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VAASTU SHASTRA

A guide to improve life at home and work

An introduction   
By Suresh Jaura*

Nature, at its worst, brings in its wake floods, droughts, storms, earthquakes etc. It is misconceived to be hostile to man. However, all that happens only when ecological balance has been drastically changed by man. In the modern world, there has been an on-going race to build concrete clusters, based on architectural practice to move towards so-called modernization, that have resulted in worldwide pollution, environmental and ecological problems with no peace of mind. If approached in true harmony, 

Nature's secrets can be revealed and its energy harnessed for the benefit of the living. Nature, man and material are within evolutionary network guided by performance standards. A proper blend of nature, man and material can help improve life at home and work. In the Vedic period, based on Vaastu Shastra, people built homes, temples and hermitages, with a view to have peaceful living, offering prayers and to live in common harmony. 

VAASTU is derived from the Sanskrit (language in vogue thousands of years  ago in India)  word VAAS, meaning place to reside. The word, VAASTU, as  adapted into Hindi   language (the predominant language of India), and  translated into English means ARCHITECTURE. 

Vaastu Shastra is drawn from from one of  the four Vedas  (ancient  Indian scriptures), which are 5000 years old, and provide specific  guidance on how  man can conduct himself successfully in various aspects of life. It is a well-known fact that the universe comprises of five essential elements: space (sky),  air,  fire, water and earth. According to Vaastu Shastra, these five  elements are related to  man's five senses of hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell. The principles of Vaastu are mainly dependant on the arrangement and balancing of these five elements in their proper order and proportions so  that humans can have better living conditions at home as well as their place of work. 

According to Vaastu Shastra, one of the important  Sanskrit quotations translated into English means: " Properly designed and pleasing house will be an abode of good health, wealth, family,   peace and happiness. Negligence of canons of architecture will result in disrepute, sorrows and disappointments. So Vaastu Shastra  is brought into  light in favour of, to the satisfaction of, and for the betterment and  overall peace and  welfare of the universe." 

Vaastu Shastra is the science of planning and construction. It provides us with principles of  planning and orientation for human habitation. In the modern  context, it  covers all buildings,  including houses, industries, offices etc. It deals  with the correct placement of man with respect to the environment in order to achieve harmony with nature. 

Vaastu is linked to safety and hygiene. Its principles were formulated on the basis of the  influence of the sun, its light and heat, the direction of the wind, the  position of the moon, the  earth's magnetic field; in short the impact of the cosmos on our planet. In Vedic (ancient) times, the  sages, well-versed in Vaastu shastra, applied its principles in determining the right locations for their famous structures like the  temples, hermitages, palaces, monasteries etc, particularly those built in  the Himalayan regions. Probably, that is why they remain protected from earthquakes and other natural calamities. 

Energy lines are believed to have been found to emanate from the earth's surface by forming  a grid around the globe. This energy is oriented magnetically in the  North-South, and  in the East-West direction. This Bio-Electro-Magnetic (BEM) field affects  human mind and  body, since each body cell acts like a radio receiver with its own  vibratory levels. We are affected by these subtle energies in our  daily activities, our places of work and also in sleep  where the body is  stationary for a long time. 

The effect of Vaastu is permanent, because the earth has been revolving around the sun, in a geostationary orbit for over billions of year. Due to the magnetic  properties  of earth, the magnetic needle of  a compass always tends towards north.  Since Vaastu is based on permanent magnetic property of the earth, with inclination towards north, the effect of the vaastu principles also become permanent. It is also interesting to note that the genesis of vaastu principles lies  in the nexus between the earth and the sun. Since these two planets are of  universal nature and beyond any religion, caste and nationality, the principles of vaastu  are also universal. 

(Compiled from various sources)

*Suresh Jaura is an Associate Real Estate Broker and also provides consultancy by appointment for Vaastu Reading of your home, office, factory. He can be contacted on telephone at 416 315 7253. Or by e-mail: vaastu@vaastu.net. His web site is: www.vaastu.net/vaastu.htm . 

Suresh Jaura was featured and interviewed in WORKPLACE NEWS - a monthly publication For Human Resources and Employment Professionals - in an article titled `Vaastu Shastra IS YOUR OFFICE COMPLIANT?'
He was also featured and interviewed in THE SUNDAY TORONTO STAR in an article titled THE ANCIENT ART OF VAASTU.
His Columns have appeared regularly in CanIndia Weekly News, India Journal, and  Namaste Canada.