9. Sept 2014

PERSPECTIVE
VASTU
VS
ARCHITECTURE
text DR MADHAV MANGAL JOSHI
If the energy that the land generates is not positive, or if the land does not generate
energy at all, then the house constructed on it never can be suitable to live in, even if all
other principles of Vastu have been applied cautiously.
The main concept of Vastu is not different
from Architecture. These are
almost similar. The architecture is more
concerned with design: Designing house
in such a way that each section would be
sufficiently bright and warm. Vastu also
demands the same: Vastu demands the
balance of five elements while designing
a house. The five elements are earth,
water, air, fire and the sky.
The land in which we base our architecture
is the earth element. Moisture
is also important to be in the structure
that is water element. There must be
sufficient air passing through. And, the
room needs to be sufficiently warm: the
fire element suffices the rooms with
warmth. If the room is not sufficiently
high, then we feel suffocated. This is the
element of sky to be considered in this
aspect. So, Vastu teaches to maintain
the balance of all these five elements.
Let's consider the earth element first.
While selecting the land to build any
structure on, the shape, slope and the
energy it flows needs to be considered.
For homes, square shape of land is
considered to be the best. For seismic
reasons, too, it is considered the best.
Rectangular and even circular are other
alternatives. But it is recommended that
the length should not exceed the double
of the breadth if we choose a rectangular
land; it is risky from seismic reason,
too. It is believed that the shape of the
land and the structure should not be of
multiple corners and the any corner of
less than 90 degree. But in some cases,
if the corner in the northeast direction is
narrower than 90, it is considered to be
the best. On the contrary the narrower
corners in some other direction might be
disastrous. The worst kind of land is of
triangular shape.
Similarly the slope of the land facing east
is considered to be the best. It is believed
that it brings positive effects in health if
the land is slanted towards the east. And,
if the slope is facing the north, that is
believed to bring wealth. On the contrary,
the slope of land slanted towards
west might harm the health and slanted
towards south might cause poverty.
Only the perfect shape and the slope
of the land does not mean that the land
is the best to construct any house on.
The energy that the land generates
also should be considered cautiously.
Traditionally, in most of the cases in
Nepal and India, even these days, the
energy of the land used to be tested by
smelling the soil or tasting it or digging
the land and pouring water in it. Europe
has developed now a special kind of
measuring rod to test the energy of the
land. With the help of the rod, which is
called Dowsing Rod, we can test the energy
within a few seconds. If we depend
only on the smelling or tasting the soil to
measure the energy, the accuracy never
can be guaranteed. If the energy that
the land generates is not positive, or if
the land does not generate energy at all,
then the house constructed on it never
can be suitable to live in, even if all other
principles of Vastu have been applied
cautiously. You don't feel comfortable to
live in such houses.
Only after considering all these things,
here comes the design: Maybe the role of
architecture begins only after, but the role
of Vastu does not end. While designing
the house the principles of Vastu should
be followed. Principle of Vastu again
means maintaining the balance of five
elements and considering the energy. For
example, to place the Kitchen, southeast
is the best direction since it represents
fire elements. Northeast is the direction
of water and thus to place water in this
direction is considered to be the best.
While considering energy, life force which
is called pran vayu flows east to west and
geomagnetic force flows north to south.
Northeast is the main source of energy,
thus it is the best direction to place living
room and also prayer room.
SEPTEMBER 2014 / 57