Vastushastra
Vastushastra stands tall and apart. It is the oldest school of architecture which is still in practice. The ancients called it Sthapatya Veda or The Science of Establishing and classified it as an unpaved because it covered the entire spectrum of architecture, sculpture, designing, and construction, The Design Philosophy of this unique system is deeply interwoven with the elements of Space and Time, Form and Rhythm, Cosmic Directions and astronomy, and above all, it has a spiritual approach to the design philosophy itself.
What sets apart Vastushastra from other systems of architecture is its amazing capability to attune the living or working space with the occupants. People who live and work in vāstu compliant buildings experience Inner Peace, develop an Intuitive Mind, and therefore can take correct decisions in life to become successful. Vastushastra achieves this feat by utilizing a set of spatial calculations called the Ayadi Calculations.
The spiritual and philosophical basis of the principles of Vastushastra also sets it apart from other systems of architecture. It treats Space not as an inert void, but as a humming, pulsating, living and a Conscious Entity, as the Unseen Divine, the Womb of our Universe from which are born Light, Sound, Matter, Heat, Air, Time, Thought, the entire Creation, and in an esoteric sense the study of Vastushastra is the understanding of the manifestation of Space into tangible objects like Matter and intangible objects like Sound, Light, Time and Thought.
The Philosophy, Yoga & The History of Vastushastra
The Philosophy of Vastushastra
Space is not an inert void, but a humming, pulsating, living, and Conscious Entity. Space is the Unseen Divine, the Womb of our Universe from which are born Light, Sound, Matter, Heat, Air, Time, Thought, the entire Creation. In an esoteric sense, the study of Vãstushastra is the understanding of the manifestation of Space into tangible objects like Matter and intangible objects like Sound, Light, Time, and Thought.
The ancient sages studied Space and utilized their understanding to prepare this unparalleled and amazing system of designing Townships, Homes, Shrines, Palaces, Forts, Furniture, Vehicles, Statues, etc.
Vastushastra and Yoga
Vãstushastra has a strong similarity to the principles of Yoga. Like the flow of Prana in a healthy body, a Vastu design aims at creating a harmonious Pranic flow within the building. The geometric center of the plot is the naval or Manipur, the North-Eastern part of the plot is the head with the Sahastrãr Chakra, and the South-Western part is its base with the Mulãdhãr Chakra. The diagonal line from North-East to South-West is Sushumna, the carrier of life force from head to below. To the west of this diagonal is Pingala, the Surya Nadi, and to the right of this diagonal is Ida, the Chandra Nadi. Manipur, the centre of the plot has a high concentration of energy and is called Bramhasthan, or the Place of Brahma.
The History of Vastushastra
Matsyapurana mentions the names of 18 sages who are said to have established the science of Vastu:
भृगुरत्रिर्वसिष्ठश्च विश्वकर्मा मयस्तथा।नारदोनग्नजिच्चैवविशालाक्षः पुरन्दरः॥
ब्रह्माकुमारो नन्दीशः शौनको गर्ग ऐव च।वासुदेवोऽनिरुद्धश्च तथा शुक्र बृहस्पति॥
अष्टादशैके विख्याता वास्तुशास्त्रोपदेशकाः॥
Of all these names, Vishwakarma and Maya are mentioned in the ancient books as master builders. Rgveda has hymns to both. Vishwakarma is regarded as the architect of the Universe and is widely worshipped; Maya is known as the architect of the Danavas, the descendants of Danu, the third wife of Sage Kashyap. He was the foster-father of Mandodari, Ravan’s wife, and the author of the classical work of Surya Siddhanta on astronomy and Mayamatam on Vastushastra
”Indian sacred architecture of whatever date, style, or dedication goes back to something timelessly ancient and now outside India almost wholly lost, something which belongs to the past, and yet it goes forward too, though this the rationalistic mind will not easily admit, to something which will return upon us and is already beginning to return, something which belongs to the future.”
-Sri Aurobindo, The Renaissance in India