What is vastu shastra?
In Sanskrit, Vastu means to build environment and a surrounding and Shastra means a perfect system or a by-laws. The word Vastu came from the Vastva, means anything that provides shelter. Vastu Shastra tells the methods for building any kind of shelter that have congenital environment due to the combined positive effects of the five elements called Panch Mahabhuta. Vastu Shastra encompasses the techniques to decide directions, placement and positioning of various aspects related to building. If any shelter, be it home, commercial establishment or industrial premise, is built on the guidelines of Vastu Shastra, if certainly bless the owner with health, wealth, prosperity and happiness.

History Of Vastu-Shastra
The Vedic social system and all its elements were based on logical reasons essentially required for the overall welfare of individual. This whole social structure was aimed at defining a proper system that creates synergy between cosmic energies and human shelter. In Vedic times, the scholars were well-versed with advanced scientific applications known as subhavaastu. After proper permutations and combinations of various elements involved in building construction, suitable directions for everything related to building can be effectively drawn. Each guideline described in Vastu Shastra is strongly backed by the scientific causes and vivid impacts of natural powers are also explained.

Vastu Purush- The Demi God
Though Vastu science has been described by various scholars through different epics, yet the essence and logics are the same. According to the theory of Brihat Samhita, an imaginary person in the form of God called Vastu Purush or Demi God who governs each house. Vastu Purush is present in every human dwelling and is responsible for good or bad fortune. Therefore, Vastu Purush should to be appeased For the betterment of house and its inhabitants. To appease him, sacred ceremonies should be followed. Therefore, the master of any house Must always spare the body of the spirit in the course of construction through ignorance of the architects. If any of its several parts were rendered defective, the results for the master could be catastrophic.

Vastu Mandala
Mandala means configuration, enclosure or network and it is particular to time, place, person and purpose. They are in the holistic tradition of Vedic science Purusha and Mandala are associated with Vastu

Vastu Impact on Geographical Regions
In India, few cities have made praiseworthy progress whereas the others not. For example, India and Trombay for Bhabha Atomic Research Center has registered tremendous growth. Internationally, Japan has progressed a lot in spite of its small area. All these observations Can be explained on the basis of Vastu Shasta. Pacific Ocean lies on the northeast side of Japan. Again, south and west sides of Japan are also Covered with water, which causes natural hazards like frequent earthquakes. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki may even be the result of this situation. Although situated in east, Japan is titled towards the northeast. This is an important property of Vastu Shastra.

The Concept of Cosmic Energies
There are different Granthas on Vastu Shastra like Mansar, Vishwakarma Prakash, Samrangan Sutradhar, Vaastu-Ratnavali, Sthapatya Veda, etc. All these are based on the principle of cosmic energies. The scholars at Vaidic times wrote down Texts that show influence of various celestial bodies on each other like sun, moon, planets and asteroids as well as Light and heat on the earth. They also described about the various scientific and geographical factors such as atmosphere, Wind, directions, gravitational forces, Electromagnetic field, etc.

Five Elements – Panch Mahabhutas
Panch Mahabhutas greatly influences life on earth. They are as follows:

Space (Aakash)
Space is most expanded in term of its spread and volume. The unending part of the universe beyond the earths Atmosphere in which all other planets and stars exist is known as space also referred as outer space.

Fire (Agni)
Fire contains heat energy and is the basis of all energy including solar energy, earth's inner energy, atomic energy, thermal energy and human energy.

Air (Vayu)
Air is supposed to be life supporting for all living organism. Though very light in nature, it is considered heavier than sun.

Water (Jal)
Rain, river, seas and oceans all represent water. Water constitutes lives on earth and physical life is not possible without water.

Earth (Prithvi)
Earth is said to be a part of sun and it provides space to the living and non-living organisms.

Five Elements in Vastu Shastra
The Panch Mahabhutas is closely associated with man and the environment. Going against them would lead to destruction. For example, a place or premise is purchased just after considering the monetary aspect and without paying any attention to Its usefulness or harmfulness. Therefore, it is good for future to consider the dimensions according to the principles of Vastu Shastra. Indeed if the plot is purchased using the principles of Vastu Shastra,Vastu Yantra, House Vaastu, Vastu Direction the all-round growth Definitely occurs and the owner gets peace and prosperity. However if the selection goes wrong, it may lead to health problems and financial losses. Mental peace is definitely assured if someone follows the principles of Vastu Shastra.

Vastu Science in Indian Tradition
The importance and value of Vastu science is well recognized by the people since Vedic time. During Vedic period, Any construction including houses, temples, palaces and recreation halls were built on the ground of Vastu Vidya. Old masons were Well versed on fixing the number of girders or beams by the series like Indra, Yama and Raj, which never ended on Yama. Even today In Indian villages, owners prefer to have east facing premises. It was the general saying in Indian tradition that if a house receive The first morning sun rays, it is blessed with prosperity and all round growth.

Muhurat & Their Significance
In Vedic system, all the days, dates & time are classified in Muhurtas that provides details about useful and useless impacts of times And periods. Muhurtas decides the time to start any auspicious occasion. As for example, Dev-Shayan period means the period or Months when the Deities take their rest and willing to be calm and undisturbed. Therefore, this time is not advised to start Digging of land or construction of buildings. The Muhurat have their own logics. For example, four months of rainy season are Not very comfortable to start with a new construction related project work. In Muhurat, this four months period is thought to be The DEV SHAYAN period. The weather in this period also registers high humidity and heat. Again, Only this season brings floods, muddy ways and water logging. The brick kilns are not operative during this period too.

Vastu Application for Built-up Areas
Applying Vastu principles are feasible without demolition. There is a general opinion that Vastu correction cannot take place without demolition, But it is not the actual case. One needs not to bring in complete structural changes. Though Vastu application is extremely easy in the planning Stage of a project, yet fully constructed buildings can also be modified using the principles of Vaastu.

Vastu for selection of plot Vastu advice is essential while selecting a plot, be it a residential or a commercial vastu. The selection of the land is the primary stage, Hence it is very crucial. If one gets a vastu positive plot, he shall be able to enjoy a prosperous life. In a positive Vastu plot, the building Is constructed very fast and without any hindrances whereas the negative plot first takes years to construct, it has multiple litigation and monetary Problems and causes lot of health, wealth and harmony related problems in the life of owner. It is non but your vastu consultant who saves from such Indecent happenings.

Vastu For HomeVastu for Main gate
The main gate is known to be the opening or the mouth of a house. The main gate should be located in one of the any opening of a SWASTIK or Saatiya (a symbol of lord Ganesha) made imaginary on the plot. This plays a vital role in Vastu science.

Vastu for entrance door
Quite similar to the main gate in the boundary wall, the entrance door vastu also plays a vital role in defining the comforts and discomforts of The inmates living in the abode. If the internal doors of each bedroom, kitchen, toilets, store, staircase, etc. shall be in a vastu-positive area, Then all the members shall enjoy good health and career Growth in the house. So it is a must to take the vastu guidelines from a good vastu adviser who shall define the entry-doors of each room.

Vastu for other internal doors
According to Vastu science, total number of doors and windows also play a vital part in deciding vastu factors emphasizing On the inlets of positive cosmic vibrations and at the same time – blocking of the negative energies. Vastu defines a Certain thumb rule to decide the location, direction, size, shape & material for each door. Ignorance of the above confronts The main purpose of Vastu benefit.

Vastu for windows
The total number of windows also plays a vital part in deciding vastu factors emphasizing on the inlets of positive cosmic Vibrations and at the same time – blocking of the negative energies. Similarly Vastu for windows is also an important topic In Vedic Vastu shastra because windows are the part of a building that can receive various types of energies in the form of air, Light, sun rays, freshness & view etc. Hence it should be decided at the time of making drawings for exterior walls and managing Natural lights arrangements for each area, especially Pooja place & all the retiring or bedrooms.

Vastu for bedroom
Vastu is a detailed science that speaks about the bedroom of each person living in the house. For example, the seniors should be placed In the Nairutya direction of the house located in south-west direction. Similarly other should also sleep in their Vastu defined area only.

Vastu for drawing room
This is the key area where the family members pass some time together and discuss various happenings of the day. Not only the above, This is the place where all of us re-charge the fuel of life to our body. So if the food shall be positive, we shall have the positive health.

Vastu for Pooja room
Pooja place or worship place for home carries the utmost value to define the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual status Of all the inmates living in the abode. We get peace of mind from a positive or Sakaratmak Pooja place.

Vastu for toilets
The toilets should be away from the residence, but in today's scenario, it has entered into our house and gradually set adjacent to Our bedrooms. It is a negative vibration part of a house hence one should be much careful while building a toilet in the house. Ensure that it Should be in the negative directions of the premises located in southern or western sectors.

Vastu for guest room
We expect the regard and value from our formal and informal society. So we need to arrange the guest room in such a manner that the outsides, Our relatives and friends admire us and give us due regards. Not only the above, the guest while staying at our house should remain cheerful, Happy, contended and relaxed at our home. Therefore the guest room should also be made positive with the help of detailed guidelines explained Hereafter.

Vastu for kitchen
The kitchen is a place where the source of our life-positive energy is cooked for whole of the family. The food be cooked good for Everyone’s health, then kitchen matters. Its direction, location & internal positioning & placement like Sink, Slab, Gas stove, facing, Fridge, Washing Machine etc. all are of high importance, says Vastu consultant Dr. Anand Bhardwaj.