While talking about home designing, Vaastu is
something you just cannot ignore. While lot of myths and superstitions
have crept into the Vaastu Sastra over the years, there are a few
scientific reasons behind some of the Vaastu rules. I will be
discussing some of these Vaastu rules in this site. Please check the
Vaastu link for more insight into this.
And if you have any more scientific explanations for vaastu rules or
more insights into vaastu please mail me.
WHAT
IS VAASTU?
The primary purpose of Vaastu is to ensure
that the house or building constructed is suitable for living with
adequate lighting and ventilation, and ensures a clean and healthy
environment. Naturally a properly constructed building satisfies most
of vaastu rules. Having said that, is vaastu constant? That is whether
the rules and conditions of vaastu is same for a building constructed
in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai or Trivandrum? Obviously the answer should be
'No'. But most vaastu experts seem to be ignorant of this, a clear sign
that they are just reiterating what ever they heard elsewhere without
understanding the underlying principles of the original document. So
what are these underlying principles? To understand that we need to see
where the original texts of vaastu was created and what were the
geographic and other conditions existing in that place.
The
origins of Vaastu
The origins of vaastu is from the Indian
civilizations that flourished in the gangetic plains. Here the rivers
flow towards the east and the predominant wind direction is from the
north-west towards south-east. This is true for most part of the
central and eastern side of Indian subcontinent and Tamilnadu.
Some of the basic vaastu requirements relating to the slope of the land
and position of rooms can be explained with this. For example,
positioning the kitchen at the 'Agnikone' - (the south-east corner)
would ensure that smoke and fumes from the kitchen does not reach other
parts of the house. Similarly when there is a significant slope towards
the east, digging a well in the eastern side would generally ensure a
shallow well. Remember, these rules were created when there was no
forced air circulation and pumps to pull water from deep wells.
Interpreting
Vaastu
Significance of Slope of land in Vaastu.
As previously mentioned, the origins of vaastu can be traced back to
indian culture and heritage. And we believe that waking up at
"brahmamuhoortha" and doing "sooryanamaskara" is essential for a
healthy lifestyle.
So a house constructed on the eastern slope of a hill will get the
early morning sunshine and significantly enhances the occupants ability
to live the healthy lifestyle.
If the house is on a plain land without any significant slope,
providing more space in the eastern side ensures that the house will
get adequate sunlight in the morning.
But what about places in cities where there is no real scope for
providing lavish space in the east and north? The true answer is there
is nothing can be done. Other than ensuring whatever possible
compliance to other vaastu issues.
In the same lines, if the west part of the house is higher than the
east, more rooms inside the house will receive the early morning
sunshine. But what if the house is designed such a way that east is
higher? The answer is redesign the house such that the west and/or
south is higher. If that is not possible due to other pressing
requirements, then ignore it and ensure whatever possible compliance to
other vaastu issues. I have seen people recommending constructing a
pillar or putting up a pole on the west or south side of the house in
such a way that it is higher than other portions of the house as a
remedy to this "vaastu dosha". From understanding the true reason
behind this vaastu item, you will certainly realize that such remedies
are nothing but BS.
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