Vastu is an ancient traditional science that has been practiced for over 5000 years. In the past, houses were built flat, with sufficient land space for out-of-doors living. However, with the modern, upright building style and limited land accessibility, the need for Vastu has become increasingly relevant. The lack of toilets within houses, central open space, and kitchens built facing the east, are all examples of how our ancestors unknowingly followed Vastu principles.
Vastu is made up of two words first “Vas” and second “Tu” which means the place where you live. It can be your home, your factory, or your office. The vigour of the place where you live affects your thoughts. This is responsible for the joys and sorrows in your life.
Our forefathers lived a modest life, which did not require a deep understanding of Vastu. However, with our intricate and fast-paced lives today, it is essential that we re-embrace the principles of Vastu to find balance and congruence. Our ancestors slept outside and woke up feeling refreshed, while today, many of us struggle to get a good night’s sleep and sleep in artificially cooled air of AC instead of natural air. Despite developments such as RO water purification systems, dysentery still persists, indicating that we have moved away from nature.
Vastu is the art of harmonizing with nature, and it is comprised of five elements – Water, Air, Earth, Fire, and Sky and eight directions are – North, East, West, South, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest.
The key to Vastu lies in balancing these five elements with the eight directions and the centre. When these elements are in poise, joy will find us, instead of us searching for happiness.
To summarize, Vastu is not just about decorating your home or office, it is about aligning with nature and its energies. The five elements, eight directions, and the centre are the key constituents that make Vastu a powerful tool for improving our lives. These concepts help you learn how to harness their positive energy and create a harmonious environment around you.
As you can see, four out of five blocks in the chart represent water. Our ancestors were aware that water is the most abundant substance in the universe, it is also written in our sacred scripture. Science agrees, stating that the second most prevalent element after water is the earth, as we can in Vastu also. The block of the South-West direction represents the planets Rahu and Ketu. However, in some vastu principles, you may not find Ketu revealed in this block because it is considered a shadow planet and is not given as much importance.
North-East is one of the most crucial directions as it is the direction of Lord Shiva and plays a significant role in our overall success and prosperity. It’s common knowledge that the kitchen should be located in the South-East direction, which is associated with fire.
Remember, incorporating Vastu principles into your life is a personal choice, and it is important to find a balance between tradition and modern understanding when exploring its potential benefits.