Star 15/12/02 Buying land the Vasthu way It's that time of year when people who are

thinking of changing homes rush to get it all done before the New Year. Now would be a good time to look into what Vasthu Sastra has to say about property as the shape, size, slope, proportion, location and elevation of a plot of land can significantly influence the owner in both positive and negative ways. According to the ancient science of construction, even who you buy the land from is important. Land must not be purchased from a person who is a bankrupt, suffering from a serious illness or who has left the country. This is because the bad energy left behind by the former owner will affect the well being of the new occupant. It is also not a good idea to buy land that has been donated to a temple or a charitable organisation, land without any title deed, or that has been auctioned or used by criminals. According to Vasthu Sastra principles, if a house is constructed on such a site, the dweller will not have peace of mind, will suffer financial losses, experience obstacles to progress and face sorrow and grief. Land containing boulders or ant or worm hills and bones should not be acquired. Neither should plots of land that are waterlogged or filled with loose soil; reclaimed land and burial grounds are also deemed inauspicious. Digging for clues While excavating the earth before building, keep an eye on what is dug up as they can be indications of what could be in store. Anthills affect wealth and longevity Bones indicate obstacles to progress Bricks indicate the owner will enjoy wealth and will acquire more properties Coal indicates ill-health and financial loss Copper or metal indicate a prosperous life Gold, silver or coins can bring all types of comforts Iron or steel pieces indicate death Snakes indicate an obstruction to building progress Stones indicate wealth

Plotting success Square and rectangle shapes of land sloping towards the north-east are the most favourable sites for a house. Other favourable shapes are the "cow-faced" site where the front is narrower than the rear -

this is particularly good for residential purposes - and octagonal and hexagonal plots. (See graphic.) A plot of land squeezed between two bigger plots is inauspicious as it will bring poverty to the residents. Soil solutions The colour of the soil should also be taken into consideration. In fact, it would be a good idea to get a Vasthu consultant to examine the soil; this is usually done by smelling and tasting it. Favourable soil colours are white, red, pale green, yellow and black; favourable tastes are sweet, sour and bitter. From the type of soil, an expert will be able to determine what would be a suitable structure to build on the land - whether the land should be used for dwelling or a business, for an office or a non-profit organisation. Fertile land is good, so look for greenery growing on the land. Other clues about the soundness of the land can be obtained from test holes. Dig a knee-deep hole (about 1m in length and breadth) in the middle of the plot, then refill it with the soil dug out. If there is excess soil left over, it is a good plot. If there is none and the hole is filled easily, the plot is of only average quality. Anyone living on such land would be able to earn a lot of money but will also spend a lot. If the earth removed is not sufficient to re-fill the dug hole, the land is inauspicious. The second method is to dig a hole in the same way and fill it with water. Wait for a few minutes and watch whether the water subsides or not. If half the water gets absorbed, the ground is favourable. Surroundings are important Do not buy a plot of land that has a graveyard either in front of it or at the back. Such surroundings will only bring fear and give no peace of mind to the owner. Buying a plot near a place of worship should also be avoided, especially if the shadow of a temple structure falls on the property because it can cause undesirable problems. Other unfavourable surroundings are cinemas, schools, stadiums - any place, in fact, where there are large gatherings. Land that slopes towards the west and south will be a source of financial trouble and destruction; it would be advisable to fill such a slope with earth to make the portion slightly higher or the same level with the rest of the plot. What would be good is a body of water like a lake or a river on the north-east of the plot; this is highly recommended. Also, if the land slopes towards the east and north, it will bring fortune and luck. Hills and boulders in the south and south-west side of the plot are also good. Elevations and depressions Vasthu also pays great attention to the elevation and depression of a plot. The following indicates what could happen according to the direction in which the land is elevated. East - Loss of child West - Prosperity for sons South - Favourable health

North - Loss of child North-east - Financial problems and loss of family members South-east - Loss of wealth South-west - Financial gains North-west - Wealth and luxury in life Central elevation - Fame and wealth.

The following indicates what could happen according to the direction in which the land is depressed. East - Health, wealth and long life West - Loss of wealth and no peace of mind North - Auspicious and happy family life South - Troubled health and wealth North-east - Very auspicious South-east - Fire and enemy prone South-west - Harmful to health and wealth North-west - Migration Central depression - Inauspicious and harmful to health

If not building from scratch When purchasing a new or second-hand house or apartment, the first thing one should do is to enter the property and stand in the centre with eyes closed to feel the "vibrations". If the vibrations make you feel happy, next check the compass directions of the living room, kitchen and master bedroom (the best directions were discussed in a previous article) before deciding to buy the property. T. Selva, The Star's Maritime Editor, has spent years researching this ancient Indian science of construction, better known as 'Indian feng shui'. He is a student of 7th generation Vasthu Sastra Master Yuvaraj Sowma from Chennai, India. He can be contacted at tselvas@thestar.com.my A talk on how Vasthu Sastra can improve health will be held at 9am on Dec 22 at the Sadhana Camp at the Spastic Society hall, No 14, Lorong Utara A, Petaling Jaya. Admission is free. To register call Ravi at 012-399 0489. * The writer can be contacted at tselvas@pd.jaring.my