Vastu for personal growth and self-realization

Vastu Dosha and Problems in the Horoscope

Indian astrology is an inseparable part of Vastu Shastra. It is impossible to diagnose a home and the condition of its residents without examining the astrological situation.

To understand why a certain place has a defect, one can simply examine the person’s horoscope and easily identify the cause of the dosha. One can understand what needs to be worked on, how to improve the situation, which qualities must be developed in this life, and which lessons must be learned. There is no horoscope without problems; therefore, today all homes have some doshas. The more a person improves and works on certain aspects in their horoscope, the easier it becomes to find solutions for correcting doshas in the home. Every correction of a planetary influence improves its effect both astrologically and from the perspective of Vastu.

The horoscope is divided into 12 houses. Each of the houses indicates characteristics connected with the directions inside and outside a person’s home:

First house – east.

Second and third houses – northeast.

Fourth house – north.

Fifth and sixth houses – northwest.

Seventh house – west.

Eighth and ninth houses – southwest.

Tenth house – south.

Eleventh and twelfth houses – southeast.

East

A Vastu dosha in the eastern sector may reflect defects that exist in Dhana Sthana (the house of wealth), especially in the first house.

If the Ascendant receives a negative aspect, the Sun is in a bad position (for example, in the 12th house), or Saturn is in the first house, it is preferable for a person to have an eastern entrance in order to strengthen the Sun, and in general, it is advisable to strongly reinforce the east of the home.

If the ruler of the first house of the horoscope is located in the 6th, 8th, or 12th houses, this indicates that the home will not be aligned with the cardinal directions. In general, if the ruler of the first house is afflicted in any way, this points to defects in the direction associated with it, as well as in the eastern direction.

If the ruler of the sixth house is in the first house, there will be noise coming from the east.

If the ruler of the first house is situated in the first house (and in a good position), the home will have eastern windows.

Southeast

There may be a defect in the southeast if there are problems with Venus or with the 11th and 12th houses in the horoscope.

If the ruler of the 8th or 6th house is a malefic planet located in the 12th house, there may be defects in the sectors of incoming energy.

An exalted Venus and a strong Venus in the horoscope indicate various things that bring comfort to the southeast of the home.

South

If there is a defect in the southern part of the home, there is most likely a defect in the 10th house of the person’s horoscope (either the planet ruling the 10th house or problems with Mars). If the ruler of the 10th house is in a bad position or there is an unfavorable placement of planets in the 10th house, this may contribute to the following: the southern part will be partially cut off; the southern and southwestern parts will be significantly lower than their opposite sides; the entrance will be southern; there will be defects in the north; the southern part will have excess land; the plot or building will have the shape of Vyagha-Mukh (Gaumukhi or Shermukhi).

Southwest

A southwest defect is possible if there are problems with Rahu in the horoscope or if there are problems in the 8th and 9th houses.

If the ruler of the eighth house is in the fifth house, there may be defects in the southwest.

West

If the ruler of the 7th house is in the 6th or 12th houses, or if there is an unfavorable position of planets in the 7th house, this may indicate defects in the western part of the home: a western entrance, strong winds from the west, a water source or underground water in the west, a balcony or large open spaces in the western part, a downward slope of land to the west, a courtyard in the western part, and even a blocked eastern direction.

If Saturn is in the 7th house, there should not be defects in the western part, as the west is Saturn’s sector in the home. But if Saturn is in a bad position in the horoscope, this may contribute to defects in the western direction.

Northwest

A northwest defect is possible if there are problems with the Moon in the horoscope or if there are problems in the 5th and 6th houses.

If the ruler of the first house is in the fifth house, there will be doshas in the northwest of the home.

North

According to astrology, the 4th house represents what happens in our home. It is very important for this house of the horoscope to be harmonious in order to prevent the possibility of severe doshas in the home in general, and in the northern direction in particular. Problems in the 4th house may indicate that the home likely has a staircase rising to the north, a southern entrance, a blocked north, toilets facing north, or an east–west axis longer than the north–south axis.

One of the ways to improve the northern sector is for the 4th house to receive a good influence from the Moon. A poorly placed Moon, as well as association with Papagraha (malefic or enemies of the Moon – Mars, Saturn, and the Sun, or heavy aspects, or any negative conjunction of certain planets), contributes to the home not being aligned with the cardinal directions.

To avoid harming the 4th house, it is better not to live near religious buildings, as this may bring curses. In the ancient Vedic period, religious buildings were constructed in specific places in the city so that there would be sufficient distance between them and residential homes. One must ensure that the gates (or entrance door) of the home do not face a religious building, and that the distance between them is at least 25 meters.

Three nakshatras ruled by the Sun (Uttara Shadha, Uttara Phalguni, Krittika) are not favorable for the 4th house. If a person inherits a home under these influences, they will not find peace.

Planets in debilitation in the 4th house do not bring good even if they are benefic by nature. In general, if damaged planets are located in the 4th house, this indicates that the person must likely repay debts to the planets from a past incarnation.

A conjunction of Mars and Saturn in the 4th house contributes to the appearance of debts in the family, and a conjunction of Saturn and Rahu in the 4th house may indicate the presence of evil spirits in the home. In any case, such a conjunction may also indicate a dosha in one or both of the directions governed by each planet.

If Rahu and Saturn are in the 4th house, or if the Moon and Rahu are together in the 4th house, or if Ketu is in the 4th house, or if Ketu is conjunct the ruler of the 4th house in any house, or if Ketu is in the 6th, 8th, or 12th houses, this may indicate a serious Vastu dosha in the home. Also, if Ketu or Rahu are conjunct a malefic planet in the 4th house, this may indicate that a person will live in a very old home, approximately 60 years old, and that it will have certain doshas.

It is said that if Gulika (the son of Saturn) is located in the 4th house, a person may become homeless, a wanderer, unable to be happy and unable to travel.

Northeast

A northeast defect is possible if there are problems with Jupiter and Ketu in the horoscope, or if there are problems in the 2nd and 3rd houses.

If the ruler of the first house is in the third house, cracks or other problems in the walls in the northeastern direction may be found.

If a benefic planet is located in the 2nd or 3rd house of the horoscope, the northeastern sector may have windows, large openings, open space, and sacred objects.

General Principles

If each direction (east, south, west, and north) has a good interaction with its corresponding planet, the home will be favorable from the perspective of Vastu Shastra (north – Mercury, south – Mars, east – Sun, west – Saturn).

If a planet is located with a malefic in a certain house, then in the direction associated with that house of the horoscope there may be a dosha in the home in which the person lives. In addition, if a planet is somehow afflicted, there will most likely be a Vastu dosha in the direction governed by that planet.

Various positions of planetary debilitation indicate doshas in the home. For example, a downward slope in negative directions.

Kāla Sarpā Yoga (a configuration in which all the planets in a person’s horoscope are located between Rahu and Ketu on one side) indicates many serious Vastu problems inside and around the home. For example, a road that ends abruptly.

Nakshatras in the Horoscope and Their Expression Through Vastu

Each nakshatra in the natal chart hints at something that should be located in the direction of the planet that rules it. For example, if a nakshatra is under the rulership of Venus, then some object associated with this planet should be placed in the southeast of the person’s home. The positivity of this object depends on the planet’s condition in the horoscope. If the planet is well-placed, something positive will appear; if the planet is weak, something negative will appear in that direction, in the home, or around the home.

When you live with several people in the home, you must take into account that the conditions on the property will express the influences associated with the person whose planetary configurations are the strongest in their horoscope.

Corrections and How to Approach Them

Corrections are based on five areas – planets, energies, elements, deities, and directions. They help determine when the right time for action will come, in which part of the home a correction is needed, how to carry it out, and so on. When all five areas become harmonious, a person succeeds in improving their qualities, in receiving good things, and in eliminating Vastu doshas.

One begins correction on the material level: with objects and various elements. After that, one proceeds to correcting doshas on the spiritual level, which supports a person’s development. Corrections are first applied to things that can be corrected. Things that cannot be corrected should not cause anxiety – it simply means that the time for their correction has not yet come. When working with certain aspects of the horoscope, the influence of doshas in the home may change, and a solution for correction may even be found.

With the help of Vastu, a person’s life can be improved by 20%. If the correction is stronger than the defect, it will work. Corrections can provide protection and support, and they can also change qualities that must, in any case, be worked on. It is important that corrections be individually suitable for each person living in the home. For example, if a certain planet is extremely strong or extremely negative in the horoscope, it is better not to strengthen it, so as not to provoke a negative reaction.

Sometimes, when one is first introduced to Vastu Shastra, every defect seems like a catastrophe – but one should not take it so heavily. We must compose ourselves and understand that there is probably a reason for it, and calm down. It is very important to apply corrections in the best manner. Stress and panic interfere with correction.

Before beginning any correction, it is important to make sure that the direction in which the defect is identified is accurate. It is better to use only evidence-based corrections, not invented ones. One must ensure that the corrections intended are truly appropriate for the defective place. It is better not to rush to apply all corrections immediately upon discovering them, because if there is not enough knowledge, haste can cause harm. One should also be cautious with corrections that resemble spells. Some of them are forbidden for use, considered dangerous, and not particularly beneficial.

It is better not to mix Vastu with other planning principles, as this is unjustified in most cases and can harm the flow of energies if an object does not suit the direction and energies in which it is placed. In many religions, ancient scriptures were not translated properly into modern languages, so there is not enough information to use them correctly.

A good example is sleeping directions. According to Vastu, the best directions for sleeping are with the head to the east or south, while the north and northeast are considered the worst directions for sleep. Despite this, in Judaism and Feng Shui one is advised to sleep with the head to the north. According to Vastu, one must not sleep with the head to the north, as this direction contributes to death. There are longitudinal lines running between north and south. As is known, in the Vedic science of Vastu, the construction of the Earth holds profound significance, as it is directly connected to cosmic influences (magnetic fields). And yet, despite this, people often do not delve into these topics and accept as correct whatever a rabbi, yogi, or Feng Shui consultant tells them. The part that has not yet been translated properly is proof that only highly spiritual individuals (to the degree that they can decide when they wish to leave this world) may sleep with their head to the north. Naturally, this is not the only thing they do – they undergo various practices and do many things to ensure an easy departure at death. An ordinary person (99% of people in the world) would suffer greatly from different illnesses and fall into unpleasant or even dangerous situations until they die.

Cheap corrections are also not recommended. One should not be greedy and expect good results – it does not work this way. To receive something good, one must invest, just as in any matter. There may be a situation in which a person is greedy and therefore cannot earn or receive a promotion (or influences those living with them in this way). In such a case, one must first work on the inner issue and only afterward think about changing something in the home. When someone is reluctant to spend money on corrections, they do not truly believe in them, because they do not value them and perhaps even neglect them – therefore the corrections will not help after being applied. One must appreciate everything one receives.

Every defect must be corrected using three methods of correction:

The first method – burying an object underground.

The second method – placing it on the ground or on the floor (this may include wall paint), or concealing it inside the wall at floor level (there are specific objects that can be placed in the wall at floor level).

The third method – hanging it from the ceiling or placing it above floor level (hanging something on the wall or ceiling, or placing an object on furniture standing on the floor).

Otherwise, the correction will have minimal influence on the defective area.

Sometimes corrections begin to work the same day, and sometimes much later. It all depends on the strength of the correction, the inner state, and what is happening in the home.

When one suffers for a long time from areas with defects, this begins to negatively affect health. For example, a dosha in the southwest can lead to mental illness. But not only health may suffer – various processes that a person wants to undertake simply cannot occur. For example, if a person wants to divorce, they will not be able to do so if there is a defect in the west of the home. If there are problems with children, they will be more difficult to resolve if there is a defect in the northeast.

First of all, corrections should begin at the center of the plot and of the home. One begins correcting from the sectors of outgoing energy, following the clockwise direction (from the southeast to the south, and so on), and finishes in the east. Only after the land has been corrected should one begin correcting the house, following the same path in the clockwise direction through the same negative sectors. Corrections begin on the lowest floor and end on the highest.

If one wishes to correct a positive direction, one must first verify whether the opposite negative direction has been corrected. If not, the negative direction must be corrected first, and only afterward may one proceed to correcting the positive direction. Likewise, if the correction of a positive direction does not help sufficiently, one should correct and strengthen the negative direction opposite to it. For example, if you corrected the east and after some time there are no changes and the problem remains unresolved, you should correct or strengthen the west.

Various Defects and Methods for Working with Them

Defects of various types around the home or at the entrance to the home are considered Vedha Dosha. In cases where the defect is located far from the home at a distance equal to the height of the building multiplied by itself, there will be no negative influence from the defect.

When the defect does influence the home, it must be removed. If the issue concerns garbage containers, it is advisable to move them elsewhere. If removing the Vedha Dosha is impossible for various reasons, it is recommended to strengthen the Vastu influences inside the home (in the direction where the defect is located).

One may also use pyramid yantras. Such a pyramid consists of several layers: the upper layer is one large pyramid that encompasses all the lower layers. The second layer consists of 9 pyramids, and beneath each of these 9 pyramids are 9 additional pyramids in the next layer (the third layer contains 81 pyramids). The bottom layer is composed of 9 equal parts. There are several types of pyramid yantras.

To protect against Vedha Dosha, one may create a kind of “protective wall” using these pyramids. One must place 8 pyramids in a row beneath the ground in front of each exposed front side of the house, and an additional 2 pyramids – one on each side of the entrance to the yard (within the yard), also underground.

The meaning of the word shalya in Sanskrit is “that which causes pain,” “bones.” This means that any bones located underground will bring problems to a person. This is the reason why one cannot live near a cemetery.

All types of substances found underground are considered shalya: dishes, ceramics, metals, bones, pitchers, and other items. Everything found in the earth carries either a positive or negative meaning (as described in my first book, Vastu for Harmony in the Home and Success in Business).

All negative objects under the ground generate negative energies that will actively influence the residents. This influence is usually expressed through nightmares, health problems, mental disturbances, and other issues – all of which become stronger the longer a person lives in such a place.

There are two types of Shalya Dosha:

A material type (as described earlier).

An energetic type – spirits, semi-divine beings, non-material entities, and geopathogenic zones.

99% of people who buy homes have no way of knowing what occurred on that land before the building was constructed, or what happened inside the home before the owners decided to sell it. Therefore, it is important to attempt to learn something before purchasing any plot or built home. It is essential to ask who lived in the house before, how they lived, and why they wish to move to another home.

Sometimes the owners tell their own story. If the previous owners had a dog, one should check whether it buried a bone or toy in the soil. In some countries, people bury family members and pets near their homes, which is extremely problematic. During one of my trips to Greece, the guide told us that local residents often bury their relatives in the yards of their homes. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Greece experiences economic difficulties.

When examining a plot before purchase, it is important to pay attention to the smell of the soil. If it has a bad odor, this may hint at Shalya Dosha, but not necessarily, as it depends on the source of the smell. In any case, one should avoid purchasing land with a bad smell, because it is a form of dosha regardless.

Three Methods for Identifying and Detecting Shalya Dosha

1. Manual excavation (the simplest method) – Through excavation, the plot is cleaned. The cleaner the plot and the home, the greater the contribution to spirituality. The main cause of receiving a home with Shalya Dosha is spiritual: it indicates resistance to spirituality, lack of spiritual development, or an absence of inner change. Sometimes even orthodox individuals receive such homes, because they are fanatical – they do not deepen their spiritual development but simply follow certain traditions, in some sense blindly and primitively.

2. Vedic astrology – To recognize Shalya Dosha through astrology requires very deep knowledge in this specific field, or knowledge in disciplines such as Prashna or Shalya Mantra Shastra. Astrology can also reveal whether the second type of Shalya Dosha (non-material, supernatural) is present on the land.

3. Biolocation (dowsing).

In cases where bones are found on the land and one wishes to reinter them elsewhere, the timing must be chosen according to an appropriate nakshatra.

In other cases, when one suspects the presence of non-material entities on the land, or the home is already built and there is a possibility that burials lie deep beneath it, one must contact a specialist to examine the situation and, if necessary, perform a ceremony of release and appeasement for the souls to whom the bones belong.

In principle, such corrections are not performed independently by someone inexperienced in this field – especially if you are not certain that Shalya Dosha is truly present on the land.

If a building or plot is not aligned with the cardinal directions, this indicates a defect known as Vidisha. This defect mixes the places of the deities within the home, and therefore it becomes impossible to determine their exact locations. According to ancient formulas and scriptures, when Vidisha is present, one may plan, design, and apply corrections using mandalas with different divisions (3×3, 5×5, 7×7), but it will not be possible to divide the home into 81 parts (the 9×9 mandala). In any case, it is important that the center of the home – the Brahmasthan – correspond to the shape of the home, along with the surrounding sections. This means that the Brahmasthan cannot be oriented to the cardinal directions if the house itself is not aligned with the cardinal directions.

Vastu Shastra is a science that is based, among other things, on symmetry. This symmetry allows corrections to be applied properly. In principle, when Vidisha is present, one uses the 3×3 mandala, which consists of only 9 parts.