09/03/2023
The term Vastu Shastra means the science of architecture which describes principles of design, layout, measurements, preparation of grounds, arrangement of spaces, etc. It is an ancient Hindu practice to construct buildings that stay in harmony with the natural forces. It is the amalgamation of science, art, astronomy, astrology, , which is as old as the Vedas. The first textual evidence for the Vastu Shastra is found in the Rig Veda, where the protector of the house (Vasospastic) is invoked (Rig Veda, VII. 54.1). Most of the documents from the 6th century BC to the 6th century AD have been lost and only a deficient portion appears in the later works of the Vastu Vidya (Bhattacharya, 1986, pp. 129, 138). The main source of Vastu Shastra is found within the Vedas majorly in the Sthapatya Veda that deals majorly with Architecture in subordination to the larger Atharva Veda. Vastu Shastra can be considered as an applied science approach that evolved continuously over the period of 2500 years, producing n number of texts like the Kashyapa Shilpa Shastra, Brihat Samhita, Viswakarm Vastu Shastra, Samarangana Sutradhara, Matamata, Silparatna Vastu Shastra, etc.
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE VASTU SHASTRA The fundamentals of the Vastu Shastra were formed considering the effects of the cosmic forces and the forms of energies. These forces influenced the earth therefore the basis of Vastu Shastra rests on the following five elements –
Prithvi i.e. the earth
Jala i.e. the water
Vayu i.e. the air
Agni i.e. heat or the fire
Aakash i.e. the space
The whole universe including the earth and the human body is considered to be made out of these five elements.
VASTU SHASTRA AND THE ENERGY
We are living in an unsteady universe that is moving continuously, for which it requires a huge amount of energy and this energy holds every material present in the universe. Similarly, a man on the earth is tied with nature, and nature is tied with diferent energies and forces influencing the earth. Such as –
Solar Radiation
Magnetic Field of Earth
Gravitational Force
Intensity and Wind Direction
Every material present in the universe radiates some amount of energy and these energies or forces are influenced by the earth, individually or by combining with each other forming a web of energies.
