Desi Dialogues

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My Hindu friends once told me they only buy a house only after making sure it was vastu-friendly.

It was in Toronto that I learned more about vastu.

Vastu shastra, or vastu for short, is the ancient Indian science of architecture, which originated in 7000 BC during the Vedic civilization. The word "vaastu" originates from vasthu, meaning created space or premise. Shastra means body of knowledge.

It involves designing a home or a building in a manner as to align it with nature's five elements - earth, water, air, fire and space - to achieve total well-being for the owners.

Vastu followers believe nature's five elements radiate solar, lunar and magnetic energy. As the sun moves from east to west, the planet's magnetic energy and solar energy act in different directions. Both these energies are in harmony with, or hostile to, one another, according to vastu teachings. And so houses designed with vastu in mind can draw upon the benefits of these energies when the same are in harmony.

Vastu is now being taught to architectural students, and schools in Toronto and the U.S. have schools that teach students how to construct a house, from ground up, in such a way the energy exhibited in the house literally vibrates with specific qualities. Students learn how to achieve that by deploying certain mathematical formulas for the doors and windows so it may cause vibrations.

In Toronto, many Hindu South Asians choose their houses in such a way that the entrance is in the north or the north-east quadrant of the house since the sun's rays in the early morning are seen as a rejuvenating or life giving.

Also, according to mythology or Hindu scriptures, the direction of the north is seen as auspicious as it is the direction of many Hindu gods that bring wealth, prosperity and good health (ancient Hindu sages meditated facing the northern direction).

And it was only recently that I really knew how big vastu is among some in the South Asian community.

Several brokers in Toronto say vastu is important for their clients. In fact, one person even told me that of his "10 Indian clients, nine ask for vastu." Brokers say they literally carry a compass with them to determine which direction the house faces. A south-facing house for many strict believers of vastu is a strict 'no' and considered inauspicious.

Not surprisingly then, a group of investors in Toronto are planning to select a plot of land according to vastu and construct houses to fulfill that demand.

Many feel that vastu is similar to the Chinese feng shui, which also talks of energy flow, but feng shui does not emphasize building houses from scratch to get the best results.

"In feng shui, north is considered inauspicious," said Toronto vastu consultant Sulakshan Mohan. "It is the other way round in vastu. A Chinese compass has south on top."

Like feng shui, vastu is a matter of belief - one can believe that having a house in a certain direction and in accordance with vastu principles brings good luck to residents. However, if you believe that vastu principles affect luck, you need to be sure the consultant they hire has a strong background in this area.