Our sages and saints in India wanted to ensure happiness and prosperity not only to mankind but also to every living being in this world. They showed serious concern about everyone’s welfare, primarily with a view to ensure that people live in peace and harmony.

Astrology remains a more as speculative science than result-oriented subject; the Vastushastra is definitely a result-oriented science if laid down as per its norm, it would definitely give positive result.

The home, which a man builds in his lifetime, is really his DREAM HOUSE, hence proper care has to be taken when the house/plot is purchased. Here he has to consult Vastushastra. Construction of house as per Vastu leads to a happy and prosperous life.

Before discussing more about Vastushastra, one has to go for the Nature, which consists of five elements: Sky, Air, Fire, Earth and Water. Vastu is affected with positive power of three elements : the earth, the water, the fire (the sun).

The Earth was formed about 460 crore years ago and it was a fiery ball. In due course of time, the rocks cooled and the surface was formed and acquired magnetism due to the magnetic particles embedded within. It has two poles, North Pole and South Pole.

Sky is the endless space available on the universe. The universal concept of sky is beyond the reaches of human being as it is a never-ending eternal development.

The Air (Atmosphere) is composed of gases like oxygen, nitrogen, carbon-di-oxide, helium, neon, krypton and vapor. Oxygen is life saving gas indispensable to a living organism.

The Water : Due to rainfall from clouds, water flowed into low-lying areas of earth's surface and oceans were formed. The eternal water cycle is a gift for mankind and a mystery of nature.

The Sun : Sun plays a vital role in Vastushastra. Sun is considered a source of life on earth and this is the reason why Sun is worshipped as an incarnation of God.

ROOTS OF INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

Man, being the most advanced living being in nature, his dwelling place too should be the best among all. This need of a comfortable dwelling place, known as ‘house’, alongwith other requirements of life was very well identified by our forefathers long back and India has the honor of being the first country in the world to boast of the origin of this "Science of House Building", known as Vastushastra.

Professor Max Muller once quoted in his speech, "If somebody were to ask me which is the country where the man has answered the most complex problems in various fields of life and science with his mental abilities and growth, I would say that it is INDIA".

Our Vedas are supposed to be the most ancient literature available on earth. Vedas contain the descriptions of GRIH, GEH, HARMYA, SHAALA, BHAWAN, AAGAR, and SADAN, all being synonyms of the word ‘House’. It does mean that our ancestors used to live in well-developed houses even in the Vedic period to which belong the roots of Vastushastra.

ORIGINATORS, TEACHERS AND PREACHERS

According to the ancient literature, there had been the following eighteen (18) originators, teachers and preachers of Vastushastra :

Not only houses, but temples, palaces, forts, market places, army buildings, horse stables and buildings for keeping different domestic animals were all constructed on the principles of Vastushastra.

1. The Doctrine of Orientation

In Vastu, east and north directions are given utmost importance. The sun’s rays, being a rich source of vitamin D are vital for the sustenance of life on earth. Doors and windows in the east would allow the sun’s ultraviolet rays to penetrate into the house, bestowing their benefits to the inmates of the house. In the afternoon on the other hand, the sun would be coursing to the west emitting infrared rays which are detrimental to the health and hence there should be less number of windows and thick walls in the rooms in west and southwest.

2. Site Planning : Vastu Purush Mandala

Vastu means environment, Purush means energy, Mandala means the astrological chart which relates the layout to the orientation. The surface of earth in traditional Indian Cosmology is regarded as demarcated by sunrise and sunset, and also by North and South points, and is represented by a diagram or a mandala of a square.

The science of architecture is a part of science of luminaries. The Vastu had come to the place of adjustment of solar and lunar cycles. The 32 divinities residing in the squares of the borders of the vastumandala is also the sum of 28 and 4, the number of regents of the four planets who rule the equinoctial and solsticial points referred to as the cardinal points and of regents of 28 nakshatras (constellations). Each of the divisions in the mandala is called a pada and has a presiding deity associated with it. Pada Vinyasa is a very convenient method, like a modern graph divided into uniform squares for the purpose of designing according to proportionate measurement.

(Fig. A)

Diagram / Picture Vastu Purusha

The image of the Vastu Purush on the Mandala is drawn in the likeness of man. Forty-five Gods are constituents of the body of the Vastu Purush; the extent allotted to each of the deity differs but not their relative position in the plan. The Lord of central square is always the Lord of Cosmos, the North is attributed to the Lord of wealth, South to the Lord of death, the East to the Lord of light, the West to the Lord of winds, suggesting that there be a courtyard in the center of the building.

When these are scrupulously followed proper ventilation and good disposition to the Sun and privacy is ensured. The house is compared to the human body and the central courtyard with Brahma, the eternal soul and their relationship is evoked when Graha Pravesha (house warming ceremony) is performed with traditional prayers and rituals.

3. The Proportionate Measurements : Mana

The adherence of mana is as old as Indian architecture and is imperative to all creative activity, of which angula (3/4th. of an inch) or hasta (18 inches) are the standards of measurement. The measurement is divided into 6 categories :

Measurement of height, breadth, width or circumference, along plumb lines, thickness, and interspaces.

Proportional relationships of these categories are laid out for various functional usages.

4. The Six Rules of Vedic Architecture

There are six main components (parts) of a building : Aadhisthana (Base), Stambha (Column), Prastara (Entablature), Karna (Wings), Shikhara (Roof), and Stuupi (dome).

5. Aesthetics of the building

Chanda is the structural aspect of building; its rhythmical disposition is like that of poetry. The science of rhythm (Chanda = beauty) extends to the rhythmical disposition of the ground plan of the building and their vertical section (urdhva chanda). Each brick and each building unit is filled with rhythm. It is a charged and compelling weight and shape in the hands of the builder. Rhythm evokes a reality and measure builds it up. Whatever is thus produced is called Meya, which is measurable, capable of being known and a quantity.

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