TIME

General Vastu
Guidelines for Residential Buildings
Bharat N Mulay

he secret of success of Vastu is Brihaspati's sister Yogasiddha, that is, the

Whilst the reasons for the
outcome of adherence
to Vastu principles are
T nothing but designing the habitats
as per the tenets of natural order
which ultimately amounts to conquering
the five elements in a positive way and
not fully understood,
therein lies the way to peace and prosper-
the principles themselves ity of the mankind.
have been found to be
sound in practice. HISTORY
Shri Vishwakarma is the original God of
creation. He is the son of the eighth Vasu
Prabhash Rishi. He is the son of Devguru
nephew of Brihaspati.
He is the artist of the Devas and the
Lord of the arts. He is also the divine cre-
ator of industrial art, He is the teacher of
all the Gods and the father of eight types
of Siddhis. He is the creator of architec-
ture, civil engineering, painting, wood-
carving, sculpture, palace-building, etc.
He has created beautiful ornaments and
divine aeroplanes for the Gods. He has
built huge structures for Indra, Yama,

44 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People December 2007

 4) Shilpi - mason
5) Daivaj - goldsmith.
'Vastu' was His adopted son.
Shri Vishwakarma was author of such
great books as “Vastushastra”, 'Shri
Vishwakarma Prakash' and
'Sthapatyadev'.
THE STORY OF THE
EMERGENCE OF
VASTUPURUSH
Andhkasur, a demon was captivated by
the divine beauty of Parvati. This sparked
Lord Vishwakarma off a fearful duet between Lord Shiva and
the demon. To avoid any interruption to
Varuna and lndraprastha for the the ongoing duel battle between Lord
Pandavas. Shiva and Andhkasur, Shri Vishwakarma
He has built Kailashpuri., Amaravati of arrived there on earth and on inspiration
Indra, Alakauati for Kubera, Pushpak of Narnarayan rishi, from Badrikashram,
Viman, Kashipuri. His incarnations Naland Shri Vishwakarma accepted this powerful
and Neel constructed the bridge man as His adopted son and named
(Setubandh) at Rameshwar. He who per- Him ‘Vastu’.
forms every work of the Universe is called He blessed Vastu by saying that
Shri Vishwakarsma. whenever there would be construction of
"Shri Vishwakanna, the designer of buildings or temples in any of the three
the Universe who has created divine worlds, He would be worshiped. He raised
places, temples and beautiful palaces. Vastu to the level of divinity and took Him
For the benefit of human beings He to "Badrikashram" and gave Him the
created houses, wells, lakes, every- greatest honor.
thing has been created by the divine It is said that Vastupurush changes
Lord. " His direction every three-months. He is
NE
(Eashanya) East SE present, in an invisible state in every
(Agneya)
house. The form of Vastupurush is imag-
North South
NW SW
(Vayavya) West (Nairutya)
Shri Vishwakarma's wife was
Viruchanadevi (Rachanadevi), whose
father was Prahlad. He fathered five sons
for the welfare of the world whose names
are :
1) Mann - blacksmith
2) May - carpenter
3) Twashta - copper Worker Shiva, Andhkasur and Shri Vishwakarma
December 2007 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People 45
ined to be somewhat as shown above. It
is imagined that He sleeps on the right
reclined on His back. There is a tail
emerging from the front of His head.
While building a temple or a house, let
the first dig be made in this direction
The man who truly worships Vastudev
with all his faith, gets all the happiness
in this world and lives for a hundred
years. After death too, he lives in
Heaven for crores of years enjoying the
good things there.
Prayer: "Oh! Vastupurash, we offer out
salutations to you. We pray to you that you
stay in our houses in your earthly bed and
please shower our homes with eternal hap-
piness, peace, food and wealth."
There are many stories regarding
Vastu Purusha.
As per Hindu Mythology in the war
between Devas and Asuras, a demon
appeared and started torturing the
Devas. Ultimately the Devas pushed
him down and sat over him. The
demon appealed to Lord Brahma for
help. Lord Brahma named him Vastu
Purusha and blessed him with the
words "All works on earth will have to
be commenced and concluded only
after worshipping you".
A number of principles and sugges-
tions have been laid down by ancient
astrologers. The reasons for many of
them have not been understood.
However, the principles have been
found to be based on good reasons and
sound in practice.
The building should be constructed
parallel to the magnetic forces.
Northern wall shall be exactly to North
and the Southern wall exactly to South.
However, when the street in a layout is
not laid parallel to the magnetic forces,
the street can be taken as the base and
the building can be marked with respect
to the street. The variation between the
magnetic direction and the direction of
site can be up to 120.
HOW TO SELECT A SITE
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF A HOUSE
It is always better to consult an expert on
Vaasthu before selecting a site for the
construction of a house to reap the best
advantages out of the proposed house. It
is always advisable to go in for a site
which is either a square or a rectangle in
shape. A spacious site makes the inhabi-
tant rich, provided it is a perfect square or
a rectangle.
It is advisable to acquire an additional
site located towards the east or north of
the existing house. Any amount of invest-
ment for acquiring a plot situated
towards the northeastern part of the
existing plot, is not a bad investment. The
topography of the plot reflects on the life
of the inhabitant. Slope towards north or
east showers bountiful blessings on the
inhabitant. Similarly elevation in land in
the western and in southern parts of the
site makes the life a prosperous one.
People residing in such sites do achieve
greater things. It is always better to select
a spacious plot so as to facilitate con-
struction of as many floors as one can.
A plot located at the confluence of
two roads leading to east and north
respectively, makes the life of the resident
a pleasant one if the roads intersect at
right angle.
If the plot is situated in conformity
with the compass the house constructed
thereon also would be set as per com-
pass. However any deliberate attempt to
adjust the house as per compass, leads to
directional dead-lock, because it results
in extension of southeast, southwest and
northwest. Hence if a site does not fall in
line with compass, the house can be con-
structed consistent with the adjoining
road and the neighboring houses. That is
why a site possessing a straight and a par-
allel road according to the compass must
be preferred. However, a plot lying by the
side of a road leading to northeast is said
46 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People December 2007
to lead the destiny of the occupant for a
brighter tomorrow. The prosperity and
progress in the life of the resident of a
plot is directly proportional to the eleva-
tion of the western and southern parts of
his plot.
One should never select a triangular
site. Just as, it is difficult to change the
properties of the soil it is also difficult to
change the properties of a site or a plot.
For instance, the existence of a high
hillock in north or east or the location of a
tank or a river in west or south cannot be
rectified. Similarly, one cannot change
the direction of a road, which cuts across
the northeastern tip of a plot. Further the
existence of a small plot in between two
bigger plots makes the inhabitant lead a
suffocating life just as a calf gets trampled
between two fighting bulls.
Never select a site which protrudes
towards northwest, southwest or south-
east. If the vacant portion in a site is more
towards south or west than towards
north or east, it is advisable to separate
the excess portion by means of a small
wall or fence and construct a shed or the
same may be disposed off.
If the road leading from your plot
takes you towards east, north or north-
east it is said to be a very auspicious one.
If that road leads you towards southeast
or southwest it brings misfortunes to the
inhabitant.
Never think of procuring a site which
slopes towards southwest. Ensure that
the rain water or sewage water of neigh-
boring plots does not flow into your site
from eastern or northeastern direction.
People living in such houses cannot have
normal peaceful lives.
Astrology and palmistry as above
said reveal the future of an individual
to some extent but cannot change the
way of his life. Conducting some rituals
and arranging for penance to get
peace and happiness do not hold much
water.
Supposing a house is not constructed
as per Vaasthu it can be very well be
rectified.
As per the science of Vaasthu all the
eight directions have their own respec-
tive influences on the human beings.
(1) East is called the paternal side. If the
vacant space in east is covered com-
pletely the house becomes an owner-
less property i.e. the male head of the
family would die.
(2) Southeast or (Agneya) begets health.
(3) South brings prosperity, happiness
and tranquility.
(4) Southwest (Nairuthi) is responsible
for attitude, behavior and premature
mortality.
(5) West brings progress, elevation and
fame.
(6) Northwest (Vayuvya) governs rela-
tions with others which may vary
from cordiality to hostility.
(7) North is the maternal side. If it is not
kept vacant the house will become a
desert due to female mortality and
remains as a house without a female
member.
(8) Northeast (Eesanya) ensures continu-
ity of lineage through able male prog-
eny. In case the northeast is cut off
there can be no male children in the
family.
A casual observation of all the eight
directions reveals the effects on the resi-
dents of the house.
ANALYSIS OF INTERMEDIATE
DIRECTIONS
Each intermediate direction extends
towards two directions of which it is
made up of. Hence each intermediate
direction is again subdivided into two
parts in the following manner.
1. Northeast (Eesanya) : The northern
most part of the east is called east-
ern northeast and the eastern most
part of the north is called northern
northeast.
 TABLE OF BANEFUL AND BOUNTIFUL EFFECTS OF THE EIGHT DIRECTIONS

Directions Depression Elevation

East Wealth, Longevity and Fame Loss of Progeny.

Southeast If lower than the southwest it augurs well, If higher than southwest it is an ill omen.
but if lower than northwest and northeast If higher than northeast and northwest it
it results in fire accidents, rivalry and attracts riches.
criminal bent of mind.

South Diseases and financial constraints. Prosperity and health.

Southwest Vices, protracted illness and premature demise. Prosperity and fame.

West Loss of progeny and ill health. Increases fame and progeny.

Northwest If lower than northeast it results in rivalry, If higher than northeast. It results in success
diseases. If lower than southwest and in all issues and flow of wealth. If the
southeast it augurs well. north west is higher than southeast
it is not a good omen.

North Always desirable as it draws wealth. Drives away wealth.

Northeast Draws riches from everywhere. Makes the resident a pauper.

2. Southeast (Agneya) : The

southern most part of the
east is called eastern south-
east and the eastern most
part of the south is called
the southern southeast.
3. Southwest (Nairuthi) : The
western most part of the
south is called the southern
southwest and the southern
most part of the west is
called the western south-
west.
4. Northwest (Vayuvya): The
northern most part of west
is called the western most
part of the north is called
northern north west

PREPARATION OF SITE
The site should be cleared of,
vegetation. Trees like Jackfruit,
peepal, neem, tamarind etc. if on
the site should be removed with
roots at least 6 months before
construction is started. If any
tree is to removed after

December 2007 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People 47

occupation; a minimum of 3 months
should be allowed to pass.
COMMENCEMENT OF
BUILDING
The building should be commenced on
an auspicious day and time. The
following inauspicious days should be
avoided.
(a) When a member of the family is in
mourning due to the death of his
kith or kin.
(b) When a child is born in the family
and the house is considered to be
polluted.
(c) When a female member of the
house is pregnant.
(d) When a female member has her
menses.
If two units are proposed to be con-
structed in a plot, the first one should be
on South or West only.
LAYOUT OF BUILDING
1. It is preferable if the building faces
East or North- East.
2. The building should never face South
East.
3. The South West corner should be an
exact 90-degree angle.
4. The house should not face a moun-
tain nor the shape of the house
resembles a mountain.
5. The building should not be square,
but could be rectangular.
6. The corners of any house should not
be in line with the door or window of
any other house.
7. The construction of the building
should be such that the Sun's rays
shall fall on the building for 3 hours
after sun-rise and 3 hours before
sunset.
8. The setbacks on North and East
should be more than on South and
West by 1.25 to 1.5 times.
9. All corners of rooms should be per-
pendicular to one another from the
base of the roof.
10. North-West or South-East should not
project beyond the periphery of the
building.
11. The color washing can be as shown
below. For houses facing East -
White; South East - Grey; South - Red;
South West - Green; West - Blue,
North West - White; North - Green;
North - Yellow.
DISPOSITION OF ROOMS IN
THE BUILDING
The total number of rooms in a house
shall be odd in number. For purpose of
computing, any room provided with a
door (including toilets) should be consid-
ered as a room.
BED ROOMS
1. The Master bedroom should be on
the Southwest.
2. Children's bed room should be on
north or north-western side
3. Unmarried children can have their
bedrooms facing east.
4. The position of the bedroom where a
couple is united has a bearing on the
prospects of a child. If the room is in
the western part of the house, the

VASTU CHARKA
NE East SE
(Eashanya) (Agneya)
• Grain store • Living room • Pooja room
• Childrens' bed room • Treasury • Living room
• Cloth washing area • Drinking water
• WC, Nahani
• Septic tank

• Childrens' bed room • Brahma's place • Bath room South

North
• Meditation room • Open courtyard • Guest room
• Dining room • Open skylight • Verandah
• Study room • Kitchen room
• Staircase
• Overhead water tank

• Store room (waste material) • Bed room • Kitchen room

• Master bed room Staircase • Store for imp. Materials • Electric meter
NW SW
(Vayavya) West (Nairutya)

48 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People December 2007

 child will be intelligent, prosperous
and become famous.
5. Bedrooms for couples should be only
on the West or North.
6. While sleeping the head should face
towards south (best position) or east
or west butt never on north
7. Provide ward robe on south west side
facing to east or north side
8. Provide TV, heater, electric equip-
ments on south east side
LIVING ROOM
1. Preferably on east side with a general
slope towards east or northeast
2. North side room is best
3. Avoid door on southeast or south-
west side
4. Avoid TV on NE / SW corner.
Preferable on SE or South or West side
5. Avoid any odd shaped furniture
including round, triangular, oval etc.
square or rectangle are preferable
6. Avoid central opening or skylight in
the living room.
7. Avoid any chandeliers in the exact
center of the room to avoid extra
weight in the center of the room
8. More height for the living room may
be preferable
9. Provide internal staircase on south,
SW, west side
10. Staircase flight should be from N to S
or E to W.
KITCHEN
1. Kitchen should preferably be on the
South East corner of the building.
2. The person who cooks should face
exactly east.
3. The sink in the kitchen should be
in the North East corner of the
kitchen.
4. Storage for storing provisions provid-
ed in the racks should be on the walls,
which are on Southern or Western
side and not on the Northern and
Eastern side.
5. Washbasin or sink in Kitchen should
be in the North East.
6. For South facing houses, the kitchen
can be on Northwest. However the
oven may be in the South East corner
of kitchen room.
DINING ROOM
1. Best position on west side . east or
north may be workable
2. Avoid the arrangement of Kitchen on
one floor and dining on another floor
3. Avoid any odd shaped dining table
including round, triangular, oval
etc. square or rectangle are prefer-
able. Do not attach dining table to
wall or fold
4. Provide drinking water on NE side.
5. Provide wash basin on east or north
6. Never provide attached toilet to
dining room. However washing
area for cloths or utensils may be
provided
7. Provide nature photos for pleasing
environment
POOJA ROOM
1. Pooja room should preferably be in
the North East direction.
2. Never provide pooja room on south
side nor its door on south side
3. Deity should face on west side and
the person praying should face on
east side. In temples this arrangement
is other way round
4. provide preferably white color floor
and white color for walls. light blue
color for walls may be permitted
5. Never provide shikhara or dome to
the pooja room as in temple
6. Never keep any broken statue of deity
in pooja room. This may be immedi-
ately replaced
7. Half of the Door above cill should
have perforations or glass for light
and ventilations
8. Never keep money or any treasury
inside the pooja room
December 2007 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People 49
9. Do not construct any separate temple
for public purpose, or shivaling or
Samadhi. Do not use any place for
meditation directly visible for the
deity in the pooja room.
SERVANTS' QUARTERS
Servants' quarters should be in the. North
West . corner.
WALKING SPACE IN ROOMS
In all the rooms, more walking space
should be provided on the North and
East direction than on South and the
West.
VERANDAHS
1. Verandahs or sit-outs in the South or
West should be higher than the floor
level of the main building, while in
the North and East, verandahs should
be lower than the floor level of the
main building,
2. If verandahs or porticos are provided
the width on North and East direction
should be more than the width on the
South or West. Verandahs on North
and East should be continuous and
there should not be any break
between them.
DOORS AND WINDOWS
1. Doors of rooms should be in North-
East or North or East
2. The main entrance to the house can
be one or maximum two on front
side. More than two should be avoid-
ed.
3. In case of main door. the shutter
should open inside. If the main door
has single door, the !hinges should be
on the left side, when viewed from
inside the premises.
4. The shutters of the big door should
be made using three planks, but
should be of the same variety.
5. The total number of doors and win-
dows, taken separately, should be
 even in number and should
not have zeros in the ending.
Doors should normally be on
North direction.
6. Exit of house should be on North or
East or West in order of preference
and not on South.
7. The main entrance door should not
face the intersection of roads and no
trees should obstruct the entrance.
However, according to some experts,
if the distance between the entrance
door and the above obstructions is
more than the height of the building,
the obstructions will not be consid-
ered inauspicious.
8. The entrance steps should be an
even number. The number of pillars
should be an even number.
Similarly, if beams are introduced in
any room, or hall, this also should
be an even number.
9. There should be no window on South
West side up to 12% of the length of
building.
WOODWORK
1. Timber used in buildings should
not be from the trees of peepal,
silk-cotton, ber etc. Further trees
damaged by natural disasters and
grown on burial grounds should
not be used.
2. For wood works in a building, only
new timber should be used and for
renovation of an old building, old
wood can be used.
WELL
1. The well should be provided on the
North East direction of the plot.
2. If any fountain is to be provided, it
should be only on North or East side
of the house which, distance from
Main door should be 'he minimum
height of the door.
3. The projected wall of the well from
the base should be of round shape.
50 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People December 2007
Even an edge of the wall of the well
should not be on the line connecting
North East corner of the building and
North East corner of the plot.
BATH ROOMS
1. Bathrooms are constructed generally
in three ways viz., as adjuncts to the
main house out side the house, as
attached bathrooms to the bedrooms
within the house and as common
bathrooms at a central place inside
the house.
2. The Science of Vastu lays down that
common bath rooms provided inside
the house should be built in eastern
or northern rooms.
3. Attached bathrooms can be built
towards east or north of the bed-
rooms. However in case of two par-
allel bedrooms, bathrooms located
at the center may fall towards north
in respect of southern bedroom and
towards south in respect of north-
ern bedroom and this phenomenon
is permissible as per the science of
Vastu. Same Principle holds good in
respect of bathrooms located in
between two parallel bedrooms
located in the southern portion of a
house. That means bedroom locat-
ed towards west may have bath-
room towards east while bedroom
located towards east may have
bathroom towards west.
4. The front face of water closet should
face north or east .
5. Door of toilet are preferable to be on
north side
6. Avoid marble in toilet
OVERHEAD TANK
1. Overhead tank of a house can be con-
structed in southwest, northwest or
southeast corners.
2. If an overhead tank is proposed to be
provided in northwest or southeast a
small room on the terrace should be
provided in southwest duly ensuring
that the height of the room is more
than that of the overhead tank.
3. If an overhead tank is provided in
southwest any type of structure can
be built in northwest and southeast-
ern parts of the terrace.
TOILET AND SEPTIC TANK
1. The most ideal spot for locating an
external toilet is eastern south-east
away from eastern compound wall
and abutting southern compound
wall.
2. The septic tank should be provided in
the central east. Orientalists, pre-
 scribe that southwest is the most suit-
able place for providing a toilet.
3. The septic tank should not be locat-
ed in southwest as any depression
in southwest leads to serious disad-
vantages to the inhabitants.
4. Toilet can be provided in southwest
without a septic tank attached to it.
In such a case it should be ensured
that W.C. is fixed on a platform
which is higher than the floor level
of the house.
5. The septic tank must be located in
central north or central east. If toilet
has to be provided in northwest the
same must be built away from the
northern compound wall and
abutting western wall. Here also the
septic tank must be provided
in center
COMPOUND WALL AND GATES
1. Construction of compound wall is
a must for any house as it pro-
tects the inhabitants from the
negative effects of Vastu. While
providing a gate to the com-
pound wall following points are
to be borne in mind.
2. In case of a house facing east
apart from providing a gate in
front of the main door another
gate has to be provided in north-
east at the mid point of the
vacant area in the northern part
of the house. The second gate is
very essential in the sense that
the first one would be treated as
an entrance in a debilitated por-
tion in its absence.
3. In case of a house facing south
apart from providing a gate in front
of the main entrance another gate
has to be provided in southeast at
the mid point of the vacant area in
the eastern part of the house. The
second gate is very essential in the
sense that the first one will be treat-
ed as an entrance in a debilitated
portion in its absence.
4. In case of a house facing west
apart from providing a gate in
front of the main entrance in west
another gate must be provided in
the northwest at the mid point of
the vacant space available on the
northern part of the house.
Th e s e co n d e n t r a n ce i s ve r y
essential in the sense that in its
absence the first one would be
treated as an entrance in a
debilitated portion.
INFLUENCE OF ROADS
1. Number of roads around the house
and their formation cast a powerful
influence on the inhabitants
and lead either to their prosperity
or adversity as per the science
of Vastu.
2. A plot located at the confluence
of two roads is better than the
one located by the side of a
single road.
3. Similarly a plot located at the con-
fluence of three roads is better than
the one located at the confluence of
two roads.
4. Same analogy applies in case of a
plot located at the confluence
of four roads and it is considered
the best.
GENERAL HINTS
1) Mountains/hills In East In East, North-
East, North, North In North-East direc-
tion yields malefic results.
2) The dimensions of South direction
rooms should be more than the North
direction rooms.
3) The dimensions of East direction
rooms should be less than the West
side rooms.
4) The dimensions of South - west direc-
tion room should be more than the
other rooms.
December 2007 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People 51
5) The dimensions of North- East direc-
tion room should less than the other
rooms.
6) The number of doors, windows, doors
and windows fixed should be even
and not odd.
7) The Electric meter should be fixed In
South- East direction
8) In factory electric poles should be
installed in South-East direction.
9) Terrace can be in North, East, North-
East direction
10) The grill verandah room should not
constructed in South direction, West
direction
11) South- East,North-West, South- West
room of the building can be used as
Kitchen room.
12) North- East room of the building
should not be used as kitchen., store
room, stair case room, W. C. Room
REFERENCES :
• The Secret World of Vaasthu - By Gouri
Tirupathy Reddy
• New Dimensions in Vastu - By
Venkateshwar rao
• Nisarganiyam ani aamachi Vastu-
rachana - bhag , By A R Tarkhedkar
(Marathi)
• General Vastu Guidelines - paper by
C H Gopinathrao ( first all India sym-
posium on vastu)
• Fevicraft - Shri Vishwakarma special
Vol XXI, No 9 Sept- Oct 2000
• Authors own observations & analysis
for simplified vastu ■
Bharat N Mulay is Professor
& Head, Depar tment of
Architecture, PDA College of
Engineering, Gulbarga.
Photographs: Courtesy the
Author.