Vastu Shastra is an ancient Indian science of Architecture.The Sanskrit word Vastu means a dwelling or house with a corresponding plot of land.Any building built by a human being is a Vastu. Shastra means science.Vastu shashtra is a science which protects a building from obstacles, natural calamities & upheavals.
Five elements
According to vastu sastra, the world comprises five basic elements known as the pancha maha bhoota.
Out of the eight planets, ours has life because of the presence and
balance of these five elements. The five elements are as follows.
EARTH (Bhumi) - Earth, the third planet in order from the sun,
is a big magnet with North and South poles as centers of attractions.
Its magnetic field and gravitational force has considerable effects on
everything on the Earth, living and non-living.
WATER (Jala) - This is represented by rain, river, sea and is
in the form of liquid, solid (ice) and gas (steam, cloud). It forms part
of every plant and animal. Our blood is mostly water.
AIR (Vayu) - As a life supporting element, air is a very
powerful life source. Human physical comfort values are directly and
sensitively dependent on correct humidity, air flow, temperature of air,
air pressure, air composition and its content.
FIRE (Agni) - Represents light and heat which account for day, night, the seasons, energy, enthusiasm, passion and vigour.
SPACE (Akasha) - The akasha
provides shelter to all the above elements. It is also considered the
primary conductor of all energy sources within the universal context -
physical energies such as sound and light, social energies such as
psychological and emotional, and cognitive energies such as intellect
and intuition.
There is an invisible and constant relation between all the five
elements. Thus, the person can improve their conditions by properly
designing their buildings by understanding the effectiveness of these
five natural forces. Vaastu sastra combines all the five elements of
nature and balances them with the person and the material. It takes
advantage of the benefits bestowed by the five elements of nature to
create a congenial living and working environment thereby facilitating
spiritual well-being and paving the way for enhanced health, wealth,
prosperity and happiness.
Vastu is about creating positive energy in the environment for people living under that environment. Vastu is mainly associated with location
and structure of buildings.
According to vastu shashtra, the dwelling is itself a shrine. A home is not merely a shelter for human being but temple too. The concept behind house design is the same as
for temple
design, so sacred and spiritual are the two spaces. The "open
courtyard" system of house design was the national pattern in India
before Western models were introduced. The order introduced into the
"built space" accounts for the creation of spiritual ambiance required
for the indweller to enjoy spiritual well-being and material welfare and
prosperity. At right is a typical layout of a square building, with a
grid of 9x9=81 squares, meant for family persons (for scientists,
artists and yogi a grid of 8x8=64 is prescribed). The space occupied by the central 3x3=9 squares is called Brahmasthanam, meaning the "nuclear energy field". It should be kept unbuilt and open to the sky so as to have contact with the outer space (akasha).
This central courtyard is likened to the lungs of the human body. It is
not for living purposes. Religious and cultural events can be held
here--such as yajna (fire rituals), music and dance performances and marriage. The row of squares surrounding the Brahmasthanam is the walkway. The corner spaces, occupying 2x2=4 squares, are rooms with specific purposes. The northeast quarter is called Isanya, the southeast Agni, the southwest Niruthi and northwest Vayu.
These are said to possess the qualities of four respective devatas or
gods--Isa, Agni, Niruthi and Vayu. Accordingly--with due respect to
ecological friendliness with the subtle forces of the spirit—those
spaces (quarters) are assigned as follows: northeast for the home
shrine, southeast for the kitchen, southwest for the master bedroom and
northwest for the storage of grains. The spaces lying between the corner
zones, measuring 2x5=10 squares, are those of the north, east, south
and west. They are meant for multi purposes.
(Reference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastu_Shastra)
