Since the late nineties India is passing through a phase of economic upturn resulting in burgeoning demand for housing. This is indeed a good sign, but my worry is the totally unplanned and haphazard housing that has mushroomed. Most of the housing schemes that we see are merely money making vehicles for the builder and land grabber nexus. All caution has been thrown to the winds.

Whilst there are no doubt islands of prosperity, the cases of bankruptcy, illness, family disputes, marital disharmony are all on a rise. It is my contention that many of these unhappy events can be traced to the anti-Vaastu design of these new buildings.

The sad aspect of Vaastu perception amongst the general public is that most of the Vaastu provisions cannot be implemented in a flat. This statement is only partly true. The several provisions of Vaastu related to land topography and locations of wells and open spaces cannot be implemented in flats. However, the story does not end here. Every small Vaastu improvement made adds up to some happy development. It therefore makes sense to implement as much of Vaastu as possible and reap the benefits of this ancient science.

In this series Vaastuyogam hopes to alert the householders of urban India to the Vaastu quotient of their homes. The Vaastu principles discussed here are those that have the general approval of all Vaastu practitioners. The reason for this is to stay clear from controversy.

Puja Room / Puja Sthan (Place of Worship)

The puja room should be in the north-east corner of the house. The idols of the gods (murtis) should be on the eastern side. The person performing the puja should either face north or east.

What is important to note is that worship of God is more important than the puja room or puja sthan. In this connection it should be noted that the smaller the size of the idols of gods the more powerful the idols are.

However, for those who can’t have a separate puja room it is recommended that they may have a puja sthan in the kitchen.

Optimal zoning (as per vaastu) of activities in house

However the puja sthan should never be in the following places:-

Below a staircase

In a store room

Never on a common wall with a toilet

There should not be any Puja sthan in the Master Bedroom. This is all the more important in the case of joint families.

Please note that there is a difference between pictures of gods and goddesses that are hung on walls and the pictures/idols of gods and goddesses that are worshipped in the Puja sthan/room. The pictures of gods and goddesses that are hung on walls can face in any direction, but the pictures/idols of gods and goddesses that are worshipped should not face North or South.

Some people place pictures of their ancestors along with the gods idols in the puja sthan. This is an incorrect practice. Pictures of deceased people should be on the west wall of any room. On the subject of pictures let me add that no pictures of living people should be put on walls. The pictures should be on any table. The pictures can be of any size.

The Kitchen

The kitchen must be located in the South East

You should be facing east when you are cooking

The cooking oven or gas stove as the case may be should be in the south east corner of the room. Drinking water, washing basin, dishwashers should be placed in the north-east whilst brooms and cleaning materials are to be located in the north west.

In the kitchen there should be no doors exactly opposite the fire place. (Cooking stove, electric oven etc)

The storage shelves should be on the South and West walls of the kitchen and not the Northern or Eastern walls. Heavy articles like refrigerators etc. should be placed in the South or West of the kitchen.

The dining table should be rectangular. Avoid fancy or multi-shaped dining tables. Place the dining table away from the walls.

It needs to be cautioned that these Vaastu guidelines do not cover ‘Island kitchens’ and the kitchens in outhouses. The Vaastu principles applicable to these kitchens are very different from the standard kitchens.

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom should be in the south- west direction

The master bedroom should be occupied either by the father or the eldest son of the family

The attached bathroom of the master bedroom should be in the north-west or south-east of the room

You should never have your bed in the centre of the bedroom

The bed should be on the south or west walls so that more empty space is left in the north and east

The master bedroom should never be in the south-east or north-east direction

While sleeping, the head should be in the south and legs in the north direction

Mirrors should not be there on the south wall and west wall

Children’s Room

The Children’s Room should be located in the west, north or east

The study tables should be placed in either the east or north direction such that the children face in the east or north direction while studying

We should avoid black and brown colors in the room where children are studying.

Bhramasthana

Brahmasthan

The Brahmasthan (the central square of the plot or dwelling) corresponds to the 9 squares of the 81 squares grid plan known as the Paramasayika Padavinyasa.

According to the Brahasamhita the house-owner who wants happiness should safeguard the central nine squares very carefully. Putting heavy loads in this area or desecrating it by collecting waste etc in this place will bring harm to the owner.

The Brahmasthan area should ideally be left alone. If that is not possible then at least care should be taken to ensure that there are no heavy objects put in this place.

Use of wood

For woodwork in a new house, only new timber should be used but for renovation of an old house old wood may be used.

URBAN HOUSING

The following are the fundamental points pertaining to the magnetic directions that should be borne in mind to understand Vaastu guidelines.

1) Northern-north east and eastern-north east, together are called as total ‘Eesanya’ or ‘North-East’ Corner.

2) Eastern-South east and southern-south east together form to give total ‘Agneya’ or the ‘South-east’ corner.

3) Southern-south west and western-south west to together form total ‘Niruthi’ or the ‘South-west’ corner.

4) Western-north west and northern-north west parts together form to give total ‘Vayuvya’ or the ‘North-West’ corner.

Preferential Rating Schema for Ideal Locations of Kitchens