If you think establishing a relationship between the body and physical space is strange, if not unusual, think again! Also in the West there have been many precedents, bringing harmony to a space and its design through an understanding and relationship with the body that inhabits it. Just ask Leonardo da Vinci, who gave us Vitruvian Man in 1490 AD, or Le Corbusier, who gave us Modular Man in the early 20th century. Introducing the Vastu Man (or Vastu Purush) – harmonizing body and environment since the 6th century BC! C.!
Vastu Shastra is the ancient Indian science of place making, which sees building and architecture as a direct expression of the energy, forces and influence that a land or space presents. With special attention to orientation and the elements that populate it, Vastu Shastra works to combine and balance the natural elements and potential of a place with the aspirations, activities and temperaments of its inhabitants.
Like its eastern counterpart, Feng Shui, Vastu Shastra is also established as a series of principles, rules, and recommendations to help your house or building function perfectly, functionally, and cosmically. In the ancient Vedic system, each manifestation, be it a being, object or place, is seen as a direct expression of the Universe and the cosmic forces within it. Whether seeing a bird, a rock, an airplane, or a palace, the Vedic mind saw anything and everything as existing in a direct relationship with the entire cosmos. This perspective, understanding and principle applies to both the human body and architecture. And since one inhabited the other, the relationship between the two was crucial to their relationship with the Universe at large.
This ancient science is preserved through fundamental texts and works from all times in the Indian tradition. These not only provide an ancient understanding of the principles and benefits of Vastu Shastra as used by ancient Indians, but can also be applied in modern designs and lifestyles.
Whether designing a home, office, or sacred space, Vastu Shastra helps achieve that perfect balance and harmony that keeps all aspects of our life and experience poised and productive. Whether you are looking to improve the state of your financial affairs or fix your love life, looking to get a spiritual epiphany or two, or trying to change the face of your life, Vastu Shastra is for you. Vastu Shastra even has special remedies for illness, depression, addiction, and impotence, and whether you follow or trust the ancient Vedic way of life, they certainly deserve a try!
Like Feng Shui, Vastu Shastra is also gaining momentum around the world, emerging from the shadows of amnesia and ignorance to inform and illuminate modern spatial design with Vedic insight. In the West, Vastu Shastra is a new buzzword and few really know much about it. But given how simple its principles are to learn and apply, it won’t be long before it’s as popular here as anywhere else in space and time.