What is Vastu Shashtra?

Dictionary meaning of Vastu (Pronounced Vaastoo):

(1) A site for a house or a dwelling (2) a house, an abode (3) a ceremony performed before occupying a house or a dwelling

Grammetical Split of the word: Vaas+Astu or Vaasah+Astu

Vaas = (1) the act od dwelling or residing (2) an abode, a residence (3) a street, locality (4) bad smell or odour (5) fragrant, scent (6) to spice, season
Vaasah = (1) Perfume (2) living, dwelling (3) habitation, site, situation (4) clothes, dress
Astu = as you wish, let it be, amen

Sanskrit epithet: vaasagruhm (1) inner apartments (chambers) of a dwelling/ public place

NB: Not a comprehensive listing as the meaning changes depending on the context the word is used in.
- ooo -

According to Vastu Shashtra (Literature referring Architecture with Astrology and Psychology playing main part in construction) Large Hospitals, Crematoriums and Cemeteries, Abattoirs, Sanitary Processing Areas and such should be avoided when deciding on where or what area to live in. This is because the negative vibes dispensed from such places do have a major effect on the attitudes and behaviour of those residing within the close proximity of such locations.

To digress, most major religions profess exactly the same ideology. Hence, for instance, the village churches were located at the end of the village so as to provided for burial grounds within its compounds. Churches were never built in the middle of the village/town. This was so that they (the Church authorities) could offer the Burial Services along with Everyday Prayers and the Sunday Mass within the confines of the same grounds. The relatives of the deceased were thus spared the walk and the time for visiting the departed loved ones following or preceding the Sunday Mass.

Vastu Shashtra – the intimate knowledge of how, what, when and where to build.

The planning and thereafter constructing is not a new phenomenon. Shree Krushna, when building the city of Dwarka had asked Vishwakarma to conform to the rulings of Vastu Shashtra. Before him, some 1.75 million years ago during the time of Ramayan, (Treta Yug) Shree Ram had referred to Vastu Shashtra for building of Setu Bridge also known as Adams Bridge. The digital dating of which has been confirmed by the likes of National Aeronautics and Space Administration otherwise known as NASA.

Reference to the phrase Vastu by way of incorporation within the Hindu Literature or by way of ceremonial actions performed within the Hindu way of life has long been established as a primary factor to be considered when one thinks of residing or promoting residence in a given proximity.

Whereas as Srimad Bhagwat is the history of Shree Vishnu and Bhagwat Gita is the teachings of Shree Krushna, Skand Puran – a summarised version in Hindi consists of 1,110 pages – portrays the Political Geography and Demography of the Earth, the Universe and beyond. Manu Smruti explains the different ages that this universe - but more importantly - this earth has endured (e.g. the countless ice ages, the heat waves, the flooding and so on). Shiv Puran explains the manifestation and procreation, Garud Puran explains life's ill comings and fate beyond. Devi Bhagwat explains woman's role in the society whereas the structural setup of the surroundings in the Epic Ramayan (Restrains/Limitations and Loyalty) and Mahabharat (The difference between the Good and the Evil) explains what can go wrong if the planning is not meticulously examined and acted upon. I could go on.

So where is this leading to:

All of the above and other Purans had to be choreographed to inter-coincide at different stages of their existence. This architectural manoeuvring is otherwise summarised in a separate volume known as Vastu Shastra or Vastu Puran. Whilst Vastu Puran is not a volume defining its own individuality, it most certainly forms an integral part of all the Purans or better still, the four Vedas superseding the Purans.

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