Did you know that John Hagelin, quantum physicist from Harvard and a Vedic architecture buff, recently advised US President George W. Bush to close the south entrance to the White House and start using the north entrance? According to him, this would help him make wiser and more intelligent decisions. He also advised UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to shut down the south entrance to 10 Downing Street to end the trouble in Iraq. Hagelin, a follower of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, heads an organization called the US Peace Government.

The latest buzz is that Vedic architecture, incorporating Vaastu principles, is just about catching on in the US and people are looking up to it as a panacea for all their ills. Little wonder that a seventy-two million dollar tower, touted as the world’s largest Vedic green office building, is now coming up on Washington’s outskirts.

So, what’s the basis of this sudden interest in centuries old science of Vaastu Shastra? Says Jonathan Lipman, the chief Vedic architect from the Maharishi stable, “Beyond beauty and engineering, architecture should be able to create influences.” And that’s precisely what Vaastu does and had been doing for centuries in India. According to Hagelin, the positive effects of a proper eastern orientation on the brain and behavior are now being documented by modern science. He speaks of recent EEG research that points to greater efficiency of neuronal functioning when the head is oriented towards the east, compared to the north.

Vaastu Shastra and its effects

The word Vaastu has been derived from a Sanskrit word vas meaning “to dwell” and Shastra meaning treatise. Thus Vaastu Shastra is a treatise on the science of architecture that lets you in on the secret of constructing buildings in harmony with nature to gain positive vibes. Adhering to its principles enables you to become the master of the house, controlling your luck and destiny.

Before you pooh-pooh the idea, just nudge your memory and recall when was the last time you entered a building and felt that the vibes of the place were just not right. Why limit yourself to this? If you just look around your neighborhood, you can almost point out the houses that forever remain full of happiness, irrespective of how many times they change hands. Take the case of your favorite supermarket with your favorite retail outlets, what makes you prefer them to others offering the same brands? There are way too many instances in your everyday life to chuck this science out of the window.

So, what exactly does Vaastu Shastra do? The whole science of Vaastu is designed to attract nature’s auspicious influences and block inauspicious ones. This is achieved by positioning your home and workplace according to certain sacred Vaastu principles.

Vaastu Shastra is not Feng Shui

So, is Vaastu Shastra like Feng Shui? Although the Chinese science of Feng Shui is derived from Vaastu Shastra and both set out to achieve the same objective, they are quite different from one another. Feng Shui considers the influence of birth details of owner on the dwelling place, through which it derives good and bad directions. Whereas Vaastu Shastra does not consider birth dates at all and lays heavy stress upon the attributes of the various compass points. A case in point is the south direction. The Chinese tradition identifies it with fame and recognition, whereas the Indian science considers it inauspicious, the reason why Hagelin wants the south entrances sealed. Furthermore, in Vaastu Shastra, sun plays a major influence in design and allocation of rooms, whereas in Feng Shui it doesn't. Feng Shui lays more importance on time and according to it, noticeable changes occur every year and major changes every twenty years. Likewise, there are plenty of other differences. All this points towards just one thing and that is, don’t mix up the two!

The principles of Vaastu Shastra

Since the main objective of Vaastu Shastra is to enable you to live in harmony with nature and the environment, building homes according to the principles of Vaastu requires a basic understanding of its many components, such as elements and directions. Their influence begins from the time of selection of the plot, continues through the construction phase and ends with the arrangements inside. The time-tested principles of Vaastu Shastra are simple to follow. Without taking up each component individually, we would just touch upon the main attributes of a plot and a building. The scope of this article does not allow the how or why of these principles.

The plot in general

When selecting a plot for construction of a building, look for these features:

• Go for a plot that faces the east or the north. An east-facing plot receives the benefit of the morning sun bringing with it inspiration and enlightenment, while a north-facing plot receives the benefit of the pre-dawn hour, the best time for meditation.
• As far as possible, the four sides of the plot should be exactly aligned to the cardinal directions of north, south, east and west. A variation of fifteen to twenty degrees is acceptable.
• Go in for a square or rectangular shaped plot, as these are most auspicious. The plot should not have any cut corners.
• A plot that is wider in front and narrows in the rear is good for commercial purposes and a plot with a narrow frontage and a wide rear is best for residence. So, don’t go wrong in this.
• The plot should be elevated at the southwest corner and depressed at the northeast corner.
• As a general principle, a plot located at the junction of two roads is better than the one located by the side of a single road. Similarly, a plot located at the junction three roads is better than the one with two roads and a plot surrounded by roads on all four sides is considered the most suitable.
• The soil of the plot should be fertile and not mixed with refuse or waste material.

The building in general

From the location of the main gate to the sitting of the rooms and their decor, each component influences the suitability of a building. Ensure these points for your building:

• Always enclose the building within a compound wall.
• Keep more space towards the northeast corner of the compound of the building by locating the main portion of the building towards the southwest.
• Don’t let any obstructions like a tree, rock or foliage block the main gate. This may block the free flow of positive energy into the building.
• The main building should lie towards the left-hand side as you enter the main gate.
• Keep the southwest, the weight-bearing corner, heaviest by placing overhead water tanks in this quadrant. Also make it the tallest corner in relation to the whole building.
• Make the northeast the lightest and shortest corner. Keep it more open with more windows to allow entry of the auspicious rays of the morning sun.
• Don’t place the main door to the building in the dead center of the wall but have it off center.
• Keep the center of the building absolutely vacant and clean. Don’t allow any construction or clutter here, ever.
• Let the head of the family occupy the southwest bedroom, this way he or she would always remain in control!
• Never sleep with your head towards the north, as sleep disturbance and stress are likely.
• Locate the kitchen in the southeast quadrant, the heat-bearing zone.
• Always cook while facing the east and never the south.
• Locate the prayer room in the northeast corner of the building.
• Always offer prayers facing the east, the direction of the rising sun.
• Irrespective of the location of the study room, study facing the north or the east.
• While sitting on the john in the toilet always face the south.

The gains of Vaastu Shastra

So, what’s in it for you? Well, to begin with, you may find yourself more at peace with yourself, less stressed out, and more calm and composed. As you delve deeper into this science and follow its many rules and suggestions meticulously, you are likely to be bestowed with unending prosperity and instant remedies for health problems, besides many other benefits. All this is possible because Vaastu helps create positive energies that rid the building of all negative influences.

This collective wisdom of the ages is not merely hearsay but a proven fact. The great Indian temples, in existence for centuries, are a standing testimony to the profoundness of this science. What’s most amazing about Vaastu Shastra is that it is as relevant today as it was in antiquity.

So, if stress is becoming a major issue in your lives, turn to Vaastu Shastra for peace and harmony. Those who are aware of its powers are employing it in every project they undertake. If you simply adhere to the principles of Vaastu, health, wealth and prosperity will certainly be yours for the asking!