By character Space has no shape. But when a bit of space is isolated and confined within boundaries, then it acquires a shape and character and vibrates accordingly.

A square is taken to be a perfect shape and a fundamental form. Vastu rejects the use of circular shapes in dwellings. A Square is also the shape of the Earth element. The Earth element contains within it the elements of Space, Air, Fire and water. The Earth element also contains the elements of speech, of touch, shape, taste and smell. It has poise, balance and makes a practical basis for designing a building. Vastushastra draws a square, crisscrosses it with grids and diagonal lines to identify zones of different cosmic energies and their flow within the area, and calls it a Vastumandal.

Vastumandal : A symbol of Cosmos

Each side of the Vastumandal is divided into several different parts called pada. The smallest Vastumandal is of 1x1 pada for designing alters and shelves, to 32 x 32 for designing townships.

The most common mandal is of 9x9 pada which is generally accepted for all building designs.

The central region of 9 squares is where the energy is most intense. It is called Bramhavithi. This has the highest concentration of energy and no construction should be allowed here.

Surrounding it is Devavithi, the region of light and gods, and Manushyavithi, the region of man. Construction is allowed in these two areas.

The outermost area is called pishachvithi, the region of darkness where again no construction is allowed.

The outer region also indicates 32 cosmic energies. Their placement determines the positioning of the main door and other directional attributes of the Mandal.

Ayadi Calculations

Once the soil testing is done, the land is inspected and approved as per the tenets of Vastu, detailed calculations are done to check the energic suitability of the plot and its relationship with the owner. These calculations are called Ayadi calculations.

Yoni: Direction of Energy Flow

The direction of the flow of Energy of a plot depends upon the size of its perimeter.

Marma

The horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines drawn inside the medal are the meridians through which the cosmic energy flows and the plot becomes a living entity. The points or nodes where all the three directional meridians cross each other is called a marma.

These are similar to sensitive acupuncture points in the human body, and should be left unhurt. No pillar, wall, door, window should be placed upon these nodes.

Marma faults are avoided by shifting the centre line of the pillar, door etc by half the dimension of the node.

Directional Attributes

The attributes of different parts and directions of the Vastumandal is a unique aspect of Vastushastra. These attributes also decide the placement of various building components on different parts of the plot.

The exact reason for the allotment of these attributes lies deep in the mysteries of yoga and Indian philosophy of cosmos. However, a closer study study also reveals that the daily movement of the Sun, its equinoctial movements, the rotational movement of the earth, other cosmo-telluleric effect on the Earth are either represented or negated in constructions which follow these tenets.

East denotes deities of Light
West denotes deities of Darkness
North denotes gods of Birth
South denotes gods of Death

The NE is the source of all energies, and
SW is where they travel and disappear.

East is governed by Indra, who is the Chief of the Guardians of Cardinal Directions. He is also the lord of rain. In the Vedas, more hymns are attributed to him than any other God, indicating that he was then widely worshipped for his kindness, bestower of rains and the giver of fertility.

The planet of East is Sun. In Vastu as in Indian astrology, Sun represents father, mental purity, copper, mouth, light, windows, the right side of the front portion of the house.

East receives vital solar energy in the morning, and so good amount of sunlight entering from an eastern window ensures family prosperity and good health for the head of the family. East should not be blocked by a high rise , a mountain, or a tall tree as it will adversely effect intellect, composture, family, personality etc. A blocked East or land elevated in the East can also cause loss of progeny. A depressed and an open East will ensure wealth, longetivity and fame.

South-East

South-Eastern direction is governed by Agni, the lord of Fire. Agni is represented as a young man with golden hair, riding on a blue ram. The two flaming heads of Agni belong to the sacrificial fire and the domestic one. Agni is one of the three supreme deities of the Rig Veda, viz., Agni, Vayu and Surya. These three Gods preside over earth, air and sky respectivelyAs a friend of the householder, the guardian of the house and its people, Agni plays the role of a witness present during all religious rituals.

The planet for South-East is Venus. Venus represents marriage, women, enjoyment, all good and beautiful things of life, love-making, music, luck. Venus also represents the bedroom of the house.

Although Mars governs fire, the kitchen is governed by Venus. If the bedroom and the kitchen are facing each other it foretells ill-health.

A water source in SE is a major defect. Flaws in SE can result in theft and robberies, debts, disgrace, loss of friends. If the land is lower than SW it augurs well. But if it lower than NW and NE it can cause fire accidents, criminal bend of mind. If it is higher than NE and NW it it attracts riches.

South

South is governed by Yama, the Lord of Death, the embodiment of the rule of law who imparts justice according to deeds. In Vedas, Yam is the First Ancestor and has a full distinction of a God. Yam carries a rope in one hand and a mace in another. Yama is the grandson of Vishwakarma, the architect of the gods.

The planet for South is Mars. Mars represents clothes, fire, fierce independence, control over elements, aggressiveness, weapons, a daring nature. Mars also represents the inside hall of the house.

A depression in the land in South can lead to disese and financial constraints. If the land is raised in South it brings in prosperity and health.

South-West

The guarding deity of SW is Nairruti who is one of the Rudras, a personification of Death. Nairruti is sometimes considered a demon. He causes calamities and degeneration. All vices and evils (gambling, loose women, dreams predicting unhappiness, poverty, illness and troubles of all kinds) belong to him.

The planet for SW is Rahu. Rahu represents gambling, waste material, filthy things, pollution, and the Main door.

In order to keep out the negative influence of Nairruti SW is elevated and loaded with heavy load. It is an ideal place for building staircase, master bedroom, store room, machine shop etc. SW is also a good direction for building toilets, storage of waste material etc. Defects on SW are slow in action, far reaching in their consequences, and do not react soon to remedial measures.

Therefore defects in SW should be attended to immediately.

A depressed SW can lead to premature death of the owner.
An elevated SW ensures prosperity and fame.

West

The Lord of West is Varuna. Varuna is the god of water and is usually represented as a fair complexioned man riding a crocodile. He is said to reside at the bottom of the ocean in his palace. in his palace of pure gold and jewels.

The planet for Wet is Saturn. Saturn represents workforce, human resources, insignificant and petty duties, living beings who consume food, old age, iron, armoury, black grains. Saturn also represents the store-room of the house.

North-West

The planet for North-West is Moon. Moon represents water, mind, heart, silver, vital energy, mother, daughter, good nourishment, good things of life, silver, pond. Moon also represents windows and the left side of the housefront. If the left window is a puja room, the will be bestowed with divine perception and wisdom; but if is a dark room which is used a dumping room, then the women will suffer from ill-health.

NW is ideal for building garages, cattleshed, room of daughters who are ready for marriage, guestroom, godowns for finished goods and things which you would want to move soon.

North

North is the direction of Kuber, the divine protector of wealth, the king of Yakshas, and the treasurer of the gods. In his left hand, Kubera holds a pomegranate. Beneath his left hand is a personified water jar.

The planet for this direction is Mercury. Mercury represents philosophy, education, writing, astrology, prayers, family affluence and its prosperity. Because Mercury represents communication, therefore in the house Mercury represents the hall (drawing room) where friends and relatives meet and discuss things. Mercury also represents the treasury where jewels and documents etc are kept.

It is always desirable to have a depressed North as it allows wealth to flow in. The more open the area here, the more enriched is the family. It is desirable that money, cashbox etc should be kept in North.

Because Mercury represents communications, a dark drawing room/hall indicats immoral affairs and earning through shady means in the family

The guardian deity of the North East is Ishan, the Divine Lord. Ishan is Shiva, a name that belongs to Shiva. Like Shiva, he has a fair complexion and a third eye in the center of the forehead. He holds an axe in his hands and there is an antelope standing beside him. Like Shiva, he also rides a white bull.

The planet for NE is Jupiter. Jupiter represents mantra, Vedas, gods, religious duty, cow, finance, movements in heaven, nectar.

Topography

We now know why it is important to keep the E, N and NE light and W, S, SW heavy. In other terms, the light zones should be at a lower level and the heavy zones should be at a higher level. This means that that the land should slope from SW towards SE and NW and then on to NE.

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