Vastu Shastra is part and parcel of ancient astrological science. It is not a separate branch. The construction of a village (village plan) or the house must, therefore, be studied in relation to Astrology or in relation to the movements of the Sun and other planets.
Some modern-day scholars have come out with strange theories saying that Grama-arvana (village plan) or Griha-arvana need not be observed. But this is not supported by Vastu principles. The theories enunciated in them are true and applicable for all times. The validity of theories can be verified with actual experience.
Grama-arvana (Plan of Village)
A road should be marked latitudinally from the East to the West and another road should also be marked from the North to the South longitudinally. The roads intersect each other and four parts of the village are formed. The four parts are traditionally allotted to the four Varnas-Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra. The Brahmin division is allotted to Acharyas, artists and men of intellectual calling. The Kshatriya division is meant for political leaders, government employees and such other men in general. In the Vaishya division live the merchants, industrialists and other business men. The Sudra division is meant for unskilled labourers in agriculture and industry. If men construct their houses in their allotted divisions, according to their professions, they can live in harmony and peace. This Grama Arvanam is scientific and conducive to the well-being and development of all classes of men.
Griha-arvana
Business shops should be arranged in the Raja-vithi. Some shops will face each other; some facing South and other facing north. Residential streets should run parallel to the Upa-raja-vithi, from North to South, with a distance of 132 feet. Half of this length, i.e., up to 66 feet, will have house plots, which will face East and other houses will face west. The width of these plots will be 33 feet. Thus, the streets will stretch from the North to the South and the houses will face the East and the West in every street.
The direction of the house of person is decided by the first letter of his name. There are 12 Rasis, out of which Mesa, Karkataka, Sinha, Vrischika, Dhanus and Meena are opposite to the other six Rasis, viz., Tula, Makara, Kumbha, Vrsabha, Mithuna and Kanya. The lords of the first six Rasis are Mars, Moon, Sun and Jupiter belong to Guru Varga and they are friendly to one another. They are lords of the 1st, 5th and 9th houses. Similarly, the lords of the other Rasis are Venus, Saturn and Mercury. These three planets are friendly to one another. They are known as Sani Varga planets not only in the Zodiac but also in the Asta-dik Chakra.
The Sun is the lord of the East. Therefore those who are born in Guru Varga should live in houses facing East (purva-simha-dvdra).
Saturn is the lord of the West. Those who are born in Sani Varga Lagna should live in houses facing West (pascuna-strhha-dvdra).
The East facing and the West facing doors are alone called Simha-dwaras, because they are in the path of Sun. The North facing and the South facing doors are not Simha-dvaras. These are only side doors.
The lord of the East direction is the Sun, and the lord of the South is Mars. These two planets are friends. So East Simha-dwara house must have the side door on South and also some open place in the South. The lord of the West is Saturn and the lord of North is Mercury. These two planets are friends. So the West Simha-dvara house must have the side door in the North and also some open space.
For business shops, those who are born in Guru Varga Lagnas should have South facing shops and those born in Sani Varga Lagnas should have North facing shops. If they do not follow this arrangement, and if their shops are in contrary directions, the good planetary results will be reduced by 50 percent, the bad effects will be aggravated by about 50 percent.
