CONTEMPORARY TIMES + TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE

Is Vastu Shastra relevant to the Architecture of the 21st century?

A thought that every modern architecture student comes across, a topic that every young architect cringes on discussing with his clients, and an opinion I would love to read in the comment box below.

ORIGIN OF VASTU SHASTRA

The Vastu Shastra is the textual part of Vastu Vidya - an ancient study of architecture. The art of Vastu originated in the Stapatya Veda a part of the Atharva Veda.

The Vastu Vidya is believed to have been developed between 6000 BC and 3000 BC, which makes Vastu Sastra probably an 8000-year-old text. Some principles of Vastu were depicted in Mahabharatha and Ramayana and can be traced back to the Indus valley civilization.

Architects like Charles Correa and Geoffrey Bawa have famously used Vastu Shastra in a number of their public projects. The early principles were drafted according to the sun's rays and their differing position at different times of the day.

HINDU MYTHOLOGY + VASTU

Hindu mythology is extensively used as a tool for narration throughout Vastu Sastra. Many of the Vastu experts indeed use this to their advantage to exploit their ignoramus clients.

Regardless of any basic idea on Vastu Satra most of the people aspiring to build or buy a home for themselves tend to follow it.

MY PRESUMPTIONS.

Vastu Sastra is a set of (outdated) guidelines similar to modern-day texts like Time-Saver Standards and Neufert Architects' Data (which are updated regularly) for common people and professionals to build a habitat following good design.

“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”― René Descartes

BUT THE PUNDIT SAYS...

No, any alteration in Vastu guidelines while planning won't affect your life as the pundit says. Now and then a few of us attend to wrongfully alter the municipal-sanctioned layout and bribe the bureaucrat. It should be considered as simple as that.

RACISM IN VASTU SHASTRA.

The monarchy and fascists used Vastu Shastra to their advantage. This is evident when Vastu Shastra was deliberately used to avoid co-living of multiple castes. According to Vastu Shastra, Brahmans were to inhibit white soil land, Kshatriya on red soil, Vysya, and Sudra on yellow and black soil respectively.

DO VASTU SHASTRA NEED AN UPDATE?

Whether some Maharshi had harnessed the answers from cosmic energy or not Vastu Shastra needs to be updated. Many things have changed since the past 8000 years including our macro climate.

Vastu Shastra should be updated concerning current technological, economic, and social changes.

CODA

Even Socrates, who was believed to be the wisest man in Athens spent a lot of time obsessing about knowledge wishing he would know more and worrying that he was wrong about what he thought he knew. And here's my amma sure that a Vastu conduct home brings prosperity to our family.

Be skeptical, use logic, and believe in yourself.

#vastu_home