Vastu Purusha
The being the texts describe lying face down on every plot, head in the north-east and feet in the south-west. The gods who hold him down each guard a part of the plot.
- Vastu Shastra
- हिंदी: वास्तु पुरुष
What is the rule behind Vastu Purusha?
The Vastu Purusha lies with his head in the north-east and feet in the south-west; the plot is a mandala of 64 padas (temples) or 81 padas (houses), Brahma holding the nine central padas of the 81 and 45 devatas in all; marma points are kept free of structure.
Source: Mayamata and Manasara
Where can you learn about Vastu Purusha?
Related terms
- Vastu Purusha MandalaThe plot drawn as a grid of squares called padas: 64 (8 × 8) for temples or 81 (9 × 9) for houses. In the 81-pada mandala Brahma holds the nine central padas and 32 devatas guard the outer ring, 45 devatas in all.
- MarmaA sensitive point of the mandala, where its main lines cross. The texts ask that pillars, walls and heavy loads not fall on the marmas.
- Pancha BhutaThe five elements, each with its zone in a plot: water in the north-east, fire in the south-east, earth in the south-west, air in the north-west and space at the centre. A room belongs in the zone of the element it uses, such as the kitchen in the south-east.
- Ishana (north-east)The north-east, named after its guardian, with Jupiter as its graha. It is the zone of water and prayer, kept the lowest, lightest and most open part of the house. A missing north-east corner is the most serious fault a plot can have.
- BrahmasthanaThe centre of the plot, its central padas, which belong to Brahma. It is kept open, free of pillars, beams, toilets, stairs and heavy loads. Traditional houses left it as a courtyard; in a flat, a clear central space serves the same purpose.
- DikpalaThe guardian of a direction. Eight dikpalas guard the eight directions, each with a graha: Indra the east, Agni the south-east, Yama the south, Nirriti the south-west, Varuna the west, Vayu the north-west, Kubera the north and Ishana the north-east. Brahma holds the centre.
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What does Vastu Purusha mean in Vastu Shastra?
The being the texts describe lying face down on every plot, head in the north-east and feet in the south-west. The gods who hold him down each guard a part of the plot. The Vastu Purusha lies with his head in the north-east and feet in the south-west; the plot is a mandala of 64 padas (temples) or 81 padas (houses), Brahma holding the nine central padas of the 81 and 45 devatas in all; marma points are kept free of structure.
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