Exploring the Essentials of Vastu Shastra

Easy understanding of Vastu principles for prosperous living

Praveen Dave
3 min readApr 15, 2023
Image from Public Domain

Vastu Shastra, literally science of architecture, is a traditional Indian system of architecture based on ancient texts that describe principles of design, layout, measurements, ground preparation, space arrangement, and spatial geometry. The designs aim to integrate architecture with nature, meaning right balance of Five basic elements ( Pancha Maha -Bhuta) responsible for all cosmic creation. These are Earth, water, Fire, Air and Space. The integration of these elements into the design of a building is believed to create a harmonious and balanced environment, which can enhance the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of its occupants.

It also takes into account the flow of Nature’s energy viz., Magnetic energy ( South to North), Spiritual energy ( Sun power) and Cosmic energy and their alignment with design of a construction object, be it for residence, office, commercial or industrial purpose. These energies are believed to have a profound impact on the individuals who occupy a space, and their alignment with the design of a building is considered to be essential for creating a healthy and productive environment.

Origin of Vastu Shastra

Vastu shastra finds origin in Indian mythology. It is believed that God Brahma ( creator of universe) gave Vastu Shastra knowledge to his son Vishwakarma the first and the greatest Architect. His classic construction on earth was a city “ Dwarika” in western part of present India for Lord Krishna. Archaeological excavations have brought out from the sea many artifacts suggesting that an opulent city stood there in the distant past. Hindus invariably performs Vastu Pujan ( rituals) at the time of ground breaking ceremony and at the time of occupying the completed building. This is to worship God Brahma, Vishwakarma and nature for obtaining their blessings.

Vastu Principles

The image given below describes the placement of Five basic elements in respective directions. This means in any construction these Basic elements should have a definite place ( as indicated) for perfect Vastu. It also explains,

-Flow of Magnetic Energy

-Flow of Spiritual Energy and

-Cosmic Energy

Image by Author
Image by Author

Five Basic Elements

Now let us understand as how the Five basic elements are incorporated and in what form in actual construction of Residential, Office, Commercial and Industrial buildings. The following image explains this.

Image by Author

How to Select Property using Vastu Principles

Construction companies in India commonly employ Vastu consultants to provide Vastu-related advice and guidance throughout the design and construction phases of their projects. It is imperative to incorporate Vastu principles during these early stages as making changes once construction is completed can be challenging or even impossible.

However, the challenge arises when attempting to achieve complete compliance with Vastu principles in any construction project. This is particularly evident in the case of residential flats in multi-storey buildings, bungalows clustered together, and offices located within city centres, where land scarcity and costs can present significant obstacles to Vastu compliance. In such situations, it may be necessary to compromise on certain Vastu principles.

When selecting a property, it is advisable to utilize Vastu guidelines to choose the “best of the lot” where most Vastu conditions are met.

In my forthcoming blog, I will delve into the essential selection criteria for land, residential properties, offices etc. Additionally, I will explore the impact of nature’s energy once the property is occupied.

Stay tuned for an informative and insightful blog post.

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Praveen Dave

Empowering you to save energy, save money, and save the planet, one post at a time."