Some Facts Of Vastu

IS VASTU A SCIENCE OR DOGMA?

Some people say that they do not believe in Vastu and hence they do not follow it. It does mean that they do not know what Vastu is and how helpful it is.

WHAT DOES VASTU MEAN?

Vastu means a livable place or the materials. Earth is source for all the materials including the materials for construction of a house such as timber, stone, sand, metals etc., And also vastu deals with chariots, vehicles, boats, cots, chairs, tables,cupboards and the like. The vastu sastra tells how these are to be made in what shapes and in what measurements. Vastu sastra includes Civil Engineering, Architecture, Arts and Crafts. A plan is needed prior to construction of a house. The Vastu sastra tells which should be where in the plan. When that is the case, no body can say that vastu is Dogma.It is meaningless to say that one doesn't follow vastu, may be in a different name the principles are followed.

IF VASTU IS A SCIENCE, HOW DIFFERENT ADVISES ARE COMING FORTH FROM DIFFERENT PUNDITS? AND IN SOME CASES CONTRADICTING?

For every science some standard books are there. So is the case with vastu. The fundamental principles of vastu are the same. However some pundits of the recent days with half-read or un-read knowledge are publicising their own writings as vastu sastra and creating confusion among the people.

WHICH ARE THE AUTHENTIC BOOKS?

Manasaram, Viswa karma prakasika, Brihat samhita, Samaranga sutradharam, Aparajita purtcha vastu vidya, Silpa ratna, Maya vastu, Viswa karma vastu etc., are the standard works on vastu.

ARE THERE COLLEGES THAT TEACH VAST SASTRA? 

Telugu University of Hyderabad has courses on vastu such as Post graduate course on Jyothirvastu, Certificate Diploma courses in Astrology, Vastu course in M.A. Telugu University, basing on the standard works have published their text books and lessons for their students.

WHAT IS THE USE WITH VASTU? 

The influence of five elements, Earth, Water, Air, Light and Space, is great on human life. Similarly they are equally important in house construction. The vastu sastra tells the criteria in selecting a plot of land, the comforts and connivances to be incorporated in the plan and what care to be taken and what should be avoided for comfortable and peaceful living. The shape of the plot, the nature of the soil, influence of environs, flow direction of water, area of the house, construction of rooms for healthy and peaceful living, fixing up the four directions to the house, the beauty of the house as well the retention of the beauty of the houses in the row, the main entrance, main gate of the compound wall etc., are the important factors that are guided by vastu principles. It also says the favourable directions of the house for different people.

IS IT CORRECT THAT PLOTS WITH SOUTH AND WEST ROADS ARE NOT GOOD? 

In any village or town roads and houses will be there in all four directions. All are good. No standard work on vastu did say that south and west roads to a plot are bad. The pseudo vast pundits created that myth. Even with common sense that village or town will have beauty when houses are there in all the four directions. The standard works say as to how a house is to be built according to its directions. In this science directions and corners have great importance and if they are wanted it is called `DIGMOODHAM' and is a `DOSHA' a defect.

WHAT IS DIGMOODHAM - HOW A PLOT WILL BE LACKING DIRECTION? 

If we see with compass from the middle of a plot of land, four directions shall be to the four sides of the plot. The roads should not run to the four corner directions (Eesanyam- North-East, Aagneyam -South-East, Neiruti - South - West, Vayuvyam North-West). If roads run through corner directions the four directions south, north, east, west will be towards the corners of the plot. The plot of the land shall be square or rectangle and it should not be triangular, circular and other such odd shapes. If the corners of the plot extends it is bad.

IS IT CORRECT THE SAYING THAT EXTENDING OF NORTH-EAST IS ADVANTAGEOUS? 

It is wrong to say that extending corner of North-East is good. This is also a creation of pseudo vastu pundits. If North-East extends the plot will be out of shape. What is told is that North-East extending by the size of a blackgram is auspicious. No corner should extend to make the plot out of shape.

SHOULD WE CONSTRUCT A HOUSE IN A PLOT WITH EXTENDED CORNERS? 

No. It should not be constructed. If the plot is extended in corners such part of the plot shall be left out so as to make the plot square or rectangle before constructing a house. Such leftout areas shall be separate from the main house and they may be used for developing gardens, servant quarters or car garages.

IF THE ROADS RUN ON THE CORNER DIRECTIONS OF THE PLOT, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? 

If the row beauty of the houses in the road are maintained it looks nice. In these plots East, West, South, North directions will be to the corners of the plot. In such cases while maintaining the row beauty the main entrance (Simhadwara) shall be ensured facing to any one of the directions, but shall not face to a corner direction (north-east, south-east, south-west, north-west). Ensuring the main entrance to any one of the directions, plan should be prepared in 'L' shape. Two such L shaped houses or one L shaped house shall be constructed. In plots, where roads run along the corner directions, it is difficult to divide the plot as per the Vastu Padas.