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Components of Vaastu Shastra
All places of dwelling are termed Vastu however the actual physical
manifestation of the dwelling is called Vaastu.
There are four categories of Vaastu-
-
The earth/ site- Bhoomi, the principal dwelling
place on which everything else rests
-
The structures on the earth - Prasada
-
Movable objects (vehicles) - Yaana
-
Furniture- Sayana
As these categories suggest, the principles of
Vaastu Shastra extend from the macro level to the
micro level- site selection, site planning and
orientation, zoning and disposition of rooms,
proportional relationships between the various parts
of buildings and the character of buildings.
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Vaastu Purusha Mandala
The Vaastu Purusha Mandala is an indispensable part of Vaastu Shastra
and constitutes the mathematical and diagrammatic
basis for generating design. Purusha refers to
energy, power, soul or cosmic man. Mandala is the
generic name for any plan/ chart, which represents
the cosmos metaphysically/ symbolically, a microcosm
of the universe.
In Hindu cosmology the surface of the earth is
represented as a square, the most fundamental of all
Hindu forms. The earth is represented as four
cornered with reference to the horizon's
relationship with sunrise and sunset, the North and
South direction. It is called Chaturbhuji- four
cornered- and represented in the symbolic form of
the Prithvi Mandala. The astrological charts or
horoscopes(Rasi, Navamsa, etc.,) also represent in a
square plan the ecliptic- the positions of the sun,
moon, planets and zodiacal constellations with
reference to a specific person's place and time of
birth.
The Vaastu Purusha Mandala is a specific type of
mandala used in Vaastu Shastra. It is the
metaphysical plan of a building/temple/site that
incorporates the course of the heavenly bodies and
supernatural forces.
The legend of the Vaastu Purusha is related thus.
Once a formless being blocked the heaven from the
earth and Brahma with many other Gods trapped him to
the ground. This incident is depicted graphically in
the Vaastu Purusha Mandala with portions allocated
hierarchically to each God based on the
contributions and positions in performing this act.
Brahma occupied the central portion - the
Brahmasthana- and other Gods were distributed around
in a concentric pattern. There are 45 Gods in all
including 32 outer Gods.
The principal Gods/ presiding deities of each
direction (called the ashtadikpalar) are:
-
Northeast- Eeshanya- Ruled by Lord of all quarters
or Eeshwara Siva (Religions,Luck and Faith)
-
East- Aditya- Ruled by Sun God - Aditya (Seeing the
world)
-
Southeast- Agni- Ruled by Lord of Fire - Agni
(Energy Generating)
-
South- Yama- Ruled by Lord of Death - Yama
(Damaging)
-
Southwest- Pitru- Ruled by ancestors (History)
-
West- Varuna- Ruled by Lord of water (Physical)
-
Northwest- Vayu- ruled by Lord Of Winds
(Advertisement)
-
North- Kubera- Ruled by Lord of Wealth (Finance)
-
Centre- Brahma- Ruled by Lord/Creator of the
Universe (Desire)
The Vaastu Purusha is the presiding deity of any
site. Usually he is depicted as lying on it with the
head in the Northeast and the legs in the Southwest
but he keeps changing his position throughout the
year.
Pitha Mandala
Mahapitha Mandala
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Mandala types and properties
The form of the Vaastu Purusha Mandala is basically a square but
there are various types of mandalas depending on the
way in which the basic square is divided. In each
case, the square is subdivided into smaller squares
by lines running parallel/ perpendicular to the
sides. Each side of the square can be divided from 1
to 32 divisions. Thus, the number of squares in the
Vaastu Purusha Mandala may vary from 12 to 322, i.e
from 1, 4, 16, 25 and so on to 1024. Each of these
mandalas has a distinct name and is used in specific
contexts.
As mentioned earlier, the central area in all
mandalas is the Brahmasthana. The space occupied by
it varies in different mandalas-in Pitha (9) and
Upapitha (25) it occupies one square module, in
Mahaapitha (16), Ugrapitha (36) and Manduka (64),
four square modules and in Sthandila (49) and
Paramasaayika (81), nine square modules. The Pitha
is an amplified Prithvimandala in which, according
to some texts, the central space is occupied by
earth. The Sthandila mandala is used in a concentric
manner.
The most important mandalas are the Manduka/
Chandita Mandala of 64 squares and the Paramasaayika
Mandala of 81 squares- especially the former. The
normal position of the Vaastu Purusha- head in
Northeast, legs in Southwest- is as depicted in the
Paramasaayika Mandala. However, in the Manduka
Mandala the Vaastu Purusha is depicted with head
towards East and feet towards West.
An important er of squares, or ayugma, its centre is
constituted by one module or pada and when divided
into an even number of squares or yugma, its centre
is constituted by a point formed by the intersection
of the two perpendicular central lines. In spatial
terms, the former is sakala or manifest/ morphic and
the latter is nishkala or unmanifest/ amorphous.
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Mandala in site planning &
architecture
The mandala being a metaphysical plan is put to use in site planning
and architecture through a process called the Pada
Vinyasa. Pada Vinyasa is a method whereby any site
can be divided into uniform grids/modules or padas.
Depending on the position of the Gods occupying the
various modules, the zoning of the site and
disposition of functions in a building are arrived
at.
Mandalas have certain points known as marmas which
are vital and vulnerable energy spots on which
nothing should be built. They are determined by
certain proportional relationships of the squares
and the diagonals.
Mandala and site
A site of any shape can be divided using the Pada
Vinyasa. Sites are known by the number of divisions
on each side. the types of mandalas with the
corresponding names of sites is given below.
-
Sakala(1 square)corresponds to Eka-pada (single
divided site)
-
Pechaka(4 squares) corresponds to Dwi-pada (two
divided site)
-
Pitha(9 squares) corresponds to Tri-pada (three
divided site)
-
Mahaapitha(16 squares) corresponds to Chatush-pada
(four divided site)
-
Upapitha(25 squares) corresponds to Pancha-pada
(five divided site)
-
Ugrapitha(36 squares) corresponds to Shashtha-pada
(six divided site)
-
Sthandila(49 squares) corresponds to sapta-pada
(seven divided site)
-
Manduka/ Chandita(64 square) corresponds to
Ashta-pada (eight divided site)
-
Paramasaayika(81 squares) corresponds to Nava-pada
(nine divided site)
-
Aasana(100 squares) corresponds to Dasa-pada (ten
divided site)
Mandala and building
The concept of sakala and nishkala are applied
in buildings appropriately. In temples, the concepts
of sakala and nishkala are related to the two
aspects of the Hindu idea of god/ worship -
Sagunopaasana, the supreme as personal God with
attributes and Nirgunopaasana, the supreme as
absolute spirit unconditioned by attributes.
Correspondingly, the Sakala, complete in itself, is
used for shrines of gods with form- sakalamoorthy-
and to perform yajnas. However the Nishkala is used
for installation of idols without form-
nishkalamoorthy- and for auspicious, pure
performances. The amorphous centre is considered
beneficial to the worshippers, being a source of
great energy. This could also be used for
settlements.
In commercial buildings, only odd number of modules
are prescribed as the nishkala or amorphous centre
would cause too high a concentration of energy for
human occupants. Even here, the Brahmasthana is left
unbuilt with rooms organised around.
In accordance with the position occupied by the Gods
in the mandala, guidelines are given for zoning of
site and distribution of rooms in a building. Some
of these are northeast should house the pooja room,
east- bathroom, southeast- kitchen, south- bedroom,
southwest- armoury, west- dining, northwest-
cowshed, north- treasury.
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Aspects of environment and
energy
Vaastu Shastra describes various criteria which determine the choice
of a site. The most exalted shape for a site is
square, however rectangle is also acceptable. It
explains about soil examination or Bhu- Pariksha.
One particular test involves the digging of a hole
and refilling it again with the dug soil. Based on
the volume occupied by this soil in the pit, its
characteristics are determined. A gnomon is used in
determining the orientation, this practice is called
Sanku Sthaapanam. Vaastu Shastra also prescribes
sites suitable for different castes.
Vaastu Shastra prescribes desirable characteristics
for sites and buildings based on flow of energy.
Many of the rules are attributed to cosmological
considerations - the sun's path, the rotation of the
earth, magnetic field, etc., The morning sun is
considered especially beneficial and purifying and
hence the East is a treasured direction. The body is
considered a magnet with the head, the heaviest and
most important part, being considered the North Pole
and the feet the South pole. Hence sleeping with
one's head in the North is believed to cause a
repulsive force with the earth's magnetic North and
thus considered harmful. Bedrooms are therefore
designed keeping this in mind. This is a wide spread
practice in India even today.
Energy is primarily considered as emanating from the
Northeast corner and many site and building
characteristics are derived from this. Sites sloping
down towards North or East from higher levels of
South and West are considered good. Open spaces in
site and openings in the building are to be more in
the North and East than in the South and the West.
No obstacles are to be present in the North and the
East. Levels and height of buildings are to be
higher in the South and West when compared to the
North and East.The Southwest corner is to be the
highest, followed by Southeast, then by Northwest
and finally by Northeast. The triangle formed by
joining the Southwest, Southeast and the Northwest
corner of the site is attributed to the moon and the
triangle formed by joining the Northeast, Northwest
and Southeast corner of the site is attributed to
the sun. The former are prescribed to be heavier and
higher and the latter light and lower. Sites having
a longer East- West axis are considered better. The
diagonal connecting Southwest and Northeast is to be
longer than the diagonal connecting Southeast and
Northwest. An extended Northeast corner is
considered beneficial.
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Other aspects of buildings
There are many other principles in Vaastu Shastra, to mention a few
which involve certain mathematical calculations -Maana
for proportional relationships in a building and
Aayaadi which specify conditions for maximum
wellbeing and benefits for the residents of a
building.
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