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The origin of vaastushastra may
have taken place well over thousands of years ago. The
learned men of those days may not have lived in houses
themselves but they most definately dedicated their
lives to the developement of the science
"vaastushastra" or "vaastu", as it
is popularly known today.
The principles of the science laid
down during those days were based purely on the effect
of sunrays during different times of the day. The
observations and corrections made were noted and
concluded only after indepth screening of the situation.
Vastu is a part of
Vedas, which are believed to be four to five thousand
years old. Through penance and meditation yogis of that
period acquired answers believed to have come from the
cosmic mind itself to their questions. Hence Vedas are
heeded with divine knowledge. The art of Vastu
originates in the Stapatya Veda, a part of the Atharva
Veda.
It used to be a purely technical subject and it was only
confined to architects (Sthapatis) and handed over to
their heirs. The principles of construction,
architecture, sculpture etc., as enunciated in the epics
and treatise on temple architecture, have been
incorporated in the science of vastu. Its description is
there in epics like Mataysya Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni
Purana, Garuda Purana, and Vishnu Purana. There are some
other ancient shastras that pass over the knowledge of
vastu shastra to next generation, like Vishvakarma
Prakash, Samraangan Sutradhar, Kashyap Shilpshastra,
Vrihad Sanhita, and Praman Manjaree.
Proofs of vaastushastra can be
found during the time of Ramayan and Mahabharat. Even in
the cities of Mohanjodaro and Harappa the application of
vaastushastra can be seen.
Since the science goes far back to
the times of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna there are many
interesting mythological stories concering the origin of
Vaastupurush (the deity).
In the Mahabharata it
is said a number of houses were built for the kings who
were invited to the city Indraprastha for the Rajasuya
Yagna of King Yuddhistira. Sage Vyasa says that these
houses were as high as the peaks of Kailasa mountains,
perhaps meaning that they stood tall and majestic. The
houses were free from obstructions, had compounds with
high walls and their doors were of uniform height and
inlaid with numerous metal ornaments. It is said that
the site plan of Ayodhya, the city of Lord Rama was
similar to the plan found in the great architectural
text Manasara. References are also to be found in
Buddhist literature, of buildings constructed on the
basis of Vastu. They contain references to individual
buildings. Lord Buddha is said to have delivered
discourses on architecture and even told his disciples
that supervising the construction of a building was one
of the duties of the order. Mention is made of
monasteries (Viharas) or temples, buildings which are
partly residential and partly religious (Ardhayogas),
residential storeyed buildings (Prasadas), multi-storeyed
buildings (harmyas) and Guhas or residential buildings
for middle class people.
The Vastu, with word meaning 'dwelling', is believed to
be the residing places of god and man. According to its
modern meaning it covers all buildings irrespective of
their use like residences, industries, business
establishments, lodges, hotels etc. It is based on the
five basic and essential elements, such as Vayu (air),
Agni (fire), Jal (water), Bhumi (earth) and Aakasha
(space), which are known as Panchabhutas. Everything on
earth is built from these elements.
One
such story :
Lord Shiva had killed a devil
named Andhak after a long war which had continued for
years. A spirit originated out of the perspiration of
Lord Shiva and consumed all the blood from the body of
the devil. His hunger was still not satisfied. He then
undertook penance. Lord Shiva was impressed and highly
satisfied by his penance and offered him a boon. The
spirit then went wild and started eating men and
animals. This terrified even the Gods in heaven. 81 Gods
including Lord Bramha laid the spirit face down and they
then sat on different parts of its body. When the spirit
asked for forgiveness Lord Brahma offered him a boon:
"After building any structure, the people who offer
you prayers and worship you as vaastudevta will be
blessed with pleasures and prosperity. However only
those people, who do not offer you prayers shall be at
your mercy and you may trouble them in any way".
There is a possibility that these
stories were added in the olden scripts only to scare
people and make them conscious about the subject.
The science of vaastushastra is
however no mythological story and has stood the test of
time for thousands of years.
HISTORY
OF VAASTU
The
science of Vastu is considered an integral part of the
Indian architecture. According to modern historians
Ferguson, Havell and Cunningham, this science developed
during the period of 6000 BC and 3000 BC. Being a
technical subject, it was confined only to the
architects (Sthapathis) and handed over verbally or in
the form of hand-written monographs. The principles of
construction, architecture and sculpture, as enunciated
in the treatises on temple architecture, have been
incorporated in the science of Vaastu.
From
ancient literature, we gather that Vaastu was treated as
the science of construction of temples and royal
palaces.
In the
Matsya Purana, seventeen preceptors of Vaastu have been
mentioned. They are Bhrugu, Atri, Vasista, Viswakarma,
Maya, Narada, Nagnajit, Visalaksha, Purandara, Brahma,
Kumaraswamy, Nandisa, Sounaka, Bhargava, Vasudeva,
Anirudha, Sukra and Bruhaspathi.
The
first official treatise on Vaastu, the Kasyapa Silpa,
has been attributed to Sage Kasyapa.
In the
treatise Agama Shastra, which explains the science of
temples, Vaastu is considered as the basis for any type
of construction. Excavations at Harappa and Mohenjodaro
also indicate the influence of Vaastu on the Indus
Valley Civilization.
Role of
India
India is the
mother of vastu as our saints formulate principles of
vastu here. Vastu was written down thousands of years
ago where our sages kept in mind the effect of energies
and sunlight and balance all the five elements in a
manner to have the maximum benefit out of it.
Vastu Shilpa Shastra, the ancient mystic science and the
art of designing and constructing buildings finds its
origin in Stapatya Veda, which in turns is a part of
Atharvana Veda, one of the four Vedas. According to
modern historians Ferguson, Havell and Cunningham, this
science developed during the period of 6000 BC and 3000
BC.
Proofs of vaastu shastra can be found during the time of
Ramayan and Mahabharat. In the cities of Mohanjodaro and
Harappa the application of vaastu shastra can be seen.
In the Matsya Purana, seventeen preceptors of Vaastu
have been mentioned.
These principles, called Vastu Shastra, were evolved
over thousands of years out of experience and foresight
of ancient Sages of India and are very valuable for the
well being of mankind. According to Shastras, if we
worship, revere and respect the lords of these eight
directions, they will shower on us their blessings and
benefits. Our saints have searched vastu shastra; we are
only Researching it.
The following lines depicts the importance of vastu
shastra :
SHASTRENANEN SARVASYA LOKASYA PARAM SUKHAM
CHATURVERG PHALA PRAPTI SHLOKSHCH BHAVEDYUVAM
SHLIP SHASTRA PARIGYAN MRITYOAPI SUJETAAM VRAJET
PARMANAND JANAK DEVANAMI DIMIRITAM
SHILP VINA NAHI JAGTISHU LOKESHU VIDYATE
JAGAD VINA NA SHILPANCH VARTATE VASAU PRABHO
Meaning - Because of VASTU SHASTRA, the whole
universe gets good health, happiness and all round
prosperity. Human beings attain divinity with this
knowledge. Followers of VASTU SHASTRA get not only
worldly pleasure but also experience heavenly bliss.
With the above shloka, it is very much clear that VASTU
SHASTRA is universal. It is not confined to any
particular group of people in the development of all
human being irrespective of any caste, creed or
religion.
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