.
Fireplaces should be in the South-East or North-West: since South-East represents Agni
(Fire). But avoid the North-East and South-West corners since North-East represents Water. The
Reason The North-East corner is reserved for windows to allow the suns rays into the house,
so blocking it with a fireplace defeats the purpose.

Avoid exposed beams: As a rule avoid sitting under a beam as it excites your stress zone and
disturbs your rational judgment in matters of importance. The balance can be partly restored by
concealing beams with the help of a false ceiling. The Reason When sitting in a room with an
exposed beam, your peripheral eye vision is constantly disturbed as the ceiling is not uniform
and the beam is projecting out. It is just like the feeling of irritation you get with a small speck of
dirt on a clean surface. So it is better to conceal the beam.

A fire place is a nice addition to the living room

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF PAINTINGS IN VASTU SHASTRA?

Paintings have a profound effect on the home or workplace. They can either create an active
ambience or have a negative impact. Paintings evoke strong sentiments or rasas in us. The
positive sentiments are seductive induced by beauty, comic and peaceful or meditative. So
images that are uplifting, positive, harmonious and calming should be hung throughout the
house.

The negative sentiments like anger, fear, repulsion, arousing pity, contempt
etc should be avoided. As a rule, avoid paintings that depict death, violence, negative aspects of
life, fearful scenes, battles, wounded animals and gore. The Reason - Negative images can
remain in our sub-conscious mind causing some negativity in us.

In vastu, certain pictures should be hung in specific directions. For example:

The North Wall can have paintings/pictures of water bodies to stimulate the positive aspect of
the primary element water. It can also have pictires of wealth.
The East wall can have a painting or picture of the rising sun the beginning of the dawn of a
day. The East wall can also have pictures of flowers and fruits.
The South and West walls can have innovative paintings of a gentle elephant herd, high rise
mountains with heavy plant life and similar pictures or paintings that denote strength.

WHAT COLOURS DOES VASTU RECOMMEND FOR A LIVING ROOM?

Colour of the Living room walls: should be white, yellow, green, or blue, never red or black.
The Reason - The Living room is engulfed with light from the north and East sides and if it is
painted in light colours, the room will be bright and appear large also.

The living room should be in light shades

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | PUJA ROOM

The Puja Room is the room where the familys deities, idols are kept and used exclusively for
prayer, worship and meditation. In earlier times, a well designed, large space was exclusively
reserved for this purpose and was usually accessed from the Living Room. However, today with
reduced space availability, the Puja Room has become a tiny space, sometimes just a small
mandir placed in the Kitchen.

The Puja Room is the room where the familys deities, idols are kept.

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for a Puja room. Since Vastu is a science, every
guideline is based on sound logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted toexplain
these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and
what you dont.
WHAT IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR A PUJA ROOM ACCORDING TO VASTU?

The Puja room should be in the North-East, East or North: The Scientific Reason Early at
dawn, the Sun is in the North-Eastern part of the house. These hours are ideal for Yoga,
meditation, prayer or study as it is very quiet and peaceful. Also, the early morning Suns rays
have a very beneficial effect on our health. Therefore, the North-East corner is the best position
for the Puja Room/prayer room or meditation room.

In a big site, the Puja room can be in the Centre of the House: The Scientific Reason-The
central part of a large house should be kept open to allow proper flow of air and cross
ventilation. It makes sense to have a Puja room right in the middle of this court as it can be seen
from all rooms and the space is utilized.

The Puja Room should be in the Ground Floor and not in the Basement:The Scientific
Reason A basement is a dark and dingy place and one cannot benefit from the morning sun
rays here.

The Puja Room should not be on the upper floors: The Scientific Reason - The Puja room is
meant for worship or meditation and this activity is recommended for everyone, everyday,
especially in the mornings when our minds are fresh and not yet corrupted by many thoughts. If
the Puja room is located on an upper floor, then it can put off physically inactive people like the
obese, or the elderly or the ailing, from making the trip to the Puja everyday. The climb up the
steps can put them off and since it is out of sight from the commonly used rooms on the ground,
one may even forget to spend a few minutes everyday, in thought about God or life!

A puja mandir can be used in case there is no separate puja room

If there is no space for a Puja room, the Mandir can be placed in the North-East corner of
the Kitchen: The Scientific Reason In apartments it may not be possible to have a separate
Puja room, but since one starts the day by entering the Kitchen, having a Puja here helps one to
spend a few quiet moments in meditation.

Avoid Puja mandirs in the Bedrooms: The Scientific Reason - Many people may feel
uncomfortable to lie around with their feet pointing towards the religious idols, as they believe it
is disrespectful to god.

Avoid a Toilet near or above the Puja Room: The Scientific Reason - A Toilet causes
disturbance when people use it and also the smell can distract while one is meditating.

Avoid keeping torn pictures of gods

WHAT IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR THE IDOLS IN A PUJA ROOM ACCORDING TO
VASTU?

Idols can be in the North-East, East or West of the Puja: The Scientific Reason - The morning
sunlight streaming in from the North-East, East and the evening light from the West will light up
the idols enabling you to see them better.

Avoid idols facing North: Because then the worshiper has to face South which is not advisable.
The Scientific Reason When a worshiper sits facing South, his feet are towards the south and
his head is in the North. This causes the magnetic North of the body, namely the Head to repel
the Earths magnetic North Pole.

Avoid broken idols or torn pictures: The Scientific Reason - Praying to a broken idol or torn
image of a deity can be distracting.

Avoid idols facing each other: The Logic The purpose of having idols in a Puja room is for
one to be able to see them and meditate on them.

Idols should be kept at least an inch away from the wall:The Scientific Reason -Keeping the
idols away from the walls, ensures that there is proper movement of air and incense smoke
through the room.

The lamp should always be in front of the idol

WHERE SHOULD THE PUJA THINGS BE PLACED IN THE PUJA ROOM ACCORDING
TO VASTU?

The lamp should always be in front of the idol:The Scientific Reason - The idea of having a
lamp is to light it and if it is placed in front of the idols, one can see them better.

The puja things should be stored in the South-East of the Puja room:The Scientific Reason
All the puja stuff should be kept away from the North-East and East, so that there is no
obstruction to the morning sunlight.

Avoid a bell in the Puja room: The Logic - A Puja room at home is not made to replicate a
temple. It is more of a meditation room and loud sounds should be avoided.

Avoid photographs of dead people in the Puja room: The Logic - While many people believe
in showing respect to the dead, it is better not to have their photos in the Puja room as they may
be distracting or bring back painful memories.

Food offerings should be placed in front of the idols: The Logic Whatever is offered to god
should be always placed in front of the idol as a mark of respect. Moreover, it is less
cumbersome to remove and replace if it is right in front.
A cupboard lower than the idols can be placed against the South or West wall: The
Scientific Reason - This way, it will not be an obstruction to the useful morning sunlight.

Avoid storing or hiding money or valuables in the Puja room: The Scientific Reason - Many
people may feel they are being disrespectful to God by keeping things and hiding stuff here.

The door to the Puja room should have two shutters

WHAT ART THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE INTERIORS OF A PUJA ROOM?

The Puja room should have a lower ceiling: One can use false ceiling for the same. The
Scientific Reason A Puja room is generally a small room and so having a low ceiling will make
it appear more proportional.

The Puja room can be a pyramid shaped space: The Scientific Reason - It is known
scientifically that sitting in a pyramid especially while meditating can create positive effects on
the health of the person.

Keep the Puja room clean always: The Logic By cleaning the Puja room everyday, it ensures
that one spends a few moments in prayer. Also it is a way of showing respect to God.

Door to the Puja room should have two shutters: The Logic - When doing puja or meditating,
the door is kept open outwards and can come in the way if it is one shutter.
There should be a threshold at the entrance to the Puja room.The Scientific Reason - A
threshold prevents ants and insects from entering and this is useful in a Puja room, as foodstuff
may be offered in prayer.

For lengthy meditation, sit facing East and avoid facing the idols: If meditation is going to
last for more than 15 minutes one should not sit exactly facing the idols. The Logic - When
meditating it is best to face East as the morning suns rays are beneficial to ones health. If one
keeps looking at the idols, it can be distracting. Moreover the energy that radiates from them can
be very strong.

WHAT COLOURS DOES VASTU RECOMMEND FOR A PUJA ROOM?

Colours in the Puja room: Can be white, light yellow or light blue. White or light yellow
marblework in the room is preferred. The Scientific Reason White marble shines and reflects
light, thus enhancing the bright and well-lit look of a space. The same is true in case of light
colours.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | DINING ROOM

The Dining room is the place where the family sits to eat, have their meals and chat. It is also the
place where guests are entertained and served food. Hence it is generally accessible from the
LIVING ROOM.The Dining room should be designed to facilitate a relaxed mood for enjoyable
eating.

The Dining room is the place where the family sits to eat, have their meals and chat

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for a Dining room. Since Vastu is a science, every
guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain these
guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what
you dont.

WHAT IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR A DINING ROOM ACCORDING TO VASTU?

The Dining room can be located in the East, South or West: The Dining room can be an
independent room or in continuation with the kitchen. The Scientific Reasoning - Any direction
is suitable for a Dining room, provided it is close to the Kitchen and has sufficient light and
enough privacy from outside.

The Dining room should be on the same floor as the Kitchen: The Logic It doesnt make
sense to have the Dining room on any other floor other than the Kitchen as it will be impractical
to carry hot food and utensils up and down a Staircase.

The best shape for a dining table is square or rectangle

ACCORDING TO VASTU, WHAT IS THE BEST SHAPE FOR THE DINING TABLE?

The best shape for the Dining Table is square or Rectangle: Shapes like round, oval, hexagon
or any other irregular shapes are best avoided for dining tables. The Logic When sitting at a
table one needs enough space so that one can eat comfortably. At the same time, there should be
enough space on the table to accommodate everyones plates and the food to be served without
cramping it. A rectangle or square shape is the most efficient shape for this.

WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION OF THE DINING TABLE ACCORDING TO VASTU?

The Dining table should be in the centre of the room, away from the walls: The Logic Only
if the Dining table is positioned in the centre of the room, can everyones chair be pulled out
easily for sitting. If it is put against a wall, that side of the dining table cannot be used for placing
chairs.
One should sit facing East, North or West: The master of the house should sit facing East. The
other family members should sit facing East, West or North. The Reasoning - When facing East,
the Suns useful rays, especially in the mornings, can flood the room and bathe the diners faces.

Avoid sitting facing South: The Scientific Reasoning - When you sit facing South, the Earths
magnetic North pole and the bodys magnetic North pole, namely the head, repel each other
causing a restless feeling.

The dining table should be in the centre of the room away from the walls

ACCORDING TO VASTU WHERE SHOULD THE WASH BASIN BE LOCATED IN A

DINING ROOM?

The wash basin can be in the North or East of the Dining room: The Scientific Reasoning
In ancient times, water was placed i n the North-East so that it gets purified due to the morning
suns U-V rays. So Vastu pundits apply this principle to each room where a source of water is
required. But in reality today, water comes through pipes and taps from one water tank. So one
need not apply this principle everywhere.

Avoid bathroom near the Dining room: The Logic Every time someone uses the Bathroom,
it can be uncomfortable for the rest of the diners sitting at the table. Also the smell from the toilet
can be putting off, for the diners.

WHERE SHOULD THE DOOR TO THE DINING ROOM BE PLACED AS PER VASTU?

The door can be in the East, North or West: The Logic- The door position can be any where,
depending on the location off the Dining room with respect to the other rooms.

The door of the Dining room and the main entrance door should not face each other: The
Logic Many people feel uncomfortable to be seen eating, when an outsider walks in. So by
keeping the entrance door away from the Dining room door, this can be avoided.
The ideal colours for a dining room are yellow, saffron, orange, light green or blue

WHAT ARE THE SUITABLE COLOURS FOR THE DINING ROOM ACCORDING TO
VASTU?

The colour of the Dining room walls: can be light blue, yellow, saffron, peach or light green
color and shades of pink or orange. The Scientific Reasoning Some of these shades are thought
to stimulate the appetite. Also having light colours makes the room appear brighter and bigger.

Nature paintings and portraits are suitable for a Dining room: The Logic Paintings of
nature have a calming effect on the mind and one needs to be relaxed while eating.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | KITCHEN

The Kitchen which is usually adjacent to the DINING ROOM, is an extremely important part
of the house, where healthy food for the family is prepared and cooked. In ancient times,
cooking was done on open stoves and the washing of utensils, and preparation of food was all
done outside. Hence Vastu guidelines were primarily based on the Sun and the main wind
directions. However today, the Kitchen has become a compact, efficient, safe and easy place to
work in and so the planning is different.
Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for a Kitchen. Since Vastu is a science, there is
logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain these
guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what
you dont.

WHAT ACCORDING TO VASTU, IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR A KITCHEN?

South-East or North-West: The Scientific Reason - In earlier times, when the cooking was done
on open stoves outside the house and combustible building materials were prone to catch fire, the
cooking fire was preferred in the S-E corner or the N-W corner, where the hot summer wind,
blowing from the S-W to the N-E direction could not cause damage by carrying sparks.

Avoid the Kitchen in the North-East : The Scientific Reason - Since the constant, morning
sunlight enters from the North and East sides, these areas are reserved for a Meditation room and
a Living hall from which all other spaces open. Hence it is a waste to have a Kitchen here.

A kitchen should be lit with the morning sunlight

ACCORDING TO VASTU, WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION FOR THE DOOR AND
WINDOWS TO THE KITCHEN?

The door to the Kitchen should be in the North, East or North-East: The Logic - In a South-
East kitchen, it makes sense to have an L-Shaped counter on the South and East walls for
efficient use of space. Therefore, the entrance can be only from the North or West walls. Since
the Living and Dining areas are in the Northern part of the house, it is natural that the door to the
Kitchen should be from the North side.

The door should open clockwise: The Logic Most of the population being right handed, it is
easier to open the door in a clockwise direction when entering into the Kitchen.

The larger windows should be in the East: The Scientific Reason The early morning sunrays
are very beneficial to health and the UV rays of the sunlight kill germs. Hence the morning
sunlight should be allowed into the house, especially in the Kitchen where germs thrive and
multiply. Moreover, the sunlight is good for the health of the person who is busy in the kitchen in
the mornings and doesnt have the time to go out and get exposed.
Additional smaller windows can be in the South, for cross-ventilation: The Scientific Reason
In a Kitchen, where there is a lot of cooking fumes and odours, cross ventilation will ensure
that the hot air and fumes exit out of the house and are replaced with fresh cool air from outside.

The windows in a kitchen should preferably be in the East

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE POSITION OF THE COOKING STOVE?

The cooking stove should be in the South-East corner of the Kitchen: The Logic - In a South-
East kitchen, it makes sense to have counters running on the South and East walls, for proper and
efficient use of the space. Naturally the S-E corner becomes suitable for the main kitchen
appliance, namely the Stove, as the rest of the counter space can be used for preparing and
cleaning food to be cooked.

One should cook facing East: The Scientific Reason - Since the women get tied down with
kitchen chores from early morning, they dont get a chance to get exposed to the useful morning
sunrays. So the best solution, was to force the women to cook facing East so that they would
benefit from the sunlight falling on them.

The cooking stove should not be visible from the outside: The Logic One feels
uncomfortable to cook if people can see form outside. Hence a little privacy helps.

The kitchen sink

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE POSITION OF THE KITCHEN SINK?

The Kitchen sink should be in the North-East: The Scientific Reason In earlier days, when
there was no running water and water for washing purposes was stored in open vessels, it was
preferred in the N-E corner where the morning UV rays would kill the germs and keep the water
and the whole area purified.

The Kitchen sink and cooking stove should not be close to each other: The Logic being fire
and water do not go together.

Avoid water taps in the corners of 2 counters: There should be no leaking taps in the kitchen.
The Logic - It is quite difficult to wash if the sink is in the corner of two counters, as you tend to
lean uncomfortably forward. Leaking taps just waste water.

ACCORDING TO VASTU, WHAT IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR THE DRINKING

WATER FILTER?

Drinking water should be stored in the North-East of the Kitchen: The Scientific Reason
When water is to be stored, it is better to have it in the N-E corner where the morning UV rays
can kill the germs and keep the water purified and clean for consumption.

All the kitchen appliances should be kept along the walls

ACCORDING TO VASTU, WHERE SHOULD THE DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL

APPLIANCES BE PLACED?

The refrigerator should be in the North-West or South-West corner of the Kitchen: The
Logic - Since the counters are fixed on the South and East walls of a S-E kitchen, the corners
available for appliances like a refrigerator, are the N-W or the S-W corners.

The microwave should be in the South-East corner of the Kitchen: The Logic - A microwave
just like a cooking stove is used for cooking food and so can be placed next to the stove in the
South-East corner.
The exhaust fans should be in the East walls: The Logic Since the cooking is done in the S-E
corner, while facing East, it is obvious that the exhaust fan or chimney should be placed here.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES REGARDING STORAGE IN A KITCHEN?

Avoid overhead storage above the cooking stove: But it is useful to have overhead storage in
the rest of the areas. The Logic - The space above the stove should be left open or fitted with an
exhaust system (like a chimney) for the fumes to dissipate. Otherwise there is the likelihood of
the overhead cupboard catching fire. Also cleaning the cupboard, shelf etc will be quite difficult
as it will be covered with oil and grease.

Ideally, there should be a dining table in the kitchen

WHY IS IT RECOMMENDED IN VASTU, THAT ONE SHOULD EAT IN THE KITCHEN?

The Kitchen is the best place for the daily meals: The Logic In earlier days, the lady of the
house first served the meal to the rest of the family before eating herself and so it was convenient
for her to make hot food and serve it right there instead of making it before hand and then
transferring it all to the Dining room. Moreover, there is a charm in watching the lady cook the
food right in front of you. The anticipation of the food makes it taste better and worth the wait.

The dining table should be in the North-West and not in the centre of the Kitchen: The
Logic If the Dining table is placed in the kitchen, it is best to keep it in a free corner, where
there is less activity and the ideal place for that in a S-E kitchen, is the North-West corner. If it is
placed in the centre of the room, it will be an obstruction in movement and the efficient use of
the kitchen.

WHAT COLOURS DOES VASTU RECOMMEND IN THE KITCHEN?

The colour of the Kitchen walls: It is good to have a lot of green colour in the kitchen. For
example green granite for flooring or green pictures, as this helps improve the appetite of the
family members, Other suitable colours are soft pink and orange. The Logic Studies have found
that the color of a food can greatly affect how its taste is perceived. Some colours are thought to
be stimulating, like the bright yellows and oranges at fast-food outlets that are intended to make
you eat more, while others are thought to be soothing, like the greens of a rainforest.
VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | BEDROOMS

Something that everyone has in common is sleeping. It takes up approximately one third of your
life and therefore is an extremely important factor in your overall health. The Bedroom is the
private place, where you can unwind, relax and sleep. It is also the space where you get dressed,
read and study. The Bedroom is usually accessed from the DINING ROOM if it is on the
Ground Floor or the STAIRCASE if it is on the Upper Floors.

Here I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Master

Bedroom, Childrens Bedroom and Guest Bedroom. Since Vastu is a science, every guideline
is based on reasoning and logic. As an Architect, I have attempted toexplain these guidelines
rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what you dont,
instead of looking at Vastu as a superstition.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES REGARDING POSITION OF BEDROOMS?

The main bedrooms should be in the South: The Scientific Reason - The North is meant for
the Living room and entertaining guests. Hence a private space like a Bedroom should be located
far from the front and ideally, that is the South.

Avoid bedrooms in the North-East:The Scientific Reason The North-East corner which is
engulfed with early morning sunlight, is ideally suited and hence reserved for a meditation room
or Puja room.

Avoid bedrooms in the middle of the house: The Scientific Reason It is obvious that a room
in the centre of the house will be used for movement and accessing all the other rooms, and
hence a Bedroom that requires privacy and quiet, cannot be placed here.

Avoid bedrooms above the Car porch/Garage : The Scientific Reason - The fumes from the
kitchen and the car exhaust that rise up, can be a nuisance and not good for the health of the
inmates of the Bedroom.
The master bedroom should preferably be in the upper floor

WHAT IS THE IDEAL LOCATION OF A MASTER BEDROOM ACCORDING TO

VASTU?

The Mater bedroom should be in the South-West: If there is more than one floor, the Master
Bedroom should be on the upper floor, in the South-West corner. This room should never be
used as a bedroom for young children, as they will try to dominate. The Scientific Reason In
ancient times, the main wealth of the inmates was agricultural produce and this was stored in
granaries behind the house. The ideal location for these granaries was the South-West corner,
because the South-West heat and the hot S-W summer wind kept the produce dry and free from
moisture. Hence the Master Bedroom was preferred in the South-West, closer to the granaries to
guard them from thieves. So also, this was not preferred for a Childrens Bedroom.

Avoid the Master bedroom in the South-East: The Scientific Reason - In the olden days, when
the cooking was done on open ovens, and the combustible building materials were prone to catch
fire due to the hot S-W summer wind, the kitchen was not allowed in the South-West corner and
the North-East corners. Therefore, the South-East corner or North-West corner were reservedfor
the Kitchen.

Guest bedroom

WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION OF A GUEST BEDROOM IN VASTU?

The Guest Bedroom should be in the North-West: This corner represents Vayu or movement
which implies that Guests who sleep in this bedroom will not stay for long and get going on their
way. The Scientific Reason - A Bedroom in the North side is preferable for guests as it is closer
to the living room and the front of the house. At the same time, it is away from the back of the
house and the family members have their privacy. The northern Bedrooms also have the
advantage of getting constant light from the North.

WHAT IS THE IDEAL LOCATION OF A CHILDRENS BEDROOM ACCORDING TO

VASTU SHASTRA?

The childrens bedroom should be in the East or West side: The Scientific Reason - The West
bedroom has the advantage of being bright and well lit in the evenings due to the West sunrays.
Hence it is a good location for the Childrens Bedroom because they use it a lot in the evening
for their studies after school and play. The East bedrooms have the advantage of being well lit in
the mornings.

Childrens bedroom

WHAT IS THE IDEAL SHAPE FOR A BEDROOM?

The bedroom should be square or rectangle in shape: The Scientific Reason - The rectangle
or square shape is the best shape for placing rectangular cots and other furniture, without wasting
any space.

WHAT IS THE BEST DIRECTION FOR SLEEPING IN A BEDROOM, ACCORDING

TO VASTU SHASTRA?
Avoid sleeping with head in the North: In fact only a dead body is kept with the head in the
North and the feet pointing towards the South. The Scientific Reason The blood in the body
contains iron, making the body magnetic with the positive polarity in the head. Hence the head
represents the North pole while the feet are the South pole of the body. When you sleep with
your head to the North, these two positive polarities repel each other, disrupting the flow of
blood and affecting your sleep and health. Hence one should never sleep with the head in the
North.

However, Vastu allows sleeping with the head in the other three directions. The effects of
sleeping with the head in different directions is described below:
Head in the East: East is the direction of knowledge and enlightenment. Sleeping with the head
in the East increases knowledge and increases a liking for spiritualism. For this reason, children
should always sleep with their head in the east.
Head in the West: Sleeping with ones head in the West is good for people who do not
permanently reside in the house, like guests and married daughters, in their parents house.
Head in the South: South is the best direction for sleeping. Sleeping with ones head in the
South brings happiness and sound sleep.

Avoid sleeping under beams

WHAT IS THE IDEAL POSITION OF A BED ACCORDING TO VASTU?

Avoid sleeping under beams or slanted ceilings: The remedy is to create a false ceiling. The
Scientific Reason - A beam or slanting roof above the bed, can psychologically feel like a
weight on you, as you lie down looking up at the ceiling.
Avoid sleeping near sharp corners of columns etc: They should be camouflaged with plants or
rounded off. The Scientific Reason - The sharp corners can cause damage to the furniture if
accidentally pushed against them. Also they can hurt you when you move around.

Keep the beds 2 away from the walls: The Scientific Reason To allow for the free flow of
air all around and under the bed, thus creating good ventilation.

Avoid the bed directly opposite the door: But the bed should be placed in a position where the
occupants can see anyone coming into the rooms. The Scientific reason A bed is normally
about 6.5-7 feet in length and if placed bang opposite the door, can psychologically appear to be
an obstacle as you enter the room.

Keep the bed a little away from the walls

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE DOOR AND WINDOWS IN A
BEDROOM?

The door to the Bedroom should open 90 degrees: A door that cannot open fully will limit the
flow of opportunities. The Scientific Reason - Whenever you enter any room, it is important that
the door opens wide as otherwise it can be a struggle to get into the room especially if you have a
child or something in your hands.

The door should be in the East, West or North: Avoid fixing doors in the South-West of a
bedroom. The Scientific Reason - The South-West corner of the bedroom is reserved for the safe
and wardrobes. Hence it is better to keep the door away from this corner.

The larger windows should be in the East or North:And smaller windows in the West is ideal.
The Scientific Reason - The constant light from the North and the morning light from the East are
very essential to brighten and aerate the bedroom. Smaller windows to the West will allow for
cross-ventilation.

The dressing table should be well lit

WHAT ARE THE VASTU PRINCIPLES FOR ARRANGEMENT OF FURNITURE IN

THE BEDROOM?

The dressing table should be in the East or North: The Scientific Reason The constant light
from the North or East will light up your face when sitting in front of the mirror, thus allowing
you to dress up well.

Study table should face East, North or North-East: The Scientific Reason The constant light
from the North and the morning sunlight from the East will make reading easy, without much
straining.

Avoid Television in the bedroom: If a TV is kept, it should never be directly in front of the bed
as it works as a mirror and generates negative energy. It can be kept to the right or left of the bed
at an angle for comfortable viewing from bed. The Scientific Reasoning - A T.V. does not
encourage intimacy. In fact it only encourages people to become couch potatoes. Also, the waves
from the T.V are not good for your health and so keeping the T.V far away is always preferable.

The safe should be in the South-West, opening towards North: The Scientific Reason The
heavy stuff is preferred in the South or West sides to serve as a buffer to the hot evening
sunlight. Since the constant light is from the North, you can see clearly into the Safe if it opens
towards the North.

Keep some open space in the North-East: The Scientific Reason The Constant and beneficial
sunlight from the East and North should engulf the whole room and not get blocked by heavy
furniture.

Keep things that make you happy in front of the Bedroom door: The Scientific Reason
Upon entering, your bedroom, the first thing you see should be something that gives you
thefeeling of peace and serenity such as a photograph, a favorite quote or even flowers that
enhance these positive feelings. Keep objects that remind you of unfinished tasks out of the
room, or at least out of sight as the bedroom should be a place where you can totally relax. It is
obvious that things that make you happy will give a positive feeling.

Beds should not be shaky: The mattress should provide good support to the body while resting.
The Scientific Reason The essential function of the bed is to provide a surface which is neither
too hard nor too soft for the back. A shaky bed will creak and disturb others when people turn on
the bed.

Computers should be kept in the South-East: The Scientific Reason The South-East is
considered the Aagneya (Fire) corner. The Vastu Pundits consider electrical appliances as the
equivalent of fire and happily encourage you to keep all electric gadgets in the S-E of every
room.

Wardrobes should be in the North-West or South-West: The Scientific Reason They serve
as buffers to the hot evening sunlight coming in from the West.

Attached bathroom should be in the East or South-East : The Scientific Reason - Normally
the bathroom is used for bath and other activities, early in the morning, and so will be wet after
use. If it is placed in the East side, the morning sunlight will dry up the area and the UV rays will
kill all the germs.

Avoid mirror directly opposite the bed:The Scientific Reason When you wake up in the
morning, all untidy and disheveled, it may be a shock when you see yourself in the mirror as you
sit up in the bed!

Avoid religious idols: The Scientific Reason Many people may feel uncomfortable to lie
around with their feet pointing towards the religious idols, as they believe it is disrespectful to
god.

Avoid Clutter: It represents stagnation. The Scientific Reason - When you see clutter you feel
helpless about it, and it just keeps accumulating and becomes an irritant in your mind. Removing
clutter in your bedroom will help you feel more efficient and function optimally. To tackle
clutter, first take on small projects to help you avoid the feelings of being overwhelmed by the
task at hand.

Avoid storing things under the bed: The Reason - The space under the bed gets very dusty and
cannot be cleaned often. Hence it is meaningless to store anything there.
Avoid storing things under the bed

WHAT IS THE IDEAL COLOUR FOR BEDROOM WALLS, ACCORDING TO

VASTU?

Colour of the bedroom walls: should be light rose, gray, blue, chocolate, dark green etc and not
bright colurs. The Scientific Reason Bright colours and bold patterns advance and make the
space look smaller; while pale colours recede and reflect light and make the space look bigger.
Contrasting colours and textures in a room break it up into several different areas and make it
appear smaller.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | STUDY ROOM

The Study room, as the name suggests is used for studying or as a library or as a Home Office.
Sometimes it is also used for Sleeping. It is normally located in the UPPER FLOORS, where
there is peace and privacy. The Study room should have a lot of natural light and quiet.
Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for a Study room. Since Vastu is a science, every
guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain these
guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what
you dont, instead of blindly following them.

ACCORDING TO VASTU WHERE SHOULD THE STUDY ROOM BE LOCATED?

The Study room should be in the West of the House: As it is believed that Mercury, which
increases brain power, Jupiter which increases ambition and curiosity, Moon which helps in the
generation of new thoughts and ideas and Venus which helps in the growth of talent have a better
effect if the Study room is in the West. The Scientific Reasoning - Rooms on the West side have
the advantage of being well lit and bright in the evenings due to the evening sunrays. Hence it is
a good location for a Study room as the children can use it for their studies in the evenings after
school and play.
A study should be well-lit and bright

ACCORDING TO VASTU, WHAT IS THE IDEAL SHAPE FOR A STUDY ROOM?

A Study room used only for studying and not sleeping, can be pyramidal shaped as it gives
fantastic benefits: The Scientific Reasoning - It is scientifically known that the pyramid shape
has a positive effect on the brain and mental health of a person. So if one can create a pyramid
within a room, why not?

A study should have large windows

ACCORDING TO VASTU WHERE SHOULD THE WINDOWS AND THE DOOR TO THE
STUDY BE LOCATED?

The door to the Study room can be in the North-East or North: The Logic - Since the Study
room is located in the West, the door can open from the North.

The larger windows in a study can be in the East wall and the smaller one in the West
wall: The Logic It is necessary to have windows in the East side to enable the student to study
in the early hours of the morning, as well as to have windows in the West to enable him to study
in the evenings after school. Also, the morning sunlight falling on the student has a lot of
beneficial effects on his health.
Avoid placing study tables, furniture in the middle of the room

WHAT IS THE IDEAL POSITION OF FURNITURE AND FIXTURES IN A STUDY ROOM

ACCORDING TO VASTU?

The study table should face North, East or North-East: The Logic - It is generally
recommended that students start studying early morning as their brain and body are fresh after a
well rested sleep. At dawn, the morning sunlight enters a house from the North-East and as the
morning progresses, it enters from the East. This morning sunlight is very useful to the human
body (synthesis of vitamin D) and by exposure to it, the student can derive a lot of health
benefits. Also it lights up the room and allows him to see and read better.

Avoid cabinets or tables in the centre of the Study room: The Logic It is always advisable to
leave the centre of the room empty so that movement is easy. Also while sitting at a study table
facing the wall, if there is some furniture or objects standing out behind you, it can make you feel
a bit restless as your peripheral vision is constantly aware of that object.
Keep the shelves along the wall in the study room

WHAT ARE THE BEST COLOURS FOR A STUDY ROOM ACCORDING TO VASTU?

Colour of the Study room walls: They should be green, light green, blue, cream, and white.
Light colors are preferred over dark ones. The Logic - It is very important to have a well lit
study room without too much glare, and this can be achieved by using light colours. Light
colours make a room appear bigger and brighter as the light colours reflect and re-reflect the
light.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | HOME OFFICE

A Home Office as the name suggests is an Office within the House. There are many advantages
to working from a Home Office such as saving the cost of renting a commercial space, cost of
commute to work, cost of childcare, cost of clothes etc. As a result working from a home office
is growing in popularity for many people. Since it is a business setup, people are turning to Vastu
Shastra, to ensure good output, increased profit and efficiency in work by its employees, which
in turn will be beneficial for the Owner. Usually the Home Office is close to the Entrance of the
House to facilitate easy access for outside clients.
Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for a Home Office. Since Vastu is a science, every
guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain these
guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what
you dont.

ACCORDING TO VASTU WHERE SHOULD THE HOME OFFICE BE LOCATED?

The ideal location of the Home Office is in the South or West sector: The Reason - The North
and East sectors are reserved for puja room, living room, dining room etc because these are the
spaces most used by you in the early mornings. The North and the East are the directions from
which the useful morning light and constant north-light enter the house and bathe you with
useful UV rays. So it is pointless to block these directions with any space like an office, which
you will use only later in the morning.

Avoid a Home Office in the North-East sector of the house. The Reason- The same as above.
A home office should have a lot of light

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR DOOR AND WINDOW POSITIONS IN THE
HOME OFFICE?

The Entrance Door to the Home Office should face South side. The Reason The South is
generally considered the best for businesses. Probably that is the reason the door is preferred on
the South.

Avoid the main Entrance on the North side. The Reason - Since it is preferable to have as
many windows in the North to allow useful light into the office, the door should be avoided on
this side.

Make sure that there are no obstacles in front of any door of the office. The Reason -
Imagine entering a room or office and encountering an obstruction right in front. Every time,
before you enter, your mind warns you to avoid bumping into it. Though you may get used to it
over time, unconsciously your brain gets stressed and gradually you may even prefer to avoid the
place.

The windows should preferably be on the North and East sides. The Reason - There is
constant light from the North because India is in the northern hemisphere and there is morning
sunlight from the East, which is very beneficial for health since the UV rays of the morning light
are useful for producing synthesising vitamin D in our bodies.
Large windows ensure constant light in the Office

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR FURNITURE ARRANGEMENT IN THE

HOME OFFICE?

Always position the furniture in the South and West sectors of the room. The Reason- The
furniture should be restricted in the South and West sectors, so that the North and East part are
left clear and empty.

Avoid furniture or closets in the North or East of the room. Keep the North and East
sectors clear/empty. The Reason The North and East sectors of a room are to be left open
(without obstructions) to allow the useful and constant light from these directions to permeate the
rest of the office.

The central area of the Office should be kept empty. The Reason - From a designers point of
view, it is always best to keep the centre clear and limit the furniture against the walls, so as to
facilitate easy movement around the office and create an uncluttered look.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE RECEPTION IN A HOME OFFICE?

The right place for the reception counter is the North-East part of the office. The Reason -
The reception counter and visitors seating are considered the least heavy of all furniture
arrangements. Hence they can be placed in the North-East where there is a lot of light and will
not be an obstruction. Moreover, a visitor gets a good first impression, if the reception is well lit.

The receptionist should sit facing the North or East direction. The Reason Since the
receptionist is at the office for most of the day, it would help if she gets useful light as it will
make her energetic, positive and is good for her health.
The receptionist should get direct light

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR A SAFE IN A HOME OFFICE?

The safe should be in the North part of the room. The Reason The inside of a safe is dark
and it is always better that the safe is in a well lit area like the North, so that one can see clearly
into the safe.

Store all the important documents in a cupboard placed in the South-West direction. The
Reason - Generally the cupboards are preferred in the hottest area of a built-space, the South-
West corner, because they act as buffers to the heat. In addition, the heat prevents any kind of
dampness or fungal growth from forming on things stored for long periods in this direction.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE OWNERS DESK IN A HOME OFFICE?

It is advisable to have a rectangular desk for the Owner of the company. The Reason - The
most efficient shape is the rectangle. A rectangular table wastes less space, can hold more paper
work and can seat more people than any other shaped table of the same area.

The desk should be placed in the South-West quadrant of the room. Avoid the North or
East part. The Reason The desk will be an obstruction in the North and East sectors and
prevent the constant and useful light from permeating the office from these directions

The desk should face North, East or North-East. Avoid facing South or West while
working. The Reason - Like I have explained before, it is always beneficial to face the East
direction, early in the morning and the North direction through the day since there is constant
sunlight form the North. The sunlight contains useful UV rays which help in synthesising
vitamin D which is so essential for good health.
Keep the North and East zones for the middle level employees. The Reason In an
office with lots of employees, you cannot help but use all the sectors. So, though the North- East
sector should be left clear, you can have your middle level employees in the North and East, as
they can benefit from the sunlight and feel more energetic and think better.

Reserve the North-West portion for the lower level employees. The Reason -The lower
level employees can be given the remaining North-West sector.

The employees should not sit under a beam. In case the beam cannot be avoided, cover it
with a false ceiling. The Reason - Sitting under a beam puts a load on your mind literally.
Without realising it, your mind is constantly distracted by the beam sticking out of the ceiling. So
it is better to cover it with a false ceiling.

The desk should face North, East or North-East

The best location for the pantry is in the South-East or North-West zone. The Reason - This
is adapted from the vastu guideline that a kitchen should always be in the South-East or the
North-West. See Kitchens.

The appropriate location for the Toilet is the South-West direction. The Reason The
toilets are preferred in the South-West where it is the hottest, because they are buffers to the rest
of the house. moreover, the heat prevents dampness and algae in the often wet toilets.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | BATHROOMS

Bathroom is a broad term used to describe a room where one takes bath, uses the WC and uses
the Wash basin for brushing teeth and washing face. In ancient times, when there was no water
supply through pipes and no drainage and sewage pipeline system, people used the open spaces
for daily ablutions. Therefore, Toilets were restricted to open spaces far from the house, while
Bathrooms meant for only bathing were located elsewhere, generally near the water source.
However today with the easy availability of water through taps and underground sewage-line
system, we can afford to have Bathrooms (also known as Toilets) as a part of the house, with the
W.C., wash basin and bath shower/bathtub, all combined in one room.

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Bathrooms. Since Vastu is a science, every
guideline is based on logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted toexplain these
guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what
you dont, instead of following them like a superstition.

WHAT IS THE IDEAL LOCATION OF A BATHROOM ACCORDING TO VASTU?

The Bathroom should be in the North-West or West: If it is attached to the Bedroom, it

should preferably be to the North-West side of the room.The Scientific Reasoning In India the
infra-red rays of the Sun get projected on the West side and so the West side is hotter, especially
in the evenings. Therefore, Bathrooms placed in the West and North-West help to block the
western sun radiation to other parts of the house, keeping them relatively cool. In addition, the
hot west sun rays help to dry up the Bathrooms faster. Also, by keeping the Bathrooms in the
West side, far away from the North-East corner, where in olden times the open well or water
source was preferred, the percolation of waste water into the water source during the monsoon
season when the ground water table rises,was prevented.

The second option for the location of the Bathroom, is the South-East:The Scientific
Reasoning- Since most people use the Bathroom in the mornings, the beneficial sun rays coming
from the East side will be useful to the user.

Avoid the Bathroom in the North-East and the Centre of the house: The Scientific Reasoning
In earlier times when the major drinking water sources were open wells, tanks etc, there was
the need to purify the water by the UV rays of the morning sunlight and so the North-East corner
was preferred for water sources. Therefore, the Bathrooms were to be kept far away from the
North-East, so that the the percolation of waste water into the water sources during the monsoon
season when the ground water table rises, could be avoided.

Use anti-skid tiles as bathroom flooring

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE FLOORING OF A BATHROOM?

The Bathroom floor should be higher than ground level:The Scientific Reasoning For the
proper draining out of the waste water from the Bathroom, it is obvious that the Bathroom level
should be higher than the ground level.

Avoid marble flooring in the Bathroom: The Scientific Reasoning Marble is extremely
slippery when wet and hence should be definitely avoided in Bathroom floors.

The bathroom fixtures should be placed along the walls of the bathroom
WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF WASH BASIN, W.C.,
BATH TUB/SHOWER, AND OTHER FIXTURES?

The wash basin, bathtub and shower can be in the North-East, North or East of the
Bathroom:The Scientific Reasoning In earlier times, the water for washing and bathing was
stored near or directly above the Bathrooms, as there was no elaborate plumbing system wherein
water was distributed throughout the house from just one water tank. Hence, it was preferable to
have this water source in the North-East side where the suns beneficial UV rays could purify the
water.

The WC (commode) can be in the West, South or South-West of the Bathroom: The
Scientific Reasoning The WC was placed away from the bathing area so that it does not
pollute the water stored for bathing purposes.

The WC should be oriented facing North or South: But not in the E-W direction.The
Scientific Reasoning -In earlier times, when people sat in the open for the daily ablutions, it was
necessary to shade their face from the Sun and hence the E-W direction was avoided. Also it
might have been out of a sense of respect to the Sunrise and Sunset, since the Sun was
considered the major energy source.

The head position in the Bathtub should be towards South: The Scientific Reasoning The
human body acts like a magnet with the head as the North Pole. So lying down with the head in
the North direction, will cause the two North poles to repel each other and hence cause a feeling
of restlessness .

The mirror can be on the North or East walls: The Scientific Reasoning - If the mirrors are
placed on the North and East walls, then the constant light from the North and the morning
sunlight from the East will fall on our faces as we look into the mirror, thus enabling us to see
ourselves better.

The mirror should be well lit

WHAT ARE THE IDEAL POSITIONS OF DOORS AND WINDOWS IN A BATHROOM
ACCORDING TO VASTU?

A large window can be in the North and a smaller ventilator in the East or West: The
Scientific Reasoning The small window either in the East or the West will allow the sunrays to
dry up the bathroom quickly, while the bigger window in the North will allow constant light into
the Bathroom. Also, by having 2 windows on adjacent walls, cross-ventilation is allowed which
ensures that fresh air replaces the humid air.

The door can be in the East or North-East: The Scientific Reasoning The door should be
located away from the commode to prevent it from hitting the WC and obstructing the space near
it.

Light shades are the most suitable colours in bathrooms

WHAT ARE THE IDEAL COLORS FOR A BATHROOM ACCORDING TO VASTU?

The Colour of the Bathroom walls: Can be according to ones choice but it is preferable to
havelight shades. Avoid red and black color. The Scientific Reasoning - Light shades brigten up
a space and make it appear larger. One may not notice any dangerous insects or animals that can
enter the Bathroom through the floor traps, if dark colours like black and red are used. Also, the
dirty floor corners may go unnoticed, if dark colours are used.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | BALCONY

A Balcony is a platform that projects from the wall of the building and is surrounded by a railing.
It is usually attached and accessed from the Bedroom. It is meant for relaxing. It may or may not
have a roof.
Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for a Balcony. Since Vastu is a science, every
guideline is based on sound logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain
these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and
what you dont.

WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION FOR A BALCONY ACCORDING TO VASTU?

Balconies should be in the East or North part of the house: They should not be to the South
or the West sides of the main building. The Scientific Reason - A Balcony is a good place to sit
out and sun-bathe. So, the ideal position for this will be in the North, where there is constant
sunlight and the East where there is morning Sunlight.The West and South sides are too hot to sit
and hence should be avoided.

A Balcony is a semi shaded place suitable for sunbathing

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR A BALCONY?

Heavy furniture and seating should be placed only in the South-West part of the Balcony:
The Scientific Reason The North and East parts of the Balcony should not be obstructed by
heavy furniture, so that the sunlight can stream in and light up the whole place and the room that
is attached to the balcony.

A swing should be placed in the East-West axis: The Scientific Reason - This way, the person
sitting on the swing, faces either North or South and thus the sun will not hit him in the face
directly.

Small plants can be placed in the North-East of the Balcony: The Scientific Reason - Plants
need sunlight to thrive and so should be placed in the North-East, where there is constant,
morning sunlight. However if they grow too tall or grow up a pillar, they will obstruct the light
into the Balcony and so should be kept short.

Keep only small flower pots in the Balcony: Flower pots with Creepers should not be kept in
the Balcony. The Logic - Big flower pots and pots with overflowing creepers tend to obstruct
light into the Balcony.

Height of the Balcony roof should be less than the roof of the main building: The Logic - A
Balcony is a small space and will look proportional only if the roof is a bit lower than the rest of
the building.

Avoid using asbestos or tin roof for a Balcony: The Logic - A tin or asbestos roof absorbs and
traps heat within a space, making it uncomfortably hot for the users.

Avoid overcrowding the Balcony with heavy furniture and large shrubs

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | STAIRCASES

A Staircase is a series of steps connecting different levels in a Building. In a House with more
than one level, the Staircase will be used everyday, a number of times. Hence the Staircase
should be comfortably designed for the users. The Staircase is usually accessed from the Dining
Room.

A staircase is a series of steps connecting different levels of a house

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for a Staircase. Since Vastu is a science, there is
logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As an Architect, I have attempted toexplain these
guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what
you dont.

ACCORDING TO VASTU, WHAT IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR A STAIRCASE?

The staircase should be in the South-West, South or West. However, it is not advisable to
build a Staircase on the North-East side. The Reason The North-East is to be left open
according to Vastu, in order to allow the morning sun rays to enter the house. Hence if a
staircase is kept in this corner, it will block the sunlight. But if there is no other choice, the
staircase can be placed here as the internal circulation is also important.

Avoid internal staircase in the corners or the centre of the house: The Reason If an internal
staircase is in the corner, the room from which it is accessed cannot be used properly. Similarly,
if the staircase is in the center, a lot of useful circulation space is wasted.
Avoid an internal staircase in the centre of the house

ACCORDING TO VASTU, WHAT IS THE IDEAL DIRECTION OF THE STAIRCASE

FLIGHT?

The first flight should be from East to West or North to South. The Reason This will
ensure that the lower steps will be in the East or North, while the higher steps will be in the West
or South. Thus the useful, morning light from the East and the constant light from the North will
not be blocked by the Steps.

Turn clockwise when turning into the next flight: The Reason Since most people are right
handed, they tend to hold the handrail on the right hand side. So when they turn onto the next
flight, it makes sense to continue holding the right handrail, for which the next flight should be
on the right side which means one has to turn clockwise.
Avoid a spiral staircase in a house

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR STAIRCASES IN VASTU SHASTRA?

There should be odd number of risers in a staircase: For example 15, 17, 19 are acceptable.
The Reason Since most people are right handed, they generally put their right foot first, while
climbing a staircase. So when they end the climb, they prefer to end on the right foot. This is
possible only when there are odd numberof steps. It is for this reason that the right foot is
equated with gain, the left with loss.

Avoid circular or spiral staircase: The Reason A circular staircase takes up and wastes a lot
of space, especially in the corners and in the rooms adjacent to it. A spiral staircase is very
uncomfortable to climb and not very safe. Also the space below it is not very usable and there is
the risk of bumping into it as there is no proper head room.Avoid rooms under a staircase:The
Reason - Often, people use the space below a staircase for small rooms like Toilets, Safe, Puja
etc. But every time people climb the steps, a person using the room below gets an uneasy feeling
of somebody stamping on their head. He doesnt feel safe either, as if the whole thing will
collapse on him.

WHAT ARE THE IDEAL COLOURS FOR A STAIRCASE ROOM?

The ideal colours of the staircase area are light colors. The Reason- One can see the steps
clearly, if the whole area is painted a light color as this reflects light.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | UPPER FLOORS

In multi-level houses, there are Upper Floors. These floors are reached through the Staircase.
The Upper Floors are generally used for private spaces like Bedrooms, Study rooms and Family
rooms.
The upper floors of a house are generally used for private spaces like family room, bedroom etc

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Upper Floors. Since Vastu is a science, every
guideline is based on scientific reasoning and logic. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain
these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and
what you dont.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR UPPER FLOORS OF A HOUSE?

The Balconies in the Upper floors should be in the North, East or North-East. It should not
be in the South-West corner. The Scientific Reason - A balcony or terrace in the North-East
corner is preferred over a room , since this will allow the sunlight into the rest of the house.
Moreover, it is comfortable sitting out in a balcony that faces the East and the North instead of
the hot West or South. Also, one can expose oneself to the useful morning sunlight in this
balcony.

The balconies in the upper floors should be in the North, East or North-East

The Bedrooms and Study rooms should be in the Upper floors: The Scientific Reason
Bedrooms, Toilets and Study rooms are private spaces which require calm and peace. By
keeping them upstairs, away from the bustle of the main house, one can enjoy peaceful rest here.

Avoid storing heavy things in the Upper floors: The Scientific Reason Structurally it is
always better if the weight of a building is on the lower floors, since it lowers the centre of
gravity, thus making the building less unstable.

Maximum number of doors and windows should be in the North and East sides of the
Upper floors: The Scientific Reason This is to allow the useful morning sunlight from the East
and the constant sunlight from the North into the house.
The windows and doors should predominantly be in the North or East

The ceiling height in the Upper floors should be less than in the lower floors: The Scientific
Reason For a building to look graceful and proportionate, the height of the lower floor should
always be more than that of the upper floor. Otherwise, the building will look a bit unstable as
though it will topple.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | DOORS AND WINDOWS

In Vastu Shastra, the door and window positions are important because they let in the air, light
and energy into the rooms of the house. If they are in the right positions, then there is a positive
flow of air, light and energy from the outside to the inside and from room to room, thus
enhancing the health and the lives of the inmates and creating a feeling of contentment and
happiness.

The right positioning of doors and windows allows adequate light and air into a building
Here, I have discussed the Vastu Guidelines for Doors and Windows. Since Vastu Shastra is a
science, I have explained the possible scientific reasons and logic on which they were based, so
that you an decide what you want to follow and what you dont.

HOW MANY DOORS SHOULD A HOUSE HAVE AND WHERE SHOULD THAY BE
LOCATED?

Even number of doors - The answer to the question of the correct number of doors in a house,
is an enigma. However, the ancient Rishis have advised that it is better to have even number of
doors instead of odd number.

For internal doors The internal doors can be placed according to the room arrangement and
convenience. The Reason - The internal doors should be so placed for easy and comfortable
circulation and movement from room to room. It depends on the furniture arrangement in the
room.

For the Main door However, for the Main door it is advisable to follow the rules explained
below. The Reason Every time you enter your house you activate a presiding energy in
relationship to the mandala of the house at that point. A door must be precisely located in order
to activate the beneficial energy.

WHERE SHOULD THE MAIN DOOR BE PLACED ?

To figure out where to place a main door, imagine that you are standing outside the house, facing
the front of the house. Divide the front facade of the house into two parts with an imaginary,
middle, vertical line. The door should be placed towards the centre, either in the left or the right
half, depending on the direction the house faces.

For a East facing House - Avoid placing a door in the left half (South-East),
instead place it in the right half, that is towards the North-East. The Reason - Since the North-
East corner of a plot is to be left open, for sunlight to enter the house, it makes sense to enter
from this space but only after leaving as much of window openings towards the North and East.

The door should not be at the corner of the walls, but a few feet away from the corner
junction. The Reason -Its preferable to have more window openings towards the North and East
to allow constant sunlight through the day. Since the door is opaque, it should be placed away
from the N-E corner, more to the centre.
 For a South-facing House - Avoid placing a door in the left half (South-
West), instead place it in the right half, that is in the South-East. The Reason- It is always
preferrable to have minimum number of openings in the South-West since the hot infra-red rays
of the evening sunlight are projected maximum to this direction.

If a house has a main entrance in the South there should be one more corresponding to it in the
North direction also. The Reason To allow the constant light from the North into the house.

For a West-facing house - Avoid placing a door in the right half (South-
West), instead place it in the left half, that is in the North-West. The Reason - It is always
preferrable to have few openings in the South-West since the hot infra-red rays of the evening
sunlight are projected maximum to this direction.

If a house has a main entrance in the West it should have a corresponding door in the East also.
The Reason -To allow maximum, useful UV rays found in the morning sunlight, into the house,
since it is beneficial for health of the inamtes. (vitamin D synthesis)

For a North-facing house - Avoid placing a door in the right half (North-
West), instead place it in the left half, that is in the North-East. The Reason - Its preferable to
have more openings in the North and East to allow sunlight constantly, through the day. Since
the door is opaque, it should be placed more to the centre of the wall and windows should be
kept in the North-East.

WHERE SHOULD THE WINDOWS BE PLACED IN A HOUSE?

The windows should be opposite to the doors so that both the positive and negative cycles are
completed. The Reason - This is to allow the proper flow of air from room to room.
The windows in the North wall should be more towards the North-East and should be long
and wide. The Reason So that air and constant and useful morning light from North-East can
permeate the house.

The windows in the East wall should be more towards the North-East and should be long
and wide for the same reason as explained above.

Avoid too many windows in the South-West directions. The Reason The harmful, hot infra
red rays of the Sunlight are projected maximum to the South-West direction in India. Hence it is
preferable to have less openings in this direction.

Windows should be long and wide to let in a lot of light

HOW MANY WINDOWS SHOULD THERE BE IN A HOUSE?

There should be an even number of windows in the house, like 2, 4, 6, 8 etc. Avoid odd
number of windows like 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 . The Reason - It must have something to do with symmetry
and the structure of the house, because in earlier times, the buildings had wooden roofs with
rafters etc. So the positioning of windows was based on the roof grid. However, you can have
any number of windows, depending on your requirement.

VASTU GUIDELINES | CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLOURS

Colours are known to influence the human mind and body. Colours have the ability to either
depress or exhilarate and play a very important role in our health and happiness. For more
information on the effect of colours on us, humans, go to: Vaastu Colours for a House.

Colours play an important role in our lives

WHAT ROLE DO COLOURS PLAY IN OUR LIVES?

Our body absorbs colour energy through the vibration each colour gives off. Through colour, we
receive all the energies we need to maintain a healthy body, mind, and soul. When something
goes wrong or is out of balance, we can strengthen our energy centers through the conscious use
of colour. Healing by exposing a diseased body to the right coloured light, is known as Colour
Therapy, and was the first type of treatment therapy used by man. So even in ancient times,
colours played an important role in Vaastu Shastra.

In Vedic periods, all colours were obtained from vegetables and flowers. Though the options
were far less than what are available today, they were more permanent, soothing to the eye and
more natural in appearance.

WHAT ARE THE VAASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING COLOURS

FOR A HOUSE?
Choosing the right colour scheme for our house can be a difficult task. This is where Vaastu
Shastra comes to our aid. According to Vaastu, there are two thoughts on how colours for a
house should be selected, as explained here:

Zodiac Sign of the owner: In the first and most commonly followed method, the colour schemes
are selected in conformance with the raashi (constellation / zodiac sign) of the owner to bring
good luck and happiness.

Aries Coral red

Taurus Milky white
Gemini Green
Cancer Rose red, pearl white
Leo Ruby red, dim white
Virgo Emerald green
Libra Cement color, milky white
Scorpio Pink, coral red
Sagittarius Golden yellow
Capricorn Dim red
Aquarius Pink, blue
Pisces Yellow, pure white
The owner must be a Leo ruby red and dim whites dominate here.

Direction of the building: In the second method, the colour scheme is chosen according to the
direction the building/room faces. Each direction is associated with a particular colour, which is
actually the colour of the planet governing that direction.

East (Sun) Brown

West (Saturn) - Grey
North (Mercury) All greens
South (Mars) - Pink, coral red
North-East (Jupiter) - Golden yellow
South-West (Rahu) Blue
South-East (Venus) - Silver white
North-West (Moon) White

A room facing East has a lot of brown in it.

WHAT ARE THE VAASTU GUIDELINES FOR COLOUR SHADES FOR ROOMS OF
A HOUSE?
Since blue is a cool shade and red is a warm colour, people often feel cold in a blue room and
warm in a red room. It is the colour that makes them feel that way. So when painting rooms of a
house, one must keep these points in mind and choose colours according to the amount of light
and warmth in the room. Accordingly;

Room with poor daylight: It should be painted with light colours.

Room with lot of natural light throughout the day: It can be painted in some deep color.
Room that gets direct sunlight: It is not advisable to paint the walls yellow or peach.
Room that has only a North window which admits cold light: Avoid the use of blue on the
walls.
Ceilings: It is preferable to paint ceilings white since the ceiling temperature should be less than
the human body temperature.

A room with lot of sunlight can be painted with deep colours.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF COLOUR CONTRASTS
IN A HOUSE?
Colour contrast is perhaps the most important factor in a composition or a design. Maximum
contrast is obtained by the use of colours of extremely strong chromes. For example, a strong
yellow on a black background is an excellent example of maximum visibility and is therefore
used all over the world to highlight road signs, dividers and taxis. Explained here are the
contrasts created by the use of different colours:

Black: Black makes colours both brighter and lighter in appearance. For example, in a painting,
a face against jet black hair, appears more luminous for this reason.
Grey surrounding an intense colour: can increase the apparent colorfulness of the intense
colour. It appears even brighter or brilliant.
Intense colour surrounding grey colour: can make the grey appear less grey and on the other
hand, the greying of the bright colors. For example, grey surrounded with yellow will appear
slightly blue. Grey surrounded by red, will appear slightly green etc.
Blending of colours: One must always bear in mind that no individual is completely white
(good) or black (bad), but is an amalgam of the two- Grey. A sensible good blending can create a
forceful creation.
An example of contrast creating maximum visibility.

Thus you can see that even in Vaastu, colours were used to improve the sense of well-being and
happiness for the residents. They are easy to use, easy to apply and the quickest and cheapest
option to create change in a room. So go ahead and make that change in your life

VASTU GUIDELINES ON DESIGN OF HOUSE | EXTERIOR Vastu Shastra

lays down guidelines on the design of the Exterior of a House so that the inmates
get maximum benefit of the natural elements like the Sun, wind, Air, etc. These
guidelines are based on scientific reasoning and common sense and when applied
correctly, create a well-lit, bright, well-ventilated, and well-designed House which
the inhabitants are proud of as it adds value to them.

VASTU GUIDELINES | GATES

VASTU GUIDELINES | GARDEN TREES AND PLANTS
VASTU GUIDELINES | KITCHEN GARDEN
VASTU GUIDELINES | CAR PORCH, GARAGE

VASTU GUIDELINES | BASEMENT

VASTU GUIDELINES | WATER TANKS
VASTU GUIDELINES | RENTING OUT

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | GATES

The Entrance to the Site of the House, is through the gates. Here, I have explained the Vastu
Guidelines for the positioning of the Gates and the possible scientific reasons and logic on
which they were based, so that you an decide what you want to follow and what you dont.
WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE MAIN GATE AND SMALLER GATES?

Two gates are preferable: The Reasoning - It makes sense to have a big gate for the car to enter
and a smaller gate which is easier to handle near the entrance.

Avoid gates in the extreme corners: The Reasoning - It is inconvenient to open and close a gate
that is fixed to the corners of the wall.

Main gate and the entrance door should face the same direction: The Reasoning- For visitors
entering through the gate, it is easier for them to locate the door if the door is also facing the
same direction as the gate.

Avoid a gate in the South side: The Reasoning - The South is not considered auspicious for an
entrance, but obviously if your Site is a South facing one, the gate has to be in the South side.

Gates should open clockwise: The Reasoning - Since the majority of the population is right-
handed, it is easier to push open a door or gate in the clockwise direction.

Avoid obstructions in front of the gates

Avoid the following type of obstructions in front of the main gate:
Big tree: The Reasoning - It will feel like an obstruction when one is about to enter or go out
through the gate.
Ditch: The Reasoning - It is inconvenient to maneuver around the ditch or gutter to enter through
the gate.
Open well: The Reasoning - It is dangerous to have an open well just outside the gate.
Dilapidated house: The Reasoning - It is quite unsettling to see negative things like a
dilapidated house, every time you step out through the gate.
Electric/Telephone post: The Reasoning - A pillar or telephone post is an obstruction, every
time you step out or enter through the gate.

Distance between obstruction and house: But if there is a road between the plot and the
obstacles 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. The Reasoning
If the obstructions are far from the gate, naturally they dont behave like obstacles.

VASTU GUIDELINES | GARDEN TREES AND PLANTS

One enters the house compound through the Main Gate. Usually if space is available, people
like to have a small garden in the front as well as at the back of the Site. Vastu Shastra lays down
guidelines on all aspects of house designing, including the planting of auspicious trees and plants
around the house.
As Vastu is a science, there is logical, scientific explanation for every guideline. As an Architect,
I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide
what you want to follow or dont.

WHAT TREES SHOULD BE PLANTED IN THE HOUSE GARDEN ACCORDING TO

VASTU SHASTRA?

Some of the auspicious trees according to Vastu, that are good for the inmates are described
below along with their usefulness:
 PEEPAL TREE - It is also known as the Aswatha tree.
Scientists have found that oxygen is produced in large amounts by the leaves of this tree and it is
found in high concentration under the branches, probably due to the thick foliage. Hence it is
considered very healthy to circumambulate this tree in the morning. Probably it is for this reason
that it is considered a sacred tree and is worshiped in India. It is usually found near temples or
temples are erected near Peepal trees. It has a very long life and can survive for centuries. It is
prohibited from being cut. However, it is not suitable near a house, since it has far spreading
roots which can affect the foundation of the building.

NEEM TREE - This tree has great medicinal value and its
extract is used in pesticides. Its twigs are used to brush teeth and neem oil is used in
physiotherapy. Since neem leaves are very bitter, a mixture of neem leaves, tender green mango
and jaggery is eaten on Ugadi or the New Year in South India, as a symbolic gesture, that one is
prepared to face the sweet, sour and bitter experiences of the coming year with equanimity.
Therefore, this is a good tree to have in a house garden.

MANGO TREE Most parts of the mango tree have medicinal

value. Its leaves are used as a pesticide, and its twigs are used for brushing teeth. Its leaves are
used for puja purposes. It is considered very auspicious if the dead are cremated using mango
tree fire-wood. Then of course, mango fruit is the king among fruits and very tasty. The raw
mangoes are used for making pickles and as a vegetable. Mango trees also have a very long life
and can survive for 400-500 years. Obviously, this is also a very useful tree to have in your

garden. JACK-FRUIT TREE - Like the mango tree, the jack-

fruit tree also produces very tasty, seasonal, fruit in large numbers. The yellow juicy kernels
inside the jackfruit are used to make different types of sweets and halvas. The raw fruit kernels
are cut into strips and made into tasty jackfruit chips, a speciality of Kerala. The Jack-fruits
seeds are also nutritious and are used like a vegetable in South India. The beautiful yellow
coloured wood from this tree is used to make furniture, doors, windows etc. Its leaves are
considered auspicious and are used for puja. Therefore, it is useful and can be planted in your
garden.

BANANA TREE The tender saplings of the banana tree are used for dec

orating doors of houses, pandals etc, during functions and

festivals as they are symbols of prosperity and wealth. . Almost every part of the plant has some
sort of economic or medicinal use. Bananas are available through the year and are very
nutritious. Banana fruit is the best source for instant energy and are rich in potassium. Raw
bananas are cooked and eaten like a vegetable. Banana leaves are used for eating traditional
meals as they can be used and thrown and so are considered hygienic. The skin of the fruit is
used in dyeing. The sap contains tannin and is used as marking ink. From the dried leaf stalks,
fibres can be made and they can form a sound kind of string and are also used for tying fences,
etc. A lot of illnesses can be treated with concoctions made from the roots, stem, flowers, and
leaves of the tree. As far as usefulness is concerned, only one other plant can compete with the
`Banana Tree` and that is the coconut. So this is a must-have in your garden.

COCONUT TREE - Every part of this tree is useful. The tender

coconut water is a very healthy, cool, low fat drink. The coconut flesh is used in South Indian
cooking in large amounts and gives it a distinctive flavour. The oil extracted from coconut is
used in cooking as well as a hair oil. Coir is a very useful by-product which is used in making
mats, carpets etc. The leaves of the coconut tree are weaved and used as roofing for huts by the
poor. Its dry leaves are also used as fire-wood. It has a long life of about 100-150 years and is
prohibited from being cut. Due to its usefulness it is considered a sacred tree. Hence it is
considered a must, in every ones garden.

SANDAL WOOD TREE- Sandal wood is very expensive as it is

used to make exquisite handicrafts, and its oil is very fragrant. Sandalwood paste when applied
on the forehead, cools the head, and so is used in temples and in hot places like Kerala. The
sandalwood is used to make incence sticks. It is very rare to find sandalwood trees and hence
there have been so many instances of robbers cutting down trees in the middle of the night, if
found in any house compound. If you like this fragrant tre, it is a good idea to try and grow one-
but you may need to secure it!
ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHERE SHOULD THE TREES BE PLANTED IN
THE PLOT?

Smaller shrubs- may be planted on the East or North sides, but no trees should be planted in the
North-East corner as they block the useful morning sun rays.
Tall trees- like Coconut can be planted in the South-West, West sides but should should not be
too close to a building as they block the sunlight completely. A tree should be planted such that
its shadow should not fall on the house, at least between 9.A.M to 3P.M.

Large trees- like Peepal, Banyan should not be located too near the house as their roots can
damage the foundation and compound wall. Also, the large trees absorb most of the sunlight,
meaning these positive rays will not be received by the building.

Good trees- that can be planted in a house compound are useful trees like coconut, neem, betel,
sandalwood, lemon, pineapple, bilva, almond, jackfruit, pomegranate, mango, amla, and katha.

Avoid flowering trees in gardens: Reason They shed leaves during the summer.

Trees with insects, worms, honey bees, bumble bee, owls, serpents, should be avoided for
obvious reasons.

If a tree must be removed because it is inauspicious or for other reasons, the day before cutting
the tree, one should express regret to the tree, and it must be removed from its rooting. A new
tree should be planted in its place within the next three months. This is a way of conserving
nature.

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHICH PLANTS ARE TO BE GROWN IN THE

HOUSE GARDEN?

TULASI (BASIL) - It is also known as holy Basil and it is

always good to grow a Tulasi plant on ones property. Tulasi should be located on the North,
North-East, or East sides of the house, or in front of the house. Tulasi is a medicinal plant and is
used extensively in Ayurvedic medicines. It purifies the blood and improves the digestive
system. It is believed to be useful in treating many types of diseases. Hence it is recommended to
eat a few leaves every day. Its probably for this reason, that it is considered a sacred plant and
used in daily worship.
 JASMINE - In general, plants with sweet smelling flowers like
jasmine, red lotus, blue lotus etc are good in the house compound as they give out a pleasant
perfume, and can also be used in daily worship. Flowers like the Jasmine are stringed together
and used as a decoration on the hair by Indian ladies. Moreover, as these flowers are produced
round the year, they are always available.

THORNY PLANTS - 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. The reason could be that the thorns can hurt you when you
brush past them.

CREEPERS Creepers or other plants should not be grown

using the building or compound wall as a support as their clingers will slowly creep into tiny
cracks in the walls and gradually widen them as they grow, causing damage and seeepage of
water through the walls. Creepers should only be grown in a garden, and they should have their
own independent supports. A creeper like a money plant can be grown within the house but
should not be grown outside, using a tree for support.

FLOWER POTS - Flower pots should not be kept on the compound wall in the North, East or
North-East as they will block the useful morning sunlight coming in from these directions.
Flower pots and decorative plants can be placed on the ground in these directions, but they
should not grow taller than 3 feet.
 LAWNS AND WATER BODIES- Lawns should be in the East
or the North. A small water-fall of three to four feet or a water body can be constructed in the
East or the North leaving the North-East corner. If there is a swimming pool in the garden, it
should be in the North or North-East direction, so that the people using the pool benefit from the
sun rays and also, the water will get purified by the U.V rays of the Sunlight.

BENCHES - Benches are useful in big gardens and can be placed in the open space in the East
and the North direction so that people sitting in these directions, can benefit from the useful sun
rays.

VASTU GUIDELINES | KITCHEN BACKYARD

The Kitchen Backyard is usually found adjacent to the KITCHEN. It is a perfect addition to any
house it improves the atmosphere completely. It is an important part of the house, where
herbs, vegetables and fruit trees are grown, a place for family members to sit outside and enjoy
the outdoors.

A Kitchen garden is a great source of organic herbs, fruits and vegetables

In ancient times, cooking was done on open fires in the kitchen Backyard just outside the
Kitchen. Utensil washing, grinding and preparation of food was also done here. Hence Vastu
guidelines for kitchen backyards were primarily based on the position of the Sun and the main
wind directions. Today, with the paucity of space in cities, it is rare to have a usable backyard.
However for people who can manage to have a kitchen Backyard, Vastu lays down some
guidelines which can improve the quality of plants and thereby improve the familys health and
well-being.
Here, I have explained the Vastu tips for a Kitchen Backyard. Since Vastu is a science, there is
logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain these
guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what
you dont.

WHAT ACCORDING TO VASTU, IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR A KITCHEN

BACKYARD?

East or Northern sides of the plot are ideal for Kitchen backyard: The Scientific reason - As
much as possible, there should be open space on the North and East sides of the house, so that
the constant sunlight from the North and the morning sunlight from the East, can engulf the
house, brighten it and kill the germs and bacteria that would have multiplied during the night.

Avoid backyards in the Southern and Western sides of the plot: The Scientific reason The
Infra Red heat rays of the Sun are projected most to the South and West sides. And since the
infra-red rays get reflected and re-reflected by the ground, the West side and the South side are
much hotter in the evenings and even at night. By avoiding open spaces in the South and West,
the hot afternoon Sun is prevented from heating up the rest of the building.

In a West facing house, there should be a bigger backyard towards the East instead of a
front garden in the West: The Scientific reason The morning Sunlight from the East can
engulf the house from the open backyard and by avoiding open spaces in the South and West, the
hot afternoon Sun is prevented from heating up the rest of the building.

In South facing house, there should ideally be a big backyard towards the North instead of
any open space in the front, in the South. The Scientific reason Same reason as above.

All the five elements need to be balanced in a Kitchen garden

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR A KITCHEN BACKYARD?

All the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) need to be balanced and in harmony
in the kitchen backyard for the plants to grow free from disease and stress. The
disproportion of any one element-quality of the earth, quality of water, wind, sun, or the amount
of space it is planted in-will inhibit the growth of the plants: Scientific Reasoning - There is an
invisible and constant interaction between the elements on Earth. In an open field these elements
operate freely and are in equilibrium. However, when a structure or tree is placed in this field,
the equilibrium is affected because these elements act for or against each other to create either
harmony or disharmony. If there is disharmony, then the equilibrium needs to be restored so that
the cosmic energy flows harmoniously.

You should remember that each area of your garden is associated with one of the five elements.

The South-West area of your garden is associated with the earth element which creates a
sustaining and grounding force. Stabilise the South-West area of your garden with a rock
garden, tall trees and even a stone statue. Scientific Reasoning - Trees and tall shrubs are
planted in the South and West of the site to protect the inmates from the afternoon heat and to
provide them with oxygen.

The water element should be used in the North-East part of the kitchen backyard to allow
the plants to flourish. Add a fountain or reflection pool or pond or swimming pool in this area
to reflect this beneficial energy throughout the garden. Have only low plants that will allow the
flow of positive solar energy. Scientific Reasoning - Tall trees and plants are avoided in the
North and East so as to allow an unhindered flow of useful morning light into the house.

The South-East side of your garden should be devoted to the fire element so that the plants
will be disease free: Here you can place a fire pit. Red is the colour of this direction, so plant
tulips, geraniums and dahlias here. Scientific Reasoning - When an open fire is kept in the
Kitchen Backyard, it is preferred in the S-E corner or the N-W corner, where the hot summer
wind blowing from the S-W to the N-E direction cannot cause damage to the house or
combustible building materials by carrying sparks.

Balance the air element in the North-West to encouraging cross-pollination: Use wind
chimes. Since blue is the colour of this area, plant bluebells, forget-me-nots and iris to enhance
the influences coming from this direction.

A well tended Kitchen garden has year-round visual appeal and regular yield
VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | CAR PORCH, GARAGE

A Car Porch or Garage is used for parking the Car. It can be an open Car Porch or a closed
Garage. It is accessed from the Main Gate and should be designed as per Vastu guidelines.

A car porch should be easily accessible from the main gate

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for a Garage/Car Porch. Since Vastu is a science,
there is logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain
these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and
what you dont.

WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION FOR A GARAGE OR CAR PORCH, ACCORDING TO

VASTU?

Garage can be located in the North-West or as second option, the South-East: The Scientific
Reason Since the North-East and the South-West corners are not allowed for Car porches, the
remaining two corners namely the North-West and the South-East are acceptable.

Avoid a Garage or Car porch in the South-West: The Scientific Reason Since the Master
Bedroom and other bedrooms are generally kept in the South-West corner, a car porch should be
avoided in this sector as each time the car is started, the exhaust fumes will enter the bedrooms.
A car porch should not be near bedrooms

Avoid a Garage or Car porch in the North-East: If it is in the East or the North direction, the
roof of the porch should be lower than the roof of the main building. The Scientific Reason The
North and East directions should be left open as far as possible, to allow the constant and
morning sunlight into the house. So it is better to avoid a Car Porch or Garage here.

A Garage in the basement should be in the North or East only: The Scientific Reason In the
basement since there is no question of the car obstructing light, it is preferable if the cars are
parked in the East or the North, since some heat from the Sunlight can keep the car engine warm.

IN VASTU, IS THERE ANY IDEAL DIRECTION FOR PARKING A CAR?

The car should be parked facing North or East: The Scientific Reason - When a car is parked
facing North or East, its engine gets heated from the Constant sunlight from the North and the
morning light from the East and so will be easier to start.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN OF A CAR PORCH?
The ideal colours for the car porch are white

Avoid supporting the Car porch on the compound wall: The Logic To support the porch on
the Compound wall, you will have to raise the compound wall, which will then cut off a lot of
light to the house.

The colour of the Garage or Car porch walls: The ideal colours for the Garage/Car porch are
white, yellow or any other light colour. Black and gray colour should be avoided. The Scientific
Reason Light colours reflect light and help you to see clearly. Whereas, dark colours make the
space appear darker and full of shadows.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | BASEMENT

In multi-level houses, there may be a Basement. The Basement is reached through the Staircase.
The Basement is usually meant for Car Parking or for storage etc.

The Basement is sometimes used as a den or for indoor games

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Basements. Since Vastu is a science, every
guideline is based on sound logic and reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain
these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and
what you dont.
WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR BASEMENTS IN A BUILDING?

Avoid basements for living areas: The Scientific Reason Basements are generally damp and
dark, since sunrays do not enter them and there is a tendency for water to seep through the walls
from the surrounding soil. This highly reduces the basements positive effect on the persons
living in them.

It is preferable to have only part-basement, and that too, only in the North-East or East of
the house: It should not, be located only on the South, South-East, or West side. The Scientific
Reason By keeping the basement in the North-East corner, some sunlight will enter from the
East in the mornings and constantly from the North. If the North-East corner is not used for a
basement, then there will be hardly any light entering into the basement.

At least one-fourth of the Basement should be above ground: The Scientific Reason By
keeping a part of the basement above the ground, one can have some windows in the portion
above ground which can then light up and keep the basement dry.

Any heavy equipment should be located in the South and West parts of the Basement: The
Scientific Reason Since the South-West corner is to be kept higher than the rest of the house, as
it blocks out the hot evening sunlight to the rest of the house, the structural foundation will be
designed to support more load and hence the heavier things should be kept in this corner.

Some sunlight should be allowed into the Basement

The height of the Basement walls should be at least 9 feet: The Scientific Reason Since the
basement is below the ground, people have a tendency to excavate less (as it is expensive) and
end up having very low height space. This then is not very comfortable for tall people as they
feel the ceiling, right above their head. Also, if cars are parked here the exhaust fumes tend to
stagnate within the space as there is less roof height.

The Basement wall colours: The basement should be painted white and not a dark colour. The
Scientific Reason White colour reflects light the most and this is very essential in a dark space
like a basement as it allows one to see around clearly.
The Basement should have light colours

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | OVERHEAD / UNDERGROUND TANK

There are two Water Tanks that are required in a House:

The Underground Water tank also known as the Sump. The municipal water pipe is
connected to the Sump. Hence this tank has to be close to the road as the water lines run along
the road. Usually it is located below the Car Porch/Garage.

The Overhead Water Tank. The water from the sump or Well/Borewell has to be pumped into
the Overhead tank in order for it to be able to flow down into the house.

An underground (sump) tank placed below the ground

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Water Tanks. Since Vastu is a science, there
is logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As an Architect, I have attempted toexplain these
guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what
you dont.

SUMP / UNDERGROUND WATER TANK

WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION FOR A SUMP OR UNDERGROUND WATER TAN,

ACCORDING TO VASTU?

The Sump should be located in the North-East corner : The Logic -Since Vastu recommends
that the North-East corner of a site be left open, to allow the useful morning sunrays to enter the
House, it makes sense to have both the Water source as well as the Sump close to each other in
this corner (since they are anyway under the ground and will not obstruct the light). However, if
the sump is used for storing the municipal water, it makes sense to have it in the front, as you
will need a shorter connection to the municipal water lines.
The Sump should not touch the compound walls or the building walls: The Logic -The sump
should be a separate structure and should be kept a little away from the compound and building
walls, to prevent any kind of dampness from seeping up the walls.

Overhead water tanks placed on the terrace.

OVERHEAD WATER TANK

WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION FOR AN OVERHEAD WATER TANK ACCORDING TO

VASTU?

The Overhead water tank should be in the West or South-West of the building: The
Reasoning - The South-West corner should be the heaviest, to create a balance of positive
energies in the house/building.
Avoid the Overhead tank in the North-East corner of the House: The Reasoning Though
the North-East corner represents Water, avoid a tank here because the North-East has to be the
lightest part of the house for a balance of positive energies.

Avoid the Overhead water tank in the South-East corner. Also, avoid the Overhead water
tank in the North-West corner (if possible). However if it can be located only in the North-
West, then it should be small in size, of less height, and situated at a distance of at least two feet
from the North-West corner. The Scientific Reason The basic rule in Vastu is that the building
should be higher in the South and West sides and should be much lower in the North and East
sides. By keeping the North and East sides much lower, constant sunlight from the North and
morning sunlight from the East can reach all parts of the house, whereas by raising the building
on the South and West sides, the hot evening sun will be prevented from heating up the rest of
the house.

Avoid the Overhead tank in the centre of the building (Bramhasthan) - as it is a load on
Bramha, the supreme one. The Scientific Reason Structurally it is not safe to have a water tank
in the middle of the house roof, unless it is a column-beam structure.

The overhead tank should not directly rest on the roof slab

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN OF AN OVERHEAD WATER
TANK?

The Overhead tank should not directly rest on the roof slab: The Scientific Reason In case
there is a leak in the tank, the dampness can seep into the building causing structural damage and
fungus growth which is not good for the health of the family.

The Overhead tank should be at least 2 (60cm) above the topmost roof slab: The Reason -
The higher the water tank is above the building, the greater will be the pressure of water, thus
enabling the water to flow in full force in all the taps.

The Overhead water tank can be lined with light coloured tiles: The Logic This will ensure
cleanliness of the tank, as it is easy to maintain and there is less likelihood of growth of fungus.
Moreover, the white tiles allow one to see all the dirt while cleaning.
Avoid plastic water tanks as far as possible: The Scientific Reason We are still not sure
about the health hazards of storing water in plastic containers. But today because of the
convenience of plastic tanks and the inevitable leakage of concrete tanks, we are seeing more and
more plastic water tanks.

Plastic water tanks are available in different sizes and capacities

In case you use plastic water tanks, use black or dark blue coloured ones:The Scientific
Reason Dark colours prevent the suns rays from entering the tank unlike light-coloured or
transparent tanks. The sunlight that enters will encourage algal growth. (Thanks to Manoj for the
correction).

Two separate Overhead water tanks are preferred One , for storing water for drinking,
cooking etc and the other, for storing water for bathrooms, gardens etc: The Logic
Nowadays, due to the shortage of piped water, it is advisable to use this water only for cooking
and drinking purposes, as it is generally chlorinated, purified water. The water from an additional
water source, like Well or Borewell within the site can be used for Bathrooms and Toilets as you
may not be sure of the purity. Naturally the water from theses two sources should not mix and so
it is better to have two separate tanks.

The Solar geyser should be above the level of the overhead water tank: to ensure proper flow
of water, and all the equipment attached to the same should be installed in the South-East of the
roof. The Scientific Reason Since the South East is considered the corner representing Fire,
Vastu pundits generally recommend that all electrical and heat related appliances be placed in
the South-East. That is the only scientific explanation!

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | RENTING HOUSES

Many people rent out their houses, either a part of it or the entire house. In case the Owner and
the tenant reside in the same building, then one must follow the Vastu Guidelines for Renting out
a House.
Many people rent out a part of their building

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Renting out. Since Vastu is a science, every
guideline is based on logic and scientific reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain
these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and
what you dont.

VASTU GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTION STEP BY STEP: Vastu Shastra lays down
guidelines for the Construction of a House, right from the rituals to be done before the
start of construction, the preparation for the construction to the actual step-by-step
construction of the House. These Vaastu guidelines have been explained here:

VASTU GUIDELINES BEFORE START OF CONSTRUCTION:-

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | BEFORE CONSTRUCTION

It is recommended that before the start of the Construction of a House, one must be well
prepared. The Vastu Guidelines explained here will enable one to be ready for the onerous task
of construction of a House.

The first step is to determine the Site orientation using a compass

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES TO BE FOLLOWED BEFORE THE START

OF CONSTRUCTION?
Before the start of the Construction of the Building, these steps should be followed, in the order
mentioned here:

Determination of Site Orientation: The directions of the Site should be determined with the
help of a Compass. If the axis of the Site is not parallel to the Earths magnetic axis (North-South
axis), then the angle of tilt should be measured. All the corners of the plot should be 90 degree-
aligned and the Compound wall should be constructed only after the proper alignment of the
corners.

Clearing of Site: The next thing to be done is to clear the Site of all the dirt, stones, debris,
thorny bushes, shrubs etc.

Vastu Pooja: After the Site is cleared, the first ritual to be done before starting the construction,
is a Vastu pooja or Bhoomi Pooja. This is ritualistic and should be done at an auspicious time
and on an auspicious day, as fixed by your astrologer. The pooja should be done in theNorth-East
corner of the site.

Soil test: Two pits of size 2x2x2 each should be dug at the Site, preferably in the place where
the sump is going to be located. Fill up one of the pits with the dug-up soil. If some soil is left
over after filling, the land isgood. If there is no soil left after filling up, it is average. If the hole is
not fully filled, it is not good. Fill up the other pit 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 then it is not good.

Balidaana (Offertory ritual): Then the second ritual namely, Balidaana is done,
whereinofferings are made and spirits and demons are requested to leave.

Hala -Karshana (Levelling os Site): This is followed by the third ritual called Hala-karshana.
This is the levelling of the site, wherein the site is sloped according to Vastu guidelines for Site
Slope, so that the site is at a higher level than the road level and the South-West corner is higher
than the North-East corner. Vastu also recommends that the whole site be ploughed to rid it of
the past and give the soil a new life. If the land contains any Wells or other depressions, they
should be filled up and leveled.

Ankuraa-Roopana (Sowing of seed): The fourth ritual named Ankuraa-roopana wherein seed is
sowed as a final offering to the memory of those who have left the place and is also the first
offering to the new ploughed ground.
Ankuraa-roopana a seed is sown in the freshly ploughed soil

Digging of Borewell/Well: The next step is the digging of Well/Borewell for water for the
construction at the point suggested by a Water diviner, preferably in the North-East corner, if
there is a point here.

Construction of storage shed: After the Well/Borewell, the next step is the construction of the
Storage Shed for storing building materials like Cement, Wood etc and also to be used as a
house for a Watchman.

Construction of Sump: The next step is the excavation for an Underground Water tank also
known as a Sump, near the front of the Site to facilitate easy connection from the Municipal
Water supply pipes.

Compound Wall: After the construction of the Storage Shed and Sump, the next step is the
construction of the Compound wall, to protect from the natural elements and from thieves.

Shilaanyaasa: It is the foundation laying ceremony. Trenches are dug for the foundation and the
stone which is consecrated at the time of the Vastu Pooja, is laid first in the South-West corner of
the trenches. The groundbreaking ceremony for the house should only be done during the
Uttarayan period,from June 21 through December 20. when the sun is in the northern
hemisphere.

The foundation laying ceremony during which, the consecrated stone is placed in the foundation
trench

Construction: One should start the construction of the House only after the above 12 steps have
been followed. There is a scientific explanation for the Rituals that are done before the start of
construction.

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Rituals to be done before the commencement of
the Construction, and the possible scientific reasons and logic on which they were based, so that
you an decide what you want to follow and what you dont.

VASTU GUIDELINES | WATER SOURCE

It is very important to have a Water source before the start of construction, since a lot of water is
required during the building of the House. Moreover, the water source will be useful for the
inmates after they move into the house.

Water is one of the most important elements

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for digging a Well and the possible scientific
reasons and logic on which they were based, so that you an decide what you want to follow and
what you dont.
WHAT ARE THE COMMON SOURCES OF WATER IN A HOUSE?

The most common Water sources in a Site are the Open Well, the Borewell (Drilled Well) and
the Municipal Water supply. The well water is drawn by a pump or can be drawn up using
containers, such as buckets, that are raised mechanically or by hand.

Well or borewell are the sources of water

Open Well: is an excavation in the ground created by digging to access the groundwater which
is natuarlly stored below the ground as a result of the seeping in of rainwater. This water is more
likely to be polluted as it is near the Earths surface.
Borewell (Drilled Well): is much deeper and water is got by driving, boring or drilling through
rock to an aquifer below. This water is most likely to be uncontaminated as it is sandwiched
between rocks deep below the Earth.

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHATRA, WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE A WATER

SOURCE LIKE A WELL/ BORE WELL BEFORE THE START OF CONSTRUCTION ?

First step before the start of house construction is to dig a Well so that the water can be
used for the Construction. The Reasoning - Even if there is municipal water supply, it is better
if the Owner has another source of water as a backup, because nowadays there is acute shortage
of water. Moreover, since municipal water supply connection is given only after the completion
of the building, it makes sense to have a constant source of water for the construction form your
own Well or Borewell instead of buying water for the Construction. So this should be the first
priority.
If it is not possible to get water by digging a Well, or if there is the likelihood that an open
Well will get polluted, then a Borewell can be drilled after consulting an expert and a water
diviner, and only if there is good yield of water. The Logic - Since there is water under rocks
which has accumulated by percolation of rain water, it can be tapped into by digging a borewell.
Digging a Borewell is an expensive affair and if a person can afford it, I as an Architect, would
definitely recommend it since he will use that much less of the Municipal water, which can in
turn be useful for another person who may not be able to afford digging a Borewell.

WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION FOR A WELL/ BOREWELL/WATER SOURCE,

ACCORDING TO VASTU?

First option for a well is the North-East. The Reasoning - It is practical to have the Water
Source/Well in the North-East corner which is anyway to be left open as per Vastu to enable the
morning sunrays to enter the house. Moreover, the morning Suns rays will purify the well
water and kill the germs.Second option for the Well is the North or the East sides: The
Reasoning - It is practical to have a Water source in the East or North sides, since these sides are
anyway to be left open to allow the morning Eastern sunlight and the constant Northern sunlight.

Avoid a Well in the South, South-West or North-West: The Reasoning - The South, South-
West and North-West corners are built up to prevent the Suns evening radiation from entering
and heating up the rest of the house. Hence there is very little open space for a Well or even a
Borewell, (which may have to be opened for maintenance and repair of the pump) in these
directions.

Avoid a Well in the middle of the Site: The Reasoning - It is very difficult to design a house
around a Well/Borewell which is located in the middle of the Site, as open space will have to be
provided all around the Well for maintenance and cleaning work.

Avoid a well and pump house very close to the compound walls: The Reasoning - Space all
around the Well/Borewell is required for cleaning, maintenance and any repair work. So it is
better to keep them away from the boundaries.

Avoid a Well touching the House walls: The Reasoning Space around the House is to be kept
for movement and space around the Well/Borewell is required for cleaning, maintenance and any
repair work.

Avoid sharing of well between two properties: The Reasoning - In some cases, brothers or
close friends of 2 adjoining Sites decide to dig a Well/Borewell on the common boundary, so
that they can share the cost and the water. But in reality, it will only lead to problems and
differences between them, because of the amount of water used. Moreover, the Well may be in
the right position of one plot, namely the North-East zone but will be in the wrong position of the
adjoining plot, that is the North-West or South-East zone.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES FOR THE WELL OR
BOREWELL?

The Well should have a circular cross-section: The Reasoning - When digging a deep Well,
there is less chance of the earth collapsing into the hole, if the excavation is circular in shape.
This is because the groundwater pressure at any point along the circumference of the well is
radial and hence a circular shape is more resistant to compression stresses.

The well should be dug after the bhoomi pooja has been performed on the site, at an
astrologically auspicious time. The digging should start within three hours of the sunrise. The
well shouldnt be dug during dusk. The Reasoning - Psychologically the Owner will feel the
Well/Borewell will yield good amount of water if the digging is done at an auspicious time and
day. It is ideal that the digging of a Well/Borewell be completed within a day as it can be fenced
off or in case of a Borewell, covered with a stump to prevent anyone from falling in. For this it is
better to start the digging early and it is better to avoid digging at night as one cannot see clearly.

Avoid trees around an open Well: The Reasoning - The decaying leaves will spoil the water.

Alum, limestone, gooseberry bark help to keep the water clear: The Reasoning - All these
help to clarify Water as they have the property of attracting fine suspended debris in the Water,
and then sinking to the bottom. Also they have anti-bacterial properties.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | STORAGE SHED

The Storage Shed is constructed in a corner of the Site and is used for storing construction
material and also serves as a house for the Watchman, for the period of construction.

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Construction of a Storage shed, and the
possible scientific reasons and logic on which they were based, so that you an decide what you
want to follow and what you dont.
WHY IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STORAGE/WATCHMANS SHED
RECOMMENDED BEFORE CONSTRUCTION?

Storage Shed: Before the start of the Construction, after the digging of the Well/Borewell, the
second thing to be constructed is a Storage shed for storing all the material like cement, wood
etc. The construction of this shed in accordance with Vastu, prevents thefts and helps in the
smooth flow of the construction work. The Reasoning - A place to store the cement bags and
other building material safely and away from moisture is essential, as you cant keep buying
these things in small quantities.

Watchman should be retained to keep guard: The Reasoning Having a watchman to take
care of the material stored in the shed gives you a feeling of security and prevents thefts.
Moreover, the watchman can help in taking care of other aspects of construction like curing
(pouring water on RCC components) etc.

The Storage shed is used for storing material like cement, wood, etc

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE STORAGE SHED?

Avoid a Storage Shed in the North-East corner: The Storage shed can be located in any part
of the site except in the North or East. The Reasoning Since the North-East side of the site is to
be kept open and is the recommended corner for the Water well/Borewell, the shed should not be
placed there, as it will block the sunlight and movement around.

The Storage Shed should preferably be in the South-West corner: The Reasoning- The infra-
red heat rays of the Sun, which are projected to the South-West will keep the material stored in
the shed free from moisture. Moreover the South-West corner is the least used of all the four
corners and hence the most suitable for a Storage shed.

The Storage Shed should be demolished after completion of construction. The Storage shed
should preferably be portable as it can be removed from the site after the construction is
completed. : It should not be used for further storage/living. The Reasoning Since the shed is
built within the Site, it should be removed after completion of the building, to allow proper
movement around the site, proper flow of air and light into the building as otherwise it will be an
obstruction.

After the construction, the storage shed should be removed

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | COMPOUND WALL

Compound wall protects the site from animals, thieves, etc and serves to demarcate the boundary
of the property. Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Construction of the
Compound Wall, and the possible scientific reasons and logic on which they were based, so that
you an decide what you want to follow and what you dont.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE COMPOUND WALL?

Compound Wall construction: The third thing to be constructed after the Water Well and the
Storage Shed is the Compound Wall. This should be built just before the construction of the
House begins. The Reasoning - The purpose of the Compound wall is to protect the site and the
material stored in the Storage shed, from the outside environment, from thieves, etc. However, if
there are buildings all around the site, the Compound wall can be done after the construction.
Begin Compound Wall construction in South-East: Construction should begin on an
auspicious day. The Reasoning - Since the Compound wall is meant to protect from the elements
ans thieves etc, psychologically the owner will feel that he will be protected if the construction
is done at an auspicious time.
Northern part of Compound Wall to be built last : The Reasoning - The Northern and Eastern
sides are to be left open to allow Sunlight into the House, and the building is to be built in the
South-West corner. Therefore, it is advisable to build the North Compound wall later as it is
easier to dump building materials in the Northern open space.
Compound Wall should not be higher than the House: The Reasoning - If the Compound wall
is higher than the house, it will cut off light to the House.

Compound Wall should be higher and

thicker in the South and West sides : The Compound walls on the North and East sides should
be a foot (12 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 (3 inches) shorter. The Reasoning The higher
and thicker Compound wall on the South-West, prevents the hot evening Sun rays from heating
up the house and the lower compound on the North-East allows the useful morning Sunlight into
the House.
Compound Wall should be two-thirds the height of the main door: The Reasoning - The
Compound wall should not be taller than the house but should be tall enough to give the inmates
a sense of privacy.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE MAIN GATE AND SMALLER GATES?

Two gates are preferrable: The Reasoning - It makes sense to have a big gate for the car to
enter and a smaller gate which is easier to handle near the entrance.

Avoid gates in the extreme corners: The Reasoning - It is inconvenient to open and close a gate
that is fixed to the corners of the wall.
Main gate and the entrance door should face the same direction: The Reasoning - For
visitors entering through the gate, it is easier for them to notice the main door if the door is also
facing the same direction as the gate.

Avoid a gate in the South side: The Reasoning - The South is not considered auspicious for an
entrance, but obviously if your Site is a South facing one, the gate has to be in the South side.

Gates should open clockwise: The Reasoning - Since the majority of the population is right-
handed, it is easier to push open a door or gate in the clockwise direction.

VASTU GUIDELINES | STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSE :-

VASTU GUIDELINES | FOUNDATION

VASTU GUIDELINES | CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSE
VASTU GUIDELINES | MAIN ENTRANCE DOOR
VASTU GUIDELINES | INTERNAL DOORS, WINDOWS
VASTU GUIDELINES | HOUSE WARMING RITUAL

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | FOUNDATION

The first step in the construction of a House is the excavation at the Site and laying of
Foundation. The excavation may be for footings (in a column-beam structure) or trenches for the
foundation.
Foundation

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Laying of the Foundation and the possible
scientific reasons and logic on which they were based, so that you an decide what you want to
follow and what you dont.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR EXCAVATION FOR THE FOUNDATION?

Before Excavation: Before commencing the Excavation for the Building, certain rituals and
work should be done. This has been explained step by step in the post, Vastu Guidelines |
Before Construction.

These steps include:

1. Determination of the Site Orientation.

2. Clearing of the Site.
3. Vastu or Bhoomi Pooja.
4. Soil Test.
5. Balidaana (offertory ritual).
6. Hala-Karshana Levelling of Site.
7. Ankura-roopana (Seed Sowing ritual).
8. Digging of Well/Borewell.
9. Construction of Storage Shed.
10. Construction of Sump (underground Water tank).
11. Construction of Compound Wall.

Direction of Excavation: The Excavation work for the foundation of the Building should start
on an auspicious day, from the North-East corner of the building and end in the South-West
corner. Therefore, the direction of excavation should be from N-E to S-E, then S-E to S-W
corner. Simultaneously, the excavation should be from N-E to N-W, then N-W to S-W corner.
The Logic - This is because the Vastu pooja is done in the North-East corner, and
psychologically it feels right to start from this corner. Moreover, according to Vastu principles,
the North-East should always be lower than the South-West at any time of the construction. This
is to ensure a flow of light and wind at all times from the N-E to the rest of the construction if the
N-E is lower.
The excavation work should start from the North-East corner

Shilaanyaasa: It is the foundation laying ceremony. After the excavation for the foundation
has been completed, the stone which is consecrated at the time of the Vastu Pooja, is laid first in
the South-West corner of the excavated trenches. The Reason - According to Vastu principles, at
all times the construction structure should be lowest in the N-E and highest in the S-W corner for
the same reason as explained above.

Construction work: The construction work like laying of the bed concrete, stone foundation or
column footing, etc. should be started from the South-West corner to the North-East corner. The
Scientific Reason This way, at all times the N-E corner will be lower than the rest of the areas,
thus ensuring flow of light and solar energy from the North-East corner (morning light and
constant light) into the rest of the construction.

Filling: The filling of earth within the foundation should be done from the South-West to the
North-East for the same reason as above.

Demolition: In case of demolition of an old building, the work should start from the North-East
corner. The Reasoning - In all the above Vastu points, it is obvious that the construction is done
such that, the North-East part is always lower than the rest of the area. This is to allow the useful
sunlight from the North-East to permeate the rest of the construction at all times. So it is easier to
start demolishing from the lowest part of the building.

Old materials: The old building materials should not be re-used for the new construction, unless
their quality is guaranteed. The Reasoning - Old material will never be as strong or as long
lasting as new material. So it is not worth using old material just because it is cheaper.

It is not worth salvaging old material for a new construction

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSE

Here, I have explained the broad Vastu Guidelines for Construction and the possible scientific
reasons and logic on which they were based, so that you an decide what you want to follow and
what you dont.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A HOUSE?

Some points to be considered during construction are the following:

Equal open space should be left on all four sides: The Reasoning - Maintenance and cleaning
of the house can be done easily if there is space on all four sides of the Site. Moreover, the house
can have windows an all 4 sides because of the available space all around.

The open spaces around the Site should slope from the South and West sides to the North
& East sides and outlets of rainwater should be in North-East or North zones. The
Reasoning Normally the Water Source is located in the North-East corner. So it is preferable to
have the runoff rainwater flowing towards the North-East corner, as it will help to recharge the
water source.

Only new building materials, bricks, wood, and materials should be used when building a
new house. The Reasoning - New building material is always in good condition, has more
strength and can be finished (polished, painted etc) well.

Avoid using old building materials for the construction: If there are old materials available, it
is better to sell them and use the money to buy new materials. The Reasoning Material from an
old building like old wooden pillars, used steel, old bricks or blocks etc will have less strength
and so it is better not to use them in a new building.
Avoid using old, salvaged building materials for a new construction

Materials stored for a long time should also not be used. Iron grills should only be made
when needed. The Reasoning - Building materials stored for a long time will not be as effective
as new materials, as they may not have been stored well, away from moisture and pests etc.

Good quality sand, gravel and cement should be used. The Reasoning - If second quality or
cheaper materials are used, they are bound to affect the strength, finish and quality of the
structure.

Wood from thorny trees should not be used. The Reasoning Generally the wood of thorny
trees is not suitable for house construction.

Construction should be started within 90 days from the completion of the Compound Wall.
The Reasoning This time frame is fixed so as to coax the Owner to start Construction, because
otherwise he may keep postponing and this will only result in extra expenditure.

Construction should not stop once it begins. The Reasoning - There will be more expense
involved in stopping-and-starting work.

Workers should not be unnecessarily pushed to speed up their work. The Reasoning If
pressurized, they will do a shoddy job. Moreover, some things like setting, curing of columns,
beams, slabs etc cannot be rushed as there is a risk that the structure may collapse.

Work for the day should stop at sunset. The Reasoning - Construction should not be done at
night as it is difficult to see and the quality of work will suffer. Also, the workers need to have
rest as they cant do a good job if they are overworked.

A qualified supervisor should always oversee the construction. The Reasoning - Any
mistakes that come up at site due to the faulty work of the workers, can be noticed by a qualified
person who is always at site. Also, the illiterate workers can clear any doubts that they may have
about the drawings, with the Site engineer.
Avoid construction at night

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | ENTRANCE DOOR

One enters the House, through the Main Entrance Door from the front Verandah. Every time
you enter your house you activate a presiding energy in relationship to the mandala of the house
at that point. A door must be precisely located for the activation of most beneficial energy.

As Vastu is a science, there is logical, scientific explanation for every guideline. As an

Architect, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically.
ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHERE SHOULD THE MAIN DOOR BE
LOCATED?

The main entrance door should be fixed on an auspicious day after performing Vastu Pooja. The
Location of the Main door is also very important. To figure out where to place a main door,
imagine that you are standing in front of the house and divide the front facade of the house into
into two parts with an imaginary, middle, vertical line. The door should be placed towards the
centre, either in the left or the right half, depending on the direction the door faces.

North- facing door should be in the left half when facing the house, that is
more towards the North-East. Avoid placing a door in the right half (North-West). The Reason -
Its preferable to have more openings in the North and East to allow the useful sunlight
constantly, through the day. Since the door is opaque, it should be placed more to the centre of
the wall and windows should be kept in the North-East.

The door should not be at the corner of the walls, but a few feet away from the corner
junction. The Reason - Its preferable to have more window openings towards the North and East
to allow constant sunlight through the day. Since the door is opaque, it should be placed away
from the N-E corner, more to the centre.

West facing door: can be located in the left half when facing the house, that is favouring the
North-West. Avoid placing a door in the right half (South-West). The Reason - Its preferable to
have more window openings towards the North to allow constant sunlight through the day. It is
best to avoid openings in the South-West since the Sun is in the South and West at midday and in
the afternoon.

If a house has a main entrance in the West it should have a corresponding door in the East
also. The Reason -To allow maximum, useful UV rays found in the morning sunlight, into the
house, since it is beneficial for health of the inamtes. (vitamin D synthesis)
 South facing main door: must not be in the center of the building but should
be in the right half when facing the house, that is more towards the South-East. Avoid placing a
door in the left half (South-West). The Reason It is always preferable to have few openings in
the South-West as explained above, since the hot infra-red rays of the afternoon sunlight are
projected, maximum towards this direction.

If a house has a main entrance in the South there should be one more corresponding to it in
the North direction also. The Reason To allow the constant light from the North into the
house.

East facing door: can be located in the right half when facing the house, that
is more to the North-East. Avoid placing a door in the left half (South-East). The Reason - Its
preferable to have more openings in the North and East to allow the useful sunlight constantly,
through the day. Since the door is opaque, it should be placed more to the centre of the wall and
windows should be kept in the North-East.

Thus you can see in Vastu, there is no bad location for a main door. Its the pseudo vastu pundits
who claim that South and West entrances are bad and the entrance door should only be in the
North or East, because they take the Vastu Shastra guidelines too literally Since Vastu
recommends more open space in the North and East to enable the pleasant morning light and
constant North light to permeate the house, it makes sense to have the entrance from either of
these directions. But its not a hard and fast rule.

IN VASTU SHASTRA, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE MAIN DOOR?

Avoid the main door directly facing the main door of the
opposite house. The Reason- It is quite uncomfortable when both the doors are open, as one
unconsciously tends to look into the other house.
Avoid the main door directly facing an abandoned, rundown or dilapidated building: The
Reason- It is quite disconcerting, every time you open the door to see an eerie looking building
right in front of you.

The entrance gate and the main door should be 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. The Reason- It
doesnt make sense to have the entrance on one side and then have the main door on the opposite
side as guests and outsiders are forced to walk right across the length of the site, thus invading
into the privacy of the inmates.

Avoid having an underground tank, septic tank under the main entrance: The Reason - In
case the tank has to be opened or cleaned, it can be very inconvenient if it is right in front of the
main door.

Avoid locating the main entrance door in the corners of the house: The Reason- If the door is
in the extreme corner, it will be difficult to have a neat furniture layout in the room, as the
corner is used for movement.

Avoid locating a wall directly in front of the entrance door: There should be a door that
opens to the next room in line of sight, opposite the main door. The Reason- The fresh air
entering the house, every time you open the door, can flow into the rest of the house and finally
go out through the exit. This allows the house to breathe properly.

It is preferable to have two doors, an entrance and an exit door: However, the exit door
should be smaller than the entrance door. The Reason- The fresh air entering into the house
through the entrance, will go out through the exit and thus be forced to pass through the rest of
the house, thus allowing the house to breathe.

The main entrance door should be the largest door of the house:
The Reason- A large main door looks inviting and allows big objects, like beds, to be brought in
from outside without difficulty.

The main door should open inside and clockwise: The Reason- If the door swings open in a
clockwise motion, you use your left hand to open the door for the guests, thus enabling you to
guide them in with your right hand.
Avoid self-closing doors: The Reason- With self closing locks available nowadays, the doors
can shut and close by themselves, but there is the risk that the door will close accidentally in the
breeze while the keys are inside the house.

Avoid creaking doors: The Reason- Doors that creak indicate bad workmanship and that the
door hinges are not well oiled.

The main door should have a threshold: Shoes should not be kept in front of the door, but to
the side. The Reason- The shoes in front of the door can be an eyesore and cause you to stumble.

Auspicious signs on the door like Om and Swastika': The Reason- When you or a guest
stand in front of the door it is better to see some pleasant images instead of just a plain door.

Wood of Teak, Honne, Matti are good for the main door: Wood from Peepal, Coconut, trees
giving flowers and fruits out of season, Thorny trees, Fragrant trees, etc should not be used. The
Reason Its important to protect useful trees that provide us with fruit etc.

The main door should have a threshold: The Reason The threshold will deter ants and other
pests from entering into the house.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | DOORS AND WINDOWS

In Vastu Shastra, the door and window positions are important because they let in the air, light
and energy into the rooms of the house. If they are in the right positions, then there is a positive
flow of air, light and energy from the outside to the inside and from room to room, thus
enhancing the health and the lives of the inmates and creating a feeling of contentment and
happiness.

The right positioning of doors and windows allows adequate light and air into a building
Here, I have discussed the Vastu Guidelines for Doors and Windows. Since Vastu Shastra is a
science, I have explained the possible scientific reasons and logic on which they were based, so
that you an decide what you want to follow and what you dont.

HOW MANY DOORS SHOULD A HOUSE HAVE AND WHERE SHOULD THAY BE
LOCATED?

Even number of doors - The answer to the question of the correct number of doors in a house,
is an enigma. However, the ancient Rishis have advised that it is better to have even number of
doors instead of odd number.

For internal doors The internal doors can be placed according to the room arrangement and
convenience. The Reason - The internal doors should be so placed for easy and comfortable
circulation and movement from room to room. It depends on the furniture arrangement in the
room.

For the Main door However, for the Main door it is advisable to follow the rules explained
below. The Reason Every time you enter your house you activate a presiding energy in
relationship to the mandala of the house at that point. A door must be precisely located in order
to activate the beneficial energy.

WHERE SHOULD THE MAIN DOOR BE PLACED ?

To figure out where to place a main door, imagine that you are standing outside the house, facing
the front of the house. Divide the front facade of the house into two parts with an imaginary,
middle, vertical line. The door should be placed towards the centre, either in the left or the right
half, depending on the direction the house faces.

For a East facing House - Avoid placing a door in the left half (South-East),
instead place it in the right half, that is towards the North-East. The Reason - Since the North-
East corner of a plot is to be left open, for sunlight to enter the house, it makes sense to enter
from this space but only after leaving as much of window openings towards the North and East.

The door should not be at the corner of the walls, but a few feet away from the corner
junction. The Reason -Its preferable to have more window openings towards the North and East
to allow constant sunlight through the day. Since the door is opaque, it should be placed away
from the N-E corner, more to the centre.
 For a South-facing House - Avoid placing a door in the left half (South-
West), instead place it in the right half, that is in the South-East. The Reason- It is always
preferrable to have minimum number of openings in the South-West since the hot infra-red rays
of the evening sunlight are projected maximum to this direction.

If a house has a main entrance in the South there should be one more corresponding to it in the
North direction also. The Reason To allow the constant light from the North into the house.

For a West-facing house - Avoid placing a door in the right half (South-
West), instead place it in the left half, that is in the North-West. The Reason - It is always
preferrable to have few openings in the South-West since the hot infra-red rays of the evening
sunlight are projected maximum to this direction.

If a house has a main entrance in the West it should have a corresponding door in the East also.
The Reason -To allow maximum, useful UV rays found in the morning sunlight, into the house,
since it is beneficial for health of the inamtes. (vitamin D synthesis)

For a North-facing house - Avoid placing a door in the right half (North-
West), instead place it in the left half, that is in the North-East. The Reason - Its preferable to
have more openings in the North and East to allow sunlight constantly, through the day. Since
the door is opaque, it should be placed more to the centre of the wall and windows should be
kept in the North-East.

WHERE SHOULD THE WINDOWS BE PLACED IN A HOUSE?

The windows should be opposite to the doors so that both the positive and negative cycles are
completed. The Reason - This is to allow the proper flow of air from room to room.
The windows in the North wall should be more towards the North-East and should be long
and wide. The Reason So that air and constant and useful morning light from North-East can
permeate the house.

The windows in the East wall should be more towards the North-East and should be long
and wide for the same reason as explained above.

Avoid too many windows in the South-West directions. The Reason The harmful, hot infra
red rays of the Sunlight are projected maximum to the South-West direction in India. Hence it is
preferable to have less openings in this direction.

Windows should be long and wide to let in a lot of light

HOW MANY WINDOWS SHOULD THERE BE IN A HOUSE?

There should be an even number of windows in the house, like 2, 4, 6, 8 etc. Avoid odd
number of windows like 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 . The Reason - It must have something to do with symmetry
and the structure of the house, because in earlier times, the buildings had wooden roofs with
rafters etc. So the positioning of windows was based on the roof grid. However, you can have
any number of windows, depending on your requirement.

VASTU GUIDELINES | APARTMENT SITE

Designing multi-storey apartment buildings according to Vastu Shastra principles is not easy
since there are several units on each floor with common walls between them and it is a challenge
to position the rooms and the main entrance door of each unit, in the right directions as per the
Vastu Mandala plan.
The first and the most important step in apartment design is to select the right Site

HOW DOES ONE APPLY VASTU SHASTRA IN APARTMENT BUILDINGS?

I get many queries from people about Vastu for apartments whether to consider the individual
unit or to look at the apartment building as a whole. You need to consider both.

Vaastu Shastra is a science that takes into account factors influencing the Site, such as
topography, roads, the structures around, the Sun, the Earths magnetic field, the cardinal
directions and the elements of Nature and manipulates them so that the buildings designed
according to Vaastu guidelines vibrate with Universal Positive Energy.

The first and the most important step in apartment design is to select the right Site. Some of the
Vastu guidelines for the selection of the right Site are described below along with the scientific
explanation.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE SELECTION OF AN APARTMENT

SITE ?

The Site should be a quadrangle with the N-E and S-W angles 90 degrees or less and the N-
W and S-E corners 90 degrees or more. ie; the N-E to S-W axis should be more than the N-
W to S-E axis. The explanation: Since the Sun is in the North-East direction in the morning, a
lot of open space in the North-East corner of the Site will allow the useful morning sunlight to
permeate the whole building. This is possible if the Site is elongated along the N-E to S-W axis.
The apartment site should preferably be bound by two roads

The road to the Site can be in any direction though a road on the North and/or East is
preferred. The Explanation: A road on the North or East will ensure that there will be no larger
buildings abutting the Site on these sides which can overshadow the proposed apartment and
block the useful morning sunlight.

It is ideal to have two roads on two sides of the Site. The Explanation: Two roads will allow
for two gates which are a necessity in any apartment complex for easy flow of traffic in and out
of the site.

The Site should slope from the South-West (highest corner) to the North-East (lowest
corner). The Explanation: If the natural topography is sloping down towards the North-East
corner, then the building profile will also be higher in the South-West and lower in the North-
East. This allows the useful North-East light to engulf the building even in the South-west
corner.

The water source and other water bodies should be located in the North-East corner. The
Explanation: Early in the morning, the sunlight engulfs the site in the North-east corner and so
this is the ideal place for water bodies and the water source, since the germicidal properties of the
UV rays will ensure the water is fit for consumption and use.
There should be more open space towards the North and East of the apartment site

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE APARTMENT SITE PLANNING?

The apartment blocks should be located towards the South-West corner and there should
be more open spaces in the North and East corners: The Explanation: Since the Sun is in the
North-East direction in the morning, a lot of open space in the North-East corner of the Site will
allow the useful morning sunlight to permeate the whole building.

The gates to the Site can be on the North-North-East, East-North East, West-North West or
South-South East corners. The Explanation: The gates in these corners will necessitate the
internal roads to be on the East and North sides which will ensure that adjoining buildings will
not block the useful morning light.

Rain water drainage should be directed to the North-East corner. The Explanation: This is a
way of recharging the ground water in the North-east corner, since the bore well should ideally
be located here.

Lawns and low height garden plants can be located in the North-East corner but big and
tall trees should be positioned on the South and West sides only. The Explanation: The lawns
and low height plants will not block out the useful morning sunlight from the North-east whereas
the tall trees are a barrier to the hot afternoon sunlight Since the Sun is in South and the West in
the latter part of the day.

The borewell, underground sump, well and any water bodies, swimming pool should
ideally be located in the North-East corner: The Scientific Reason The UV rays of the
morning sunlight are germicidal and effective in purifying the water in the swimming pool and
wells, before people start using it.

The Compound walls should be low on the Northern and Eastern sides and higher on the
Southern and Western sides. The Explanation: For the same reason as above.

When the generator, transformer are located outside then, they should be placed in the
open space in the South-East corner: The Scientific Reason The South-East is the
Agni (energy) corner and therefore energy gadgets, in this case, the generator and transformer
can be located here.

VASTU SHASTRA GUIDELINES | APARTMENT DESIGN

There is confusion on how to apply Vastu Shastra principles to apartments whether to take the
apartment building as a whole or the individual flats. You need to consider both.
Apply Vastu Shastra principles to the whole apartment building and to the individual apartment

When applying Vastu principles to the whole apartment building, the main points to be
considered are the selection of the Site, the Site Planning right arrangement of the building,
open spaces, water bodies and amenities in the Site. This has been explained in the previous post:
VASTU GUIDELINES | APARTMENT SITE.

The next step is to apply Vastu Shastra principles to the Apartment building. These Vastu tips
have been listed here:

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR BASEMENTS IN APARTMENT

BUILDINGS?

It is preferable to have only part-basement, and that too, only in the North and East of the
apartment building: The Scientific Reason The UV rays of the morning sunlight are useful in
destroying the germs and bacteria that would have multiplied at night. Therefore it is important
to allow the morning sunlight into any space. For this, there should be ample openings on
the East and North-East facades of a building, since the Sun is positioned in the North-East and
East from early dawn till around 9 am. Since a basement is a dark and dingy area, it is all the
more necessary to have it more in the East and North-East parts of the building to allow the
morning sunlight in.

A part basement should be avoided in the Southern and Western sides: The Scientific
Reason A basement can be in the South and West provided that it extends right upto the North
and East parts as well. Otherwise, the morning light from the North-East and East sides will be
blocked and the basement will get sunlight only by afternoon.

The Northern and Eastern parts of the basement should be used for car parking: The
Scientific Reason Even cars need sunlight exposure to sunlight will prevent any blockages in
the fuel lines. So, it is better to park the cars in the Northern and Eastern parts of the basement to
allow the morning sunlight to stream in after a cold night.
Preferably, there should be sunlight in the basement

The Southern and Western parts of the Basement should be used for store room, and
servants room: The Scientific Reason The Sun is in the Southern part of the house by noon
and the heat intensity is high, ensuring the rooms remain dry and moisture-proof. This is
necessary for the long term storage of things and so it is ideal to have the Store room in the
South.

The South-East corner of the basement can be used for the transformer and generator if
they cannot be located outside: The Scientific Reason The South-East is the Agni (energy)
corner and therefore energy gadgets, in this case, the generator and transformer can be located
here.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS?

If there are penthouses on the terrace, they should be built in the South or South-West
corner of the apartment building terrace. The North and North-East parts should be left as
an open terrace: The Scientific Reason By keeping the East and North open, the rest of the
built-area will get useful sunlight in the morning and constantly through the day. By building up
the South and West, the hot afternoon sun is blocked and prevented from heating up the rest of
the building.
The terrace of the penthouse should be to the North or East

Similarly, in case only a part of the building is to be built on the last floor, it should be on
the South or South-West portion. The Scientific Reason The same as above.

The lift room, staircase should ideally be in the South and South-West of the apartment
building: The Scientific Reason The staircase room and lift rooms are the tallest structures on a
terrace and therefore should preferably be in the South and South-West for the same reason as
above.

The overhead water tanks should be located in the South or South-West corner of the
apartment building: The Scientific Reason The overhead tanks are also tall structures like the
lift rooms and should be restricted to the South and South-West for the same reason as above.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR INDIVIDUAL FLATS IN THE

APARTMENT?

The main door to each flat should be from the North North-East, East North-East, South
South-East, West North-West quadrant when the main entrance to the apartment is in the
North, East, South and West respectively: The Scientific Reason The door should be placed
more towards the East or the North, so that each time the door is opened, useful morning sunlight
floods in from the East and constant sunlight from the North.

South facing apartments can have south facing doors, provided they are in the South
South-East quadrant: The Scientific reason - The same reason as above

The balconies can be located in the North and East but should be avoided in the South and
the West: The Scientific Reason A Balcony is a good place to sit out and sun-bathe. So, the
ideal position for this will be in the North, where there is constant sunlight and the East where
there is morning Sunlight. The West and South sides are too hot to sit and hence should be
avoided.

A balcony is a good space to sun bathe

The Kitchen can be positioned in the South-East or the North-west corner of each flat, with
the cooking platform on the Eastern wall: The Scientific Reason In earlier times, when the
cooking was done on open stoves outside the house and combustible building materials were
prone to catch fire, the cooking fire was preferred in the S-E corner or the N-W corner, where the
hot summer wind, blowing from the S-W to the N-E direction could not cause damage by
carrying sparks.

The Pooja room should be in the North-East corner. If a seperate room is not possible, then
a shelf for placing idols should be placed in the North-East corner of the flat: The Scientific
Reason Early at dawn, the Sun is in the North-Eastern part of the house. These hours are ideal
for Yoga, meditation, prayer or study as it is very quiet and peaceful. Also, the early morning
Suns rays have a very beneficial effect on our health. Therefore, the North-East corner is the
best position for the Puja Room/prayer room or meditation room.

The other rooms like bedrooms, living room, bathroom, dining room etc can be as per the
Vastu Mandala Plan: The Scientific Reason The Vastu Mandala Plan is actually based on
scientific principles wherein, the Sun, the five basic elements (panchabhutaas), the Earths
magnetic field, Earths energy fields and the eight directions are manipulated to create an
atmosphere beneficial to man. The Vastu pundits figured out that, when the different rooms were
placed according to the Vastu Mandala plan created by them, good disposition to the Sun, proper
ventilation and lighting and privacy would be ensured in the building.

ALSO VISIT http://vasthurengan.com/vastu/vastu-house-plans/ FOR SEEING DIFFERENT PLANS FOR

HOUSE