Introduction: Vastu is an Ancient Eastern Belief System
Vastu is an ancient eastern belief system that is based on the principle of balancing energy. It was first developed in India, but has since spread to other parts of the world. Vastu can be applied to many aspects of life, from architecture and interior design to personal well-being.
The word vastu translates as “the science or art of living” and it is believed that by following a Vastu-based lifestyle, one can improve their health and increase their wealth.
Vastu is based on the principle of balancing energy, so it should come as no surprise that every aspect of a home should be designed with this in mind. The goal is to create a harmonious environment where all energies are present in equal amounts, which leads to balance and good fortune
How to Prepare for a House Construction in Vastu Principles & Principles of Ayurveda
The Vastu principles and the principles of Ayurveda are ancient Indian philosophies that provide guidelines for designing buildings and homes. These two schools of thoughts have been practiced for centuries and their principles have been proven to work in a number of cases.
The Vastu principles are based on the principle that all living beings, including humans, should live in harmony with nature. It is essential to know about the five elements, which are earth, water, fire, air and space. The five elements dictate how each room should be designed in order to achieve balance among these elements.
The Importance of the Location and Building Site Plot in this Ancient Eastern Belief System
In Vastu, the plot is the most important aspect of the property. The site plot is the location of a building in relation to its surroundings.
The site itself is divided into three parts, which represent the different energies, vastsu (earth), vaamya (heaven) and rasaleela (ether). which are in the body. The Right part of the site is for vaamya, which is the energy of creativity and love, and it is about dreams. The Left part of the site for vastsu, which means earth. This helps ground you.
The importance of site plots in this ancient Eastern belief system is that it makes up for about half of the energy that a person has, and it influences their fate.
In Taoism, one of the five elements that make up a person is their "chi", which is their life force. The chi can be either positive or negative depending on how they were raised and the things they do in life. Taoists believe that we need a balance in order to have good health and a longer lifespan, which is where site plots come into play.
If you are looking for a plot to build your home, there are many factors to consider. What is the location of your plot? Is it near any natural hazards or bodies of water? You may also want to look at the direction of the plot in relation to the sun and wind, as well as its shape.
Selection Factors and Affects
- Surrounding of the plot: It is important that the plot you select is fertile. There should be plants or grass on the land, there shouldn't be a temple or a school next to it, and there shouldn't be an open body of water connected to it either. It should not be in between two larger plots of land and its shape should not take up more than 1/3rd of the
- Level of Land: An even ground is best for selecting a plot. A rocky land is considered inauspicious. If the South and West part of the plot is higher than the North and East, it brings good luck
- Roads around the plot: A plot surrounded by road on all four sides is considered best as per traditional vastu. A plot at the dead end of the road is not appropriate for construction. However, if the road reaches the width of the plot it will be suitable
- Shape of the plot: There are some taboos when it comes to buying and building houses. One of these is the shape of the plot which should ideally be rectangular or square shaped. When plotted out on a map, each side should point towards an important direction within East, West, North and South of your plot. An irregularly shaped plot is considered very bad luck while even a T-shaped.
- Although this is the case, uneven geometrical plots can be made into perfect rectangles by using a practice called vastu fence. This is done by using a perpendicular or "right angle" in the corners of the plot that are opposite of each other.
- Obstruction to the plot: There have been cases where plots with tall buildings blocking the sky or people can't see in front of them do not attract buyers.
- Color of the soil: Soil that is red or yellow usually indicates an increase in wealth. Soils which are black or clay cannot be good.
- Direction of the plot: Plot directions also play an important role. Eastern and northern facing plots are best for construction and they are beneficial to people in certain fields. Plot faces that face different directions are good for a diversity of people with different interests and goals.
- Retraction or cuts in the plot: If there are any cuts or corners that are retracted, it will inevitably lead to bad misfortune. In order to stop this happening, a wall should be made in a rectangular or square shape around the plot. Otherwise when building multiple buildings, each one can have an effect on the people living in them.
- Extensions in the plot: If a plot has a natural extension toward the northeast, it brings health & prosperity. Extension on any other side is not good and should be avoided.
East Orientation
For example, sunlight is the most nourishing at sunrise. Ayurveda also recognized this and encouraged people to get outside as soon as the sun rose. So due east is often the best direction for a building's main entrance.
According to Eastern philosophy, you should always face east when engaged in important activity. For example, Vastu design recommendations mean that your bedroom will be oriented in this way so that you can sleep with your head pointing east and be optimally aligned with the energy of the Earth.
The sun is most intense at noon, which means it's the best time to have your main meal. You should also place your kitchen and dining room in these directions.
As the sun sets in the west, Kapha will be rising to help you get a good night's sleep. Vastu generally has bedrooms on the west.
Unique Features
Construction features unique to Vastu include:
- Vastu Fence: It's common for homes in Vastu to have a carefully designed fence or wall. It extends the influence of a harmonious home and its boundaries are limited by the fence. The protection is provided by limiting access from all other sides, except one that is typically opened.
- Brahmasthan: The center of the home is a space that corresponds to the hub of pure consciousness at the source of life. It's a space where Wholeness resides to unify and nourish all rooms in your home. In some homes, professionals have designed spaces which have this kind of 'Brahmasthan'. Cupoles have been working as clever chimneys for a very long time. They allow for ventilation during summer.
- Vedic Kalash: Traditionally, each Vedic home will have an ornate Kalash on the roof. The Kalash adorns a Brahmasthan and communicates to the Gods that there is a resident present as well.
Ideal Plot Shapes
- Square Plot: Square plots are a great option for commercial or residential purposes. They have consistency and strong material, so they're perfect if you're looking for northeast or east-facing sites.
- Rectangular Plot: A lot of people prefer them for residential or commercial space. The ideal type of property would be north or south slope with a 1:2 length-to-width ratio and if you can, try to have the length longer than the width.
Vastu: Other Land Shapes
Lion Shape
Vastu experts recommend that you should buy a plot of land which are similar to Shermukhi Plots and will bring wealth. They are broad at the front but narrow towards the end, in the shape of a lion
Here's how to position plots in a logical way –
- The broader part of the plot must have the Northside
- The roads must be at the northern or the eastern side of the plot
Shermukhi Properties is the perfect choice for commercial purposes. The lion symbolizes power, strength and dominance so their company is really ideal when it comes to power and space solutions.
Cow Shape
The Cow Shape Area (Cow Mahal Area) is one of the most auspicious shapes, considered by Vastu to be a Gaumukhi Plot. Cows are revered in Hindu culture, and so this shape offers great luck to any real estate buyer.
However, here is the ideal positioning of the plot –
- The broader part should be in the north-east direction
- South or the western part is ideal for roads
- The narrow part must have the North-east Corner
Vastu has different guidelines for whether the Gambling Mansion is auspicious or inauspicious, based on its orientation. It's considered auspicious when a plot faces the East and is flanked by roads on all sides.
Vastu Tests to help determine the positivity of the Land
- The Water Test: If the ground soaks in water, and there is less than 15 cm of residue left on the ground, don’t purchase this land. When a water level is deep enough to cover 30 cm of ground, the land quality is medium grade. The ground becomes ready for purchase when it absorbs all the water. If the water in the pit flow clockwise, then this indicates a positive energy flow. You can buy such a plot even if the price is high.
- Seed Germination Test: The test starts by planting a few Basil seeds in the ground. Basil is a very fertile plant that can only grow in environments with positiveness. The land is favorable when the seeds germinate to healthy plants. Else, avoid the land.
- Test for Smell-Taste-Color: To conduct the test, remove the top layer of soil, and dig some from below. If there's a foul odour, it means the land has destructive energy. According to Vastu Shastra, if the land smells of organic produce and feels like a garden, it is a good sign for purchase.
Construction Process in Vastu and Ayurveda Principles for Homes in Vastu
Vastu is the Indian ancient science of architecture, which primarily deals with the design of buildings. Vastu Shastra offers guidelines on how to construct a building so that it is in harmony with its surroundings and reflects the balance of nature. The principles of Vastu are based on five key elements: space, air, fire, water and earth.
Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that originated in India. It is based on natural remedies derived from plants, animals and minerals to maintain balance in body and mind. Ayurveda has also been used to create guidelines for home construction according to the principles of Ayurveda. The guidelines include where to place furniture in a home