Submitted by

Deepa Priyadarshini
 INDRODUCTION
Since the middle 1990’s there have been sudden interest in the
subject of the vastu Shastra. People seems to have rediscovered
a long last panacea for their ills. All they need to do is to make a
few changes to their home or office layout and overnight they
have the health wealth and happiness which they lacked so
long.
To understand the basic principles, it is essential to start at the
very beginning to travel back in time to early Vedic period, for the
origin of and to the original, Vastu Shilpa Shartra
We define this science vastu Shastra as study of effect of Man ,
the Planet and the stars and the balancing of five elements
called Fire, Water, Air, Space and Earth. In china this study is
called Feng-Shui.
WHEN ARYANS CAME TO TOWN
When Aryans settle in Indian subcontinents the had used iron , they rode horses and had Vedas. the
fourth book atharvaveda included vastu shastra. the shastra advised the potential house-builder on
everything, right from choosing the site, to getting the correct consistency of mud for plastering the
walls. It taught what kind of soil would bear the load of the home and how to find the cardinal directions.
GNOMONIC COMPASS
This is how the solar north was charted before the
advent of the magnetic compass. A gnomon or pole was
erected in the middle of the site and a circle of radius
equal to the height of the pole drawn in the ground
around it. Then its shadow was plotted at sunrise (point
a) and sunset (point b) to give the east-west axis. After
that parallel and perpendicular lines are drawn to arrive
at the cardinal directions
SELECTION OF SITE
FROM WHOM NOT TO BUY A PLOT
According to Vastu Shastra, a plot or site of land should not be purchased :
1) From those who became insolvent
2) From person suffering from leprosy
3) From lunatics
4) From people who have left the country, etc.
Similarly, land donated to temple, allotted to watchman of village or colony, land in possession of
charitable trusts, land without any title deed should not be purchased. Land containing boulders, ant
hills, worm hills, bones and skeleton etc, should not be acquired.

DIRECTION OF THE PLOT

1) Plot facing East is good for scholars, philosophers, priests, professors, teachers etc.
2) Plot facing North is good for those in power, administration and those who work for government.
3) Plot facing South is good for business class and for those who work in business organization.
4) Plot facing West is for those who provide supporting services to the society.

ENVIRONMENT OR SURROUNDINGS OF THE PLOT

* Plots which are fertile with plants and greeneries are very good.
* A river or big canal nearby and if it is in North side and water flows from West to East, it is good
similarly if it is on East side of the plot with water flowing from South to North, that is also good But plots
with rivers or canal flowing on West or South side of the plot should be avoided.
* Hills, hillocks, mounds of Earth, big boulders etc on the Southern, South West and Western sides of
the plot is good : in other sides, it will mar the progress.
* There should be no graveyard, cemetery or tomb adjacent to the plot or in front or back.
* Location of temples near the plot also affect the inmates. Temple on the right side of a plot cause
material loss, on the left, grief and sorrow, in front, obstruction to progress and in the 100 feet apart,
those disastrous result are avoided.
* Similarly plot very near to Cinema-theatres, schools and colleagues are to be avoided.
OBSTRUCTION IN FRONT OF MAIN GATE OF PLOT

If there are obstructions of the under noted types before main gate of the plot, following problems will arise as
per BRAHUSANHITHA.
1) Big Tree-obstruction to the progress of children,
2) Gutter or Ditch-grief,
3) Open well- mental problem,
4) Corner of another building-mental unrest,
5)Water drain-draining of income by unwanted expenses,
6) Straight street-affecting longevity of inmates,
7) Dilapidated house or walls-affecting prosperity,
8) Staircase railings-sadness,
9) Pillars; Electric and telephone post-affecting females.

According to VASTURAJ VALLABH and BRAHUSANHITA these are called VEDH DOSHA. But in between
the plot and obstacles if there is a public road, these deficiencies are nullified.
Similarly, if the distance between the obstacles and the house is two times the height of the house, these
deficiencies will have no effect. For example, if the height of the house is 11 feet and if the obstructions
are more than 22 feet away, Vedh Dosha vanishes.
SORROUNDINGS OF NEIGHBOURS
The surroundings of our neighboring houses on all sides also affect us.
1) Rain water falling from the roofs of neighbors should not flow into our plot particularly from North or East
direction.
2) The affluent of neighbor should not flow into our plot.
3) In the North East side of the plot high-rise or tall buildings should not be there because such high rise
buildings give rise to mental unrest. But if they are in South, South West or Western sides that will be
auspicious to the buyer of the new plot or house.
4) In between two neighboring big plots, a smaller plot should not be purchased. Similarly between two tall
buildings, a small house should not be bought. This will make the buyer poorer day by day.  

A plot measuring 180 feet By 100 feet (180*100) was purchased by three parties.

B C

Here the person who bought plot C turns out to be most prosperous while owner of plot B has to face all
sorts of trouble
Roads in Relation to Land
A square piece of land surrounded by roads on four sides is
considered very good.

Adjacent Roads
North & East All - round prosperity
North & West Prosperity and achievement 
South & East Suitable only for certain purposes,
provided entry is in the East. 
Good for women, organizations and restaurants. 
South & West Average good effects
South & North Very good if the entry is in the North
North, East & West Progress and prosperity
East, North & South Promotion in life
South, West & East Good for trading and business
West, North & South Growth and expansion
All four directions
( NEWS ) Very good

Building Material
Only new bricks, wood, and materials should be used when building a new house. Materials from an old
building should not usually be used to build a new one in case those old materials repeat negative incidents
that occurred in the old house. There is unhappiness in using old things. Wood from thorny trees should not
be used, as it will have a negative effect. Materials that have been stored for a long time should also not be
used. Iron grills should only be used when needed.
SLOPES OF PLOTS :
The Moon's place that is South Western portion
of the plot should be elevated and the Sun's
place, that is North and Eastern portion should
be at lower level. Such a plot will bring joy and
happiness, good children and success in life to
that family. On the other hand, if Sun's place is
elevated and Moon's place is depressed, the
owner and family of that house will become
poorer day by day, suffer from diseases and
get entangled in quarrels and litigations and
lose everything gradually

SHAPE OF THE PLOT:

In a rectangular plot, the ratio of length to
width should not exceed 1:2. if the avg.
length is 5 to 6 times of the avg. width,
there is going to be lot of useless space
remaining on either side or longer side.
Serial
Shape of the plot Figure Effects
No.

Square (all corners

Very auspicious, brings health, wealth
1. straight and at 90°)                                  
and happiness.
shaped                      

Good and auspicious. Brings all round

2. Rectangular Shaped                                  
prosperity.
           

Good for constructing circular Shaped

3. Circular Shaped  
buildings only.

                                 
              Owner loses financial status and faces
4. Wheel Shaped
poverty.

                                 
Odd Shaped (irregular Causes all types or problems and
5.                      
shaped) poverty
                                   
                           Affects progress and causes
6. Triangular Shaped
problems from government.

                                  
                     Not good for residence. Can be
7. Bhadarshan Shaped used for special type of buildings
like government buildings only.

                                   Causes wants and poverty, even

8. Cart Shaped                      imprisonment. The owner has to
run here and there like a Cart.

                                   Not good if used for cattle shed,

9. Long bar Shaped
                            the cattle reared here perish.

Damru shaped (a tiny Will have very bad effect on the

                                  
size musical damru eye sight of inmates. Also
10.             
with deep bend in the everyone in the house will lose
middle) discretion fright judgments.
Well or Water Source
It is advised that the first construction project for the new house is to dig the well. If water is used
from this well for the construction, it is auspicious for the family who will live in the house. It is best
that the well or water source is on the north or northeast side of the land, or if water comes from the
municipality, it should enter from the northeast side. If you draw a line from the southeast corner to
the northeast corner, the well should be to the right or left of the line, not on it.

The well can also be in the north or east sides of the property. The well should not be in the
northwest or southeast corners, as this is inauspicious. It is especially inauspicious if the well is dug
in the southwest corner. It is also inauspicious to have a well in the middle of a house.

Wells should be round. Ideally, the well water should be exposed to sunlight for five hours a day. It is
not recommended to share wells between two properties.

Overhead Water Tank

The overhead water tank should be in the southwest (best) or west corners of the building. An overhead
water tank should not be located in the northeast or southeast corners, or in the middle of the roof. It is also
best that it is not located in the northwest unless the tank is small and is located approximately 1m (2 or 3
ft) from the building’s corner. The tank should be elevated at least 1m (2 or 3 ft) above the roof, on a
platform. If possible, the tank should not be made of plastic. If it must be plastic, however, it should either
be black or dark blue plastic, because such colors aid the absorption of sunlight. A dark water tank while
absorbing sun for heat doesn’t encourage microbial growth as quickly as a light-colored tank would do.
Entrance Gate and Main Door
The main door of the house should be larger than the other doors
entering the house. The main door should have two shutters and open to
the inside of the building. Teak is a good material for the entrance door.

It is best that a house has two entrances. The exit door should be smaller
than the entrance, and it should have only one shutter. If there are two
external doors for the house, they should not be set in a straight line.

When one enters the house, there should not be a wall in front of the
entrance. There should be a door that opens to the next room. A shadow
should not fall on the main door. The main door of the house should not
be below ground. Neither should the main door be in the center of the
house, nor in the extreme corners. If the door is set in the north wall,
move it east of center; if it’s in the east wall, move it north of center. If it is
set in the south wall, it should be moved east of center; if it is in the west
wall, move it south of center.

If the entrance of the house is to the south, there should not be a balcony
or verandah in front of the door It is good to set gates to both the property
and the entrance to the house on the north or east sides. It is also all right
to have the main door on the west wall. It is not advised to have the main
entrance on the south side.

It is considered auspicious if the entrance to the property and the main

door of the house are on the same side. It is not considered good if the
main door to the house is on the opposite side to the entrance of the green and red dots represent
property. There should not be an underground tank, septic tank, or canal suitable and unsuitable positions
under the main entrance.
32 GODS AROUND THE COURT

Legend has it that a gigantic demon, Vastu Purusha,

arose from a drop of Shiva’s sweat and ravaged the world.
Each of the god was assigned a specific seat or pada,
with Brahma occupying the centre and 32
deities placed in the peripheral squares
according to their importance. The Mandala is a cosmic
diagram of the subjugated Purusha and shows him with
his head towards the north–east and his feet towards the
south-west. The number of squares in the Mandala follow
a geometric progression of
1,4,9,16,25,36,49,64,81….1024.

The positions of the different gods in the

Mandala are the basis for related activities
in the house. For example, since Agni, the god of
fire inhabits the south east corner, that is considered
the ideal place to have kitchen.
Brahma the supreme being who inhabits the large
central square, is also representative of the dimension
above ground level. This portion is therefore left open
to sky as a courtyard – a very practical way of
ensuring adequate light and ventilation within the
dwelling. The courtyard in general, is almost always
cool and shaded, so becoming the focus of all
household activity.
Agni for example, being in the south-east and
denoting fire is the logic for putting the
kitchen there. If not, then the kitchen goes to
the north-west or north or east. Similarly, the
toilet can be anywhere except in the south-
west or north-east sectors.

Kitchen
The kitchen should ideally be in the southeast corner of the house, its windows on the east and south
sides. There can also be a window on the west side. If the kitchen cannot be in the southeast corner, it is all
right to place it in the northwest corner. But in general, the kitchen should not be in the north, and should
certainly not be in the northeast corner. Locating the kitchen to the southwest will cause problems.

The kitchen should not be next to or across from a toilet, nor should it be directly in front of the main door.

Cooking should be done in the southeast corner or on the east side of the kitchen. It is best to cook while
facing east, but facing north is also all right. It is advisable not to put the stove on the northern wall. The
stove should not be in front of the kitchen’s door. Electrical items such as microwaves, grinders, and mixers
should be placed in the southeast corner of the kitchen. The sink should be in the northeast corner. The
southwest wall should be used for storage.

The refrigerator should be in the northwest, southeast, south, or west. It should not be placed on the
northeast side. If it is on the southwest side of the kitchen, be sure to set it away from the wall.
If there is a dining table in the kitchen, it should be placed on the north or west side. The door to the toilet
should not face the dining table.

Kitchens should be painted yellow, rose, red, orange, or chocolate brown. If possible, do not paint the walls
white or black
Dining Room
The dining room should be located on the west side of the house, or on the east or north side of the
building. If the kitchen is on the ground floor, the dining room should not be on an upper floor but should
also be located on the ground floor.

The door leading into the dining room should be on the east, north, or west side of the room. It should
not have arches. The house’s main entrance door should not face the dining room’s door. It is best to
face east or west while eating. The head of the family should face east during meals. Other members of
the family can face east, north, or west, but it is not advisable to face south.

The dining table should not be round or oval but either square or rectangular. It should not fold from the
wall or be attached to the wall.

A sink can be located in the northeast corner of the dining room, or on the north or east sides of the
room. No toilets should be attached to the dining room.   
Bathrooms
Bathrooms can be on the west or northwest sides of the building, but not on the eastern or
northeastern sides. The toilet room should also not be located on the southeast, the southwest, or
in the center of the building. The morning sun falling on the body after bathing is good, so windows
should be set in the north or east sides of the room.

Ideally, toilets should face south, not east or west (in the direction of the sun). The toilet should be
located on the west or northwest side of the room and should be built 30–60cm (1 or 2 feet) above
the ground. An attached bathroom should be on the west or northwest side of a room, never on the
northeast side.

Sinks should be placed on the northeast, north, or east sides of the room. Bathtubs should be
located on the northeast, west, or east sides Bathroom walls should be painted white, sky blue, or
another light shade. Do not use black or dark red.

Water should leave the bathroom from the east or northeast side. Water should not leave from the
southwest or southeast directions. The overhead septic tank should be on the northwest side of the
house.
For living area, the north and east are
preferred simply from the point of view of
coolness and comfort, while bedrooms, being
the only areas which are used more at night
than during the hot daytime , are recommended
in the south and west.
Children are advised to sleep with their heads
to the east and adults with their heads towards
the south. (earths magnetic field)

Living (Sitting) Room

The living room should be on the north side of the house. Furniture should be square or rectangular,
not round or oval. It is good if the ceiling slopes down toward the northeast direction. The air-
conditioner should be in the west, not the southeast. Furniture should mainly be in the west and
south section of the room.

The walls should be painted white, yellow, green, or blue, never red or black. Depressing paintings
should not be placed on the walls.
Bedrooms
The main bedroom should be on the southwest or northwest side of the house. If there is an upper story
in the house, the master bedroom should be on this floor, in the southwest corner. Bedrooms on the
northeast side of the house will also cause trouble.

The children’s bedrooms should be in the northwest or west. The younger children’s bedroom can also
be on the east side of the house, Guest bedrooms are best located in the northwest corner, but can
also be located in the northeast corner.

Bedroom walls should be painted a light rose, dark blue, dark green, gray, etc. Some authorities say
that the walls should not be painted white or a light yellow. The door should be set in the east, west or
north, and should ideally be one shutter.

One should sleep in his own house with his head facing east or south. One should never sleep with his
head facing north. The wardrobe should be located on the northwest or southwest side of the bedroom.
TV, heaters, and air conditioners should be located in the southeast corner.

The southwest corner of the room should not be vacant. An attached bathroom could be built on the
west or north sides of the room. It is best not to keep the safe in a bedroom, but if this is the only place
for the safe, it should be located on the south wall, opening north. 
Study Room
The library or study should be located on the west side of the building, but should not be located in the
corners of the house. When using a library or study, it is best to sit facing east or north.

The bookshelves should not be in the northwest or southwest corner. Books should be in the east, north,
or west sides of the room. The door should be two-shuttered and should be located in the northeast,
north, or west. Windows can be set on the east, north, or west walls. The walls should be painted white,
sky blue, cream, or light green.
Stairways
Best to build stairways on the southwest, or if necessary, on the south or west sides of the house.
Do not build stairways on the northeast side, as it will cause loss of wealth. The staircase should go up
from east to west or north to south. The same stairway that goes to the upper floor should not also go
down to the basement.

Stairways should be built with an odd number of stairs—9, 11, or 15 steps, for example. The number
of stairs should not end with a zero if you must build an even number—there should not be 10 or 20
steps—because it is best to begin climbing steps with the right foot and also to end the climb on the
right foot. The right foot is equated with gain, the left with loss. Circular stairways are not good.

The stairway should be painted a light color. The worship room, safe, or toilet should not be located
under a staircase. 
Parking
Cars should be parked facing east or north. A car should never be parked facing south. If a car is
parked facing west or northwest, the owner will spend a long time traveling.

The parking lot should be in the northwest corner of the property. It should not be located to the
southwest or northeast. Parking can also be located in the basement, on the north or east side.
A parking garage should not be connected to the compound wall or the main building.

Roof
The roof of the house should slope towards the northeast and rainwater should flow to the north,
east, or northeast direction

Balconies and Verandahs

Balconies, verandahs, and terraces should ideally be built on the north, northeast, or east sides of the
house, not on the south or west sides. If a balcony is on the southwest side of a house, it should be
covered and closed.

The floor or roof over a balcony or terrace should be lower than the floor or roof of the main building. It is
best if the verandah’s roof is slanted toward the northeast. Tin is a good roofing material for such
structures. The verandah’s corners should not be rounded, and balconies should not have arches.
Flowerpots on the verandah should be small. No creepers should be planted on a verandah. The seats
on the verandah should be set on the south or west sides. Shoes can be removed and placed on the
verandah. They should not be placed to the northeast.  
Position of Rooms

Ruling Planet Room

Directions
North Mercury Living (Sitting) room safe
Northeast Jupiter Worship room living room
East Sun Living room bathing room (no toilet)
Southeast Venus Kitchen
South Mars Kitchen storeroom
Southwest Rahu Master bedroom heavy storage
West Saturn Children’s bedroom store room study    
Northwest Moon Guest room bathroom grain storage room
kitchen in Bedroom
S-W corner moved to
S-W corner

Bedroom in
N-W corner

Entrance Portico
Kitchen
door in S-E moved to extended
corner Cut in N-E S-E corner
corner

Main gate
is in east of
S-E corner
 Septic tank in
N-W corner
Septic tank in
north

Bedroom is in Kitchen door in

N-E corner N-E n stove in Pooja in N-E
S-E
Kitchen door is
in east of S-E
corner Toilet in N-W

Store door is in
north of N-W
corner

Portico is opp to
main gate

Main gate is
shifted