FAQs ON VAASTU..............2

Q. What is Vastu Shastra?

A. VASTU SHASTRA is the traditional Indian system of architecture and design of Vedic origin. Vastu means the dwelling of humans and Gods. Many Vastu rules are derived from 'Vastu Purusha Mandala' which is depicted as a man lying with his head pointing north east, in a grid of usually 64 squares. The different directions and sectors are assigned to different Gods and Guardians. It aims at providing guidelines for proper construction. Vastu orientates, places and dictates the proportions of every detail in building lines, skylines, elongations, levels, slopes, water (underground and overhead), kitchen, bedrooms, toilets, staircase, heights of ceilings and roofs, entrances, loci of doors and windows, compound walls and so on. Vastu is affected with positive power of three elements: the earth, the water, the fire (the sun).

1. Earth: was formed about 460 crore years ago and it was a fiery ball. In due course of time, the rocks melted and the surface has formed and acquired magnetism due to the magnetic particles embedded within. It has two poles, north pole and southpole.

2. Sky: is the endless space surrounding the universe. The universal concept of sky is beyond the imagination and reach of human beings as it is never ending and eternal.

3. Air (Atmosphere): is a composition of gases like oxygen, nitrogen, carbon-dioxide, helium, neon, crypton and vapor. Oxygen is life saving gas indispensable to living organism.


4. Water: due to rainfall from clouds, water flowed into low lying area of earth's surface and oceans were formed. The eternal water cycle is mystery of nature.

5. Sun: sun plays a vital role in Vastu Shastra. It is a source of life on earth and this is the reason why Sun is worshipped as an incarnation of god or the potential source of creation on the earth.

Q. Does Vastu Shastra promise prosperity?

A. No, not really. Vastu Shastra cannot be directly linked with prosperity. It only suggests ways in which we can live in tune with the laws of nature so that we can be healthy and peaceful and work efficiently. The ancient texts of Vastu Shastra have probably claimed to bring prosperity, as an indirect consequence of being able to perform well at home and work.

Q. What is the role of religion in Vastu Shastra?

A. Vastu Shastra is a science - it has nothing to do with religion. It is true that over the years Vastu Shastra has imbibed religious overtones, but that does not seem to have been the original idea. The religious implications were probably inculcated by the proponents of the science, when they realized that the society of that time, being a God-fearing one, would not accept norms that strayed away from the notions of God.

Q. Which deity is worshiped in Vastu Shastra?

A. Religious icons have no place in science. The ancient text of Vastu Shastra did mention various Gods from Hindu mythology fixing their locations on the site and prescribing the offerings to be made to them, but that also seems to have been a ploy created by ancient scientists to convince the people to accept the Vastu norms.

Q. What is the significance of the Vastu Purusha?

A. The 'Vastu Purusha' is said to be the spirit of the site. It's in the form of a human male and lies on the site with his head towards the east, his posture fitting exactly in a square. It was easier to get the anthropometrically and aesthetically correct dimensions of rooms, doors windows and even the structural members like plinth and pillars. Even the interior planning was governed by the posture of the 'Vastu Purusha' and the norms which specified where and how the structure must be built, so that it does not injure him.

Q. Vastu Shastra is so superstitious, how can it be called a science?

A. Vastu Shastra is a science. In the age when it was formulated, the society was largely illiterate, the illiteracy generating a fear of the unknown. Science was beyond the realm of their understanding while religion was omnipresent. It was therefore simpler for the ancient Vastu experts to spread the concepts of the Vastu Shastra through the intricate network of religion and superstition. Unfortunately, as time passed only the superstitious filtered down the generations, while the actual theory eluded the world.

Q. Is Vastu shastra relevant in the modern world?

A. All the ancient doctrines of Vastu Shastra may not be applicable in the present scenario. Some of the tenets particularly show a strong social bias, which was relevant to the social structure which existed at that time. Such tenets have certainly lost their significance. However the fundamentals of the theory can be adapted to the modern world. Unfortunately, again most of the modern Vastu exponents are also exploiting the layman ignorance and gullibility.

Q. How does Vastu Shastra work in apartment blocks?

A. It is a fact that the original Vastu tenets prescribed the type of site and then specified the layout materials and construction techniques. In an urban milieu, one can hardly indulge in choosing dwelling sites. Thus the macro level implications can be successfully adapted to contemporary needs.

Q. How can Vastu Shastra ba applied to the commercial and industrial premises?

A. The original texts of Vastu Shastra were confined to the architecture of temples, places and homes of the commoners. However, those very norms can be easily applied to other structures such as offices and industries. So if facing a particular direction brings in negative solar energy, the large machinery may be kept there to block it.

Q. What if it is not possible to implement all the changes recommended by a Vastu consultant?

A. It must first be noted that Vastu Shastra is not a religion. However God-fearing you may be, you should not feel threatened by Vastu Shastra because it is a science. Science does not condemn God, or disprove its identity but it does not accept it. Vastu Shastra is the science of structure, formulated to help us live in tune with nature. It does not give solutions to your domestic or financial problems.

A Vastu consultant assesses your home or work place, and suggests changes that will improve it's Vastu compliance. If the assessment has been done in a systematic manner, it is obvious that implementing the more negative elements should yield substantially positive effects. Very often, merely changing the orientation of the interior fixture helps in achieving a Vastu-positive environment.

Q. What is the ideal plot/house?

A. The ideal plot is the one whose length and breadth are same and ideally facing each side of plot to exact north direction, south direction, east direction and west direction, and the house constructed in this plot shall also be ideal. If utility rooms are constructed as per the norms of Vastu Shastra the foundation should be 9 feet but due to the construction of sky rise multi-story buildings coming up, the depth of foundation shall depend on the load bearing capacity of soil, the number of storeys that are going to be constructed and the materials used.

Q. Why directions are important in Vastu Shastra?

A. The Sun, as our ancestors revealed, is the only source of light and heat for human and other living beings. It directs and sustains life on earth. Therefore, the Sun, the rising Sun is like God, and its direction of rising is considered pious and is taken as a point of reference. If we face the rising sun, the facing direction is called East, behind us shall be West, our left hand denotes North direction and right hand denotes South direction. Therefore, the effect of the direction affects the building/house constructed therein.

Q. What is the best direction of the house?

A. An auspicious direction for the house/building to face is the east or north direction. This is subject to other factors laid down as per Vastu Shastra.

Q. What should be the proportion of length and breadth of house?

A. Ideally, the proportion of length and breadth should be 1:1.

Q. Does the size of rooms affect the fortune of the persons residing?

A. Yes, the length, breadth or both effect the fortune of inmates.

Q. What are the main factors to be considered regarding the door of the house?

A. As per Vastu Shastra, the number of doors and windows of a house should be even in number.

Q. Can facing of the main door be decided?

A. Yes, the zodiac sign of the owner of the house, on whose name the deed of the house is made can be taken as reference and according to zodiac sign of the owner, the main door can be fixed. But since the houses are used generation after generation and in every generation the owner of house is changed the main door if fitted as per the location of plot and road abutting.

Q. How and why do inhabitants residing in FSI based constructed buildings face problems?

A. Residential Flats are being constructed like pigeon boxes. No open space is left in front of the main entrance door. If one door of a flat opens fully (outside which again is against vastu rules) another adjacent flat-owner will not be able to open his Main Entrance door fully. Then we observe that door is spliced into two parts 1/3 & 2/3 is recommended. The real problems starts here. Nowhere in the ancient literature, is the splitting of the main entrance door in portion 1/3 & 2/3. Kitchen is health and kitchens in such flats are not designed as per the tenets and rules of Vastu Shastra. Many a time, we observe that toilets in such flats are located in northeast. A family having a toilet in the northeast region of their place of residence will not be able to prosper in life.

Q. What are the planets associated with the directions in Vaastu Shastra ?

East	Ravi	Sun
South East	Shukra	Venus
South	Angaraka	Mars
South West	Rahu	Dragon's Head
West	Shani	Saturn
North West	Chandra	Moon
North	Budha	Mercury
North East	Guru Ketu	Jupiter Dragon's Tail

Q. According to the Vastu Shastra scriptures, what do all the various directions represent?

A. According to the Vastu Shastra scriptures, the various directions denote the following aspects:
East (Purab) Pitrustaan(Manes): It should not be blocked , since it is the source of male issues.
Southeast (Aagneya) (Fire) source of health, place of fire, cooking and food.
South (Dakshina)- Source of wealth, crops and happiness.
Southwest (Naryuthya)-(Earth) source of character, behavior, cause of longevity and death.
West (Paschima) Source of name, fame and prosperity
Northwest (Vaayavya) (Air) Source of change, income from business, enmity and friendship.
North (Uttara) Maathrusthan-This should not be blocked as it is the source of female issues.
Northeast (Eshanya) (Water) Source of health, wealth, prosperity and of male issues.

Q. Does the magnetic field of the earth have anything to do with Vastu Shastra?

A. Yes. Most Certainly. The magnetic field of the earth plays and important role while formulating Vastu Shastra which can significantly influence human life. According to Vastu Shastra, one should never keep his/her head towards the north while lying as it obstructs the circulatory system causing irregular sleep, tension, paranoia and other mental problems. The magnetic fields of the same poles repel each other while the opposite attracts each other, therefore a person should keep his/her head towards the south or east.

Q. What role does soil play in the selection of a plot?

A. According to Vastu Shastra, a plot with soil that has a large salt content is considered to be inauspicious. The ground water table should be minimum 10-12’ below the existing ground level and maximum 30’. It should not have any sanitary back-filled or reclaimed soil or rubbish, bones, hair and other filthy material. The soil should be fertile and free from any decrepit or dead material.

Q. Does Vastu Shastra apply to boundary walls as well?

A. Vastu Shastra holds the conviction that the boundary walls are an effective way of containing the energy level and the magnetic field of the plot. The wall should be thick and high in the western and the southern directions. In the north and the east a smaller, thinner wall is desired.

Q. What are the things that are to be kept in mind while selecting a plot?

A. The major factors to be kept in mind while selecting a plot are:
1. Geographical surroundings,
2. Level of the land,
3. and Roads around the plot.

Q. Are there any conventions prescribed by Vastu Shastra that pertain to doors?

A. Anything that is an essential part of a home, is inscribed in the Vastu Shastra. Doors, in every sense, convey a lot of pertinent attributes about a house. Here are a few that Vastu defines:
1. The Main-Gate should have two panels.
2. The main door should not open inside the house.
3. The doors in the house should not be noisy. The total number of doors, windows and ventilators in the house should be even in number for eg. 2, 4, 6 etc. but should not end with a 0 i.e. 10, 20, etc. If the front door frame is painted black, then the owner might have to face hardship.
4. If the door has cracks or is too old, then the owner will have a tough time gaining respect in society.

Q. The staircase in my house is damaged. What does Vastu Shastra say to that?

A. If the steps leading to the entrance are damaged or broken, then the master of the house will face problems with his career and his expenses will soar. The staircase should ascend clockwise. The total number of steps should be such that on division by 3, a remainder of 2 should be obtained for eg. 7, 11, 17, etc.

Q. Does Vastu contain anything that relates to the color of paint on the interior walls?

A. It certainly does, the interior is one of the biggest parts of the house. Here is what Vastu Shastra says about interiors:
1. Bright colors should not be used in the house.
2. Cold and light colors should be used for painting the house.
3. Paintings or photographs depicting war, sad faces, birds like owl, crow, pigeon, erotic pictures, etc. should not be used for decoration in the house.