happy living
Vaastu for a happy living
Vaastu literally means " house" or dwelling place. The principles of Vaastu establish to create a harmony between the fine elements in the environment.
Vaastu is directly related with nature, earth's magnetic field that is invisible but a powerful force, which affects man's life. Vaastu helps in making a congenial setting or a place to live and work in a most scientific way taking advantage of the benefits bestowed by nature, its elements and energy fields for enhanced health, wealth, prosperity and happiness. The Vaastu science mainly deals with the natural needs of the man for living, like weather, winds, light etc., and the restrictions or passage of these natural sources in the dwelling.
Man through the art of design, alters and moulds the elements of natural environment. The world comprises of five basic elements - Earth, Sky, Air, Fire and Water. They are also known as the Paanchbhootas. Among the nine planets, our planet has life because of the presence of these five elements.
Earth (Prithvi) - Earth is the third planet in order form the Sun. It is a big magnet with north and south poles as centers of attractions. Its magnetic field and gravitational force has telling effects on everything on Earth whether living or non-living. Three fourths of Earth's surface is water and one fourth is land. Its main characteristics are Shabda, Sparsha, Roopa, Rasa, and Guna. Earth is the only element linked to all five senses thus exerting the maximum influence on us.
Sky (Aakaash) - Sky is the endless space available on the universe. It's effective forces are light, heat, gravitational force and waves, magnetic field and others. Its main characteristic is Shabda (Sound). As it is related to our sense of hearing, in a house, space element is related to the centre portion or the brahmasthan.
Air (Vaayu) - Atmosphere of the Earth is about 400 kms in depth and is composed of gases like oxygen, nitrogen, carbon-di-oxide, helium, neon, crypton and vapour. Oxygen is life saving gas indispensable to living organism. Our sense of sound, touch and feel are related to Air. Its main characteristics are Shabda and Sparsha (Sound).
Fire (Agni)- Sun is a source of life on earth and has a vast resource of heat generation. Agni represents light and heat of fire (burning), lightning, volcanic or plutonic heat, the heat of fever or inflammation, energy, days and nights, seasons and such other aspects of Solar system, and also enthusiasm, ardor, passion, spirited vigor. The main characteristics are Shabda, Sparsha and Roopa (form).
Water (Jala) - It is represented by rain, river and sea. It has various forms like liquid, solid ice, and gas steam. In every plant and life on Earth water exists in certain proportion and its main characteristics are Shabda, Sparsha, Roopa and Rasa (taste). The eternal water cycling is mystery of nature.
Vaastu is a science and a bridge between man and nature. With the help of Vaastu one can have a happy and peaceful life. Happy Vaastuing!
Vaastu and Health
Introduction to VastuThe
VaastuGuru discusses how meditation raises one’s inner life force or kundalini shakti. The raising of one’s kundalini is essential for Self-Realization.
Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) as another influence upon our health, career and lifestyle in general.
The Vedic science of architecture, Vلstu Shلstra, integrates the sciences of Ayurveda and Jyotish by providing the link between humans and the astrological influences.
Vلstu considers the magnetic fields of the earth, the influences of the planets and other heavenly bodies as necessary factors to consider when designing commercial or residential buildings, temples and even towns, villages and cities. It is believed that architectural structures are alive, influenced by natural law just as the health of humans is influenced by nature.
Thus living in a home (or working in an office) built according to natural law ensures general prosperity of the owners. Vلstu’s integration of astrology, earth, health, science and spirituality or religion is wonderfully evident as one reads through the Vلstu texts.
For example, in Hindu religion the deity of the Sun is said to ride in a chariot pulled by seven horses or deities. They are also called the seven rays of the Sun. It is important to have these rays enter buildings for light and health reasons.
However, reading that it is useful to have these seven deities enter the home may raise the eyebrows of religious skeptics or persons of other religions. Yet these seven deities happen to also be called the seven visible colors of the spectrum of Solar white light.
In other words, violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red, are merely the scientific names of these rays, while Vلstu also sees their spiritual, religious or mythological names.
Thus, Vلstu offers insights into the link between modern science and ancient universal religion or spirituality; it is only a matter of semantics whether to call the Sun’s rays the names of deities or spectrum colors.
This semantic interchangeability of scientific and religious names are found in Ayurveda and the other Vedic sciences, as well as in most (if not all) ancient religions. Vلstu describes other deities (light wavelengths) associated with the Sun that are still unable to be detected by modern scientific instruments.
So the rules of Vلstu offer deeper insights into the laws of nature that modern science has yet to discover. Since the focus of Ayurveda is holistic (i.e., all-inclusive),it is useful to consider harmonizing or balancing the external influences involving architectural structures.
Vلstu Shلstra considers the quality of the soil, the shape and elevations of the land, the direction placement and the number of windows and doors, the thickness and height of walls and doors. In short, not even the minutest details of building are left to chance.
Like Ayurveda and Jyotish, Vلstu is also a spiritual science. The house is divided into a certain number of squares (e.g., 81 squares), and each square is ruled by another deity. Windows are determined according to the path of the Sun to allow for the seven solar rays (or deities) to bless (enter) the house.
Persons living or working in a Vلstu-built structure experience the enhancement of health, general well being and prosperity. This is due to the external influences of natural law provided through the structure.
The diagram below is one version of the blueprint that is overlaid on a building site. The rectangle represents the building. Each box inside the rectangle is ruled by a different deity. The four dark rectangles (made up of six smaller boxes) are ruled by one deity per large box.
Finally, the nine small boxes in the middle of the house are ruled by the main deity, Brahma. Traditionally, one does not have walls or pillars in the center of the house so as to leave room for Brahma. Thus the building is seen as a very holy place.
Further, the building is seen as a body. The head is in the upper right boxes, arms . The arms run along the top and right outer boxes. The legs extend along the left and lower outer boxes, etc.
The heart resides in Brahma’s box. If one has a health problem, it is believed that part of the structure in pertaining to that area of the house was not built according to Vلstu natural law.
Diagram: A 9 x 9 Vلstu building blueprint
Determining the size , shape, etc. of the house is based on one’s Jyotish (Vedic astrology) birth chart. In this way, Ayurveda and Jyotish are linked with the home, earth and the natural laws that govern all things.
It is difficult to discuss the details of Vلstu for two reasons. First, it is a subject requiring more space than can be provided in a book on Ayurveda. Second, several schools of Vلstu exist.
To date, no clear, simple book exists that outlines one consistent approach from start to finish. At this time it may not be practical to build a Vلstu-type home outside of India due to the lack of Vلstu architects and builders.
Several such architects are known who live in the U.S. The lack of information on Vلstu creates a second practical drawback. Information to inexpensively remedy existing buildings is all but nonexistent.
Interest in Vلstu has dramatically increased in India. Perhaps the growing interest in Ayurveda and Jyotish will awaken desires to learn more about Vلstu Shلstra in Western countries.
Then these spiritual architects can be inspired to write, teach and lecture on the subject. Throughout India and other Asian countries Vلstu-built temples abound. Some Hindu temples in the U.S. also have built according to traditional Vلstu guidelines.
Some modern homes, apartments, offices and factories in India and the U.S. are also applying Vلstu guidelines. Several books exist that have photographs of both traditional and modern Vلstu structures for readers to get a better vision of these buildings.
This article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe. It in no way is intended to substitute for care from duly licensed health professionals.
