1. Place Selection

It should not be a place where someone has lived previously and has been ruined. Land belonging to Temples, Trusts, Patients, Mentally retarded persons and Charity land should not be bought, In addition to this, land belonging to Black magicians, Destroyed house, Place where cactus grows, termites reside should not be brought.

There should not be any Dustbin or Sewage opposite to the house. As it would bring in Bad air. There should also be no Plateau in front of the house. If there are such things opposite to the house then the rays will be harmful to the house and also it will lead to infighting  in the house.

The house can be in a place where there are clay and pebbles. If the soil is of Golden color then it is a good place. The ground should be in a higher place, should be even. If the ground is raised towards the West Side, it is considered to be good. If the East- west side is broader than the other sides, it is considered to be good.

Land Purchase

The land should not be bought from several forbidden categories of people and from elders or temples .The acquisition of land in the northeast is recommended. Sale of land in the north or east is bad.

The new house after construction should be occupied within a time gap of three months. If it is required to build two houses in the same plot without a compound wall or legal partition before, the house in the south or west should be built first. If a single plot is to be partitioned between two brothers, the elder should take the west or south portion and the younger brother should take the north or east portion. The houses of two brothers should not be exactly opposite each other. Expansion of the existing house should be in all four directions. While cleaning never sweep the house from the door towards the interior. The sweeping motion should be towards the exit. The cleaning motion should not be towards the northeast. There should be no tying of cloth drying lines between the main house and any compound wall on permanent basis.

Vaastu purusha should be prayed to on three occasions namely at the starting of the construction, at the fixing of the door, and at the end of construction. Monday- shukla paksha, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are considered auspicious for commencement of work.

Lands not suitable for living

Which have by nature trees that yield milky sap on cutting
On which shadows of temple fall
Near bridges, moats and with large holes in nearby plots
On the border of the town or center of the village
Which is always wet
With a pond on the corner and with stagnation of waste water 
With pebbles, termite hills, big rocks and boulders

Physical Features

They are very powerful than man made changes. Hills in the south, southwestern and western sides of the plot are ideal. The raised space in the east, northeast, north of the plot is bad and those in south, southwest and west are good. Trees directly opposite to the main door are bad, but are beneficial in the west, south -west, and south. Avenue trees will pose problems for north and east facing plots. The basics of Vaasthu Shastra insist on the need for leaving the east open so that light falls freely from the rising sun. The house that remains in constant shade invites diseases for the inhabitants .It is not recommended to have a permanent residence with a view to a large water body. Water bodies are beneficial in the north, northeast and the east of the plot. The rivers flowing in the northern side of the plot is inauspicious and if it is from west to east, or from south to east it brings abundant wealth to the residents.

The Vaasthu components bestowed by nature are more powerful than man made changes.

Large open spaces in the northern and eastern sides of the plot are beneficial

The effluents of the neighbors should not flow into the plot. If the wall built by the neighbor in the east or north is very high then the opposite walls should be higher. The north east of the building should be extended beyond the neighbor’s buildings in north and east.

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2. Plot Properties

The north and east facing plots are ideal. The south and west facing plots are second.

Shape of the plot

According to the tradition of Vaasthu odd shaped plots are considered inauspicious for building. This does not mean that one says ‘no’ to any plot that is neither rectangular nor square. It to be defined by using a fence, a wall or pillars demarcating the boundary. The plot meant for construction should be a geometric form while the remaining area of the site can be used as a garden or playground. Composition of earth:

The characteristics and composition of soil are very important for two reasons. One is the load-bearing capacity of the soil which determines the type of foundation to be laid, the other is the ability of the land to sustain vegetation. Any soil that is incapable of regeneration world be considered as bad for human habitation.

Natural gradation

All sites have some gradation already existing in the land. The designer has to take this into consideration and build as sensitively as possible using the natural gradation to advantage.

Water points, staircases, sewage disposal should take into account this gradation of land in the design. Slopes considered auspicious are SW to NE, N to S or W to E. This does not mean that other slopes are wrong. Whatever the directions of the slope, it must be used effectively.

Water source

The location of water in a site is one of the important aspects of design. Water sources can be tapped in different ways. Water on the north or east is beneficial, but when it is not available in these two sides, any suitable location can be accepted. The location of good water in the proposed site is a cause for great jubilation as water is divined through different methods.

Shape of the building

Northeast in East direction of the building can be projected.  
Southeast in East direction of the building should not be increased. 
Southeast in South direction of the building can be projected. 
Southwest in South direction of the building should not be increased. 
Southwest in West direction of the building should not be increased. 
Northwest in West direction of the building cab be projected. 
Northwest in North direction of the building should not be increased. 
Northeast in North direction of the building can be projected. 
Southeast direction of the building should not be increased. 
Southwest direction of the building should not be increased. 
Northwest direction of the building should not be increased. 
Northeast direction of the building can be projected. 
East in Southeast direction of the building should not be increased. 
South in Southeast direction of the building can be projected. 
South in Southwest direction of the building should not be increased. 
West in Southwest direction of the building should not be increased. 
West in Northwest direction of the building can be projected. 
North in Northwest direction of the building should not be increased. 
North in Northeast direction of the building should not be increased. 
East in Northeast direction of the building should not be projected. 
“L” Shape building should not be constructed. 
In the same plot, one building is in the South direction and another in West direction, can be constructed. 

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3. Soil Properties

Living soil-trees and plants flourish and the plot from a distance looks green and has sufficient water.
White colored soil-for those in knowledge, education and learning
Red- for those in power and in government service
Yellow-for those in business
Black-for those doing physical work

Soil Testing

A square pit of 1 and 1/2 feet should be dug in the North East corner. After the pit has been dug, the pit should again be filled with the same mud. If even after filling the pit, some mud remains ,then it is considered to be a good land. On the other hand If some more mud is required to fill the pit then the land is not good to build a house. Building a house on this land will lead to Bankruptcy.

The second method is to test the land is to pour water into the pit and watch for how much time the water stays. Water should be poured into the pit in the evening and if in the morning the pit is full to its quarter, it is considered to be a good land. If the water is fully drained then it is a moderate land. If cracks are seen after the water is drained then it is not a good land.

Flower Testing

The third method is to ask three married woman to pour water into the pit at the same time . A flower is then dropped into the water. Based on the direction, in which the flower rotates, the judgment can be made. If the flower rotates in clockwise direction, it is considered to be a good land. If it rotates in the anti-clock wise direction then it is not good. Even based on the direction in which the flower settles down after rotating, the land can be judged. If the flower stops in the East after rotating , it is considered to be a very good land. If the Flower stops in the West, South ,North and Northeast, it is also considered a good land.

However if the Flower stops in Northwest, South East and Southwest, it is not a good location for constructing a house.


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4. Establishing Cardinal Directions

Cardinal directions have a deep significance to the life of human beings on earth. Facing each of the directions for a particular kind of activity has been given mystic meanings in each society. The procedure by which the plot or Vaasthu is set out into modules is known as pada vinyaasa.

Brahmasthana

It is the center of the plot. In the plan it is necessary to create a center for the building, which grows into the total form.

Brahma Pada or Veethi

It is the central position of the total form, which includes the central point. The brahma pada is considered to have very high concentration of energy (of the total form). Hence, traditionally it was either opened out as the courtyard or made into a central hall for collective gathering.

DeivikaPadam or Veethi

It is the first concentric space around the Brahma pada. In this space the energies are considered to be high and so the allocation of passages and rooms for collective rather than individual use are recommended here.

Manusha Padam or Veethi

The second concentric space it is considered to contain energy which is comfortable for human activity and hence, all activity rooms such as kitchen, bedrooms, study areas, puja and rooms for individual use are placed in this part of the layout.

Paisaacha Padam or Veethi

The final concentric space, which can contain the storage areas, outer verandah, external walls, outer walkways, bedrooms and work rooms. In general, manusha and paisaacha may be considered together for all special activity areas.

In the final built form, the outer peripheral rooms would contain specialized activity such as sleeping; cooking, storing, bathing while the inner areas would be for relaxing and conversing.

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11. Pillars

The master of a house which has twelve pillars from the entrance to the interior of the house, will be subjected to many troubles from their enemies, fall sick often and become a debtor. The rule states in such houses with twelve pillars the goddess of fortune will run away and the house will be taken possession of by the goddess of evil and other evil spirits.

Those who live in houses, which have odd number of pillars or even number of doors, will suffer like a deer shot by an arrow and be subjected to unnecessary harassment and become vexed.

The rule further states that having three pillars on the raised platform in the verandah will lead the resident to a confused state of mind; incur loss of property and there will be impediments in all matters.

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12. Multi Main Door Way

The main door way is an important aspect for a building. The Vaasthu Shastra gives much credence to the main doorway, which is the abode of the Goddess of fortune and possessing divine strength. The back door way is the place ruled over by the goddess of misfortune (Moodhevi) who patiently waits there. Having four main doorways in the four main directions of a building is known as "Viswatho" gateway. Having such an arrangement of four gateways ensures prosperity in the entire front. But such an arrangement of four gateways (main door ways) will be highly favourable only in the case of a temple or a workshop/factory.

Erecting three main doorways in the three main directions excepting east, of a building, is known as "Viyakra Padam". Such a house will be subjected to the fear of thefts and loss of cattle heads. But, this kind of gateways are mostly suited to workshop/factories.

The goddess of fortune will bless a building with plenty and prosperity, which has three main doorways in the three main directions except West. These kinds of gateways will bring good luck and fortune only in the case of workshop/factory building.

Having three main doorways in the three main directions except North will bring ruin and misfortune to workshop/factories. Having two main doorways in the South and West will usher in all-round prosperity and comforts. Having two main doorways in the North and West will lead to frequent thefts and adversity. Having two main doorways in the North and East will bring in scores of diseases. Having buildings on all the four directions of a residence the center plot (Brahmasthanam) of which is open to the sky, is known as the Square Mansion (Chathura maligai) and will bring fame to its residents. The inmates of such a building will be blessed with sound health, augmentation of wealth, prosperity in business and fame in the outer circle.

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Vaasthu Purush

The God of Vaastu has no structure. He is of various forms in each month. He has his left hand on the ground and the right hand in the air when he sleeps. And during each month his direction of sleeping differs. But he sleeps in such a way that his foot is placed in the seventh raasi in line with the raasi in which the head is placed.

During Chitirai, Vaigasi he sleeps facing North. During Aadi, Avani, he sleeps facing East. During Iypasi, Karthigai he sleeps facing South and during Thai, Maasi he sleeps facing West. It is auspicious to build a house only when the God of Vaasthu is awake.

From the above table it can be seen that the God of Vaastu is awake only for 1 and half hours.

During this 1 and half times he does five types of jobs. For each he takes 18 minutes.

First eighteen minutes- he bathes. If work is started during this time, Government benefit will come. Second eighteen minutes, he does Pooja. During this time if work is started then obstacles will come.

For the third eighteen minutes, he eats. If work is started during this time, poverty will come. Fourth eighteen minutes, he eats beetle nuts, During this time if we start the work Child wealth will increase. Last eighteen minutes he rules. This is the most auspicious time. So during the time he eats beetle nuts and rules, it is the auspicious time to start building the house.

Most suitable months for building house

Vaigasi, Aavani, Kaarthigai and Maasi are the most suitable months for building house.

Vaigasi- will lead a happy and prosperous life

Aavani-friends and relatives support will come.

Karthigai- Wealth and Health will increase

Maasi- Old Prestige will return and will be prosperous.

Auspicious days

Moreover we should see in which days to start building the house. Sunday and Tuesdays are good days for laying Foundation. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays are not good days for laying foundations.

Auspicious Time

The house should be started after seeing the auspicious time in Panchang.
Shubham, Pramaim, Mahendiram, Sathyam, Shilam, Shupiram, Ayushman, Sowbagyam, Thuruvam, Thiruthi, Shoban, Agarmam, Piruthi, Sitham are good times for starting the houses.
Like this Palavam, Pavam, Kaulavam,, Nathvai, Karasai, Pathina, are very good time.
In stars, Karthigai, Uthiram, Uthiradam, Miruga Siridam, Chitirai, Avithajm, Punarpusam, Vishagam, Purathdi are not auspicious time for building houses.
The following stars Prathanam, Tudidiyai, Tiruthiyai, Chaturthi, Panchami are auspicious for starting the house.

Thithi

Thithi should also be seen. The days and the corresponding thithis on the day which are not auspicious is given below.

Sunday - Chaturthi Thithi

Monday - Shasthi

Tuesday - Sapthami

Wednesday - Thuthiyai

Thursday - Ashthami

Friday- Navami are not auspicious.

Yogam

Similarly Yogam should also be seen.

There are four types of Yogams.

AMRITHA YOGAM

SIDDA YOGAM

MARANA YOGAM

PRABALARISHTA YOGAM.

AMRITHA YOGAM is considered to be auspicious. SIDDA YOGAM has a Moderate effect. The other two are not auspicious.

LAGNA PAVAM should also be considered.

STIRRA LAGNAM is considered to be very auspicious.

Stirra lagnam

There are twelve raasis and Lagnam is the place where the sun is at the time of birth. Of these twelve raasi's Mesham, Kadagam, Thulam and Makaram are SARA LAGNAM. Rishabam, Simham, Viruchigam and Kumbham are STIRRA LAGNAM. Mithunam, Kanni, Dhanus, Meenam are UBHAYA LAGNAMS. The STIRRA LAGNAS are auspicious for House Warming as mentioned above. 

There are 27 STARS. Of these some are without leg, without Body, without head Stars. There are three stars in each Raasi. These stars are not auspicious for House Warming. Bharani, Chitirai, Ahilyam, Maham, Puram, Visagam, Meenam, Puradam, Purrathadi are the nine stars not auspicious for House Warming. Chandrashthami days are considered to be not auspicious . Hence it is advisable not to have house warming ceremony in these days.

Abhisithana kalam , kari days are not auspicious for house warming ceremonies. Avoiding the above mentioned days are good.

Chitirai, Vaigasi, Karthigai and Thai are auspicious months for conducting House warming ceremony . But if the house owner is born in these months then the house Warming ceremony should not be held in these months. House Warming should not be held for incomplete houses.

Ayadi Poruttam

Ayadi literally means ‘income and others’. Income, here, stands for all energy inputs whether in terms of money, health, children, happiness, friendship or spiritual strength. In order to bring about prosperity in all walks of life the following calculations or ayadi poruttam are made:

To begin with the module (padam), which is being adopted for the design, should be checked against the birth star (janma nakshatram) of the owners for it to act in a beneficial manner on them. The width or perimeter of the building may also be calculated for benefits. In houses, which may grow in parts over time, the perimeter may keep changing; hence either the module or width may be taken as the primary measure for subsequent beneficial calculation.

The calculation should be aimed at the following:

Click Here To Find Out The Muhurtham Of Your Building


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9. House Anatomy

Malaiadi Shatram specifies where the various rooms of the house should be. Our Shastrams have divided the directions into eight and each direction has a Angel. East-Indran, West- Varnan,  North ,Kuberan, South-Yaman, NE-Easanyam, SE- Agni Corner,NW-Vaayu, SW-Niruthi. On this basis the house structure should be designed. For example, SE is known for Agni. So the kitchen should be in the SW. Indran is the God of Gods. So the Family Head's room should be in the East.

SW corner can be used as a store room or as an office room. West room is Bedroom. The NW room should be used for Pooja room. North room can be used for Study room, Office, Store room.  NE- Family head's bedroom. The amount of rooms in a house should be odd. The staircase should be facing East or North.

In the first house shown above, the width of the room should ¼ times larger than the length. In he second case, The length of the room should 3/8 times larger than the width, in the third case the length of the house should be 1/8 times larger than the width. In the fourth case it should be 1/14 larger than the width and in the fifth case, the length of the house should be 1/6 larger than the width. Generally the width of the house should be of the following size (in feet).

Wall Height

There is a description of the height of the wall in Shastras. The heights 6, 8, 10, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30 (in feet) are good for the house. 26, 16 ft. houses gives a moderate result.

Height 

It is determined based on the width. Five kinds of heights are recommended.

Rooms in house

The number of rooms in the house should be in odd series 5,7,9,11,..... No two rooms should face each other in the house.

Doors

The door of the house should be of the following dimensions. The should be 7 jans in length and 3 jans in width or 9 jans in length and 5 jans in width. (One jan is the distance between the tip of the little finger to the tip of the thumb in a completely stretched palm) The door should be made of single wood. There should not be any incomplete wall in front of the verandah. The verandah on the street side should be raised and the inside entrance should be raised.

The entrance can face any direction provided the ayadi calculation is made using the birth star of the owner. The location of the door has been based on the following:

The central module would be the place for the entrance door in the case of public and religions buildings.
A module on either side of the central one would be the ideal location for the door in a residential building.
 The door or dwaram is a symbol of the psyche of the occupiers. By crossing the entrance threshold the visitor is being transported into the inner universe of a family.

Foundation

The foundation should be laid during an auspicious time. If the entrance to the house is facing South, it is considered to be very auspicious and leads to wealth. Anyway this does not mean that the entrance should not be facing other directions. The wood for the entrance door should be of high quality and should not be a used one . The wood used for entrance frame and door should be of the same quality.

Wood Categories

The most important construction material in the construction of a house is the wood. The entrance to the house should be of wood and not of other materials such as Aluminum.

Male tree is the one in which the base and trunk are of the same width. Female tree is the one in which the trunk is narrow and the base is broad. Gray has a broad trunk and a narrow base.

For the entrance, Male tree is the best suited one. For cross Bars, Female tree can be used. For others hermaphrodite trees can be used. High quality wood should be used.

Suitable :

1. Teak (Thekku)

2. Sandal (Sandanam)

3. Neem (Veembu)

4. Redwood (Semmaram)

5. Cassia fistula (Kadukkai)

6. Dalbergia latifolia (Nuukkam)

7. Mango (Maa)

8. Cassia (Kondrai)

9. Bassia Illoopy (Iluppai)

10. Jumbo (Naaval)

11. Jerminalia alata (Marudu)

12. Morinda umbellate (Nunaa)

13. Kino (Veengai)

14. Palmyra (Panai)

15. Bamboo (Moongil)

16. Areca (Paakku)

17. Coconut (Thennai)

18. Eugenia racemosa (Kadambu) and

19. Portia (Poovarasu)

The well being or welfare of the residents of the house which use the timber of the above trees for construction is vouch safed.

Unsuitable :

The using of the wood of the following trees for the construction of houses will lead to poverty.

1.Ficus racemosa (Aththi)

2. Banyan (Aal)

3. Ficus virems (iththi)

4. Silk cotton (ilava)

5. Peepul (Arasu)

6. Butea frondosa (Purasu)

7. Pharnaceun (Kuchchan)

8. Ziziphus Jujuba (Ilandhai)

9. Mimisops elengi (Magizham)

10. Wood apple (Vilva).

Note: - The Tamil names of the trees are mentioned within parenthesis.


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14. Entrance

15. Compound wall

The height of the compound wall should be at least two thirds of the height of the main door .The northern wall should be built only after the house is completed. Walls should be built just prior to the building of the house. The gates should not be in the extreme corner of the façade. Movement of the doors or gates should be clockwise. Both the main gate and the house door should face the same direction. Northeast is the best place to have a well, water sumps and septic tanks. Placing Tulasi on the east and low-lying north yield good results. Outhouse is not allowed in the northeast area

Car parks can be built in the northwest, southeast or the south west of the plot.

Water tanks on the plot's surface is not allowed in most of the areas. It is better to have it as an underground structure in the mid south.



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35. Well Allocation

Normally a well is dug at the back side of the house. A well should be dug in Chitirai, Vaigasi and Aani. Aadi and Avani months are also OK. This does not mean that other months are not suitable for digging wells but there is a possibility of the well drying up. Well can be dug in the East, West and Northeast of the house.

The well should not be dug in the South, Southwest and Northwest.
The well should never in the centre of the house. It is considered to be not good for Family head.

The well should not be surrounded by trees. The leaves will spoil the water. Alum, Gooseberry bark, Limestone keeps the water pure. According to tradition, poojas should be performed before digging the well. The stars which are auspicious for constructing the well are: Mirugasirisham, Vishagam, Puram, Tiruvonam Fourth house. The well should not be dug during Ashtami, Navami, Chandrashtami, Prathamai. The digging should start within three hours of the sunrise. The well shouldn't be dug during dusk.

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