The word Vaastu is derived from the Sanskrit word Vasati which means house. In fact many Indian languages have the sound 'Vas' in  words relating to a meaning house or dwelling unit. In Tamil, vasam means living, vasal means entrance and so on. vaastu is practically the science of building or science of structure.

Relevance of vaastu

Today, whenever we talk of buying land, building, factory etc., or constructing a new building on a plot, be it for house, commercial establishment, factory, store, godown etc., we at some stage or the other, more often than not, are confronted with the query "Is it as per vaastu? What is vaastu?  What is its relevance in our day to day context?"  These are the questions, which perplex us.

Vaastu, in simple language is an ancient house-building science extending into the realm of occultism which postulates certain norms and dicta on how to build a house on what kind of a plot so as to be happy and prosperous.  It is a science, which postulates through norms and dicta on how to live in harmony with nature and thereby derive benefits for our day to day progress and well being. The principles of vaastu have been formulated on the basis of "Pancha-Bhutas", viz., earth, water, light (sun or fire), air, sky and the influence of the cosmos on our planet earth.  vaastu Shastra is a proportioned-mix of the elements for living in harmony with nature.  The philosophy underlying the principles of vaastu Shastra is that the whole environment in which we live is permeated with a cosmic force which breathes life into the atmosphere around us and thus everything around us influences everything else.  As a result, how an individual faces or lives in relation to a house, a door, a window, the air, the water etc. has a definitive influence on his well being and future.

Conforming to principles of vaastu a house, office, business or factory premises brings mental peace and prosperity to the owner/occupier in the shape of good business progress with least possible tensions, domestic bliss of a high order, happiness through progeny etc.  non-conformity brings about miseries/hassles/tensions through such specific factors of  deviations from the principles affecting that specific imbalance in nature. For example, if the northern portion is more elevated than the southern portion then that household will witness financial distress; if the entrance in the east faces south-east it results in poverty, court litigation, robbery or fire accident.  Similarly, numerous benefits can be cited for compliance with norms and dicta  of vaastu and numerous problems for non-compliance with such norms and dicta.  It is physically impossible to narrate all these here.The  object is to highlight  the increasing  relevance of vaastu  for a generally smooth and purposeful living with least possible tensions and maximum possible happiness and peace.  The principles of vaastu, if judiciously applied, confer peace, prosperity and divine joy on the grihastha (household).

Vaastu is essentially an oriental science and hence more widely accepted and practised in the Orient. Similar Science is known as Feng Shui in Hong Kong, China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand etc. 'Feng Shui' in Chinese means "wind-water" and has been essentially developed in China. It is the Chinese science and art of placement whereby man can place himself in a manner so as to be able to live in harmony with his environment. In India vaastu is a more elaborately perfected science in as much as it takes into account the "Pancha-Bhutas",and thus harmony with nature is more compatible than in "Feng-Shui".

It is hoped that this presentation provides the necessary impetus to the realization of vaastu Shastra as a practical necessity for the well being of mankind.