- The Science of Vedic Architecture and Design
Vaastu is an ancient science originating from the Vedas, proven by time and millions of people. More than a 5000 year old system of knowledge, Vaastu covers all the areas of life, including knowledge of how energy flows in form influencing how this form manifests. This knowledge allows you to arrange your living space so that energy is kept inside the house and flows in a harmonic manner. It is mainly based on knowledge of the 5 basic elements and 9 Grahas (planets).
Pancha Maha Bhutani - five great gross elements are Akasha (ether, center), Vaiyu (wind, NW), Agni (fire, SE), Apaha (water, NE) and Prithvi (earth, SW). Planning of the living or working space should be arranged taking in account these 5 elements.
It takes 260'000 years for the earth's axis to go around in a circle, it is called precession of the equinox. At this moment the offset of the axis is 23.5 degrees, the energy from the cosmos comes in through the axis which makes the main energy to flow in to any space from the northeast. Preferably this side should be kept more or less empty and maintained clean. Things related to the water element like incoming water pipes, ponds, pools and fountains should be in this area. If you have the kitchen here, which is connected with the fire element, you could compensate it by placing a fountain, water cooler etc. in this corner. Northeast is ruled by Guru (Jupiter) - knowledge, righteousness, tradition, teachers, happiness etc. Yellow is good color for north east, as its the color of Guru. If the entrance is from this side then the front of the house should have this color, you could also use white with a touch of yellow. If the entrance is from another side, you should use the color that corresponds with that direction. Northeast is a good place for meditation, placing an altar or anything sacred and important.
East is where water and fire elements cross, ruled by Surya (sun). Surya is government, boss, authorities, health, heart, head etc. Problems in this part of house may lead to problems with these areas in life. By fixing these problems in the home you can fix these areas in life. The color is saffron red and orange. The Sun is the main energy giver so an entrance or windows here are really auspicious for overall wellbeing of the people in house.
Southeast is the fire corner and is the perfect location for the kitchen, all electrical devices, heating systems, fireplace etc. The fire element also rules fiery emotions and situations, so problems here might lead to the manifestation of such things in life. Children living in this corner of the house might be more inclined towards conflicts and a rebellious attitude, so moving them to the wind corner might help in faster development or the west side of the house which may improve their discipline and therefore better studies. Brighter colors can be used for children rooms, but not too many colors as that might disfocus them. The southeast corner is ruled by Shukra (venus) which represents all the nice things, comfort, luxuries, cars, family happiness, bed pleasures etc. Problems here may lead to problems in these areas of life as well as problems with digestion because the fire element is responsible for transformation and digestion of food, information and emotions. In business, a marketing team or anything that requires a creative and sharp mind is good to place here. The colors for this direction are white, red, pink or different colors together. If the kitchen is not in this corner you can compensate by burning candles or placing a light here. The SE is also a good place for garage. You should avoid placing anything related to water here.
South is on the border of fire and earth and is ruled by Mangala (mars) - a fiery and dynamic graha. Problems here may lead to conflicts, injury, surgery etc. The colors for this direction are red and brown. Too much opening on this side of the home might cause problems. To avoid the bad influence of windows or an entrance here you can use heavy red curtains, rugs, or paint the door red.
Southwest is the earth corner. As the energy comes in from NE, goes toward the SW turns around and goes back it is important to place big and heavy things here to avoid energy from flowing out through this corner. This is the best place for big closets, books, stairs, storage room, heavier materials, bigger rugs, furniture etc. Placing a bedroom here will improve the stability of the partners sleeping here and also help to make the sleep more sound - the deep sleep state that comes after the dream state is the most important part of night when the body receives total rest and rejuvenation, this state is longer if the body is moving less during the night. The earth element is all about stability so the movements during the sleep will lessen. Sleeping here will also lead to a more stable nervous system and emotions. In the office this should be where the boss is placed. Energy travels from NE and goes back so it is a good place from where to control things. Whoever lives here tends to have control over the happenings in the house or facility, so children here might get quite demanding and controlling over their parents. South west represents ancestors and people who have already left this world but still have influence on your life and is a good place for their pictures, but don't place pictures of living people here because that may influence them in a bad way. This is a place of all the mystical problems and events in life. Darker, smoky colors - green, blue, grey should be used in this corner. It is ruled by the mystical shadow grahas Rahu and Ketu. Try not to leave this corner empty.
West is ruled by Shanaischaraya (saturn) which gives all setbacks, delays and problems in general. It is a graha of discipline, limitation and order. In the office accountants here will make less mistakes and their job will be more accurate and bring more benefits. It's also a good place for researchers and analysts. The colors are all shade of blue, but green and grey are also acceptable. It's also advisable not to leave empty this side of the house.
Northwest is the wind corner, so lighter materials and less things here. It is a good place for toilet as the wind is moving and the malefic energy will not hold long here. It is a good place for guests that wear their welcome as the wind element will make them leave sooner. It's a good place for the TV if you don't want to sit long at it, but children might be impatient in their studies here, they will want to finish faster and move on to more interesting things. In the office this is a good place for sales people or for storage of goods to be sold because they will sale faster. NW is ruled by the Chandra (moon) who represents emotions, thoughts and nervous system. To compensate this corner you can leave a window open for fresh wind to come in. To have the bedroom, kitchen or any other type of blockage of wind energy here might bring some unnecessary stress, expenditure or losses. The color for this corner is white.
North is ruled by Budha (mercury) who represents communication, speech, intellect and business. Green or grey are the colors for this direction. This side is to be kept more empty because it is the side where the energy of wealth comes in. Talks about money are good to have in this side or facing north. It is also a good place for the entrance which is like a mouth of the house.
The center of the house should be kept clean and empty if you want people living in the home to develop. It is the place of ether, the element that holds all other elements. Anything representing the fire element like the kitchen or fireplace here could cause digestion problems for all people living in the house. The centre of the home is a sacred place.
The same system can be applied to your office or desk, outgoing documents and invoices to be paid are better in wind corner as they will be paid faster. Court cases shouldn't be in fire corner SE, because that would be like extra oil in the fire. Incoming documents should be place in the NE where they can absorb more incoming energy, also finance department and meeting rooms are good in this corner. Laws, long-term contracts, rules etc. should be placed in the SW earth corner to allow them to be more stable and effective.
There are more serious and specific compensation mechanism like Yantras - energy similar to corresponding directions in the form of metal plates with specific drawings on them placed in problematic parts of the home. This remedy requires a deeper analysis of the plan of the house which can be done during Vaastu consultation.
Other problems that can exist in the house include - not having a corner or side, having an appendix in inauspicious direction, having or not having windows, too big or heavy furniture or machinery in wrong parts of the building etc.
As the positive energy mainly comes from N, NE and E it is good to work, eat and meditate facing these directions.
There are also guidelines for health in Vaastu, for example if you have problems with inflammation, ulcers, gastritis, skin rushes, anger, high blood pressure and other fire related diseases you shouldn't spend too much time in the SE, especially sleeping as we are influenced the most by things we do more often and for longer periods of time. When we sleep we spend the most amount of time in one place and in one position so it influences us quite strong. That's why the bedroom is the most important place after the kitchen - our diet (we are what we eat). |