Magazine - Year 2004 - Version 1
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Language: ENGLISH
Language: ENGLISH
Vastu Shastra: An Established Science III: The Ideal Locations of Different Rooms in Your House
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As per the tradition of Vedic worship, the rituals of Vastupujan, Bhumipujan, Bhumishodhan, and Shilanyasa are performed at an auspicious time before commencing the construction of a building. Apart from invoking divine grace, these rituals are aimed at creating a harmonious balance and linkage with Nature so as to attract its agreeable support and favorable effects of the Sun and other planets and stars. Accompanied with every new construction, there is a natural desire and hope that the building would be a source of prosperity, joy and peace for the people residing in it and that the life of its residents would be protected from adversities and hazards; they should live in a cordial, mutually benevolent and progressing ambience, avoiding bickering and clashes. All projects initiated in the buildings having maximum v³stu benefits are expected to lead to shining success. Everyone wants his house to be the harbinger of health, happiness, prosperity and social prestige for him and his family.
If Vastu Shastra was so pervasive and integral part of the Indian culture and religion, why is it no longer having the same place in our lives today? In order to seek an answer, we will have to have a quick look at its brief history.
Vastu Shastra is counted among the sixty-four principal faculties of knowledge which emanated directly from the Vedas. Several hymns or formulae in the Rigveda and Yajurveda pertain to the origin of Vastukala (architectural and constructional art). Like the four Vedas there are four Up-vedas, namely, Gandharveda, Dhanurveda, Ayurveda and Sthaptyaveda. Of these, as mentioned in our introductory article, the last one happens to be what was developed as the Vastu Shastra in the successive ages – the periods of the vedic scriptures like the Brahmans, Aranyaks, Upanishads and Puranas. The subsequent post-vedic times of the Ramayana and Mahabharata are believed to be the periods when this knowledge (of Vastu) was deciphered and disseminated in its most evolved and practicable form. The planning and architecture in the grand cities of Lanka, Ayodhya, Hastinapur, Dwarika in that era are regarded as exemplary monuments of Vastukala.
After the devastating war of Mahabharata, the world entered the Dark Age (Kaliyuga) when no development of any kind could take place. With gradual revival of civilization, the ancient architectural knowledge again came into use in several parts of India between 800 - 600 B.C.; the royal palaces, buildings of rich traders and several Buddhist monasteries and other religious centres and temples were the major outcomes of this resurrection of the Indian archaeology. But the cultural and socioeconomic development faced a setback with the invasion of Alexander around 400 B.C. However, this was only a temporary phase. Soon, with the endeavors of farsighted geniuses like Chanakya, the Indian economy as well the Vastu-based grand constructions of individual houses, community centres, palaces, forts, warehouses, temples, monasteries, universities etc, and all round progress gained glorious momentum and blossomed in the golden era of the regime of Chandrgupta Maurya and his successors.
The heritage of ancient knowledge lost its originality and grip on people's life in the mist of the opportunistic trends and consequent anarchy on the sociopolitical and even religious fronts. Foreign invasions from the Northwest and the West resulting in the political and cultural subjugation of India in the medieval era devalued the role of Vastu in the Indian system of life. The luxurious and lavish lifestyles of the foreign rulers adversely influenced the architectural designs as well. In lieu of the disciplines of Vastu Shastra, the focus then shifted to gorgeous appearance, huge structures, artificial decoration, creature comforts and excessive possession of land. Gradually increasing influence of western culture, the greed of builders and contractors, space constraints coupled with growing populations (especially, in the metro cities) have practically ruined the meaning and vital relevance of Vastu Shastra in the modern times.
Given that the invaluable repository of Vedic knowledge cannot be found in its original form today and in view of the unavoidable constraints (of space, environment and costs) of the present circumstances, it is certainly not feasible to follow the principles and teachings of Vastu Shastra in toto. However, as the ancient and modern scholars and savants have opined, many of its guidelines and architectural formulae or tips of internal and external designs are simple and adaptable even today. With a little care, wisdom and will on our part, we can be blessed by the power of v³stu in our existing or future houses (and other buildings, if any, owned or constantly used by us). The present series of articles on Vastu aims at elucidating the relevant and practical tips in this regard.
It may be recalled that it is not the size or cost of the house but the impact and intensity of specific kinds of energy fields and natural forces from specific (geo) directions that are of significance in Vastu. The subtle as well as the gross roles of the cosmic energy of the Sun and the five basic elements (pancha tatvas) are of paramount relevance here. The Northeast and the East directions assume a leading role with respect to spiritual effects and religious and devotional accomplishments. The home-temple, meditation chamber or place for devotional rituals is therefore advised in Vastu Shastra to be located in these directions.
We had discussed about the Northeast and East directions and place of devotion/worship/meditation and related matters with practical guidance in the previous issue of this magazine. As per the excerpts from the principal scriptures on knowledge of Vastu, broad guidelines on the most suitable directions for positioning of important rooms (including kitchen, bedrooms, living room, drawing room, etc) were also presented in that issue. It may be added that having a basement and open ground (brahmsth³na), plants and trees (garden) within the building premises is also recommended in the Shastras. Further interpretations of some scriptural excerpts indicate that the electrical appliances (e,g, heater, refrigerator, cooler, telephone, television set, music system, etc) should be placed in the southeast angle or in the southward portion (of the house/room). Specific guidelines for interior settings and decoration are also given in the teachings of Vastu Shastra. We shall discuss these aspects with respect to the location of important rooms in the successive installments of this series. In the present article we consider the location and design of the bathroom(s).
Bathing has a vital place in daily life. It has been given crucial importance in healthcare under Ayurveda and Naturopathy. Almost all creatures bathe in their own style. Right from the tiny butterflies and small birds to giant elephants and beers, every one enjoys dipping into a pool of water –– be that a collection of dew-drops, tiny pots or rivers, ponds or an ocean, as per one's requirement and convenience. The delight of diving and bathing in the fresh streams of water in a river or a pond certainly can't be found in the tubs, roof-showers or buckets of the bathrooms in our houses. Still, we all need to clean and freshen up our body by a good bath every day. It energizes the body and gives a calming feel to the mind as well. However, the exploding population, increasing pollution and the drying of natural resources of water have made it impossible for most of us to have the 'luxury' of bathing in a natural spring or a river every day. We are to manage with the bathroom(s) inside the house or premises of our buildings.
As per the guidelines of Vastu Shastra, bathrooms should be constructed in the East with as much open space around them as possible. The windows/ventilators of the bathroom should open in the East. The obvious reason is the direct reach of sunlight from this direction. While taking bath it would give the natural advantage of absorbing the vital elements and energy from the sunrays in the morning. Today, for most of the 'urbanized' ones among us, bathrooms have also become showpieces rather than natural necessities of health and hygiene. We decorate them with modern accessories, cosmetics, steam-tubs, moving showers, glass taps, plastic gadgets, electrical appliances and what not… Not only that, more than the space constraints, our 'comfort driven' life-style has given rise to new trends of having bathrooms attached to (every) bedroom.
With the influence of western culture and use of western techniques of construction, our overall living styles and housing patterns have restrained the architectures of our houses. This has virtually imposed the negligence of the 'need' of Vastu Shastra. For example, the position of the kitchen and the dining hall is constrained by that of the drawing room which, in turn, restrains the designing of the bedroom, study room, etc. The bathrooms and toilets then are naturally confined to be located wherever possible as per the restrained structure of the house. The limitations are unavoidable in case of multistoried buildings as per the pre-laid water supply and drainage pipelines. However, if one cares and aspires to benefit the most from Nature, one can incorporate the guidelines of the Vastu-Scriptures prior to the construction of the house. The builders and architects could adopt the same practice at the stage of initial planning of the multistoried complexes.
As per the Vastu guidelines, bathrooms should not lie in the Northeast or Southwest corners of the house. The bathrooms and toilets should never be constructed beneath the staircase or somewhere in (a patch available in) the central portion of the house. This obviously will let the filth, the bacteria, the stingy odor and infections to be retained in the house; people residing in such houses would suffer health problems. As fire and water have opposite natural properties, so have the kitchen and the bathrooms in the terminology of Vastu-Scriptures. Therefore, the kitchen and dining room should not face the bathroom. Also the bathrooms and toilets should be located at a safe distance from the kitchen and the dining room. In any case, one may alter the internal design of the bathroom so that one faces the East while bathing.
Toilets should not be constructed near the bathroom in the East direction. If it is a must to have the toilet attached inside the bathroom because of space constraints, it should be in the Southwest or Northwest corner. However, if it be not possible in the existing structure of the house or building, one could simply change the positions of the ventilators or taps etc. Only one door is sufficient in the bathroom, with windows or ventilators in the East. If exhaust fan is a must, it should be fixed in the eastern or northern direction. Geyser and other electrical appliances, if any, should be fixed in the ³gneya angle (Southeast corner), because of the favorable effect of agni (fire, heat) in this direction. The tap to be used for bathing should be in the east so that, while bathing, one would face this direction. It is said that facing the East while bathing generates soothing effects on the mind-body system.
As we have discussed earlier, the principles of Vastu Shastra are derived from deeper understanding of the gross and subtle energies of the five basic elements (pancha tatvas) so as to maximize the favorable impacts of the desired elements in the specific portion (room, as per its use) of the house and minimize the untoward influences. We shall continue with broad guidelines on the positioning and design of other rooms in the successive installments.
Notes:
1. Pancha Tatvas: The five basic elements of the gross manifestation of Nature. Namely, prithvi –source of all material existence is solid or semi-liquid and gel forms; jala – source of material existence in liquid and fluidic forms; v³y¿ – source of air and gaseous states of matter; agni –source of fire and all forms of energies and light; and ³k³ïa – the subliminal etheric expansion and source and foundational base of existence and manifestation of mental and emotional expressions.
(Series to be continued in the next issue)
If Vastu Shastra was so pervasive and integral part of the Indian culture and religion, why is it no longer having the same place in our lives today? In order to seek an answer, we will have to have a quick look at its brief history.
Vastu Shastra is counted among the sixty-four principal faculties of knowledge which emanated directly from the Vedas. Several hymns or formulae in the Rigveda and Yajurveda pertain to the origin of Vastukala (architectural and constructional art). Like the four Vedas there are four Up-vedas, namely, Gandharveda, Dhanurveda, Ayurveda and Sthaptyaveda. Of these, as mentioned in our introductory article, the last one happens to be what was developed as the Vastu Shastra in the successive ages – the periods of the vedic scriptures like the Brahmans, Aranyaks, Upanishads and Puranas. The subsequent post-vedic times of the Ramayana and Mahabharata are believed to be the periods when this knowledge (of Vastu) was deciphered and disseminated in its most evolved and practicable form. The planning and architecture in the grand cities of Lanka, Ayodhya, Hastinapur, Dwarika in that era are regarded as exemplary monuments of Vastukala.
After the devastating war of Mahabharata, the world entered the Dark Age (Kaliyuga) when no development of any kind could take place. With gradual revival of civilization, the ancient architectural knowledge again came into use in several parts of India between 800 - 600 B.C.; the royal palaces, buildings of rich traders and several Buddhist monasteries and other religious centres and temples were the major outcomes of this resurrection of the Indian archaeology. But the cultural and socioeconomic development faced a setback with the invasion of Alexander around 400 B.C. However, this was only a temporary phase. Soon, with the endeavors of farsighted geniuses like Chanakya, the Indian economy as well the Vastu-based grand constructions of individual houses, community centres, palaces, forts, warehouses, temples, monasteries, universities etc, and all round progress gained glorious momentum and blossomed in the golden era of the regime of Chandrgupta Maurya and his successors.
The heritage of ancient knowledge lost its originality and grip on people's life in the mist of the opportunistic trends and consequent anarchy on the sociopolitical and even religious fronts. Foreign invasions from the Northwest and the West resulting in the political and cultural subjugation of India in the medieval era devalued the role of Vastu in the Indian system of life. The luxurious and lavish lifestyles of the foreign rulers adversely influenced the architectural designs as well. In lieu of the disciplines of Vastu Shastra, the focus then shifted to gorgeous appearance, huge structures, artificial decoration, creature comforts and excessive possession of land. Gradually increasing influence of western culture, the greed of builders and contractors, space constraints coupled with growing populations (especially, in the metro cities) have practically ruined the meaning and vital relevance of Vastu Shastra in the modern times.
Given that the invaluable repository of Vedic knowledge cannot be found in its original form today and in view of the unavoidable constraints (of space, environment and costs) of the present circumstances, it is certainly not feasible to follow the principles and teachings of Vastu Shastra in toto. However, as the ancient and modern scholars and savants have opined, many of its guidelines and architectural formulae or tips of internal and external designs are simple and adaptable even today. With a little care, wisdom and will on our part, we can be blessed by the power of v³stu in our existing or future houses (and other buildings, if any, owned or constantly used by us). The present series of articles on Vastu aims at elucidating the relevant and practical tips in this regard.
It may be recalled that it is not the size or cost of the house but the impact and intensity of specific kinds of energy fields and natural forces from specific (geo) directions that are of significance in Vastu. The subtle as well as the gross roles of the cosmic energy of the Sun and the five basic elements (pancha tatvas) are of paramount relevance here. The Northeast and the East directions assume a leading role with respect to spiritual effects and religious and devotional accomplishments. The home-temple, meditation chamber or place for devotional rituals is therefore advised in Vastu Shastra to be located in these directions.
We had discussed about the Northeast and East directions and place of devotion/worship/meditation and related matters with practical guidance in the previous issue of this magazine. As per the excerpts from the principal scriptures on knowledge of Vastu, broad guidelines on the most suitable directions for positioning of important rooms (including kitchen, bedrooms, living room, drawing room, etc) were also presented in that issue. It may be added that having a basement and open ground (brahmsth³na), plants and trees (garden) within the building premises is also recommended in the Shastras. Further interpretations of some scriptural excerpts indicate that the electrical appliances (e,g, heater, refrigerator, cooler, telephone, television set, music system, etc) should be placed in the southeast angle or in the southward portion (of the house/room). Specific guidelines for interior settings and decoration are also given in the teachings of Vastu Shastra. We shall discuss these aspects with respect to the location of important rooms in the successive installments of this series. In the present article we consider the location and design of the bathroom(s).
Bathing has a vital place in daily life. It has been given crucial importance in healthcare under Ayurveda and Naturopathy. Almost all creatures bathe in their own style. Right from the tiny butterflies and small birds to giant elephants and beers, every one enjoys dipping into a pool of water –– be that a collection of dew-drops, tiny pots or rivers, ponds or an ocean, as per one's requirement and convenience. The delight of diving and bathing in the fresh streams of water in a river or a pond certainly can't be found in the tubs, roof-showers or buckets of the bathrooms in our houses. Still, we all need to clean and freshen up our body by a good bath every day. It energizes the body and gives a calming feel to the mind as well. However, the exploding population, increasing pollution and the drying of natural resources of water have made it impossible for most of us to have the 'luxury' of bathing in a natural spring or a river every day. We are to manage with the bathroom(s) inside the house or premises of our buildings.
As per the guidelines of Vastu Shastra, bathrooms should be constructed in the East with as much open space around them as possible. The windows/ventilators of the bathroom should open in the East. The obvious reason is the direct reach of sunlight from this direction. While taking bath it would give the natural advantage of absorbing the vital elements and energy from the sunrays in the morning. Today, for most of the 'urbanized' ones among us, bathrooms have also become showpieces rather than natural necessities of health and hygiene. We decorate them with modern accessories, cosmetics, steam-tubs, moving showers, glass taps, plastic gadgets, electrical appliances and what not… Not only that, more than the space constraints, our 'comfort driven' life-style has given rise to new trends of having bathrooms attached to (every) bedroom.
With the influence of western culture and use of western techniques of construction, our overall living styles and housing patterns have restrained the architectures of our houses. This has virtually imposed the negligence of the 'need' of Vastu Shastra. For example, the position of the kitchen and the dining hall is constrained by that of the drawing room which, in turn, restrains the designing of the bedroom, study room, etc. The bathrooms and toilets then are naturally confined to be located wherever possible as per the restrained structure of the house. The limitations are unavoidable in case of multistoried buildings as per the pre-laid water supply and drainage pipelines. However, if one cares and aspires to benefit the most from Nature, one can incorporate the guidelines of the Vastu-Scriptures prior to the construction of the house. The builders and architects could adopt the same practice at the stage of initial planning of the multistoried complexes.
As per the Vastu guidelines, bathrooms should not lie in the Northeast or Southwest corners of the house. The bathrooms and toilets should never be constructed beneath the staircase or somewhere in (a patch available in) the central portion of the house. This obviously will let the filth, the bacteria, the stingy odor and infections to be retained in the house; people residing in such houses would suffer health problems. As fire and water have opposite natural properties, so have the kitchen and the bathrooms in the terminology of Vastu-Scriptures. Therefore, the kitchen and dining room should not face the bathroom. Also the bathrooms and toilets should be located at a safe distance from the kitchen and the dining room. In any case, one may alter the internal design of the bathroom so that one faces the East while bathing.
Toilets should not be constructed near the bathroom in the East direction. If it is a must to have the toilet attached inside the bathroom because of space constraints, it should be in the Southwest or Northwest corner. However, if it be not possible in the existing structure of the house or building, one could simply change the positions of the ventilators or taps etc. Only one door is sufficient in the bathroom, with windows or ventilators in the East. If exhaust fan is a must, it should be fixed in the eastern or northern direction. Geyser and other electrical appliances, if any, should be fixed in the ³gneya angle (Southeast corner), because of the favorable effect of agni (fire, heat) in this direction. The tap to be used for bathing should be in the east so that, while bathing, one would face this direction. It is said that facing the East while bathing generates soothing effects on the mind-body system.
As we have discussed earlier, the principles of Vastu Shastra are derived from deeper understanding of the gross and subtle energies of the five basic elements (pancha tatvas) so as to maximize the favorable impacts of the desired elements in the specific portion (room, as per its use) of the house and minimize the untoward influences. We shall continue with broad guidelines on the positioning and design of other rooms in the successive installments.
Notes:
1. Pancha Tatvas: The five basic elements of the gross manifestation of Nature. Namely, prithvi –source of all material existence is solid or semi-liquid and gel forms; jala – source of material existence in liquid and fluidic forms; v³y¿ – source of air and gaseous states of matter; agni –source of fire and all forms of energies and light; and ³k³ïa – the subliminal etheric expansion and source and foundational base of existence and manifestation of mental and emotional expressions.
(Series to be continued in the next issue)
