वास्तु ज्ञान : श्रीमती अनीता नरायन पटना :

Anita Narain in ICAS PATNA

Vaastu Gyaan Vaastu means the dwelling of humans & Gods. Vaastu shastra is an ancient science which helps one to get the natural benefits freely offered by the five basic elements of the universe in which we all live. These basic elements are Akash (SKY), Prithvi (EARTH), Paani (WATER), Agni (FIRE), and Vayu (WIND). Vastu Shastra can be applied by keeping in harmony with these basic five elements of nature. Vaastu Shastra is an edifice science that was developed by our learned people thousands of years ago. Its application today is purely architectural and its principles are based on becoming one with nature.

Many Vaastu rules are derived from 'Vaastu Purusha Mandala' which is depicted as a man lying with his head pointing north east, in a grid of usually 64 squares. The different directions and sectors are assigned to different Gods and Guardians.

In doing Vastu of any place , home, work place, building, factory, land or plot we try to harmonize the place with respect to the five basic elements called as Panchbhoota namely Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Space. We shall discuss about importance of each of this element and how well we can harmonize them to relieve a stressful life, bringing 3 P's viz peace, protection and prosperity in our lives.
WATER: Water bodies in north or east are considered good. As far as the flow of domestic water is concerned, it should be borne in mind and that such water should be drained out in North - East. Wells, tubewells, swimming pools etc. should all be in the North-East. The water from the toilets and bathrooms, too, should be drained out in the North- East. The North-East direction is always auspicious and suitable for water. There are sewer-systems in the cities. The Septic tanks or the flow of sewer systems should be towards North - West. The flow of rain or fresh water should be towards North-East.
FIRE: The direction of Fire is South-East. The Kitchen, fireplace, geysers etc. should be placed only in this direction. Alternatively these could be placed in North-West, because it is at 180 degree to South-East. The Vastu Fire Element One can take care of the South-East Corners of all rooms and aim for Hapiness in the family, Good Health, Sound Finances, and Nice Married Life. As South-East belongs to Agni he can create enough trouble for inmates. The South-East corner of every room should be taken care of it. One can keep Agni - Vastu Fire Element cheerful by having a spotlight or lantern in the South-East corner with light or burning flame pointing to the roof. One can have the Electrical gadgets like Television, VCR, Fridge, Computer, Fire-place, Microwaves, radio etc placed in South-East corner.
AIR: The air should enter the building from North -East. All the openings and media for air entry such as doors, windows, ventilators coolers, air-conditioners, verandahs, balconies etc. should be in this directions.
SPACE OR OPEN SKY: The open sky influences greatly. We can get the effect of terrestrial-energies uninterruptedly. But the buildings prove a barrier to the effects of open sky. Therefore, the importance of roofs or lawns gets emphasized, but the Vastu shastra has refrained from deliberating in detail over it, because it is related chiefly to building construction and we will discuss only this aspect. Traditionally every house in India used to have an open space (Court Yard) in the center of the house. It provided the dwellers not only the open sky but also sunlight and cross-ventilation of air.
SHAPE OF PLOT: Favourites are regular shaped square or rectangular plota AND irregular shaped plots are normally avoided.
OBSTRUCTION: Obstruction like big trees, open well, pillars and posts before a arrow like roads are to be avoided.
IDEAL SITE: A building should be constructed preferably in a square plot the house should be constructed in the for house centre and in rectangular plot it should be nearer to construction south, south west and west sides preferably leaving more in a plot open space on north and east. "L" or Considered not suitable for house as corners will be "U" shaped missing and occupants will be missing opportunities.


Quick Vaastu Shanti Tips
When sitting for worship, keep your face towards North-West and sit in that corner to intake air from that direction. Cash boxes can be located in the room towards the North (treasury). But if the box is heavy (such as a safe, heavy almirah) then it should be kept in the South­west corner and the door of the almirah should open towards the North. TVs and computers should ideally be placed in the Southeast corner of the living room or study room. They should not be placed in the Northeast corner or Southwest corner. Telephones can be placed in the Southeast or North­west corner but not in the Southwest or Northeast. An aquarium with 9 gold fish and one black fish, in the north east corner/portion of the house or factory is very good. If the north-east area is untidy or unshapely, the well being of male issues is found to be precarious. One should sleep with his head pointing towards the South. Students should be facing east while studying, for Academic Excellence. If the kitchen is off the proper place, some member or the other is always found to be suffering from severe digestive disorder. Keep the Gas in the south east corner of the kitchen Person should face the east while cooking. Drinking water should be in the north east of the kitchen. While Taking meals the plate should be in South-East. The statue of Hanumanji should not be placed in South-East. It may create fire hazard. All the doors should open inside so that the energy may remain inside. The hinges of doors should be noiseless. If so. The hinges may be greased periodically. The doors should open towards right hand. Bed should not be put under a beam. There should not be five corners in the ceiling of a room. Efforts should be made a leave the rooms open on North-East side. While ascending the staircase, the face should be either towards the north or the east. The seat of the toilet should face North-South. No doors or windows should be provided on South-West side. Almirahs and beds should be set very close to the South - West wall and at a distance from the north - east wall. A house should not have paintings, which depicts depressing scenes, i.e. like an old woman crying, scenes of war or poverty. It should have picture of say, a sunrise, an ocean, mountains, flowers or laughing children. Tall trees are nowhere recommended close to the main building. For trees the south in itself is good and so is the west. No tree should be grown in the north and the east. The one at the north-east is the worst. Small decorative plants and shrubs may be grown in the north and the east. The height should not exceed, say, half a meter at the north-east increasing gradually to not more than 1.5 meter as one moves from the north-east to the north-west or to the south-east end. Except rose and a few medicinal ones, all thorny plants give rise to tensions in the environment. Plants exuding white sap should also be kept off. Lime and karonda etc. are OK in an orchard but not in residence or business premises. Amongst the beneficial plants, the best is Tulsi. It is commendable to keep at least one Tulsi plant in the north-east area of the premises, but its height should not exceed 1.5 meter. Growing creepers/climbers with support on the compound wall or a house wall is best avoided. Cactus should not be planted or kept in the house. In the South-West Corner of the house one should sleep pointing his head towards south. If north of any house is blocked it blocks prosperity. Water flowing/water fountain from north to east is very good.


Directions & their respective Rulers


North-east (Eshan) is ruled by Sadasiva or God Himself. Hence this direction is paramount, which demands keeping it scrupulously clean, open and highly receptive in a welcome "mode" always. East is ruled by Indra, the chief of the gods, giver of pleasures. The direction also represents the realm of the rising Sun projecting ultra-violet rays, so essential for health in several ways. South-east (Agneya) is the habitat of fire, the storehouse of energy. South is the abode of Yama, the god of death. South-west (Nairitya) is the abode of Putna demoness. West is the abode of Varuna, the god of ocean. It is also the direction of the setting Sun which gives infra-red radiation. North-west (Vayavva) is the abode of air/wind, the invisible, but the most effective blessing for all objects in need of motion/movement for their efficiency. North is the abode of Kuber, the god of wealth.
REMEDIES FOR CONSTRUCTION MADE AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES OF VASTU: Sometimes, it so happens that the man does such acts, out of ignorance, which harm him and their remedy seems impossible. Here, we are giving solutions to the problems of those, who had constructed their houses against the rules of Vastu -Shastra. To overcome following information is given, however, it is strongly recommended that the Vastu of your own house especially correction of Vastu should be done with the help of Vastu expert and should not be attempted by acquiring shallow knowledge or tips for Vastu. Few ill effects of Vastu if not done correctly and remedies are discussed below for only general information. If some river or drain is flowing in a direction other than the north-east direction of the house and has anti - clock movement, then it is advised to place a statue of dancing Ganeshji facing the west on the north-east corner of the house. If the boring has taken place in the wrong direction in a house or a factory, then it is advised to place a picture of Panchmukhi Hanumanji, facing South-West to the boring. If a naked wall is seen while entering into a flat, then either a picture or a statue of Ganeshji should be placed there. The naked wall is the sign of loneliness. Hence, the wall should not be kept naked. If high voltage overhead wires pass over a house, then a plastic pipe filled with lime should be erected from one corner to the other of the affected area in such a manner that its both ends should remain outside by at least three feet each. This will eliminate the evil effects of energy being generated out of the overhead wire. In certain cases, energy circles can be improved by using Swastika Yantra. But, this requires a lot of care. This should be handled under the supervision of an able Vastu Shastri.
IDEAL HOUSE WITH PERFECT VASTU: The following are the guidelines to design and construct an ideal house which houses prosperity, protection and peaceful environment in the house. It is essential to understand and interpret these ground rules and then apply. The main door of the house should preferably be located in any of the exalted positions from the Northeast corner - either from North of Northeast or from East of Northeast. Doors can also be in the South of Southeast or West of Northwest but in no case, should the main entrance be from the center of any direction. Also the main entrance or door should be avoided in all the following four directions, namely, North of Northwest, East of Southeast, South of Southwest and West of Southwest. There should not be any obstruction or water body just opposite the main entrance. Balconies should be planned towards the East and North and should be definitely avoided in the South and West. If balconies in the South and West cannot be avoided, then larger balco­nies must be provided towards the North and East. Care should be taken while providing balconies so that a cut or truncation is not created in the Northeast corner. The kitchen should be ideally situated in the South­east corner of the house and as an alternative in certain cases, may be in the North­west corner, but in both cases, the cooking platform should be arranged to facili­tate cooking while facing east only. The Kitchen should never be in the Northeast corner and it should also be avoided in the Southwest too, as both locations will create problems with respect to the health and finance of the inmates. Rooms in the West and East can be used for din­ing. The appetite can be stimulated in the dining hall by having the walls painted in light pink or orange. A rectangular dining table is the most preferred. In the dining room, while eating, one should sit facing East or West. Grains and other food can be stored in the Northwest sector. Oil, butter, ghee, milk and other oily liquids can be stored in the South­east of the Northwest room. When a generator or transformer is to be located outside the plot, it should be placed in an open space in the Southeast sector. As a second choice, it may be placed in the Northwest sector. The overhead water tank should be located in the Southwest corner of the terrace preferably in the West of Southwest. Penthouses, if built, should be in the Southwest corner of the terrace leav­ing an open space in the North and East. The prayer room should be planned in such a way that it is placed either in the Northeast corner or in the central portion (Brahmasthana) of the house. The pictures of the god should touch the wall on the East side in the prayer room facing West; inmates should perform their prayers facing East for better concentration and devotion. No garbage should be thrown or dumped in the Northeast corner of the building or plot and the Northeast should always be kept free and clean. Heavy equipments such as the grinder, fridge, etc, should be placed towards the South and West walls in the kitchen. Even in the storeroom, racks should be built on the South and West walls. Rainwater should flow West to East or South to North and ultimately flow out from the Northeast corner of the house or plot. The Northeast, North and East walls should be decorated with photo frames, mirrors, and paintings of gods and with wallpaper with natural scenery; whereas the West, South and Southwest walls can be decorated with scenery in a dull or matte finish. The South wall can be used for hanging pictures of departed souls. Pictures of living beings may be hung on the Eastern wall. It is always advisable, and it is considered profitable, to purchase additional adjacent plots on the North­east, North and East sides. Under no circumstance, should one acquire any plot adjoining the South or West sides of one's plot. Any adjacent land acquired on the South or West side can be disastrous to the person. The master bedroom should be in the Southwest corner, while other bed­rooms can be in the Central­South and Central-West directions. A bedroom in the Northwest is also recom­mended but should be used as a guest room or only for daughters. Bedrooms should be avoided in the Southeast corner. It is preferable to have children's rooms in the West or North. Children should have their study desks in the North or East of the room and they should face East while studying. One should sleep with one's head pointing towards the South. Children, how­ever, can sleep with their heads pointing towards the West. No one should sleep with their heads in the North. The bedroom can be painted in light to deep blues to induce sleep. Green is advised for study rooms to promote intelligence. Sandal/ yellow is advised for the prayer room. The living room should be located in the North or East sectors of the house. Heavy chandeliers or fancy lamps should not be located in the geometrical center of the rooms. They may be placed slightly towards the West or South of the room. TVs and computers should ideally be placed in the Southeast corner of the living room or study room. They should not be placed in the Northeast corner or Southwest corner. Telephones can be placed in the Southeast or North­west corner but not in the Southwest or Northeast. Living rooms can be painted in white, yellow, light pink, light blue or green. Grey, red and black are to be avoided. Always keep the center of the room, building and plot, free from any loads, weights, pillars, columns, beams, water bodies, etc. It is preferable to have the staircase towards the South, West or Southwest of the building but it may be in the Southeast or Northwest, depending on other parameters. Staircases should be avoided in the Northeast, North and the East. Circular/spiral staircases are generally to be avoided. The number of steps in a staircase should be odd, including the landing step, and they should rise from East to West or from North to South. It is better to make sure that the steps are by the South and West walls, and that it should be constructed in such a way that the move­ment is in a clockwise direction while going upwards, that is from the ground to the higher floors. Toilets should be located in the Northwest cor­ner of the building or in the Northwest corner of the rooms. Where Northwest toilets are not possible, Southeast toilets are allowed. Other alternative directions for toilets are Central-South or Central West. Closets in the toilets should face North or South, along the North-South axis; and should not face the East or West. See figure for all possible locations for toilets and bathrooms. Toilets should be avoided in the Northeast, North and East. Mirrors in the toilet and dressing room should be on the North or East walls. A bathroom in the East sector is most preferred as the beneficial rays of the morning sun can enter and promote the health of the user. In the office or study room, the table should be placed in the Western or Southern side so that one sits facing the East or North. No equipment, furni­ture, cupboards, etc, should be placed touching the North or East walls and if it becomes unavoidable, they should be kept at least 4" or 6" away from the walls. Cash boxes can be located in the room towards the North (treasury). But if the box is heavy (such as a safe, heavy almirah) then it should be kept in the South­west corner and the door of the almirah should open towards the North. The storage or lumber-room can be located in the Southwest, adjacent to the Master bedroom. If possible, the house should be extended by 4 feet to 5 feet in the North­east direction to ensure the Northeast directional bliss for the household. Growing tulsi and other beneficial herbal plants in the North­east will promote good health and prosperity. Pictures of landscapes depicting mountains should be hung on the South and West walls only Land­scapes containing water, such as pictures of lakes and rivers should be on the North and East walls. Pic­tures of eagles, battle scenes, and carnivorous animals should not be used for interior wall decorations. Pictures of horses, cows and elephants can be used for decoration purposes. The directions of East and West are important as far as obtaining the energy from the sun is concerned. The importance of the directions of the North and the South lies in the flow of magnetic waves which flows from North Pole to South Pole. Therefore southward portion of every building should be higher than the northward portion. Besides this it should also be kept in mind that the inclination of land, building, floors of rooms etc. should be towards North-East. In other words the parts in the West and South of the building should be slightly higher than those in the North and East.
VASTU SHANTI TIPS ( FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY):
When sitting for worship, keep your face towards North-West and sit in that corner to intake air from that direction. Cash boxes can be located in the room towards the North (treasury). But if the box is heavy (such as a safe, heavy almirah) then it should be kept in the South­west corner and the door of the almirah should open towards the North. TVs and computers should ideally be placed in the Southeast corner of the living room or study room. They should not be placed in the Northeast corner or Southwest corner. Telephones can be placed in the Southeast or North­west corner but not in the Southwest or Northeast. An aquarium with 9 gold fish and one black fish, in the north east corner/portion of the house or factory is very good. If the north-east area is untidy or unshapely, the well being of male issues is found to be precarious. One should sleep with his head pointing towards the South. Students should be facing east while studying, for Academic Excellence. If the kitchen is off the proper place, some member or the other is always found to be suffering from severe digestive disorder. Keep the Gas in the south east corner of the kitchen. Person should face the east while cooking. Drinking water should be in the north east of the kitchen. While Taking meals the plate should be in South-East. A house should not have paintings, which depicts depressing scenes, i.e. like an old woman crying, scenes of war or poverty. It should have picture of say, a sunrise, an ocean, mountains, flowers or laughing children. Tall trees are nowhere recommended close to the main building. For trees the south in itself is good and so is the west. No tree should be grown in the north and the east. The one at the north-east is the worst. Small decorative plants and shrubs may be grown in the north and the east. The height should not exceed, say, half a meter at the north-east increasing gradually to not more than 1.5 meter as one moves from the north-east to the north-west or to the south-east end. Except rose and a few medicinal ones, all thorny plants give rise to tensions in the environment. Plants exuding white sap should also be kept off. Lime and karonda etc. are OK in an orchard but not in residence or business premises. Amongst the beneficial plants, the best is Tulsi. It is commendable to keep at least one Tulsi plant in the north-east area of the premises, but its height should not exceed 1.5 meter. Growing creepers/climbers with support on the compound wall or a house wall is best avoided. If north of any house is blocked it blocks prosperity. Water flowing/water fountain from north to east is very good.

Vaastu Shanti Tips for Offices/Businesses
In the office, the temple should not be placed at the back of the owner’s seat. The owner seat must be facing east or north. West is also permissible but it must not face south. There must always be a solid wall behind the owner’s seat. The owner’s desk must always be rectangle. The central point of a factory, house and office should be empty. Vaastu Shanti Tips for Offices/Businesses. In the office, the temple should not be placed at the back of the owner’s seat. The owner seat must be facing east or north. West is also permissible but it must not face south. There must always be a solid wall behind the owner’s seat. The owner’s desk must always be rectangle. The central point of a factory, house and office should be empty.
Setting Up a New House? - Read Vaastu For A New Home
Suffering from Vaastu Dosha? - Read Vaastu Remedies
CORRECT SITUATION OF CONSTRUCTION FOR A PARTICULAR SITE:
EARTH
ANGLES OF THE PLOT SW EXACT 90 DEGREE NE LESS THAN 90 DEGREE NW & SE MAY VARY ACCORDINGLY
COW SHED NW
FLOOR LEVEL NE LOW
GARAGE NW
LAND LEVEL NE LOW
MAIN GATE N-E
OFFICE NW-W
SERVANT QUARTER NW
SHAPE OF THE PLOT SQUARE OR RECTANGLE
STORES NW
STUDY ROOM NE
SEPTIC TANK NW
URINALS & TOILET W-NW
WATER
RAIN WATER SLOPE NE
OVER HEAD TANK NW OR W OR SW
UNDER GROUND TANK NE
TUBEWELL NE OR E
AIR
BALCONY N-E
DOOR N-E
PORTICO N-E-NE
VERANDAH N-E
WINDOWS N-E
BRAHMA STHAN NO CENTER PILLAR OR BEAM
FIRE
GEYSER SE OR NW
GENERATOR SE OR NW
HEATERS SE OR NW
JUNCTION BOX SE OR NW
KITCHEN (FIRE PLACE) SE OR NW
PRESS SE OR NW
TRANSFORMER SE OR NW
SPACE
FACTORY SHED SLOPE SW OR NE
HEIGHT MORE SW
MEZANINE FLOOR SW
MASTER BED ROOM SW
OPEN SPACE MORE NE
STAIR CASE SW OR South.