OmVaastushastra

Guidelines

After analysing the Vaastushastra tenets and principles, some ground rules can be formulated for deriving optimum benefits from Vaastu- Vidya at the planning stage itself

Before Planning a Vaastu

The following guidelines if interpreted and applied in the right spirit, can help in planning and designing a virtuous Vaastu.

• Geometric axis of the Vaastu should be aligned to match with the geomagnetic axis of the plot.
• The North-South axis should be longer than the East-West axis.
• The major part of the Vaastu construction should be located in the Southwest zone of the plot and open spaces should be provided in the Northeast direction.
• Underground water tanks should be planned in the North and the Northeast directions.
• Ground terrain should have gradual slopes towards the North and the East directions.
• Lumber room or storage room should be located in the Southwest comer.
• Excavation should commence from the Northeast side and move in a clockwise direction towards the Southeast side and then onto the Southwest direction. Activities like providing a footing for the structure and ground filling must begin in the Southwest.
• To avoid any ill effects of neighbouring Vaastu and its domain, it is advisable to complete the construction of the entire compound wall before commencing any other construction activity. The South and the West side compounds should be of stone construction, solid and heavy, and with sufficient height.
• Soil-analysis should be carried out. The soil not having requisite characteristics as per the Vaastushastra should not be used for ground filling. Good quality soil should be procured from elsewhere, for this purpose.
• A bore-well or a constructed well for a water source should be located in the North or the Northeast directions.
• The Southern walls should not have any door or window openings. The wall in this direction should be either 18-inch (45-cm) thick construction or a double wall with cavity in-between.
• Maximum possible number of doors, windows, and ventilators should be provided in the North, Northeast, and East directions.
• In the same house, differential levels for internal rooms are not advisable.
• Basements and cellars should be avoided.
• Roofs, if provided, should have slopes towards the East, the Northeast, and the North directions.
• Roofs slanting towards the South and the West directions are not advisable.
• If possible, an additional room or a floor should be constructed on the Southwest side.
• Extra height should be allowed for parapet walls on the South and the West sides.
• The Southwest plinth level should be 9 inches (22.5 cm) higher than the other plinth levels and the planned ground slopes towards the North and East directions should be taken into consideration before determining the other construction levels.
• Audumber family trees should be planted on the South border, while the West side could have Nilgiri (Eucalyptus) trees or medicinal, herbal, and aromatic plants and bushes.
• The North and the East sides should be provided with open spaces for free air circulation.
• In cases where the neighbouring plot includes a water-body or pond on its Northeast side, the height of the compound wall on the Southwest -side of one's own plot should be raised sufficiently to make the Southwest side extra massive. This provision can be made at the landscaping stage itself
• It is considered profitable to purchase additional adjoining land on the North, Northeast, and East sides. On no account any land should be acquired on the South or West sides, once a house has been constructed on a plot.
• In construction of the structure proper, uneven shapes, fancy windows and unwarranted cantilever projections should strictly be avoided.
• In ownership flats, options for prior planning are limited. Hence, the Vaastu should be made healthy and full of vitality through external means. Selection of a painting scheme for the flat based on the Shri Ranga Chakra in such cases proves very helpful.
• Lightweight items should be placed in the North and the East directions, while rigid and heavy things should be located in the South and the West. This principle is applicable not only to the entire Vaastu, but to individual rooms also.
• If the East side is blocked on any account, additional windows should be provided in the North direction. If possible, the sunlight should be beamed in from the East direction by making use of some sort of reflector mechanism.
• The North, Northeast, and East side walls should be decorated preferably with photographic frames or paintings of Goddesses and wall papers with natural scenery etc...
• The North, Northeast and East side walls should be painted with bright glossy colours, while the painting scheme for the West and South side walls could use dull, mat-finish type colours.
• Toilets should be located in the South and the West.
• A Vaastu with 100% matching of characteristics and performance as espoused in Vaastushastra is an idealistic condition. In practice, it is absolutely necessary or sometimes, even sufficient to achieve minimum of 50% to 60% of the characteristics of the ideal conditions in a Vaastu.
• Overhead tank should be on the West side. A tank on the North or the East side is also permissible. But, underground or ground level water should never be stored in the West or the Southwest directions.
• One should sleep with his head pointing towards the East* or the South direction. Beds should be arranged accordingly. (*as per ancient texts on Vaastu Vidya)
• Puja-room (prayer room) should be planned in such a manner that the back of the Goddesses should touch the East side wall, with the person facing the East direction while performing the Puja.
• Multi-coloured fancy lamps should be fixed on the North and the East walls, specifically avoiding the South side surfaces.
• If possible, the Vaastu should be extended by 4 - 5 ft (1.5 meters) in the Northeast direction to ensure the Northeast directional bliss for the household or a shop.

Vaastu Rules for Agriculture

• Agricultural land should be divided into equal rectangular plots, preferably with breadth to length ratio of 1: 1.618. The longer side should be oriented along the North-South axis, while the shorter side along the East-West direction.
• Electrical power points should be located in the Southeast comer.
• The bunds on the South and West sides should be at a higher level, while those on the East and North sides at a lower level or the ground on these sides should be a flat terrain.
• One-tenth of the plot on the Southwest side should be raised by constructing a solid stone parapet.
• The ground should have descending slopes towards the North and East sides.
• Trees should be planted in the South and West directions.
• Planting of trees in the North and East directions should be  avoided.
• A well should be dug in the Northeast, North or East side of the plot.
• Any shed or a farmhouse on the plot should be constructed  in the Southwest comer of the plot.

The following code of belief of Vaastushastra governs the landscaping process;

• Making the Southwest side massive and heavy.
• Loading the South direction.
• Providing descending slopes towards the North, East and  Northeast directions.
• Constructing an underground water tank in the North, East or Northeast direction and providing a small water pond or open water body in one of these directions.
• Elevating the compound walls on the South, Southwest and West directions and ensuring that these are massive and heavy.
• Constructing the compound walls on the East, Northeast and North sides with light-weight material and maintaining these at a relatively lower elevation.
• Locating the electrical power transformer and other electrical power points in the Southeast comer.
• Constructing a cottage in the Southwest comer of the plot,with minimum side margins.
• Planting of Nilgiri (eucalyptus) trees in the West zone of the plot, along with some varieties of medicinal, herbal and aromatic bushes.
• The above code of belief allow certain qualitative improvement in a Vaastu, endowing it with virtues and purity. Few of the predominant effects are;
• Interrupting the South 'Pingala' current flow.

Achieving energy-mass balance through proportionate compensation for geomagnetic and energy disturbances.

Regulating the excessive southern zone temperatures through water - vapour emission processes of trees like Nilgiri (eucalyptus) and Neem (margosa).

• Creating a healthy and wholesome atmosphere inside the house through scent and aroma of herbal plants.

• Enhancing the quality of the Vaastu through beneficial effects of transverse polarisation of sunlight falling on an open water surface.

Though outmost care has been taken to develop these rules / guidelines, It is necessary to understand it in a proper perspective and spirit. For successful application of rules, in-depth analysis and study must back up the whole exercise