vastu shastra

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Vaastu: Vaastu works on the basic premise that the earth or soil is actually alive, and that all living or organic creatures emerge directly from it. This life force within the earth is called Vaastu, and all objects placed on it share this life force. The earth, therefore, works as both substance and support. Vaastu is also explained as the living space-Vaastu means ‘to live’ or ‘to reside’.

In ancient period the constructions were based on certain principles keeping in mind the flow of energy through the home. The Universe is full of beneficial energies that we must learn to harness as well as to keep in balance for our well-being. This life force around us is called Vaastu.

Some other learned people believe that Vaastu can be best described as a mystic science that governs the energies of the human existence and also effective. Just as medical science has explored and explained various aspects of the human body while existence of the soul remains a mystery. So the principles of Vaastu are the principles of the body; while the spirit of Vaastu still remains a mystery.

The word Vaastu is derived the root ‘Vas’ which means ‘to live’ or ‘to reside’. Vaastu therefore, deals with the art of living in accordance, with a holistic view of life where man is deeply connected with the universe and the energy of the elements. Vaastu blends the psychological with the philosophical to harness the energy waves to our benefit. The science which gives the knowledge of Vaastu, is called Vaastu shastra or Vaastu science. And the right knowledge contributes greatly in shaping one’s beliefs. Therefore, an elemental understanding of Vaastu is essential before laying your belief system on it.

Vaastu is not a modern science as a few years ago the knowledge of this subject was confined to a learned few and handed down only by word of mouth. It is also not a nuclear science or space technology that a lay person cannot understand. It is a subject ‘linking man’ with nature that is both outside and within. Its principles are easy to follow. It is the placement of Neptune that spirituality is suddenly in and a lot of esoteric concepts are being talked about. The whole science of architecture has developed because of man’s basic need to have a home.

Vaastu in ancient time was confined to architects (sthapathis) and handed down of mouth or through handwritten monographs. In ancient period when students studied in Gurukul, at that time the knowledge of Vaastu shastra was given to them. It is said in Vishwakarma Prakash Grantha that-

Vaastu shastram pravakshyami lokanam hitkamyaya.
It means the aim of Vaastu Shastra is to inspire the people towards their well-being. In ancient time our Rishis thought about human well-being and also done some efforts for them. Vaastu affects your well-being, space; time and energy are traditionally perceived as existing in their free, unlimited state. Vaastu believe that these three elements can be disciplined by applying rhythm and order (in other words, science) to the way we live, move, and use time.

Vaastu shastra is one of the important sciences among 64 sciences, which knowledge given in ancient period. But in the middle age this science has lost its existence. Now this time western countries after following the principles of Vaastu Shastra and they give this science back to us. It can be called our unfortunate. Actually, our negligence towards this quixotic and scientific attainment is important.

During the Vedic period, there developed a body of architectural ideas which came to know as Vaastu Shastra. These ideas were embodied in the Vedas, the Puranas, the Grhyasutras, and several later works like Manasara.

Epics like the Bruhatsamhita, Vishnu Dharmottara Purana, Viswakarma Vaastu Shastra, Samarangana Sutra Dharma and Aparajita Prutchcha, have also been responsible for Vaastu taking its shape as a science. Vaastu is very ancient science. We can analyze that how old is Vaastu shastra by the description of Vaastu in Rigveda. In spite of this we can find the description of Vaastu in many Samhita Granthas.

The renewed interest in Vaastu over the past few years is also thought provoking. Is it liberalization and global competition that has led to its revival; or is it the dawning of the spiritual era of which the world has suddenly awakened and esoteric concepts like Reiki and Pranic Healing have also emerged; or is it the placement of the planet Neptune that has aroused spirituality.

India has an exceptionally rich heritage of architecture. Houses in ancient India could not be constructed and used just anyhow. There were certain norms and procedures regarding them, which even the royalty followed. These are all compiled in the Vaastu shastra and cover all aspects of the science of building.

Now a days Vaastu shastra rising with the time and also the people compiled the principles of Vaastu. The epics describe cities, multi storied buildings, arches, balconies and other forms of architecture. In the Ramayana, the city of Ayodhya had high walls, assembly halls, and high-steep led houses. Lanka was a marvel of decorative palaces and tall structures. The Mahabharata provides a short but graphic description of cities like Indraprastha, Dwaraka, Mithila and the assembly halls of gods. In the number of these cities we can take as an example, Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and Delhi, the national capital.

The outlay of these cities prepared by recent architectures and they followed the principles of Vaastu shastra. In spite of these we can see many cities, arches, multi storied buildings which are in their actual form from their period of manufacturing.

The above description has proved the significance of Vaastu Shastra that if people follow the principles of Vaastu shastra at the time of constructing a building, they can get it very beneficial