Rooms & Their Position

Which room should be constructed in which direction, if this consideration is not kept in mind while planning a house, the whole building may go against the principles of and it will create lot of troubles causing harms and loss to the owner/inmates. People are generally ignoring this fact and are constructing house according to their choice. Architects now a days prepare house-plans without considering the principles and rules given by ancient Vaastu-Shastra. They keep in mind the latest designs, imitating the designs based on foreign culture but if the basic principles of Vaastu satisfying the five basic materials (Panch Mahabhutas) are ignored, the house becomes the root cause or troubles, losses and sorrows in the life of the inmates. For example, it has become a fashion these days to construct kitchen near the main gate. Reason for doing so is given that for most of the time a housewife has to remain in the kitchen and it becomes easy to her to keep a watch on the main door, and that she can conveniently attend to any body calling at the door. How strange and any visitor or guest should be received and entertained by the head of the family and the guest room/drawing room should be near the main door. Visitors come from all the classes of society and have to be treated in different ways depending upon their status.

Indian Vaastu Shastra divides the house into 16 parts wherein rooms or various purpose should be constructed, keeping the directions in mind as follows: -

Sanasya pak Shayanastra bhujeshcha dhanya dhandar Daivat grihani ch poorvatah syuh; Tanmadhytoath mathanayaja pureesha vidyabhyasakhya. Rodanaratoushadha sarvadham.

Direction : Room to be constructed.

East : Bathroom

South-east : Kitchen

South : Bed room

South-west : Room for weapons

West : Dining room

North-west : Grain store

North : Treasury

North-east : Room of worship

Between East and South-east : Room for churning curd

Between South and South-eastRoom for storage for Ghee etc.

Between South and South-west : Latrine (W.C.)

Between South-West and West : Study room

Between West and North-west : Punishment room for expressing sympathy or sorrow.

Between North and North-West : Bed Room for young couple

Between North and North-east : Medicine

Room Between East and North-East : Common/Drawing Room

Besides these, there are other opinions also :

In South -West corner : Clothes Room (Wardrobe)

North-west corner : Cattle shed

North-east : Water bodies-tank, well etc.

North-west : Toilet

As far as possible, various rooms should be oriented in the house as per directions given in Vaastu-Shastra. Some of the rooms, such as room for churning curd, store for ghee, room for expressing sorrow, etc. may not be necessary in modern times. These may be utilised for other purposes, In case of shortage of space position of the rooms may be adjusted as per convenience and necessity. But there are some rooms which must be kept in the position suggested in Vaastu-shastra. If these are built in some other prohibited space, it will prove inauspicious and harmful for the inmates. In modern times it is not feasible to build big houses having large number of rooms as mentioned in Vaastu Shastra.

Houses are built on small plots which can not accommodate many rooms. Therefore it is advised to construct the house in accordance with the principles of Vaastu, in abridged form having rooms as per necessity and convenience.

1. Bath Room: - Proper place for bath-room has been suggested in the east direction. The mild rays of the morning sun are beneficial for health. These rays can be received by the body while bathing, there fore bath room in the east side is good. There is a tradition in our culture to offer prayer (arghya) to the rising sun, just after taking bath. Slope of the floor of the bath room should be towards north or east. Water should drain out on the north or east side.

2. Kitchen: - South-east corner is the place of god of fire (Agni Dev), therefore, kitchen where fire has an important role must be built in this corner. Kitchen should never be built in the north-east, South-west or in the centre of north, south or west side. Burner (gas burner, stove, Chulha etc.) should be kept in the south-east corner of the kitchen room, such that while cooking the person may face towards the east. Water arrangement should be made in the north-east corner. Shelves for keeping raw commodities, utensils etc. should be kept on the south or west side.

3. Bed Room: - Main bed-room for the head of the family should be in the south- south-west direction. Bed-room for unmarried children can be built on the east side and for unmarried youths or for guests, the bed room in north-west is good. For young couples the bed room should be in north. Bed room should never be made in the north-east corner. Bed room of the head of family should be larger than that for other members of the family. Bed should not be placed in a corner or in the centre of the room. Also it should not be placed touching the walls. It should be placed in the east or south portion of the room in such a manner that head of the person while sleeping remains towards south and feet towards north, one should never sleep with head towards north.

4. Room for weapons: - In the South-West corner, a room for weapons has been mentioned in Vaastu Shastra. In past years such a room as necessary in the palaces or house of the rulers and land lords. In modern times, this room may be used as a store of heavy articles, tools and kits or keeping such articles which are of seldom use, or as a store of unserviceable waste articles. Also it may be used as bed room of elderly persons in the family.

5. Dining Room: - Best place for dining room is in the west. Now a days, dining room is adjusted with the kitchen or drawing room. In that case this room may be used for other purposes. Dining table should be arranged in the South-west or north-west portion of the room. Water arrangement should be in the north-east corner and fridge etc. (electrical appliances, if any) should be kept in south-east corner. Persons should face towards east or north while taking meals

6. Grain Store or Cattle Shed: - On the north-west corner a store for grains should be built. In olden times it was a necessity. In modern times also, generally people purchase grains required for the whole year which has to be stored properly. Those who live in rural areas and are shed is also required for those families which keep cows, buffalo etc. North-west corner is suitable for the purpose. If not needed the room may be used as guest room or bed room.

7. Treasury: - In the north a room should be built for keeping valuables such as jewellery, ornaments, cash, costly utensils, etc. This is the place of Kuber the god of wealth and prosperity. Therefore this is the best place for treasury room. Cash box or safe (almirah) should be placed in this room along the south wall, such that it opens towards the north and the man while opening it faces towards south.

8. Pooja Room: - North-east corner is governed by Eeshwar; Pooja room should be built in this corner. This corner should not be used for bed room, kitchen or any other room, and no other articles should be placed in the pooja room. Cleanliness must be maintained around it. One should sit facing north or east while worshipping. Idols or pictures of the deities should be placed on a high platform built on four legs (sinhasan) or a cup-board in the wall in the north or east side. There should not be any toilet or kitchen above, below or adjacent to the pooja room.

9. Room for Churning Curd: - In olden days, when every family used to keep cattle cow, buffalo etc., it was necessary to have a place for storing milk, curd etc. and urban areas such room is not required in modern times, as such the place may be adjusted with other rooms. Place between east and south-east is suitable for such room.

10. Store for Ghee: - A room between the south and south-east can be built, if necessary, for storage of ghee, edible oil etc. If not needed, it may be adjusted with the kitchen or the bed room.

11. Toilet: - The place between south and south west is suggested for toilet. It can also be built in the north-west. In urban areas, there is a trend now a days to build toilets and baths attached to bed rooms. It is better to keep the bath and latrine separate. Attached bath-lat should be provided towards the north or west of the room. Seat in the latrine should be fixed such that a person may sit facing north or south. Floor of the toilet room should have slope towards north-east corner of the room and the outlet for waste water should be towards north, east or north-east.

12. Study Room: - The best place for study room is between west and south-west. The person should sit facing north or east while studying. The study table should not be placed touching the walls; it is inauspicious. Book-shelf should be placed along the north-east corner only. A small idol or picture of the favourite god a goddess may be kept in the north-east portion at a height.

13. Room for expressing sorrow or punishment: - A room was felt necessary in the house where at the time of some causalty, people may sit together to express grief or sympathy, or to be used as a punishment room If space does not permit, such room is not very necessary now a days. However, the room may be provided between west and north-west . It may be used as a bed room or toilet as well.

14. Rati Kaksha or Bed-room for young couple: - In the space between north and north west a bed room can be provided which is specially suitable for the newly wedded young couples . Arrangements in this room should be same given for other bed rooms.

15. Medicine room: - Between north and north-east a room may be provided for keeping medicines and for keeping ill persons. Morning sun rays and fresh nourishing air form the north help in empowering the medicines and early recovery of the patients. The space can be adjusted with other room if the separate room for medicines is not required.

16. Common Room: - A common room should be provided in the space between east and north-east which can be used for entertaining the visitors and guests, or as a place where all the members of the family can sit together. It can also be used as a bed room for unmarried children. It can be use as a store room for common articles.

 

Walls

The Boundary wall on the north and east side should be of less thickness, and the walls on south and west side should be built thicker. Construction of the wall must be started at the South-West corner and work must proceed towards east or towards north in the first phase. At every stage during the progress of work, the height of the wall should be raised gradually in such a way that any wall is lower in height towards the eastern end than that towards the western end; so also the height towards the northern end is always lower than that towards the southern end. The construction of walls from south east towards north and from North-west towards east should be taken up in the second phase. Main building must be constructed in the south-west portion of the plot, leaving more space open on the north and east than on the south and west respectively. Main building constructed in the middle of the plot, symmetrically leaving equal open space on all the four sides is also considered to be good.

 

Basement (Cellars)

Due to the increase in population and lack of land available buildings have to be constructed on small plots, and in such a situation it may be necessary to build a room underground i.e. a basement. Basement should be built in the north or east portion of the plot. In other portions it will be harmful. As per principles of Vaastu it is necessary to keep the level higher in the south and west than in the north or east. Keeping this in view, a basement (i.e. lower portion) will be auspicious and beneficial only in the north or east portion of the plot as shown in the diagram above. Basement should not be constructed in the central portion or in the south or west portion of the plot, because a low in these portion is harmful, causing adverse effects according to the Vaastu Shastra. For proper light and flow of air, ventilators should be provided towards north side in the basement. Stairs or ramp leading into the basement from outside has to be from the north or east. The slope in such cases will be from north to south or from east towards west, which is, possible the passage may be given from south or west side sloping down towards north or east.

 

Light (Electricity)

While constructing a room it should be kept in mind that every room gets proper light. Electricity is the main source of energy these days. Main switch board and meter etc. should be fixed in the south-east portion of the building. In every room, switch board should be provided on the right hand side (While entering). It is not auspicious to provide switch board on the left or centre of the wall. A building or temple where sun rays and fresh air do not reach is not auspicious and beneficial. As far as possible each room in the house should be so planned that it receives proper sun rays and maintains proper flow or air. In modern times, many huge buildings are built such that not only the sun is not visible from inside but it does not receive even traces of sun light. Flies, mosquitoes, germs may, of course, enter it without any check. Electric lighting has replaced sun light and fans, coolers etc. are used to maintain flow of air artificially. The un-natural arrangement is harmful to health and produces adverse effects on the eyes, lungs and heart. Soon the inmates have to suffer from respiratory troubles and diseases or eyes. They have to consult the doctors again and again, and have to take medicines regularly and use spectacles. Therefore it is necessary to keep the importance of proper circulation of air and light in mind for the healthy and long life of the inmates and the house itself. There are traditions in our country of worshipping the rising sun. Ancient scriptures have mentioned methods of curing several diseases, like anaemia, impurity of blood, dyspepsia, etc. with the help of sun rays and passing the sun rays through water filled in glass bottles of different colours. Exposure of the body to mild sun rays also cures many diseases. Modern architects generally ignore this fact in an attempt to earn more money by utilising maximum space. Sunlight and natural air are very much necessary for the durability of the house and health of the inmates. This should be kept in mind. Proper ventilation and exhaust fans must be provided in proper directions.