Vastu - The fundamentals

Vaastushastra is an ancient Vedic Science which helps one to get the natural benefits freely offered by five basic elements of Universe. It can be applied by keeping in harmony with these basic five elements of nature namely Fire (Agni), Earth (Bhoomi), Air (Vaayu), Water (Jal), Sky (Aakash). Vaastushastra contains the study of Astrology, Astronomy, Geography, Metrology and many such Vedic Sciences. Application of Vaastushastra vary from place to place due to latitude or sun , distribution of land and water , pressure belts of wind , altitudes , mountain barriers, ocean waves , storms of various kind etc.


Our sages and seers knew the secrets of using all the five elements of Universe and their special characteristics and influences such as magnetic field, gravitational force, metrology and also all planetary forces of earth, the galaxy in the sky, the directions and velocity of the winds, light and heat of Sun. It included the effects of the ultraviolet and infrared rays of the sun, the volume and intensity of rainfall etc. This worked for the advantage of the mankind in suitably planning and constructing buildings for dwelling, prayer, education, entertainment, working, production and other purposes. They evolved scientific methods and systems over the years as Vaastushastra. Our sages searched it, we are only researching it.

(Aryabhatta propounded the theory of Heliocentric Universe a century before Copernicus and Bhaskaracharya mentioned about the gravity of earth, 1200 years before Newton.)

Shanku Sthapna

Before constructing a building, a gnome called Shanku has to be installed in the middle portion or the BrahmaSthana of the plinth area, as per Vaasthu Shastra. This is done after performing the Bhoomi Poojan.

Shanku is a piece of wood which is normally nine inches long or equal to the length of one stretched palm distance from the thumb to the little finger, which generally works out to nine inches.

This piece of wood has to be shaped geometrically. The one-third portion at the bottom will be round in shape with its diameter being two inches, the middle portion will be in the shape of a rectangle with horizontal lines measuring two inches and the top portion is octagonal in shape as shown in the sketch. The top octagonal portion symbolically represents the eight directional lords called as Ashta Dik Palakas, the middle portion is termed as Brahma and the bottom portion as Shiva. The establishment of this wood at the BrahmaSthana is said to be auspicious. It guards the owner or inmates of the house from the troubles caused by the eight directional lords.

The Shanku is usually made out of a specific type of wood. Vaasthu Shastra specifies that Shanku should be made out of wood such as teak, rose, red sandalwood, that too from an aged tree and not from a tender tree.

It is also said that the wood selected for making Shanku should not have any knots. Wood such as Banyan, Neem, Peepal, Mango, Palm and Babool are not suitable for constructing a house and hence are unsuitable for making Shanku also.

The fixing of Shanku, called as Shanku Sthapana, should be done on an auspicious day as per the dictums of astrology.

The Shanku should be placed in the BrahmaSthana of the plinth area of the building by noting down the exact centre of the building through intersection of the diagonal lines of the plot by digging this central portion to 1' x 1' x 1' for small built area in a site of 30'x40' to 60'x40'. You may dig 2'x1'x1' for bigger sites of 50'x80' and go deeper as the size of the built area increases. Upper floors are not considered for the purposes of Shanku Sthapana.

Unfortunately, Shanku Sthapana is mistaken to be unveiling of stones wherein the names of important personalities are carved at the time of inauguration of the building.

Vastu - Some basic norms

Do you want your house to be Vastu - perfect. These basic Vastu principles will help you design your house the Vastu way: The plot Shape of the plot plays a significant part in Vaastu. A quadrangular, rectangular or square plot is considered beneficial and good from all aspects. Triangular plot is inauspicious. Also, a big plot fetches prosperity, but it should not be having cleavage or cracks anywhere. A narrow plot in between two big plots is also not good If the length of the plot in east-west direction is more than that in north-south direction, it is a good feature.
Space - If your house has more open vacant space in south than in north, it will lead to destruction and downfall, be it a house or an industry, or a temple or a hut. More open space in the east than in the west is auspicious; the principle holds true for more open space in the north than in the south too. Open space should be kept all around the building. The plot having road on the east-north directions is better.
Rooms - Pooja room is always best in the north-east corner or near it. Kitchen is always auspicious and best in the south-east corner. Guest room or drawing room should be in the north or west direction. Room for the watchman or guard should be near the gate in the boundary wall on the left side. Toilet should ideally be in north-west corner. In case you've a space-crunch, it may be constructed in any direction, but the seat in the toilet should be such that when using the toilet you face towards south or north only.
Bed - While sleeping head should be in the east or south. Never sleep with feet towards south or east.
Heavy stuff - Keep your heavy and permanent items in the south-west corner of the building or plot. For a happy family life place more heavy items in the rooms south-west and south-sides. On the other hand, the lighter(weightless) items should be in the north, north-east and north-west directions. TV, radio or any other entertainment device should be placed near the south-west corner.
Water tanks - Water tanks should be on the roof in the south-west direction. Never place these in north or north-east corner. Underground water tank should be built in north-east direction only. Flow of water and its outlet in the directions other than east, north-west, north-east and north causes troubles.
Interiors - Pictures and scenes of war and battles, idols/statues of demons, pictures of pig (boar), leopard, tiger, jackal, serpent, eagle, owl, pigeon, hawk, crow, and crane are inauspicious.

Vastu - India science of construction

Vastu Shastra is a very old Indian science of Architecture. Ancient Indian sages and rishis created Vastu Shastra for the welfare of the entire humanity. Its knowledge enables us to get benefits of mental peace, health, wealth etc. and make our life happy.

This science, after propounding the rules of construction, goes to prove that by constructing properly our buildings, villages, towns, cities, shops, offices, factories and industries we can make ourselves prosperous.

From the aesthetic point of view among creation of human beings vastushastra is important and high ranked. In fact Vastushastra is most charming, amorous and pleasant and it is possessed by its permanent value and most attractive elements of human civilization.

Its importance has been explained in the Indian civilization thousand years ago. According to it before constructing our house hotel, factory, office, clinic, hospital, restaurant, inn or tample etc. We should know (go through) the five elements and do the construction accordingly so that one gets PEACE, PROSPERITY & HAPPINESS.