There are five fundamental principles on which the Vedic science of architecture stands upon:

1. The Doctrine of orientation:

In vastu, east and north direction are given great importance. The suns rays, being a rich source of vitamin D are vital for the sustenance of life on earth; and the rays early in the morning from the east emitting more light and less heat are the best. Doors and windows in the east would allow the suns ultra violet rays to penetrate into the house, bestowing their benefits to the inmates of the house. In the afternoon on the other hand the sun would be coursing to the west emitting infra red rays which are detrimental to the health and hence less number of windows and thick walls in the rooms in west and Southwest.


Like the Sun, the earths magnetic fields also wield significant influence on the well being of the inmates of the house. For example Vaastu recommends the inmates of the house to sleep with their head towards the south. The human body acts as a magnet with the head as the north pole. If the head is directed towards the north, it will repel the earths north pole . As a consequence the blood circulation would be affected, causing tensions and disturbed sleep.


There is a technical procedure by which the cardinal points are ascertained for the orientation of the buildings. It should be done in the location where the naval point of vaastu Prussia lies that is the centre of the plot. Orientation played an important role in the daily life of ancient Indians for to them, Sun was the giver of all life.

The source http://www.vaastuinternational.com

Vaastu means environment, Purush means energy, Mandala means the astrological chart which relates the layout to the orientation. The surface of earth in traditional Indian Cosmology is regarded as demarcated by sunrise and sunset, and also by North and South points, and is represented by a diagram or a mandala of a square.


The science of architecture is a part of science of luminaries. The Vaastu had come to the place of adjustment of solar and lunar cycles. The no. 32 of the divinities residing in the squares of the borders of the vaastumandala is also the sum of 28 and 4, the no. of regents of the four planets who rule the equinoctial and solstitial points referred to the cardinal points and of regents of 28 nakshatras(constellations). Each of the divisions in the mandala is called a pada and has a presiding deity associated with it. Pada Vinyasa is a very convenient method, like a modern graph divided into a uniform square for the purpose of designing according to proportionate measurement.


The image of the Vaastu Purush on the Mandala is drawn in the likeness of man. Forty five Gods are constituents of the body of the Vastu purusha, the extent allotted to each of the deity differs but not their relative position in the plan. The lord of central square is always the Lord of Cosmos, the North is attributed to the Lord of wealth, South to the Lord of death, the east to the Lord of light, the west to the Lord of winds, suggesting that their be a courtyard in the centre of the building.

When these are scrupulously followed proper ventilation and good disposition to the Sun and privacy is insured. The house is compared to the human body and the central courtyard with Brahma, the eternal soul and their relationship is evoked when grahepravesha (house warming) ceremony is performed with traditional prayers and rituals.

The adherence of mana is as old as Indian architecture and is imperative to all creative activity, of which angula (3/4th. of an inch) or hasta (18 inches) is the standard of measurements. The measurement is divided into 6 categories:


Measurement of height, breadth, width or circumference, along plumb lines, thickness, and interspace.
Proportional relationships of these categories are laid out for various functional usageÕs.

There are six main component part of the building : Aadhistaana (Base), Stambha (Column), Prastara (Entablature), Karna (Wings), Shikhara (Roof), and Stuupi (dome).

Chanda is the structural aspect of building, its rhythmical disposition is like that of poetry. The science of rhythm (Chanda =beauty) extends to the rhythmical disposition of the ground plan of the building and their vertical section (urdhva chanda) . Each brick and each building unit is filled with rhythm, it is a charged and compelling weight and shape in the hands of the builder . Rhythm evokes a reality and measure builds it up . Whatever is thus produced is called is Meya, which is measurable, capable of being known and a quantity.


What ever construction be done on the land, be it a residential house, or industrial organisation, or a public institution, temple etc., in each case it is auspicious and beneficial to keep the following points in mind while purchasing a plot of land or constructing a building.