Vaastu and Feng Shui: Living in Harmony

Vaastu Shastra is one of the most valuable treasures of ancient Indian heritage. Vaastu is a science, which deals with the laws of nature and ensures living in harmony with the force of Almighty. It is a universal subject, which would benefit each of us irrespective of caste, creed, sex, colour and nationality. The bylaws of Vaastu relate a human being with the house and with the environment. A good and a healthy environment designed and decorated as per Vaastu would ensure healthy mind in a healthy body.

Vaastu as practiced in China, Japan, Singapore, Hongkong, Malaysia and many other Asian countries is known as Feng-Shui; the art of balancing energies through interior decoration for getting best out of nature. This wonderful science is gradually spreading to the various parts of the globe including Europe, Canada, US, Australia and even Gulf countries.

Vaastu means dwelling of humans and gods in the original Sanskrit literature. Since the whole universe is consisting of five elements namely earth, water, fire, air and space, the tenants of Vaastu try to create balance in these and allow us to evoke the finer forces of nature for our upliftment, enabling us to lead a healthier, wealthier and happier life.

All the guidelines of Vaastu/Feng-Shui and Pyramid Power are scientific, logical, practical and supported by universal facts. The magnetic energy of the earth and solar energy are best tapped by adopting the basics of these sciences. Since sun is the major cosmic entity and we live on earth; which nourishes all being like a mother, they are the treasure of all comforts and pleasure. The subtle energy in natural and built environment affect human beings have also been verified. Thus there is a great need for the architects and Vaastu experts to co-ordinate; since an architect can build an aesthetically posh house but can’t assure happy life to people living in that house, whereas Vaastu-science assures peace, prosperity and progress to the owner as also the inmates.

Kitchen: cooking with energy

Kitchen is the most important room in a house since it affects the health and wealth of the entire family.

According to Vaastu, the best place for a kitchen is the South-East corner, as South-East is supposed to be the place of fire God. From the practical and scientific point-of-view as well, it is considered to be the proper place for a kitchen as beneficial infra-red rays come from east and ultraviolet rays, which are harmful for germs like bacteria, virus etc., come from south. The other option especially for west or north facing houses recommended by Vaastu is the North-West area, being the air zone which is vital for burning activity. The other acceptable directions can be East and South Zone to prevent the smoke and cooking fumes from flowing into the living/working area and affecting the health of the inmates.

Direction for cooking

For good taste, as also for proper health of the family especially ladies, the cooking hobs should be ideally positioned in such a way that one is facing east while preparing food. In case of a kitchen placed in North-West corner of the house, one can also face west while cooking. Cooking while facing Northeast/North can result into heavy expenditure, difference of opinion, and mental unrest. In many situations cervical problems, pain in the shoulders have been cured simply by avoiding cooking facing South/Southwest. Another important advice to ensure good health especially to reduce backaches and pain in the legs is to avoid a door at the back while cooking or fix a convex mirror in front to reflect the door area.

Five elements in kitchen

The sink should be placed in the Northeast [water element] or North or East, the gas stove and other electric appliances are to be placed in the Southeast [fire element] or Northwest [Air zone].

Heavy and full height cabinets are to be built in the Southwest zone [earth element]. The Centre [space element], North and East of the kitchen should be kept open. The fridge and the storage cupboards are best arranged along the southern and western walls.

Colours

The best colours recommended in Vaastu for the kitchen are all shades of yellow, off-white or cream. Colours like blue and black should be totally avoided. The roof must always be painted white.

Bedroom

Bedroom is supposed to be a place for romance and relaxation. According to Vaastu, the bedroom should be as far away from North and East direction as possible. The more you are closer to South and West, more you will find peace and comfort. That is why Southwest or south area is best suited for a master bedroom.

Never place your head towards North while sleeping since like poles repel each other. It should be towards South, as it ensures good health and peaceful sleep [since our head being North pole is attracted by earth’s South pole]. Placing your head in east or west is also beneficial depending on the location of doors, window and toilets. Maximum furniture should be kept on south and west side of the bedroom.

Preferably, there should not be any reflective surface in the bedroom to ensure harmonious family life and better health. In case, there is no other option but to have a mirror/TV/computer etc, place it in such a way that it does not reflect the bed or you can cover the mirror with cloth before going to sleep.

Ideal colours for bedroom walls are off-white, light yellow, light green, or peach. Avoid dark and fluorescent shades.

Bathroom: cleanse and rejuvenate

The bathroom or toilet adjacent to the Southeast corner in the east direction is very useful as the morning sun rays coming from east falls on our body and kills the germs. It can also be constructed in the west or north of Northwest or in the south direction, leaving the Northeast and the Southwest corners. The seat should be preferably placed on North-South axis. Bathroom should not be placed in the Northeast or Southwest zone of the bedroom. The wash basin can be placed in the Northern or Eastern area. The geyser can be placed in the South-eastern, South or East or Northwest zone of the bathroom.

As per Mayamata, an ancient text, the bathroom should be beautiful, free from dirt, hair, and decorated with flowers, plants and fragrant substances. The colours should be light, refreshing such as light blue green, off-white etc. A lot of natural light, air and, ventilation are the basic requirement of this part of the house.

Drawing room/Living room

Living rooms are the areas where guests are entertained in the first instance, the décor of this room reflecting to greater extent the status of the occupants.

Keeping in view the utility of such a room, it will be preferable to locate the areas in Mid-east or Mid-west as the kitchen in Northwest or Southeast will be able to serve these rooms comfortably. For North/Northwest facing houses, it can be located in Northwest and Northeast also. For south facing houses, the living room can be located in the Southeast as well. In the living room, doors in the East and North are the first choice. It must not have any door on the Southwest side. Maximum furniture, showcases, heavy articles should be placed in the Southwest, south or west zone. The TV should either be in the Southeast zone or in the south or west. It should not be in the Northeast or Southwest corners. The furniture of the living room should be square or rectangular but not round, triangular, oval shapes or hexagonal. Portraits/statues of cruel animals, weeping and nude children/women, scenes from war should not be displayed as they create disharmony amongst family members.

Children’s /Study room

Vaastu suggests some simple rules to be followed for the prosperity of your child. The placement as per direction recommended by Vaastu for an ideal children room is North-East, North and East. While studying child should face east, north or west to get maximum benefit of solar and magnetic energy. As a result it will increase memory, grasping power as well as concentration. Light facing in upward direction like bracket light or wall mounting light is recommended in the study room as it lifts the energy in the evening hours. The bed can be placed in Southwest, south or west corner. The main door/window to this room should not be exactly behind the student otherwise it will disturb concentration and can arouse the feeling of insecurity. If the children are small, the interiors can be bright and enlightening.

Balconies

Balconies are provided at upper floors for multipurpose uses like sitting, drying clothes or placing small plants and flower pots. As a general rule, the balconies provided in Northeast, North, East, West of Northwest and South of Southeast of the building will bring happiness, stability and good health whereas a structure in Southwest, East of Southeast and North of Northwest should be avoided.

Along with construction, the internal decoration in the house, office, shop or factory is equally important. If the setting is done according to principles of Vaastu/Feng-Shui, the thoughts, speech and action are supported by nature and lead to health, wealth and happiness. In other words, we can say that Vaastu/Feng-Shui can change our destiny for the better.