Рина Задвиль
Vastu for Harmony at Home and Success in Business

The Science of Vastu Shastra

Vastu Shastra is called an architectural science.

Just like molecules and chemical reactions, Vastu Shastra is also based on forms and on the reactions of those same forms within space.

The science of Vastu Shastra, or Vastu Vidya, has come down to us from the traditions of Ancient India, which are approximately 8,000 years old. It can be used in construction even in our time.

The meaning of the word “vastu” is “place of residence.” The meaning of the word “shastra” is “science” (that which is studied).

In principle, any orientation according to the directions of the compass characterizes different energies, is based on the elements (water, fire, earth, air, and ether), and can exert a positive or negative influence on the rooms of a house.

These same energies produce vibrations that affect our lives, and if a particular room is placed in an unsuitable location, negative energies will come, and with them difficulties and losses.

But the placement of a room is not the only thing that has an effect. Colors, shapes, dimensions, materials, construction, lighting, windows, doors, and even furniture—its shapes and placement—also influence the person living in the house or being present in a shop, in a school, at work, or in any other place (starting from the entrance to the courtyard of the location where the building is situated).

Explanation 1: Vastu Shastra is not a science of “black and white,” and therefore it will not negatively affect a designer’s creativity. On the one hand, there are principles recommended for implementation in order to achieve a harmonious result to the greatest extent possible. On the other hand, there is free choice of styles, personal taste, and so on, because Vastu, despite its principles, is something subjective and individual.

Explanation 2: Vastu is not a style; it is a science. An architectural style is visually defined by its distinctive characteristics, repeated in all the buildings constructed in that style. (Vastu has no such thing; this science can be applied to any architectural style.)

Differences Between Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui

Many people call Vastu the Indian version of Feng Shui.

In fact, Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui share several similar principles—for example: planning a house and arranging objects in a certain way to achieve a desired result. They also share the idea that the center of the house is considered the main source of energies.

However, there are many differences between them. The table indicates the main distinctions between Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui.

Of course, these are not the only principles of difference. By studying each of them more deeply, one can discover how greatly they differ from one another, depending on the influence of the energies governing each direction (north, south, west, east, and so on).

The meaning and the reason – why a certain place is considered ideal for something, or, on the contrary, not ideal.