Vastu for personal growth and self-realization

Preface

Prana (the life force) is the energy that pulses through the body and spreads along the energetic channels. These same channels connect the soul and the body and serve as conduits for pranic energy. The purpose of Vastu is to create a space that can be filled with positive energy for a person (prana) and to keep this space harmonious at all times. The continuous preservation of a harmonious space supports a person’s success. An individual’s success is important for their own development and for the development of their family, and the development of the family can, in turn, contribute to the development of the surrounding environment. In other words, the more a person is developed and lives in a developed environment, the more they will continue to grow and contribute to the evolution of the environment in which they reside.

VASTU encompasses every place in the Universe. VAASTU encompasses a portion of space located within the greater space of the Universe. Let us take a building as an example. This example illustrates that the Universe has vast influences on us and on our lives, and these influences can be harmonized through the science of Vastu Shastra, with an emphasis on self-development and self-realization.

The Element of Ether – the Heart of the Home

In Vastu there are five primary elements, each responsible for one of the five directions: water – the northeast; earth – the southwest; fire – the southeast; air – the northwest; and ether – the center of the building. There is an exchange of energies between them, influencing the domestic space (these interactions were described by me in the book Vastu for Harmony in the Home and Success in Business). The element of ether is the primordial element that allows the other elements to flow as they should. It represents the direct connection with the cosmos and the microcosm.

The source of all energies and the information of all times is located at the center of the home.

The center provides the ability to see and understand the world correctly, to receive energy and strength for the people living in the house, and it also gives a person the opportunity to realize their potential. The element of ether is, in fact, the emptiness that gives life to the home and allows the energies of the house to flow freely. In general, every placement or movement of any structural object, furniture, or item that produces certain vibrations affects the flow of energies. All padas of the deities (energies) related to the Brahmasthan must be harmonious in order to receive energies from the central energy source. The center forms a connection with consciousness and spirituality. The eight cardinal directions constitute a group of characteristics and parameters. If the desired energetic flows do not occur between them and the Brahmasthan, they will not be able to function well. Therefore, it is very important that the central place of the home be harmonious and positive.

Brahma Bindu is the central point of the home. From this point, all energies flow outward toward the other sectors of the home in a clockwise direction (mandalkar). If the center of the house is positive, then positive energies will flow throughout the entire building. When the center of the house is blocked, negative vibrations are created.

The element of ether suffers from any noise, even the smallest, and of course from shouting, objects with cracks, and objects that are broken, dirty, or have a bad smell. Cleaning and order, quiet, emptiness in the center of rooms, pleasant sounds (mantras, prayers), and light colors all help expand the potential of the ether element.

If everything is in order in most places around the center of the house, and only the center has a defect, this may indicate good things accumulated by a person in a past life, and now their behavior will influence what will come next. If the center of the home is filled with objects or furniture, the people living in the home will have difficulties understanding problems. From this, one can conclude that if the center of the home is full of objects while the rest of the house is harmonious, the residents may ruin their own lives through their behavior. If a sofa is placed in the center of the house, the person will need rest most of the time. If a television is placed there, it will lead a person into illusions.

People who have a wall running through the Brahma Bindu may encounter the following problems: lack of energy, fatigue, constant work mode, lack of time, back pain, fertility problems, greed, various burdens, lack of self-love, and problems in relationships. It is possible that such situations were frequent in the person's family, and therefore they received such a home. In general, walls passing through the Brahmasthan or other blockages may indicate a block in partnership relations: communication problems, strong differences between partners, grievances, non-acceptance of one another, lack of respect, and, as a consequence, possibly a spiritual problem. If there is a toilet or storage room (or warehouse) in the center, this creates delays and postponements; a person must apply enormous efforts to succeed or to achieve anything, and still there is no certainty of the success they expect.

If supporting walls are built in the center of the home – which, as is known, cannot be demolished – one may try to break these blockages mentally and esoterically through self-work and understanding. If furniture is placed against these walls, it should of course be moved elsewhere. If it is impossible to keep the center of the home open and as it should be, it is better to anchor the heavy sectors (south-southeast, south, southwest, west, west-northwest), but without filling these sectors completely with furniture. It is important that each sector or room also have an open and aesthetically pleasing center (Brahmasthan). One can improve the situation by placing mirrors on the wall in the center of the home, but it is better not to overdo it and not to hang a mirror from floor to ceiling.

Today it is very difficult to find a home in which there is no defect in the center. In most cases, this area contains corridor walls designed narrowly to save space for other rooms, and as a result the central sector of the home is taken up by additional rooms. But in modern construction, especially in recent years, one can see bedrooms, porticos, staircases, kitchens, and even toilets in the center of the home. In most cases it is impossible to change the layout, and therefore one should not strain over it, but simply accept it or continue searching.

If most of the house is filled with furniture and objects, it will be very difficult to maintain the proper functioning of the ether element. It is good when furniture occupies from one quarter to one third of the home’s space (more is not recommended). A house in which the larger half is occupied and overloaded will be more difficult to correct to align with Vastu doshas (defects), because the corrections will not be able to act, and this will create fatigue, lack of energy, and lack of strength (since there will be no path for the energies to move through the space), even to solve important problems – because the home will become an energetic vampire. Moreover, excessive filling in every sector, even in the southwest, blocks the potentials that can be received from it. It is also not recommended for the home to be too empty. Absolute emptiness and excessive minimalism can be interpreted as poverty – everything must be in balance.

To help the ether element bring positive energy and harmony to the residents of the home, people must attune themselves to what God and the Universe want from them. That is, to listen to cosmic guidance, pay attention to signs, follow intuition, act in accordance with time, listen to and read mantras, and do many other things. Also, to invite new positive energies, one must get rid of old energies. Therefore, broken, cracked, old items, items that are not needed, items that do not work or are in poor condition, unfinished items (which most likely will not be finished), items that one does not like, items kept because “there is no other choice,” and similar things must be discarded. Only those items that are used and liked can bring positive energies to their owners. Everything else is considered clutter. Similarly, one should free oneself from inner torments related to the past in order to attract positive situations into the present and future.

Movement of Energies in the Home

A harmonious Brahmasthan is wonderful, but it is not sufficient if there are serious defects in the other sectors of the house and around it. In every building, the directions are divided into two groups – zones of incoming energy and zones of outgoing energy. The zones of incoming energy are the positive and light sectors (the north, northeast, and east). The negative and heavy sectors (the south, southwest, and west) are zones of outgoing energy. The northwest and southeast are neutral; therefore, they are considered both zones of incoming and outgoing energy.

Opposite directions are connected to one another: positive energies enter from a specific direction and exit through the direction opposite to it. The east is the sector that receives pranic energy, and the west is the sector through which pranic energy exits. The north is the sector that receives organic energy, and the south is the sector through which organic energy exits. If there is any problem in the eastern part of the home, problems related to the western part of the home will follow. But if energies cannot enter due to a cut-off corner, a solid wall (no window, no opening), a wall defect, or other Vastu Doshas—or if they cannot exit because there is no opening—this will also lead to a problem associated with one of the directions. This is the reason why solid walls are not recommended in the sectors of outgoing energy. It is beneficial to have small windows there, in relation to the windows in the sectors where energies enter (the zones of incoming energy). In cases where the southern and western walls are completely solid, the residents of the home may become greedy, encounter fertility problems, and experience difficulties in advancing or in eliminating problems.

Energies in a building move in a circular motion from the center outward, clockwise, and in a spiral form. The movement begins from the northwest direction (the person’s potential) to the northeast (what a person thinks), then to the southeast (what a person says), and then to the southwest (what a person does). This means that one must watch their thoughts, speech, and actions, become aware of them, and work on them as much as possible. Through the proper flow of energies from the center of the home, we can improve many aspects of our lives.

In addition to the above, it should be noted that the sectors of the home are divided into feminine and masculine areas, and it is important to maintain harmony between them in order not to disturb the energetic balance. If there are problems in the home involving certain family members, one should examine the locations of the bedrooms to understand the cause of the problem. The northwest side is feminine, and its opposite, the southeast, is masculine. The center of the home is the sector of the heart; the northeast – the sector of the mind; the east – the sector of consciousness and sons; the south – the sector of the father; the southwest – the sector of the heads of the household; the west – the sector of family and women; the northwest – the sector of daughters; the north – the sector of the mother.

In terms of health, the feminine sectors (west, northwest, and north) influence women more, while the masculine sectors (east, southeast, and south) influence men more. If something is not in order in a specific sector, the people of that gender will suffer from the defects. If the northwest has a defect, the daughters of the home may suffer. If the southeast has a defect, the sons may suffer. Sometimes it happens that the bedroom of one of the women of the home is located in a masculine zone, or the bedroom of one of the men is located in a feminine zone. This is an unfavorable position. In such a case, it is necessary to strengthen and improve the sector that should belong to that person (according to the rules), as well as the direction opposite to the room where this person currently sleeps.

The meaning of the word chakra in Sanskrit is “wheel,” “circle,” or “disc.” The chakras are points located in specific places in the human body and help receive energies from the cosmos, similar to pranic energy.

At the top of the Vastu Purusha Mandala the main chakras are located. Just as with a human being, in Vastu Purusha they form the spine. There are masculine chakras (1, 3, 5, 7) and feminine chakras (2, 4, 6), and each chakra is responsible for a different sphere: 1, 2 – a person’s sexuality; 3 – materialism and money; 4 – family life; 5 – speech and communication; 6 – feelings and intuition; 7 – the ability to listen.

Only together are they complete and provide the possibility of creating a family. It is important that they all be harmonious within the home in order to receive from them a flow of positive energy.

An additional factor influencing the flow of energies—apart from what is happening within the territory of the home—is the height of the building. The chakras also have influence over the height of a structure. Height has always been one of the parameters taken into account when planning a building according to Vastu principles. The height of a building influences a person’s potential and spiritual level.

Today, towers and tall residential buildings are constructed, which are not considered beneficial according to Vastu for several reasons. One reason is that it is very difficult to develop spiritually and realize one’s potential while living in such a building. In such a structure, the chakras become divided among different residents, and as a consequence, there is no proper energetic movement, and no person can receive positive energies in their full form in a way that benefits them.

The height of the building becomes unfavorable (according to the AYADI formula), which is originally used for a specific person or couple. When planning to move into an apartment, it is better to choose the top floor rather than one of the floors located in the middle. One may choose a lower floor if the surrounding environment is auspicious (for example, if the plot has a rectangular or square shape, or if there is a nearby road running in a beneficial direction).

The lower the building (due to having fewer floors), the more harmonious it becomes for living and for self-realization. Thousands of years ago, during the periods when temples and other religious structures were constructed, spiritual development was the highest priority. Today this is no longer the case – materialism, career, and money stand in first place. Therefore, very tall residential buildings become comparable to religious structures and temples.

The Direction of Entry into a Building and the Qualities Required from a Person

The longer a person lives in a particular home, the more the place of residence influences them. The more frequently people pass through the entrance of the home, the stronger its influence becomes. The entrance to the home transmits to a person certain lessons that they must undergo in accordance with their karma. The entrance of the home determines what the Universe requires from us, which character traits and qualities we must develop within ourselves. The most correct approach is to work on the qualities of the deities and avatars associated with the entrance direction. This helps change one’s condition and supports development.

There are cases when one specific quality is required only from one member of the household rather than from everyone. Influences may occur at different levels, depending on what a person’s karma demands. The different levels are: elements, planets, deities, and the highest level – avatars.

If a home has two entrances, and one of them is almost never used, it will have almost no influence. Therefore, it is better for entrance doors to be located in the sectors of incoming energy.

It is important to note that the entrance does not indicate the professions the residents should have. There is no logic in this, because people living in the same building, one above another, will not necessarily have the same job or profession. In most cases, there will be no connection at all between their profession and the home’s entrance. Every person has their own horoscope, and if someone has difficulty understanding what they should do, which profession suits them, what to study, or in what they can succeed, it is recommended to clarify this with the help of an astrologer and by studying one’s own natal chart.

In certain cases, entrances in specific directions may improve career achievements, but this depends primarily on the person's individual natal chart.

East Entrance

The east entrance is the most positive according to Vastu.

Element: Fire

Planet: Sun

Deity: Surya

Avatar: Ramachandra

Required qualities: leadership, responsibility, spirituality, joyfulness, activity, health of body and soul, organization, the ability to manage and guide people, developing individuality, not elevating oneself above others (work on the ego).

Southeast Entrance

The southeast entrance is not very positive according to Vastu and is not recommended.

Element: Fire

Planet: Venus

Deity: Agni

Avatar: Parashurama

Required qualities: knowing one’s desires precisely and being attentive to them, not wanting what others have, avoiding envy, working on sensitivity, being surrounded by beauty.

South Entrance

The south entrance is considered negative if located in a bad pada. There is only one auspicious pada on the south for an entrance.

Element: Earth

Planet: Mars

Deity: Yama

Avatar: Narasimha

Required qualities: avoiding anger and pride, maintaining purity of thought, protecting oneself and those who need protection, not becoming attached to people or things that drain one’s energy, developing character and strength of will.

Southwest Entrance

The southwest entrance is the most negative. It is better not to purchase a home with such an entrance.

Element: Earth

Planet: Rahu

Deity: Nairutya

Avatar: Brahma Deva

Required qualities: organization, order, solidity, performing good deeds, learning to share, avoiding greed (to attain opportunities), being able to accept help, expressing talents; one may need to work on matters connected to ancestors.

West Entrance

This is a negative entrance if located in a bad pada.

Element: Air

Planet: Saturn

Deity: Varuna

Avatar: Urma Deva

Required qualities: supporting others, helping others develop, acting without displays of ego and pride (ego work), being able to limit oneself when necessary, avoiding laziness, staying focused on work.

Northwest Entrance

The northwest entrance is not very positive.

Element: Air

Planet: Moon

Deity: Vayu

Avatar: Krishna

Required qualities: lightness, playfulness, femininity, sensitivity, harmony, balance, inner calm, refraining from anger, nurturing, maternal care, attentiveness, opening the heart, giving without expecting anything in return, gratitude, trusting the Universe.

North Entrance

One of the most positive entrances.

Element: Water

Planet: Mercury

Deity: Kubera

Avatar: Budha

Required qualities: communication skills, self-expression, possessing deep knowledge and awareness that will help a person grow and ascend to a higher level.

Northeast Entrance

The northeast entrance is also considered positive if not located in a dangerous pada.

Element: Water

Planet: Jupiter and Ketu

Deity: Shiva

Avatar: Vamana Deva

Required qualities: learning, teaching, becoming a guru in one’s profession, giving (in order to receive in return), improving relationships with family members, working on desires.

Vastu Dosha and Karmic Influences

There are several types of defects (dosha) and several types of advantages (guna):

Guna – advantage.

Dosha – defect.

Maha Guna – a very significant advantage.

Maha Dosha – a very significant defect.

It is very important to distinguish between moderate advantages and defects, and those that are substantial. The more serious a defect is considered, the stronger its influence; and likewise, the more significant an advantage is considered, the stronger its influence will be. If a particular home has more major advantages, it is better to acquire it than to acquire a home with a greater number of major defects.

Maha Guna – example:

A good placement of the house on the land plot; an entrance to the house or to the plot located in an auspicious pada; a downward slope in a good direction; a beneficial northeast (Sattva); a beneficial southwest (Tamas); beneficial northwest and southeast (Rajas).

Maha Dosha – example:

Plots or buildings in shapes that do not bring auspiciousness; Viddhi Shula; Shalya Dosha; a number of windows greater in the sectors of outgoing energy than in the sectors of incoming energy; buildings that have gone through wars; buildings in which mentally ill people lived; buildings in which severely ill individuals lived and died; houses where cases of unnatural death occurred; houses in which people ended their lives by suicide.

For positive influences, there are several levels:

Uttama – the highest.

Madhyama – good.

Kanishtha – good, but not significantly.

The home in which a person lives reflects their karma, as does their natal chart according to Indian astrology. Therefore, in different homes there are defects and various advantages: some homes are in a good condition, while others are in a less favorable condition; some homes are well-maintained and others are neglected; some are large and luxurious, while others are small and poor. All people live at different levels of life from the perspective of spiritual development. Therefore, if a person understands a certain lesson, they are given the opportunity to move to another home, built in a way that influences them differently. For example, if a person has a defect in the northern part of the home, then when they complete the lesson connected with the northern side and Mercury (in accordance with what their horoscope indicates), there is a high chance that they will be able to move to a home that does not have a Vastu Dosha in the northern sector – or there may still be a defect, but it will be balanced by some advantage.

It does not matter in which direction the Vastu Dosha is located; it takes away 50 percent of the good that a person is meant to receive from that sector, according to their karma. Serious doshas harm even the quality of people’s sleep, especially if located in the northern sectors.