What Vaastu Shastra is
Vaastu Shastra is the traditional Indian knowledge of space and building. It looks at a site, a plan or a building in relation to the directions and the five elements, and it has been applied to houses, temples and towns for centuries.
The five elements and the directions
Vaastu works with the pancha mahabhutas (earth, water, fire, air and space) and with the eight directions and the centre of a building (the brahmasthana). Traditional texts associate the elements with particular directions; for example, the south-east is associated with fire, which is why it is the traditional place for a kitchen. Different schools vary in the details.
The Vaastu Purusha Mandala
Plans are read on a square grid called the Vaastu Purusha Mandala, commonly of 64 or 81 squares (padas). Each part of the grid is associated with a deity and with uses that suit it in the tradition. The grid is how a practitioner relates a real floor plan to the classical principles.
The non-demolition approach
Many people worry that Vaastu means breaking walls. The approach preferred at Vedhanga Gurukula is non-demolition: it looks at how rooms are used, where things are placed, colours and organisation, and suggests practical adjustments that fit the building and the budget. Any structural change belongs with a qualified architect or engineer.
Finding north
Every Vaastu review starts with directions. Stand inside the property, away from large metal objects, and take a reading with a reliable compass app; note the reading in degrees. If in doubt, your architect, builder or surveyor can confirm it.
What Vaastu can and cannot do
Vaastu offers a traditional perspective on space and balance. It cannot promise results in business, health or finances, and it does not replace legal, survey or engineering checks.
This guide explains a traditional discipline. It does not replace medical, legal, financial or engineering advice.