What is Vaastu?

ONE OF THE ANCIENT TREATISES ON VAASTU, the Brihat Samhita, includes a myth about the origin of Vaastupurusha, the deity of vaastu. The god Shiva was once engaged in a battle with a demon. As the fierce struggle went on, Shiva began sweating profusely. Vaastupurusha was born out of Shiva's beads of sweat. His origin in strife made him very hungry and he started devouring everything in his path. The other gods went to Lord Brahma for protection, begging him to do something about this new creature that was destroying their world. Brahma gave Vaastupurusha a push and he fell to earth, landing face down. Immediately Brahma told the gods - who were forty - five in number - to sit on Vaastupurusha and not allow him to get up. After they did so, Vaastupurusha prayed for Brahma's mercy, entreating that he had been created hungry and that he was only following his nature. Brahma felt sorry for him and granted him the blessing of having his endless hunger fed by offerings from the inhabitants of the dwellings built upon him. In return, Vaastupurusha was to stay embedded in the earth and take care of the inhabitants' health and prosperity. But he could seek his own sustenance if the inhabitants didn't feed him properly. Those who did not abide by Brahma's rules would awaken the creature's hunger and suffer the consequences.

As with all myths, the true meaning of the symbol of Vaastupurusha is much deeper than the story. Understanding its importance will enable us to penetrate further into the mysteries of life. The story of Vaastupurusha is our own story. A human being is both a material body (vaastu) and the subtle energy or spirit (Vaastu or purusha) within it. Similarly, Vaastupurusha can be seen as the living energy of a physical structure. In the same manner as our body and spirit are connected, the house (body) and Vaastupurusha (spirit) are connected. Vaastupurusha is nourished by the energy of the structure. If the physical layout of a dwelling fosters a flow of energy that supports the Vaastupurusha, then there is harmony within the house as well. Whenever there is a mismatch, there is disharmony. Whatever vibrations take place in the house eventually have an effect on the people who occupy the house.

The forty-five deities sitting on Vaastupurusha to restrain him represent our own angelic and demonic qualities that bind us to worldly life. When these qualities are properly understood and experienced, our life is harmonious and we enjoy health, peace, and prosperity. The house built following vaastu principles satisfies Vaastupurusha by allowing the flow of cosmic energy to be in balance and yield good things to the inhabitants.

By picturing Vaastu Purusha lying facedown in his classic position, as shown in figure 1, and applying traditional Indian ayurvedic knowledge about different parts of the body, we can begin to see the proper roles for various sections of a house or plot. Vaastupurusha is understood to be lying facedown facing Northeast, the direction of wisdom and spirituality. That puts his right side to the East and South (representing dakshina) and his left side to the North (representing uttara) and West. In ayurveda the right side of the body represents masculine qualities, so when the life force is moving in the right side (pingala), one is more active, critical, judgmental, and analytical. The left side of the body represents feminine qualities, so when the life force moves in that side (ida), one's intuitive and compassionate nature dominates.

Jyotish describes the logistic of the planetary forces and how they operate. Ayurveda tells us in what proportion and through which elements those forces should function for optimum health. Vaastu guides us in harmonizing these energies, through structures and arrangements. When these forces are allowed to express themselves properly. A perfect natural order gets established. Thus, the three science are the knowledge base for holistic understanding of our existence and wellness.

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