Vastu Shilpa Shastra is a blend of science, art, astronomy and astrology, it can also be said
as an ancient mystic science for designing and building. Vastushastra is an ancient Indian
science. Basic theme of this discipline is
architectural techniques and
construction science. But, its actual
scope is very wide. It covers every
facet of life in this universe. Concepts
from Yogashastra, Astrology, Science,
Mathematics, and host of other
disciplines have been beutifully
integrated into the science of Vastu
vastumandala
Vaastu means : a surrounding, environment, matter or nature, (Prakriti
in Sanskrit Purush means : energy, work power, vigour or soul, (Shakti in Sanskrit).
Mandal means : the astrological chart-which relates the layout to the orientation.
The principles of orientation of building, is intimately related
Vaastu-Purush-Mandal, the metaphysical plan of Vedic building, a
temple or a site plan of a house. It is the intellectual foundation of the
building. The surface of earth in traditional Indian Cosmology is
regarded as denarcated by sunrise and sunset, by East and West, and
also by North and South points, and is represented by a diagram or
mandal of a square. Vaastu Purush and Mandal are equally important
and significant. The Vaastu Purush Mandal is a
sqaure which is its essential form and it takes its symbolism and
signficance from the square mandal of the earth and of the ecliptic and
is therefore symbolical of recurrent cycles of time.
The sceince of architecture is a part of the science of luminaries. The
Vaastu had come to the place of adjustment of solar and lunar cycles.
The number 32 of the divinites residing in the squares of the border of
the Vaastumandal is also the sum of 4 and 28,the number of regents of
the four planets who rule the equinotical and solistical points referred to
the cardinal points and of regents of 28 nakshatras (constellation). Each
of the divisions in the mandal is called a pad and has a presiding diety
asscoiated
with it. The name Vaastu derived from Vastu (Matter) a really existing thing,
signifies residence as well as residue.
The Vaastu Vidhaana (VIII-26-32) of Narad says that the Vaastu Purush
Mandal is the magic diagram (yantra) and the form (roop) of the
Vaastpurush. It is the body (sharir) and a bodily device (sharir yantra)
by which those who have requisite knowledge attain the best results in
the temple building.
In Purush, the celestial man, the supreme principle is seen. Beyond form
nd non-contingent, it is beyond description. It is known by intellectual
intuition as residing in man, the microcosm ans in Universe, the
macrocosm. Man and Universe are equivalent in this,their indwelleing
centre, of thid equivalence the Purush is an image. Any place where this
body lies down, where this plan is laid out by those who know it,
exemplifies the presence of the Purush and its Bhoomi (Prakriti), the
ground on which it rests.
The image of Vaastu Purush, one with mandal is drawn in the likeness of
man. His head lies in the North-East in the mandal of 64 squares, the
legs in the South-West, right hand in North-West, left hand in
South-East and other parts of the bodyfill the square.
Forty Five Gods or dieties are constituent of the body of Vaastupurush,
their number necessarily is the same in the mandal of 64,81 or any other
number. Only the extent alloted to each of the diety differs but not their
relative position in the plan.
The lord of central square is always the Lord of cosmos:Brahma and is
attributed to the lord of wealth (Kuber), South to the lord of death
(Yam), the East to the lord of light (Sun), the West to the lord of winds
(Varun), suggestting that there be a courtyard in the center of the
building.
When these are scrupulously followed proper ventillation and good
disposition to Sun and privacy is ensured. The house is
compared with the human body and the central courtyard with Brahma,
the eternal soul and their relationship is invoked when the grihpravesh
ceremony is performed with Vaastupuja and other traditional rituals.
This is the cosmological or metaphysical background on which the most
fundamental doctrine of Vaastu-purush-mandal rests, and when Vaastu,
Purush, and Mandal are brought together in a balanced manner the
solution unquestionly relates to the place and the life style of the
persons concerned ensuring certain minimum standards.
Vaastu for Flats
Construction of flats as per Vaastu is not that simple.
The number of flats in one complex, common walls for adjacent flats, complicated.
Nevertheless, if one follows meticulously the principles of vaastu in selection
of the plot and construction of building, satisfactory
results could be obtained in majority of cases.
The principles given below should
be followed strictly so as to give maximum benefit to the flat owners.
The site should be a good square or a rectangle if possible with south-west corner equal to 90
degree.
North, east or north-east roads would do more good with two gates, one in the east and the
other in
the north. Besides the north-east, south-west or north-west blocks are also good.
Ground levels should be sloping towards North-east, and the levels in south-west, should be
higher
than all other sides.
An open well or a borewell should essentially be dug in north-east, before the construction
takes
place.
While designing the complex, more open space should be left in the east and north compared to
west
and south.
Balconies towards north, east and north-east are advisable and better not to keep balconies in
south
and west in general.
Kitchen is advisable in south-east, or north-west and never in north-east.
Pent houses should be planned in south-west on the terrace.
Staircases have to be in south, west or south-west and to be avoided in north-east, because head
room of the stair case, higher than south west is not acceptable.
Main entrance into the flat could be from east, north, south, north-east, west and north-west.
No wells or borewells should be dug in south-east, north-west or south-west.
Cellar should be kept under the northern or eastern portion of the complex, and not in southern
or
western side.
North-east cellar to be used for parking of vehicles; better if they are not heavy trucks.
Open area in north-south should be used for lawns, borewells and sumps.
Open area in north-east can also be used for on and off parking
Vaastu for industries
For industries too, the selection of site is very important. Besides the fact
that sufficient water and electricity should be available, the vaastu of the plot, plot such as the
shape of the
plot, the roads facing the plots
and the ground levels inside and outside the site are very important points that
are to be observed.
The various principles of Vaastu which aid in setting up an
industry are as follows.
main roads towards east, north or north-east are advisable with wide gates on two sides.
Gates in north-east or east or north or north-west are recommended
Guard room should be either on north-west side of north gate of southeast side of east-gate.
Minimum space should be kept in south and west where big trees could be grown. More open
space
should be left in north and east where lawns and other greenery can be grown.
The floor levels in south-west must be higher than other sides and height of the building also
must be
higher than all the other corners. Care has to be taken to have the store rooms in south-west
fully
loaded with stocks to the extent possible As and when the stocks are consumed they should be
replaced immediately.
Car parking may be provided in north-west if open area is available. For light vehicles north
east
also could be used.
Administrative Officers are to be located either in north or east, away from boundary walls with
less
height than the main factory. Here special care has to be taken in keeping north east corner
open.
Staff quarters may be constructed in south-east and north-west. If quarters are multi-storeyed
and if
the height is more than that of main factory, they should be constructed in south-west without
touching
the main premises.
Toilets should be placed in north-west or south-eastern part of the buildings, and not in northeast or
south-west.
Wells, bore wells, water sumps and water ponds etc. should be in the north-eastern area.
Over head tanks may be errected in west and nearby, duly maintaining the heights. South-west
and
north-east sides including north and east should be avoided, for constructing overhead tanks.
This is
a bit controversial subject and hence one should be very careful in locating the overhead tanks
and
also the water tanks above the ground level.
Heavy machinery has to be installed in south, west or south-west in the factory.
Raw materials storage, whether inside factory or sheds outside, should be in south or west or
south-west.
Products under process or unfinished goods may be kept in west direction.
Finished products are to be kept in the north-west corner. It will help for quick movement of the
stocks.
Weighing machine may be located near the gate either in north or east because that area is not
subjected to permanent weight.
Transformers, generators, motors, boilers, furnaces, oil engines should be kept in south-east or
close
to south-east.
Limitation of Vaastu
Many examples could be cited to show that Vaastu, if
followed in constructing one house, office or business place, one could be happy
and prosperous. A question arises whether one can achieve every thing in life by
simply living in a house built as per vaastu. The answer is because Vaastu has
its own limitations. Just because one has a house as per Vaastu, one can not
become a top celebrity. Nevertheless, if plot is good as per Vaastu and house is
also built according to the shastra, one may achieve many of the following:
One may have health and happiness.
Children may come up in life.
One may succeed in
getting good promotions, if in service.
One may make good money, if in business.
One may attain position and power, if in politics.
one may get the benefits as enumerated above, as per the degree of perfection in
following Vaastu. If one can satisfy 70 to 75 % of Vaastu, he should be very
happy. it is interesting to note that some fortunate people have been living in
good houses built as per vaastu, without knowing even elementary principles of
the subject.
Construction of a house or a work place following Vaastu principles
cent percent is not possible, because of the levels in and around the plot, shape
of the plot, number of roads and direction of the roads abutting the plot, hence
one has to work with the available plot and construct the house or office to suit
one s requirements under the given circumstances to provide maximum benefit to
the inmates of the house. An Architect bestowed with the knowledge of vaastu
designs the building, striking a balance between the two depending upon the
importance of one or the other as the case may be . Considering this practical
aspect, the title of the book is chosen as A GLIMPSE OF PRACTICAL VAASTU.
Shopping arcades and commercial complexes:
If the site selected is as per Vaastu, it is fine. Otherwise the very site must
be corrected prior to the starting of construction in such a way that there is a
reasonable projection of north-east corner. This will be very handy to make all
the shops a bit projecting towards north-east. Such commercial complexes which
satisfy other vaastu principles also will become popular and would make good
profits. Commercial complexes of shopping arcades have to be designed with lot of
open area for car parking. If the parking is in cellar, the building can be
designed with little more open area in north and east than south and west to
satisfy Vaastu.
If there is no cellar for parking, lot of area should be kept open in north and
east for car parking and for green patches. If the plot is facing west o r south
and more open area is left in south or west for car parking the owner will run
into financial difficulties. In such cases where the plots are facing south or
west, it is better shopping complex is built on to the road with minimum open
space in south or west. The complex should not be built covering the plot upto
the north or east boundary. Instead more open area in the rear i.e.. in north and
east should be left, where car parking, lawns, fountains etc., should be
designed. Sumps and bore wells have to be planned in north and east.
Drinking
water in shops has to be kept in north-east.
Show cases have to be avoided in
north-east direction; better in south and west.
Lathe machines are to be
installed in south or south-west directions, if some shop is used as a work shop.
Stocks are to be stored in west, south or south-west and south side portions of
shops. Better to have
lofts and low roofs towards south and west directions,
within the shops.
North-east corner is to be kept will all the sanctity, within
the shop. In this corner a water tap or a small puja place could be designed.
North-east corner should never be used even for a day, for storing any kind of
materials.
Hotel complex
After the site is selected, taking into consideration,
levels, roads and angles etc., one has to plan the open spaces for lawns and car
parking. While cellar could be designed for car parking, for
kitchen stores and
for servant stay etc., the ground floor could be used for reception,
and restaurant. As the area required for kitchen has to be sufficiently big, with
light and ventilation, it is better that kitchen is planned on ground floor
earmarking complete south-east portion for ovens, grinders and vegetable cutting
etc.
On first floor they could plan conference halls, and more restaurant area if
necessary and the upper floors could be used for rooms. Care has to be taken that
the balconies are provided in east or north. The toilets should be avoided in
north-east side of the rooms. Store rooms with huge stocks should be in south or
west, or south-west.
Air-conditioning Plant: A.C. equipment is to be kept in
south-east of the complex and there from it is to be operated. It should never be
installed in north-east under any circumstances.
Electrical Generators and
Transformers: These are to be installed in south-east direction.
Wash Basins: It
is not advisable to keep wash basins in the centre of halls even for convenience
sake. Wash basins are to be arranged in north or east or north-east of halls.
Main Entrances of Restaurants: It is better to have main entrance in east or
north or north-east directions. If it is to be kept in west direction, it should
be towards north-west but not in south- west under any circumstances. If it is
forced to keep main entrance in south, it advisable to keep it in south-east
rather than south -west.
Mezzanine Floor: Mezzanine floor in any hall have to be
provided along west or south walls.
Cash Counter and Reception: These may be
provided in south-west with elevated platforms but if it is provided in
north-west or other places the floor level should not be higher than south-west.
Water Bodies: Swimming pools, water ponds, fountains, borewells, and sumps etc.;
have to be planned in north or east and north east.
Veedhi Shoola
(Spearing road)
Roads or lanes running right into the plot from different directions cause Veedhi
Shoola(spearing road). These Vaastu defects are of eight types. In the diagram,
they are shown in certain forms, but actually, the plot-road formation could be
different from what is shown. The effect could be in varying degrees depending
upon the size and direction of the spearing road. Veedhi shoola is generally
considered to be bad. There are, however a few exceptions nos.,
(1) and (2) Veedhi shoolas in north-east are good whether it is coming from north of east
direction; (see the diagram) whereas the north-west road coming from the north
direction i.e., no.
(7) is good and not the one from the north direction i.e.,
no,
(8), The other four Veedhi Shoolas nos.
(3) and (4) from south-east; nos.
(5)
and (6) from south-west are considered bad, with an exception for no.(4).
All the eight Veedhishoolas are shown in one plot only to make the readers understand
all the types but in reality such a situation does not arise; even if it happens
there will be only one or two veedhi shoolas. Hence readers need not get scared
looking at the diagram. While searching for a plot, if one comes across such a
situation, he should take the advice of a vaastu expert so as to avoid
complications at a later date. Veedhi Shoola on to the plot and building from a
wrong direction would give more negative results.
Lesson 1
A. Introduction
B. Basic Principles
A. Introduction
In 1998 and 1999 I traveled to Madras, India, to study the principles of Vastu Science as
applied to
Architecture. Through my work and research, I had become aware of this tradition of sacred
Architecture which
employed basic principles of the laws of nature to promote the health and happiness of the
people who lived
these special buildings. In previous years, I had been commissioned to design two buildings
that conformed to
what my clients called "Sthapatya Vedic" Architecture. They requested that I work directly
under the guidance
of a designer in Europe. I was directed by this designer to create a floor plan and elevation
following certain
basic principles of room placement and then send it to him for review. The process of design
and review went
on for several weeks until we had arrived at a building that conformed to the room placements
and included
very precise, if odd, numbered dimensions for the plan and elevations. I was instructed to insist
that the
dimensions be held with integrity as the building was erected, down to the 1/8th of an inch. I
was very
interested in understanding the principles of design and the philosophy behind the design and I
requested
more information from the Sthapatya Vedic expert. To my great disappointment, he
communicated to me that
he wasn¹t at liberty to convey the information that I wanted.
I began a search for information about Sthapatya Vedic Architecture. I found that there were
several volumes of
ancient Indian literature, as well as modern, dedicated to the subject. When I surveyed the
books I found them
quite confusing. I realized that I needed to find a teacher. I attended a weekend seminar on the
subject given by
a designer from India, but again, the actual nuts and bolts information was not made available.
Finally, I found
an architect in India who was supposed to be an expert of the tradition of knowledge. I had
attended a
performance of Indian sacred dance one evening and in the introduction to the performance the
dancer told us
that she had danced at a conference on Sthapatya Vedic Architecture in Southern India. After
the performance,
I asked the dancer if she could recommend me to an expert architect in the tradition. She
eagerly gave me the
name of Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati of Madras, India. I called the Sthapati (meaning: expert
sculptor and building
designer) the next day and he told me that he was building a temple in the Midwest and would
be visiting the
site within a week. I made arrangements to meet with him when he came to the USA.
Ganapati Sthapati
Ganapati Sthapati was born in 1927 into a family whose ancestors built the great temple at
Tanjore in the 10th
century. He learned his craft from his father and uncle. Starting out as a sculptor¹s apprentice,
growing to
become a master sculptor and a temple designer. He spent 27 years as head of the Government
College of
Architecture and Sculpture in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. He is responsible for India¹s
significant resurgence
in the ancient art of stone carving. After his retirement in 1988, he continued building temples
and founded the
Vastu Vedic Research Foundation to explore the ancient origins of temple craftsmen.
V. Ganapati Sthapati
As I was ushered into meet Sthapati I noticed that the Indian
workers that were building the temple treated the man with
utmost respect. Our interview lasted about one hour. I showed
him my house designs and he chuckled as he critiqued them.
He said that architecture was frozen music and that a building
could be an expression of pleasant and powerful harmonies.
He made sketches on my drawings, mentioning something
called a "Vastu Purusha Mandala". He spoke of the
possibility of a building being a coherence generator, tuning
the occupants to the laws of the universe and increasing
health, wealth and spiritual well being.
He said that a building was a living organism, like the human nervous system, and could be
designed in
"harmonic resonance" with the basic underlying energy structure of the universe. But more than
his words, his
presence, his confidence, his enthusiasm and love of his art, told me that he was a man who
lived his Truth. At
the end of our meeting I asked him if I could come to India and study with him, he seemed a bit
surprised
actually, but he welcomed me to come.
Historic Context
Ganapati Sthapati holds that the historical figure, Mayan, an architect and town planner of
ancient India was the
source of "Vastu Science". He was the author of Mayamata Vastu Shastra (a treatise on
building and
architecture) and also Surya Siddhanta (a treatise on Astronomy). These works are still alive
and being used
by scholars and practitioners all over India.
Sthapati told me that Mayan was adored as "Viswakarma" by Veda Vyasa in his Mahabharata
(one of India¹s
most renowned scriptures), implying thereby that Mayan was aware of the dynamics of SPACE
and was able
to apply the space-mechanics to his own creations and transform them into little universes on
the Earth.
Whatever he was able to create in visual terms, be it a sculpture, building or a town or city
layout, they behaved
like living organisms and pulsated with life. He was a great scientist of India who identified and
quantified the
vibrancy of the space enveloping the Earth and the heavenly bodies and also dwelling in each
of the objects of
nature.
Vastu Purusha Mandala
The plan of the layout of a temple or a residential building is technically called Vastu Purusha
Mandala with a
grid of 8 x 8 = 64 spaces or 9 x 9 = 81 spaces of equal dimensions. In modern architectural
terminology this
can be addressed as an energy grid. These layouts are squares, two dimensionally, and cubes,
tridimensionally. Those two layouts are the geometrical formulae for the shilpi (sculptor or
architect) to replicate
the subtle substance of the universe into visual material form. This is the formula handled by
God Viswarkarma,
the creator of the universe, to turn his own thoughts into material forms. This formula is
couched in a simplistic
saying: ŒVastu reva Vaastu¹ meaning Œit is subtle that turns into gross¹. Here Vastu is subtle
energy and
Vaastu is embodied energy. This was discovered and put into the Vaastu texts by Mayan.
In Sthapati¹s words: "What is amazing to be remembered in this context is that they (forms
produced by the
application of Vaastu Science) are the forms (geometrical patterns) of the Spirit, reproduced in
its own
time-scale. They are the replicas of the subtle forms experienced at heart. They are living
organisms that
resonate with the Supreme Reality."
There are many factors at work in the creation of a building aligned with principles of Vastu
Science. There are
ancient texts with thousands of pages that dictate in detail the design necessities of buildings in
general as
well as specifics. For example in one text, the Mayamata, some of the chapter headings are as
follows:
Dwelling sites, Examination of the Site, Taking possession of the Site, System of
measurements, Orientation,
Offerings, Towns, Number of Stories and the Dimensions, The Foundation Deposit, The Base,
Dimensions of
Pillars and Choice of Materials, Entablature, Joinery.
My experience was that to digest, assimilate and apply the information in these texts was a
discouraging
chore. I began studies with Ganapati Sthapati hoping that he would act as and interpreter and
filter of the
knowledge for me and this he did. I came away from my studies with a balanced and applicable
body of
knowledge.
B. Basic Principles
The design regime for the Vastu architect follows specific parameters:
1.Orientation and siting considerations
2.Building Layout with regard to a grid called "Vastu Purusha Mandala"
3.Dimensioning with regard to the client¹s birth time
4.Exterior door locations
5.Brahmastan
6.Room Placement
7.Height
ŒVaastu Purusha
The selection of a building site is a very important factor in Vastu Architecture. The Earth is
considered a living
organism in Vastu Science. Sthapati says, "The Vastu Shastras address this energy contained in
the Earth as
ŒVaastu Purusha¹. Purusha means subtle energy that permeates the Earth and ŒVaastu¹ is the
material
body that evolved out of the energy... In abstraction, ŒPurusha Œ is but a subtle substance:
ŒVastu¹ (or
essence of the subtle universe) which means Œuniversal consciousness¹ or Œawareness¹. Earth
is...a live
material object suspended in (a sea) of space and existing as apart ... of the Universal Being. "
Site Slope
The general slope the site is very important. Sloping down to the East, North East or North is
considered to be
beneficial with the opposite having negative effects for the occupants of the structure. From my
research, this
seems to have something to do with the flow of water over and under the site. Also, the position
of water on the
site or in relationship to the site is considered: Northeast being the best location for a body of
water. Fencing a
plot with acceptable proportions is also important. It is because when vast land is limited by
boundary lines it
takes a form. That is, formless takes a form.
Energy Grid
Of utmost importance is the orientation of the structure with respect to the cardinal points of the
compass.
According to Vastu Science, a network of energy lines covers the globe of the Earth: an energy
grid. These
lines are very similar to what we know as the longitude and latitude lines. The lines are
conduits by which the
energy concentrated at the center of the vital Earth flows out and spreads over the Earth. They
are also lines of
absorption of solar, lunar and stellar energies. The Earth pulsates with life and rays its energy
through this grid
system. Vastu Science relates that all planets are suspended or soaked in the ocean of space,
which is the
source of energy that sustains all embodied energies including man and other animate beings
that live on the
Earth.
The concept of the energy grid has been the ruling element of Vastu science in the domain of
traditional
designs pertaining to Indian architecture. The building plan is laid out with respect to an energy
grid called the
"Vastu Purusha Mandala". One typical grid is 9 x 9, but there are many other traditional grid
forms consisting of
odd and even numbers. This grid can be made of squares or rectangles. When the grid plan of
the structure is
oriented to the cardinal points of the compass it is said to lie exactly over the earthly energy
grid. (Establishing
of the building grid in exact relationship to the cardinal points of the compass applies to
temples. For secular
structures it is best to rotate the structure about one degree to the north of true East.) Once the
designer
establishes the grid, he can lay out the walls and pillars of the building on this pattern. Sthapati
says, "This
establishes a kind of geometric congruency or harmony with the earthly grid. If the structure¹s
grid is in harmony
with the Earth¹s grid, then the built space and the Earth respond harmoniously energetically. If
there is any
distortion, deviation or deflection in the grid lines of the proposed building grid and that of the
Earth¹s grid, then
the built space is said to be in disharmony with the Earth¹s energy grid system." Vastu science
holds that we
are wedded to the Earth and constantly exposed to the energy fuming out of it. To be in
harmony with this
energy is the goal. Again Sthapati: "Just as we, human beings, harbor in our heart an atom of
Divine energy by
which we are able to vibrate with life...the Earth also vibrates from within sending forth energy
waves." The
Vastu designer brings about harmony between the vibrations by implementing particular a
mathematical order
called Ayadi.
Ayadi
The knowledge of Ayadi is used by the designer to determine the effects of the physical
structure on the
individual. The homeowner is born under the influence of a particular birth star. The building is
considered to be
a living being and also has a birth star. Ayadi calculations attempt to harmonize the energies
created by the
influence of the birth star of the person and that of the building. When these energies are
harmonized the
dweller experiences material prosperity and spiritual well being. Ayadi is also said to be able to
effect the fate
of the individual.
Courtyard of a vastu residence, Tamil Nadu, India
The Brahmastan
Another significant element in a Vastu residence is the
Brahamastan or central courtyard. In a grid of 9 x 9 it is the
center nine units. It is the energy heart of the house. It is the lung
of the house. This part of the house should always be left open
and free of obstructing elements (pillars or walls) and
mechanical services. It is best if this portion, at least, is directly
in contact with the Earth. It is traditional, where climate permits,
to leave the Brahmastan open to the sky so that the energetic
space surrounding the Earth is attracted into the house.
This provides the inmates of the house with beneficial spiritual energy. When there is a roof
over the
Brahmastan then there should be a natural light source, a skylight or cupola with windows, at
the roof. Also, if
possible, a small vertical passage can be provided at the apex of the center. Room location in
the building is
an important factor in Vaastu architecture The location of a particular room defined by function
is determined
by respecting the particular element that rules that area of the building.
Practical Design Matrix
All these principles (and more) taken together give the architect a design matrix for creating
buildings that live
and vibrate harmoniously with universal energies. I have found them easy and pleasing to use. I
am convinced
that this information is worth study and application by anyone interested in understanding the
significance and
full potential of sheltering the human nervous system.
Legend has it that a gigantic demon, Vastu Purusha, arose from a drop of Shiva's sweat and ravaged the
world. In their desperation, the gods got together and collectively pinned him down thus
saving the world
and bringing about order where there was disorder. Each of the gods was assigned a
specific seat or
pada, with Brahma occupying the centre and 32 deities placed in the peripheral squares
according to
their importance. The Mandala is a cosmic diagram of the subjugated Purusha and shows
him with his
head towards the north-east and his feet towards the south-west.
The legend of the demon Vastu Purusha and his eventual
subjugation by various gods was a beautifully laid out
metaphor to illustrate how one should plan a house. The
Mandala, like the one at left, usually comprised 81
squares, though the number could as well have been 64.
Not surprisingly, the positions of the different gods in the Mandala are the basis for related
activities in the
house. For example, sinceAgni, the god of fire inhabits the south-east corner, that is
considered the ideal
place to have a kitchen. Brahma, the supreme being who inhabits the large central square,
is also
representative of the dimension above ground level. This portion is therefore left open to
sky as a
courtyard - a very practical way of ensuring adequate light and ventilation within the
dwelling. The courtyard
in general, is almost always cool and shaded, so becoming the focus of all household
activity.
The number of squares in the Mandala follow a geometric
progression of 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81,... This goes
on till 1024 (which is, incidentally, the square of 32 and
used for town-planning). The usual numbers for
residential structures are 64, or the more popular, 81.
The Mandala provided a useful grid for the Sthapati to assign specific locations to different
rooms and
also helped him in determining their relative proportions. The measurements were made in
anthropomorphic units like angula (finger) or hasta (hand); a system that is slightly out of
place when the
materials we buy today are quantified in inches or centimetres.
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Vaastu should be followed for :
Site selection - shape, location, slopes, orientation of the site.
Layout of the building as per site.
Location, direction, sizes, shapes of various elements, e.g. furniture of a room etc.
Placing, direction, sizes, shapes of toilets, kitchen, water sources and septic tanks.
Proportions, sizes, shapes, and numbers of doors, windows and other openings, specially main
entrance.
Position, number, sizes of columns.
Area of the various elements of planning.
Case Study -The Taj
Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. It is built as per basic principles of
Vastu Shastri.
Wife of Akbar and mother of Jahangir was from Hindu family. Daughter of Udia Singh of
Marwar in
Rajsthan was married to Jahangir and she was mother of Shah Jahan. Hindu factor
influenced the
construction of Taj Mahal. Location of Taj Mahal is ideal as per Vastu. Slope of land is in
the East i.e.
the East is lower than the West. Yamuna is in the North of the Building and is flowing
towards the East
which is very good. Height of building is equal to the width and width is equal to its length.
The floor of
Taj Mahal is square. The building is of octagonal shape. Three shapes - square, octagonal
and circle
represent the holy trinity in ancient architecture of Hindus. Square is symbol of birth,
octagonal of
preservation and circle of death. Building is set to the compass. Symmetries have been built
on four
directions. Gate in the North is lower than the gate on the South. Gate on the West and the
East are
identical
Jagannatha Puri Temple
Once the garbhadhana and
agni-hotra ceremonies are
complete the actual construction
of the temple takes place
according to the previous
preparations. When the
foundation is finished the
vertical structure is raised and
the body of the Cosmic Being
becomes visible to the naked
eye. The external features of the
temple are brought to life
through finely sculpted figures and paintings. The art and sculpture
frequently portray the forms of divine entities and the different stages
of consciousness in the gradual evolution of life throughout the
universe. This is no less exacting a science than that of the architect or
of the brahmin priest. Muthai Sthapati, an instructor at the Goverment
College Architecture, pointed out that it is often the work of the master
artisan, through painting and sculpture, that most enables one to
perceive the actual sacredness of the temple.
The prakaras or walls that fortify the temple may vary in size and
number according to the dimensions of the temple. Larger temples, like
the one in Sri Rangam, are sometimes surrounded by up to seven
concentric walls which represent the seven layers of matter-earth,
water, fire, air, either, mind and intelligence-that cover the original
consciousness of the living entities in the material world. The
gopurams, or gateways through the prakaras, are symbolic of being
liberated from the bondage of matter as one enters the temple and
proceeds toward the central shrine.
http://www.templearch.com/p1.htm
http://maxpages.com/vaastu/Vaastu_solutions
http://www.green-architecture.com/vastuved-more.htm
http://members.tripod.com/square_peg/vastu/mk_t_mst.html
http://www.archriti.com/vaastu/mchart.htm
http://www.geocities.com/sriravindra/
http://maxpages.com/vaastu/Mandala
http://www.astrovisiononline.com/astrovisiononline/vastushastra/vastusastra.php
http://www.destinymasters.com/vintext.htm
http://www.wynvel.com/index_2.htm
http://www.vastushastri.com/taj.htm
http://www.destinationrajasthan.com/my-notes/passions.html
http://publish.bsu.edu/perera/capasia/Jaipur01.html