"This science deals with the eternal process of the subtle energy manifesting into material space or material form. In short, it is the science of manifestation of energy into matter or material form."
-Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati
Chapter 1
What is Vedic Architecture
I welcome you to the ancient world of Vedic Architecture. You are here because either you are drawn to this mystical science and want to know more about it or you are planning to build for yourself a home or a place of work that is designed using the principals of sacred geometry. Whatever may be the reason, you are in the right place. I congratulate you for picking up this book for yourself. You have been drawn to the magical world of Vedic Architecture because you are meant to learn and implement this beautiful science. And I am going to try my best to make sure that you can begin to understand the ancient principals of Vedic Architecture. Before we go there, we must first understand the workings of the laws of nature. Yes, Vedic Architecture is governed by the laws of Nature. And in-order to understand the laws of nature we need to understand the working of the Universe.
Vedic Culture
Let us travel back a few thousand years to ancient India. The ancient Indians revered and worshipped nature. They followed a lifestyle based on the knowledge of the four Vedas and therefore this culture is known today as Vedic culture. This was a period of great invention and research done by the ancient Rishis of India. Several research projects of vast proportions were carried out by generations of Rishis. A Rishi is a scholar who is well versed in the workings of the Ritu or our environment. Out of the
several research projects that we use to this day include Yogasutras, Ayurveda, Astrology, Astronomy, Mathematics and of course Vaastushastra.
For instance, the Yogasutras of Patanjali teach us to live a balanced life and is a complete work for the study and practice of Yoga. Ayurveda is the branch of medicine that addresses the cause of a disease at the root level of the mind and the body and then goes on to dissolve the very cause of the disease through various tratment modalities. The works of ancient Atronomy is truly astounding. Before the western world became familiar with the concept of a round earth, the ancient scientists of India have written treatises that describe the planetary systems in great details in Surya Siddhanta. The Vedic culture was in sync with nature and the research work of this period is a testimony to this fact.
Five Elements of Nature
The Rishis had a deep understanding of the workings of our Universe. One of the most ground breaking findings is the discovery of the Five elements of Nature. The ancient Rishis believed that everything in existence comprises of the five elements of nature. These five elements exist in all living and non-living things from an atom to the cluster of galaxies and everything is made up of the five elements of nature in different proportions. These five elements of nature are Water, Fire, Earth, Air and Akaash. They are seemingly of opposite nature and charactiristics with each other. Fire and Water are obviously opposites. Fire purifies and Water nourishes and expands life, but too much water will douse a raging fire. And when Fire and Water conbine the combination becomes a potent force of nature and can be harnessed into the mechanical force of a steam engine. Air is powerful and mobile and Earth is solid and stable. The source of Water, Fire, Air and Earth is Aaakash from whence everything is born. Akaash is therefore the most powerful of the five elements of nature. The five elements are opposite in nature and yet when they combine into an atom they gather unique characteristics of their own that are very different from every other atom. No two drops of water and no two snowflakes are the same. Every leaf is different from every other leaf and every human is different from every other human being. Just this thought that though everything is comprised of the same ingredients and is yet so very different is phenomenal in itself and at the same time extremely humbling.
“Just as a thought is pre-requisite for creation of an object, so also paravastu in the realm of Akaash is pre-requisite for creation of matter.”
Origin of existence
We have learnt about the solar system and milky way in our school. Have you ever wondered the origin of the milky way? How were the millions and trillions of galaxies born? Where did they come from? What was that substance from whence they came? India's Rishis derived that each and every star and each planet comprises of the five elements of nature. It is the belief of the Vedic sciences that we live in a thinking-feeling intelligent universe. Everything in this Universe is born from Akaasha, the intelligent substance. This all-pervading invisible substance that makes the universe is called "Paravastu" in Vaastushastra. Para means which is un-manifested and subtle. The invisible, intelligent Paravastu makes itself manifest and gross, obvious and very conspicuous in the visible material forms and is called Vaastu. Thus Vastu (subtle) becomes Vaastu (gross). Potential energy transforms into kinetic energy: E=mc²
Energy becomes Matter
Space becomes Earth
This is the exact concept of the birth of the four elements of Water, Fire, Earth and Air out of Aakaash. Out of nothingness and out of nowhere the physical universe is born. Just as a thought is prerequisite for creation of an object, so also paravastu in the realm of Akaash is pre-requisite for creation of matter. And there is more to it. All the material creation is manifested such that there seems to be some kind of geometrical pattern to it's creation that is mathematically harmonious. Think fractals found in nature. This creation of matter from non-matter is the first manisfestation of Vaastu and involves comprehension and dynamics of:
• four subtle elements of Akaasha, Time, Light, and Sound; and
• four gross elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air
The four gross elements combined with the one subtle element of Akaasha constitute our physical and material reality. Whenever one of these elements becomes excessive or depleted, ature loses it's equilibrium and we experience calamities like flood, fire, earthquake or hurricane. Since everything in this Universe including the buildings that we occupy is made up of the 5 elements of Nature, it is the main aim of Vaastushastra to maintain a fine balance between them.
Why is Vedic Architecture so unique?
"Just as we harbor in our heart an atom of Divine energy by which we are able to vibrate with life, so also the Earth vibrates from within sending forth energy waves."
What makes Vidic architecture unique is the fundamental belief that the five elements must be balanced in the built environment inorder to create balance in the lives of the people who live there. And entire system is built around this concept and how to effectively make it possible such that neither beauty nor functionality of a space is compromised. Vedic Architecture maintains the belief that as humans we are an inherent part of this Universe and of Earth of whom we are born. We are constantly exposed to and affected by the energy radiating out of the celestial bodies of this Universe as well as of Earth. Earth is a living thinking being and has internal stellar energy and pulsates with life. Earth's energies are radiated in a grid pattern on her surface and they form a network of energy lines all over her. A great text on Vaastushastra (Vedic Architecture) states: "Just as we harbor in our heart an atom of Divine energy by which we are able to vibrate with life, so also the Earth vibrates from within sending forth energy waves."
The foremost principle of Vedic Architecture is that the plan of a building should be laid out on a grid or framework that cardinally aligns with the Earth's energy grid. When the plan of a structure is cardinally
oriented, it establishes a geometric congruence and is in harmony with the Earth's energy. The resulting space vibrates with positive life energy and positively affects the building occupants. If there is any distortion or disharmony in the grid lines of the proposed building and that of Earth's grid, then the built space is said to be in disharmony with the energy system of Earth and the building occupants feel this discord in their daily lives. The grid or framework upon which a building is designed is called a VaastuPurush Mandala.
More about Vedic Architecture
If the first design criterion of Vedic Architecture is to align the building with Earth's energy grid, then the second criterion is to arrange the functions inside the space according to directions. There are many more rules applied to the design of a building, but these two are primary. The grid on which buildings are
designed is called VaastuPurush Mandala and the Vedic science of building is called Vaastushastra. Vaastushastra literally means science of building where:
Figure: 2. Earth's Energy GridVedic
Architecture/Aparna PatilVaastu=Building and Shastra=science.
The framework of the grid within which a building is designed is called Vaastu-Purush-Mandala. The framework of Vaastu-Purush-Mandala gives a Vaastu home an incredible space and inner beauty which cannot be obtained by following an otherwise conventional design approach. Also, since Vaastu principles are in alliance with the climate, there is an ample scope to use passive design methods and active design methods.
Rules of design for a home using principals of Vaastushastra
Let us briefly look at some of the rules of Vedic design for a residence. A Vaastu-compliant home follows certain rules of design such as:
1. Cardinally oriented house footprint with entrances located exactly on the central axes of North (Kuber-Wealth entrance) and East (Surya-Fame entrance). West and South entrances are not recommended, but in unavoidable situations, these entrances acceptable, however they are not preferred. For some buildings however the entrance from West and South would be highly recommended. A quick note is essential here. A North entrance is located in the middle or the 5 th pada of the Vaastu-Purush-Mandala. Any entrance that is not in the exact middle is not considered a North entrance.
2. Large and tall double-door grand entrance from North and East. The lintels of this door will be higher than that of all other exterior openings.
3. Limited entrances from the West and South are permitted. Only one entrance from the South is considered allowable and it is in the 4th division or pada of the Vaastu-Purush-Mandala.
4. Location of utilities such as toilets, storage, laundry etc. in the South and West zones.
5. Location of master suites in Southwest zone only.
6. Location of Kitchens and cooking areas in South-East or North-West zones.
7. Central open Brmhasthan, preferably with a skylight (and maybe step-up seating area).
8. Extended and enlarged North-East quadrant in the direction of Kuber and Surya
Vaastu zones
In a Vaastu-Purush-Mandala the four elements of Nature are distributed into four quadrants as follows: Water in NE, Fire in SE, Earth in SW, Air in NW and Akaasha occupies the central position. These five divisions inside the square of the VaastuPurushMandala are called Vaastu zones. See figure-1. Each of
this Zone has a Deity and a planet associated with it and they represent the characteristics of that particular zone. The different functions inside the building are assigned to different Vaastu Zones. There are rules of do's and dont's for placing the building functions within the Vaastu Zones. Certain functions are allotted to certain zones so that maximum benefit can be taken of the Sunlight and the energies of that particular zone. Besides all of this, the position of the VaastuPurush within the Mandala also relegates the functions such as store-rooms, bathrooms, staircases and other utilities to certain areas.
Vaastu-Purush
"VaastuPurush is the child of Earth and is born of Space which he encloses inside of him."
The basic premise of Vedic Architecture is that we live in a thinking Universe. Our Earth is a vibrant living entity and we humans are as much part of nature as animals and trees and rivers. Everything around us is alive with it's unique inherent intelligence and is vibrating with it's unique energy frequency. And the only thing that holds us together is Space. If we think of it our Cosmos consists of vast Space where celestial bodies are suspended with ease and gyrate around each other effortlessly. Space is divine because from it's womb the stars are born and galaxies are spun. The reason that Vedic Architecture follows precise rules for the design of the built environment is because of this belief that Space is divine and should be treated with care and respect. The Space that holds our Milky Way and our Solar system is the same Space that surrounds us. When we build a home this Space becomes enclosed inside walls, ceiling and floor and VaastuPurush is born. VaastuPurush is the child of Earth and is born of Space which he encloses inside of him. Vaastushastra believes that the quality of the enclosure influences the quality of the Space-energy generating either positive or negative influences on the occupants. And that is why Vedic Architecture is the science of Space that automatically results in a functional building. For a designer who chooses to work within the framework of Vaastu-Purush-Mandala the design process begins by taking a stock of the functions and placing them inside the Vaastu zones to afford maximum benefits of the Space-energy and then work towards creating the enclosure of the building.
Thus, primarily the VaastuPurushMandala gives the Architect a very effective framework to create a building that is based on sacred geometric proportions. Secondly the Vaastu zones of the Mandala define the micro climate of each function inside the building by placing it in such a way that it reaps maximum benefits of the Sun's energy. This dual role played by the Vaastu zones and the VaastuPurush Mandala create a building that is not only functional but also proportionally beautiful. In addition the Space inside of
the building has a beautiful ambiance because of the ample natural daylight that becomes available as a result of following the sacred geometry.
Passive design methods:
Let us also examine how passive design concepts become automatically integrated in any Vaastu compliant home. Passive design is a method of design that directly uses the natural sources of energy through various design solutions to create energy efficient homes. In this method electricity or fossil fuels are not used and there is no operational cost of technology. Some passive design features that are inherent in Vedic Architecture are:
1. Large North facing windows for ample daylight and no direct Sunlight.
2. Windows on the South to invite winter Sun and large overhangs to avoid harsh summer Sun.
3. Skylights on North sloping roofs for daylight.
4. Stacking of toilets on floors to avoid un-necessary plumbing runs.
5. Outdoor decks on the East that are naturally shaded by the house so occupants enjoy cool outdoor evenings during summer when the daylight stays for a long time.
6. Orientation of the building to face one of the cardinal directions affords large south facing wall for thermal heat gain in winters.
Active design methods:
Let us also examine how active design concepts become automatically integrated in any Vaastu compliant home. Active design methods are employed to make a house energy efficient through active use of technology such as solar panels, wind turbines, Geothermal heating and cooling etc.. In common language, such a house is called a green home. Vedic architecture supports some active design features such as:
1. Solar panels on South slope of roof to create electricity.
Finally I like to give the example of a vibrating tuning fork to further explain the concept of Vedic Architecture. The laws of physics demonstrate that when a static tuning fork is placed beside a vibrating tuning fork, the static tuning fork begins to resonate with the sympathetic vibrations of the vibrating tuning fork. The purpose of a Vaastu building is similar and it is to tune in to the positive energies of Mother Earth.
Vedic Architecture/Aparna Patil
Vedic Architecture/Aparna Patil
North-West
Zone of mobility & creativity Element: Air
Ruling planet: Moon
West
Zone of honesty & discipline
Ruling planet: Saturn
South-West
Zone of stability, power & vision Element: Earth
Ruling planet: Uranus
North Zone of wealth & prosperity
Ruling planet: Mercury
North-East
Zone of spirituality & compassion Element: Water
South Zone of aggression & negativity
Ruling planet: Mars
Ruling planet: Jupiter
East
Zone of fame & success Ruling planet: Sun
South-East Zone of grace, luxury & beauty Element: Fire
Ruling planet: Venus
4. Rules of Design for a Home
In the following essays, some of the principals of Vedic architecture are discussed briefly to give the readers an introductory idea of the different ways that spaces can be designed for the well being of clients.
Figure:Chapter 2
Vedic Architecture and our Homes
Our homes is where we rest and rejuvenate and spend time with our loved ones. Our homes must therefore be comfortable and fulfill our needs of recreation properly. If a space is beautiful and pleasurable it nourishes us and allows us to be creative, energetic, productive and healthy. Our lives improve if we are more content and happy and this contentment shows in all areas of our life. We perform better, we sleep better and our health improves. Design plays a very important role in creating beautiful functional homes and if you are working with a good architect you can easily keep them within budget. But that will be totally new discussion which is way out of context for this book. A good comfortable home need not be expensive is what I am trying to impress. Infact a good architect can transform a dull space into a very happy space by clever use of design. A good architect can also design a comfortable home that is perfectly affordable and yet very beautiful at the same time. The ancient principals of Vedic architecture offer us all the tools necessary and much more to create good nourishing spaces. Let us look at what these design principals are and how best we can utilize them to enrich our lives.
If a space is beautiful and pleasurable it nourishes us and allows us to be creative, energetic, productive and healthy.
As we have already seen in the first chapter of this book, that Vedic Architecture follows the rules of climate and is universal in nature. Its principals are non sectarian and they are applicable globally to every geographical location and to every built form that we can think of. A home built in the humid coastal region will be different from one built in the hot arid desert area. Also a home built in the Northern hemisphere will be different from a home built in the Southern hemisphere in terms of window locations and how light is brought into the interior of the house. All of these differences are due to the regional climate, the tilt of Earth's axis and the local features of the site such as presence of water
bodies, hills, forest lands and much more. No two sites are the same even though they exist side by side of each other. Each of these sites may have certain factors that are common to both parcels of land and there may be certain factors that are so different that it requires the application of a different design approach. Yet each of the dwellings on both of these sites can still be built by following the principles of Vedic Architecture. Infact the principals of Vedic Architecture can be applied to any and all sites whether they be for residential use or commenrical use. Just as we can solve a mathematics problem using a formula, similarly we can solve the problems of space design by plugging in the formula of Vedic architecture. In this process we of course use the template of the VaastuPurush mandala.
Vedic Architecture/Aparna Patil
North-West
Zone of mobility & creativity
Element: Air
Ruling graha: Moon
Lokpala: Maruta/Vayu
North Zone of wealth & prosperity
Ruling graha:Mercury
Lokpala: Kuber
North-East
Zone of spirituality & compassion
Element: Water
Ruling graha: Jupiter, Ketu
Lokpala: Brihaspati, Shiva
West
Zone of honesty, discipline.
Ruling graha: Saturn
Lokpala: Varuna
South-West
Zone of stability, power & long term vision
Element: Earth
Ruling graha: Rahu/Uranus
Lokpala: Shukracharya
Notes:
South
Zone of aggression & negativity
Ruling graha: Mars
Lokpala: Yama
East
Zone of fame & success
Ruling graha: Sun
Lokpala: Indra
South-East
Zone of grace, luxury, beauty, micro-management
Element: Fire
Ruling graha: Venus
Lokpala: Agni
A ruling graha means the celestial body assigned to a particular direction. (Grahan means to accept, thus one that accepts and emits vibrations in space is called a graha. )
A Lokpala means guardian of a particular zone, somrtimes also refered to as the deity for that direction.
Figure 5. Vaastu-Purush-Mandala
Vedic Architecture/Aparna
PatilVaastuPurush Mandala
We saw in chapter one that VaastuPurusha is the divine thinking-feeling being that is born when Akaasha is enclosed in four walls, ceiling and floor. In vedic architecture we use the word Akaasha and not just space, because the space surrounding us is an extension of the vast Akaasha that holds our solar system and milky way and all the galaxies we know of as humans. VaastuPurusha is thus the son of Akaasha that is created when Akaasha is enclosed in a man-made artifical enclosure of a building. Akaasha is the intelligent divine source out of which the four gross elements of nature namely water, fire, earth and air are born that constitute all the other physical manifestations of this universe.
A mandala that encloses the VaastuPurusha is called the VaastuPurush Mandala and it is represented as a square shaped geometric module of nine squares by nine squares that contains the coded message for space design. Figure no. 5 illustrates a simplified version of the VaastuPurush Mandala. The five elements of nature are represented in five different colors and the description of each zone is given briefly. You will find that along with the element of nature each zone also has a representating celestial body and a Lokpala. A Lokpala is the guardian of that particular direction. Every zone is unique and assumes the combined characteristics of the direction, the element, the celestial body and a lokpala. The VaastuPurush Mandala is the basis of all Vedic designs and is the template on which any and all physical designs can be laid out right from a sprawling airport to a modest cottage. In ancient India VaastuPurush Mandala was used for urban designs, community centers, religious buildings, residences and everything is between.
This VaastuPurush Mandala shown indicates the following: the element for every zone, the ruling celestial body for that zone and the guardian deity called lokpala for every direction. The path of the Sun in our sky decides the element for that particular zone. Thus in southeast we have the fire element, in southwest is the earth element, in northwest is the air element and in the northeast is the water element. There are a total of ten directions that are represented in a VaastuPurushMandala starting clock-wise from east, southeast, south, southwest, west, northwest, north, northeast, akash and patal. Akash is the direction above our head and patal is the direction below our feet or the ground level of the building. Thus out of ten directions, the eight directions are shown in the mandala and the other two directions are always considered by the designer even though they are not indicated on
The VaastuPurush Mandala is the basis of all Vedic designs and is the template on which any and all physical designs can be laid out right from a sprawling airport to a modest cottage.
the mandala. The four elements of water, fire, earth and air occupy the corner positions within the mandala and the central position is occupied by the fifth element of akaasha. The cardinal directions of north, east, south and west each share two elements. The VaastuPurush Mandala also has an image of Vaastupurusha superimposed on it and it is not shown here for clarity. The head of the VaastuPurusha is always in the northeast in the water element and his feet are always in the southwest in the earth element. Each square module in the VaastuPurush mandala is called a pada. There are a total of 81 padas in a nine by nine mandala. Let us take a closer look at the VaastuPurush Mandala.
VaastuPurush Mandala: symbolism and iconography
VaastuPurush Mandala is a deeply coded geometrical formula with layers of information that when understood and implemented correctly allow the environment of a home to become climate friendly and nourishing. The positive results of applying of the fomulae are rarely discussed in the ancient texts of vedic architecture nor is any reasoning given about the formulae themselves. It is assumed that the student is well versed with the laws of nature and functioning of the universe and all the environmental aspects surrounding us and therefore no further explanation is necessary. The ancient texts simply make statements without so much as a commnetary about the rules that they lay down in the design of a building. So it is the responsibility of the architect to decipher the deep meaning behind the many rules and apply just what is required carefully and not all at once. For our purpose, let us try and decode the hidden meaning of various planets, lokpalas, the element of nature and the presiding deity that we see designated in the padas of a VaastuPurush mandala from our modern context. It is important to understand that the planets, lokpalas and the element of nature placed in various zones of the VaastuPurush mandala are symbolic of the energies they represent and the zone is studied by keeping in mind the attributes that each of this symbol represents. The position of planets is stationary on a VaastuPurush mandala and they do not move unlike in astrology or astronomy.
The VaastuPurush Mandala is roughly divided in three by three squares that can further be divided into three more divisions making a total of nine by nine squared mandala.
Why did the seers create such a framework and what was the purpose behind it's creation. Let us think of it from this way. Suppose you are asked to tell a very complex story without the use of words. What would you do? In addition you are told that this story must be universally understood by all and by every generation that is to come. Anyone and everyone irrespective of their background should be able to understand your story. In such a scenario, your only option would be to use symbols and diagrams that have been around for a very
very long time, that are familiar to humans and that humanity can relate to since antiquity and into antiquity. You would use images, photographs, pictures, diagrams that are symbolic so that by simply looking at your chosen icons your story can be understood. Is this not what our ancestors have been doing on temple walls and through sculptures and wall murals? What are these iconic symbols? They are all around us in nature. Look around you. Do you see them? The trees, the flowers, the rivers, the oceans, the sun, the moon, the stars and the planets? Can you use them cleverly to tell a story? Yes, of course you can, but only if you understand them and their meaning correctly. The ancient Rishis of India did exactly this. The ancient Rishis had a thorough working knowledge of our universe and they used very strong symbols from the universe to convey the message that is coded deeply into the VaastuPurush mandala. They used their indepth knowledge of astronomy, astrology, mythology and selected such iconic symbols which when combined together in the VaastuPurush mandala would accurately define the characteristics of space for different padas. The VaastuPurush Mandala is roughly divided in three by three squares that can further be divided into three more divisions making a total of nine by nine squared mandala. Thus there are a total of eighty one padas or square modules. Each square pada has a unique set of symbols which render those qualities to that particular pada.
VaastuPurush Mandala and The Grahas
VaastuPurush mandala has one celestial body or a graha representing every direction. Starting from southeast they are Venus, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Sun.
Direction Graha or Celestial body
Southeast Venus
South Mars
Southwest Rahu (Uranus)
West Saturn
Northwest Moon
North Mercury
Northeast Jupiter and Ketu
East Sun
Symbolism
Micro-efficiency, luxury
Aggression
Power, Vision
Honesty, disclipline
Creativity
Intellect, communication
Benevolence, compassion
Fame, wisdom
In the list of celestial bodies or grahas, all are planets except for Sun which is a star. A planet is called a graha and the meaning of which is to absorb or partake. A graha is a celestial object in the sky that absorbs radiations and also emits radiations and every graha have their own frequency that they emit. Sun
is also considered a graha because it too has vibrations that it emits and therefore is placed alongside the planets in the VaastuPurush mandala.
The placement of the planets on the VaastuPurush mandala is dependent upon the path of the Sun in the sky. As the Sun travels the sky from east to west with a southbound path the radiation in the atmosphere varies with the passage of the time. The morning sunlight is different than the midmorning sunlight is different than the overhead sunlight and is different than the evening sunlight. In other words the quality of the sunlight varies throughout the day and hence the energies created by that sunlight in the interior of the hosue also vary. These energies are represented by the planets positioned in that particular zone.
For instance the sunlight that enters the south east zone is from midmorning to almost noon which is from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm approximately. This sunlight has a maximum of infrared rays and is highly antibacterial in its quality. This is not good for direct exposure to the human skin, however due to it's antibacterial qualities it is good to bring this sunlight inside the house into those areas of the house that will benefit from it's antibacterial qualities. And the areas of a house that will benefit from antibacterial qualities are those that need to be disinfected the most such as the wet areas of toilets, bathrooms, sinks, laundry rooms, kitchen counters etc. Therefore it is recommended that the location of these areas be in the south and southeast zone of the VaastuPurush mandala to get maximum effect of the incoming sunlight. A kitchen sink on the south of south-east will receive the slanting sunrays of the early morning sun, the direct sunrays of the overhead southern sun and the slanting sunrays of the setting sun. This is space technology at it's best.
VaastuPurush Mandala and The Five Elements
The five elements of nature are placed as follows: fire in southeast, earth in southwest, air in northwest, water in northeast and akaasha in the center. Akaasha is the most important of all elements and is considered the source for all creation inside the universe as we know it. All the other five elements are born from the Akaasha and therefore they are placed around Akaasha. Akaasha is the thinking feeling intelligent space that is surrounding our solar system, the milky way and all other galaxies. For our understanding we can call it the Mother of all creation. Even though Akaasha seems like an empty space stretching between different celestial bodies it has the potential of birthing stars and of transmitting energy waves across from one galaxy to another. So in other words
Akaasha is the thinking feeling intelligent space that is surrounding our solar system, the milky way and all other galaxies.
Akaasha is the vast intelligent nothingness that is the cradle of all creation. The next most powerful element is the fire element. The remaining three elements of watrer, earth and air are born of the heat of fire. The direction of the five elements is dependent on the path of the sun as it travels in our sky from east to west in a southbound path in the northern hemisphere.
VaastuPurush Mandala and the Lokpalas
Every direction in the VaastuPurush Mandala has a assigned 1lokpala. North is ruled by Kubera, the lord of wealth/abundance; East is ruled by Indra, also called Aditya, son of Aditi, the lord of light/beginnings; South is ruled by Yama, the lord of death/destruction and also of new beginings; and West is ruled by Varuna, lord of water/existence. The presiding deities for the intermediate directions are Shiva for Ishanya or Northeast, Agni for Agneya or Southeast, Pitru for Nairutya or Southwest and Vayu for Vayavya or Northwest.
VaastuPurush mandala and zones of a house
For the Northern hemisphere, let us try and understand the simple fact that govern the orientation of the house. As the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, it travels a Southbound path. The winds that we receive come from the West and Northwest directions. Because of the Southern inclination of sun's path of travel in the sky, we receive direct sunlight from the South and indirect light from the North. Vaastushastra uses this principle to dictate the orientation of the site and the house according to the surrounding physical elements such as roads, trees, wells, or hills. If applied correctly, this principle can give us the benefits of well-balanced natural elements in and around our home to enhance our comfort levels.
1 A lokpala literally means the guardian of a realm, wherein lok means a realm and in this case it implies the realm of a particular direction. Pala means to guard or take care of as a guardian would take care of it's progeny. Lokpala is a Sanskrit word. A lokpala can also be called a deity for a particular direction.
In the part of the Northern hemisphere where I live, for instance, a home must be oriented with the longer side on the East-West axis. This orientation affords more solar radiation on the South-facing wall, keeping occupants warm in the winter and thus reducing our heating bills. The fenestration on the south
wall is also kept a bare necessary for areas such as toilets, bathrooms and kitchen windows. South-West zone also the most ideal location for the master bedroom per Vaastushastra. The evening sun is received from west and the south wall can be made solid or with very little fenestrations. In the Northern Hemisphere we do not receive direct sunlight ever and so large openings, either doors or windows and a combination of both can be cleverly managed to bring in indirect sunlight and open up large views without the annoying glare of the sunlight. For this same reason, North and East are also very good locations for study areas, living room, prayer room, dinning room or a the library. North is the best direction for living areas that are used during the day and remain amply lighted with indirect sunlight. A dining room in the east would be wonderful because then you can enjoy the morning sunlight while you eat your breakfast. Placing the kitchen on the Southeast would cause it to receive sunlight for the maximum part of the day, which is required in this space for its anti-bacterial, cleansing qualities. It seems very logical also to have North or East facing entrance and provide arrangement of doors and windows to receive the beneficial morning sunlight, creating an alert and fresh mind which is a pre-requisite for prosperity.
With respect to a direction's presiding deity, there are some do's and don't s suggested by Vaastushastra. For instance, if the Northeast is clogged for some reason, then even the best and most honest human efforts and intentions to reach a particular goal may not yield satisfying results. It is therefore important that the Northeast corner of our homes be free from clutter, boring, pits, plumbing, and so on. The shastra is thus discouraging us from having the service areas of the house such as toilets and bathrooms in the North-East, because obviously these areas will not receive the direct sunlight that is valued for it's antibacterial qualities. South is the direction of Yama, the Lord of death and also of new beginings, because unless the old dies the new cannot be born. The location of master bedroom is recommended in the south west direction with the bedhead on the south wall. The shastra states that this is the most rejuvenating zone to rest for the night.
The shastra is thus discouraging us from having the service areas of the house such as toilets and bathrooms in the North-East, because obviously these areas will not receive the direct sunlight that is valued for it's antibacterial qualities.
Vedic architecture follows not only the path of the sun, but also earth's magnetic field and we know that earth's magnetic field has a strong influence on human beings. A human body itself acts like a magnet with the heavy portion of head acting like a North pole and our feet like the South pole. Sleeping with our
Vedic Architecture/Aparna Patil
heads towards North creates pressure on our system resulting in high blood pressure and a disturbed sleep. Without a deep sleep we are not recharged fully and are unable to perform our daily tasks properly the next day. Therefore sleeping with one's head towards South is recommended.
North-West
Kitchen, Home-Office, Guestroom, Conference Room, Library.
West:
Store room, Bathroom, Laundry room, closets of all kinds
Southwest: Master Bedroom Office of CEO, Head of the company
North:
Main Entrance, Living Room, Library, Worship area, Reception
South:
Store room, Bathroom, Laundry room, closets of all kind
Figure: 5. Significance of the Vaastu Floor Plan
North-East:
Can be extended beyond the Mandala.
Garage, Worship Altar, Meditation Room, Living Room.
East:
Main Entrance, Dining room, Breakfast area and Family, Worship area, Study
Southeast:
Kitchen, Daughter's Bedroom, Hobby Room, Laboratory, Machine Room
Appropriate location of doors and windows is also very important to create the desired indoor ambiance. A dark interior devoid of natural light creates a feeling of claustrophobia and lethargy. The interior layout also requires good analysis of the directions, path of light, and position of doors and windows. Selection of color is equally important. Using the VaastuPurushMandala as a framework for design allows the freedom and at the same time creates a discipline for design that follow the rules of climatology. The VaastuPurushMandala is a deeply symbolic diagram and well beyond the scope of this book. Each module in the mandala needs to be decoded inorder to understand what it stands for. Therefore
it is very important to work with someone who truly understands the symbolic meaning of the VaastuPurush Mandala.
Now it is quite possible that a home is not built on a site or with a floor plan that follows the Vaastushastra principals. Such situations can be 2yantra remedied in a number of ways. However, the important thing to understand is that Vaastushastra is not a fix for all problems experienced by human beings nor is it a substitute for honest work. It is just a catalyst that enhances human efforts. Most of our problems will be easily resolved if we follow good living habits. For instance, our homes and living spaces must be clutter-free at all times. Everything in this universe has its own kind of life and everything has vibrations, which are a form of energy, either negative or positive. Human beings with limited perception cannot perceive all forms of energy. Unwanted things or "stuff" create vibrations that block the flow of positive energy and therefore we must get rid of unwanted stuff. The principals of Vaastushastra can be and should be used to build and arrange our spaces, apply inspiring color schemes, enhance our landscapes to boost positive vibrations and create balanced, happy lives. But beyond these physical applications lies the realm of Karma, which every human being must endure.
2 At Mansara we use Vedic Yantras to bring about a balance of positive energies against negative energies. This is almost as effective as the accurately planned buildings or homes built upon the grid of VaastuPurushMandala.
Vedic Architecture/Aparna Patil
Chapter 3
This essay is written with an assumption that the reader is aware of the basic principals of Vaastushastra and Fengshui.
The origins of Vaastushastra are Indian and those of Feng Shui are Chinese. The literal meaning of Vaastushastra is "science of building technology" and that of Feng Shui is "Wind water." Vaasushastra is Vedic in origin from the land of India and FengShui comes from China. During the spread of Buddhism from India to it's neighboring countries, the knowledge of Vaastushastra was carried by Buddhist monks across the Himalayas to Tibet and China and there is settled. For several centuries this knowledge stayed with the Buddhist monks who used it to build monasteries and temples. Eventually it spread among the locals and was brought into the mainstream of civil life. Over the period of time the knowledge was modified to make it suitable to the environment and lifestyle of the Chinese culture and came to be known as FengShui. The underlying principal of both, Vaastushastra and FengShui however, is balancing of elements with some differences. And in this essay we will briefly touch upon some major differences and similarities.
The precept is that the solar radiation and earth's magnetic field produces nodes of geo-magnetic fields, or Marmasthana, within the building that affect the inhabitants positively or negatively.
3 Ashta = eight, dik= direction and palas= guardians, thus guardians of the eigth directions.
Vaastushastra and Feng ShuiConcept of Vedic Architecture or VastuShastra
Principals of Vastushastra are universal and based on the planetary position of Earth with respect to the sun. Vaastushastra follows the guidelines of a framework called the VaastuPurush Mandala that represent eight directions in a plane. Each direction is assigned to a deity which in combination are called the 3 Astadikpalas or 1 Lokpalas. The precept is that the solar radiation and earth's magnetic field produces nodes of geo-magnetic fields, or Marmasthana, within the building that affect the inhabitants positively or negatively. A building designed on Vaastushastra principals has good Jaivik Urja, or organic energy.
Concept of Feng Shui
According to Feng Shui, the balance is attained between Yin and Yang, the two governing primordial forces of nature. Yin is dark, Yang is light. Yin is passive, Yang is active and they both exist within each other. This sounds very similar to the theory of Purush and Prakrity of Hinduism. In Hinduism, Purush (Masculine) and Prakriti (feminine) are the two forces responsible for creation of our physical world. Purusha is the pure consciousness and Prakriti is the physical manifestation. If Purusha is a thought then Prakriti is the physical manifestation of that thought. Balance between Yin and Yang is necessary to enhance Chi. Chi is the energy governing the actions of the human body and mind and is what gives the human body its life. Thus the aim of FengShui is to attain a fine balance between the seemingly opposite yet beneficial to each other elements of Masculine and Feminine or the Yin and Yang.
Figure: 6.
Vedic Architecture/Aparna Patil
VastuPurush Mandala and Lo Shu Square
Just as Vaastushatra uses the Vaastupurush Mandala consisting of three or nine basic squares, so also Feng Shui uses a Lo Shu Square also made of nine squares, each representing a direction having unique energy characteristics. Each school of thought follows the five natural elements. Vaastushastra advises that the buildings be cardinally oriented towards the North and that the floor plans be based on Vaastupurush mandala. Feng Shui advises laying out the Lo Shu Square on the building site to decide the floor plan. All eight directions are given equal importance in both Vaastushastra as well as Feng Shui. For the sake of quick comparison, one may find the following charts interesting:
Vaastushastra
Natural Element Direction Ruling Deity & Graha
Aakash Center Brmha
- North Kuber and Mercury
Water North East Shiva and Jupiter
- East Aditya or Surya
Fire
South East Venus
- South Yama and Mars
Earth South West Nirrti and Rahu
- West Varuna and Saturn
Air
North West Marut and Moon
Characteristics
Source of all creation
Wealth, Well-being
Equanimity, compassion
Fame, Visibility
Luxury, micro-efficiency
Aggression, negativity
Stability, vision, goals
Disclipline, honesty
Restlessness, ideas
Feng Shui
Natural Elements per Fengshui
Directions Characteristics
Water North Flow
Colors
Black
Wood East Growth Green
Fire South Creativity Red
Metal West Clarity
White
Earth Center Stability Yellow
The principles of Vaastushastra and Feng Shui are applicable for the entire process of site planning and building construction. While principals of Vastushatra are more universally applicable, Feng Shui has more local application. These differences exist due to the geographical origins of the doctrines and the
cultural differences of the geographical regions. For example, while Vaastushastra suggests that entrance from the North is a harbringer of wealth, Feng Shui considers North direction to be evil because of the incoming sand and dust that flows from this direction in the mainland of China.
Feng Shui uses several symbols pertaining to Chinese culture as cures to alter, raise, or moderate Chi and therefore these principals look easy to apply and are more popular. The interesting thing to note is that Fengshui is also applied to a single room or even to a desk at the office by using the symbols and symbolic gadgets. However, not all of these symbols are appropriate outside of China since the meaning of symbols changes according to culture and people from different cultures identify differently with different symbols. One must therefore always work with an expert in the field inorder to apply the principles of FengShui for ones space. The gadgets and symbols used should also be made from authentic materials as is delineated in the texts of FengShui. Cheap trinkets made from plastic or therwise will be of no good other than to appease oneself.
The important thing to note is that both Vaastushastra and Feng Shui are ancient sciences of building technology. When their knowledge is applied outside the lands of their origins, it should be done with intuitive understanding of the prevalent environmental conditions and cultural preferences.
Vaastushastra also has remedies to alleviate Vaastudoshas, or blockages of the flow of energy in the forms of symbolic rituals that are associated mostly with Hinduism since this is the religion that is in practice since ancient times in India. However an expert with good knowledge of remedies can also suggest rituals that are appropriate for different faiths if he or she has a thorough understanding of the problem that is being targetted for resolution. There are several Vedic 4 Yantras that are employed and used to modify and enhance the energy of a building or a site. Some very orthodox schools of Vedic architecture do not display their Yantras and maintain secrecy inorder to preserve the sanctity of the Yantra for the client. Moreover, Vaastushastra is based upon hemispherical directions and honors the path of Sun, and so the direction of entrances and exits affect the energies of the space inside of a building. Therefore Vaastushastra is heavily inclined to suggest remodelling as remedies in which certain rooms might be re-allocated or entrances modified within the building. Vaastushastra therefore seems more difficult to implement, orthodox, and deeply shrouded in mystic symbolism.
The important thing to note is that both Vaastushastra and Feng Shui are ancient sciences of building technology. When their knowledge is applied outside the lands of their origins, it should be done with intuitive understanding of the prevalent environmental conditions and cultural preferences.
4 In Sanskrit a Yantra means a machine. In Vedic Architecture the blockages of energies are removed and energy is modified with the use of Yantras that consist of geometrical forms made from a combination of metals and crystals. The positive vibrations generated by a Yantra dispel the negative energies created due to errors in space planning.
Yantras are made in various shapes and forms and from a combination of various metals and crystals. There is a whole sciece of how yantras work. In Vedic architecture yantras are recommended if an anamoly is observed in the space or the site. Sometimes they are specified to simply increase the potency of a space. Yantras are installed in the marmasthan of the VaastuPurusha. Marmasthan are the energy nodes that can be compared loosely with the chakras of the human body. Some yantras are installed on the walls, ceilings, floors etc. while others are concealed inside the structure. Yantras need to be charged with vedic mantras before their installation on the site.
