HOW TO DESIGN YOUR OFFICE

The office, where we spend the most significant portion of our working lives in our work places, which is the reason that one should always be very careful about the functionality décor of the working space. Our work space, where we spend at least half our walking time, six days a week, is as important a part of our lives as our homes. The working conditions and the environment in the offices directly affect the way people interact with the family and friends at the end of the day. These also have an influence on our productivity , mental well-being and general health.

PLANNING THE OFFICE : To plan an office effectively, the designer should have a thorough understanding of the functional and aesthetic requirements of the client, followed by an in-depth evaluation of the possibilities and constraints of the given space, including columns, beams, existing plumbing and so on. An office should ideally have enough space not merely to seat its employees, but to locate ancillary and support services, from the stately boardroom to the humble pantry, as well as for circulation between these areas, with adequate access to stairs and fire escapes. When planning a given space, it is important to conceive a long term master plan, keeping in mind planned growth and future requirements, even if the intention is only to implement part of the plan now and execute the rest as needs and funds arise. The master plan would ensure that what is installed now will not have to be dismantled or relocated when new developments take place. This would help eliminate unnecessary wastage of material and labour.

THE RECEPTION AREA : It is the reception area that makes the first impact on the visitor and which colors his expectation of the space ahead. If the business of the company calls for continuous interaction with guests who need to be suitably impressed, then it is important that the reception area be adequately dressed.

- The reception can be used to display the company’s product or operations with visuals or models.
- Alternatively , paintings or aesthetic accessories in the room can be chosen to reflect the company’s taste and style.
- The receptionist should have direct visual access to be able to keep an eye on office comings and goings .

CONFERENCE ROOM : Conference room is the central area of any office and can give impressions to anyone new having meeting in that room

- Conference should ideally be easily accessible from the entrance, so that the visitors do not have to travel all over the office.
- The facility of a nearby toilet will be an advantage for the same reason.
- The equipment necessary for presentations, such as a screen, TV, video monitor black board ,flip chart etc, needs to be provided .
- The design should provide a calm, neutral background for visual presentation and adequate lighting.
The furniture and ambience should be designed so that the participants can communicate with each other

CEILINGS : It is well to remember that ceilings, like any other surface, reflect light and sound, and contribute significantly to the lighting and acoustic qualities of a space.

- Suspended ceilings are available in different materials, and increasingly, acoustic tiles and panels are becoming standard, especially in open offices and where no special ceiling treatment is required. Usually made of non-combustible which prevents sound waves being reflected back into the room.
- Holes for recessed lights can be cut out wherever required.
- Plaster or gypsum board is harder and reflects more sounds then it absorbs .
- Exposed structural ceiling are sometimes used to create a hi-tech image, as a stylistic alternative to the typical office interior.

LIGHTING : Good lighting is crucial for effective work, be sides which, lighting accounts for a considerable part of the energy consumed in an office. Therefore, two basic elements which the designer must keep in mind are the cost and the efficiency of lighting. On the other hand ,it is lighting which makes design come alive and it should be exploited accordingly. It can create a warm, inviting and dramatic interior, or result in a cold and monotonous office.

- One effective use of the standard bulb is as a wall wash , which tends to imbue the whole space with incandescence and makes the room warm and friendly.
- Incandescent downlights , halogens included, can complement fluorescent and can be used to highlight specific objects, such as desks, plants, paintings, objects, etc.
- To reduce eye strain and fatigue,high contrasts should be avoided. Use of job oriented, task lights can be practical, if complemented by general lighting.
- Suspended or pendant lights can serve a dual function in this regard, and while providing overall illumination, can be lowered to concentrate on a given space.
- A system of selective switching and operational control area wise, or where possible even desk wise, can help restrict usage and operating costs of lighting to only as and when required.

FLOORING : Office flooring is subjected to more wear and tear than any other surface in the room, and it is therefore imperative that it be hardy and resilient.

- Flooring materials vary greatly. hard flooring, such as stone, granite, marble, kota, etc. Wood, cement, terrazzo, ceramic tiles, are usually noisier
- Soft coverings such as vinyl or carpeting, but they are hardier.
- Choice of flooring material will depend on the function of a given area and its requirements where durability, appearance, cost and maintenance are concerned.
- Flooring can be used as a design tool not only in an obvious choice of material and color, but to demarcate departments, private/public areas and circulation paths, by a selective use of different hues and surfaces.

STORAGE : While providing enough storage the emphasis today should be on eliminating unnecessary garbage.

- The basic storage units such as the cupboards, filing cabinets, drawer unit, open shelf, are still as useful as ever, whether they are free standing or built into walls, or used in lieu of the partitions to save space.
- In addition we have certain new innovations such as filing shelves which move on tracks, and which completely fill a given space.
- Furniture too can be designed to save space, using the space above and below work tops..

PANTRY: For offices that can afford the space , a clean well designed and pleasant looking cafeteria or canteen will help employees relax.

- Pantries should be designed to incorporate all the essentials, such as a hot plate or gas burner with cylinder space below and a sink, a stainless sink is hardy and easy to clean.
- A storage cupboard , shelves or hooks can hold the cups and saucers, plates ,cutlery, tea, coffee, sugar, etc. A small compact refrigerator is useful for storing milk, cold drinks, preserving food items, etc.
- A good garbage storage system will help circumvent the inevitable mass of tea dregs , papers etc.
- Disposable plastic cups , plates , if economically viable can save on maintenance and cleaning.

ESSENTIAL SERVICES : coming to the toilets, which perhaps more than any other room , reveals the true class of a company, its attitude to cleanliness and the activity of its employees and visitors.

- Bathrooms don’t have to be exotic, but they do have to be adequate in number for the staff employed and they have to be clean.
- They should have tiled surface, preferably in light plain shades which are not overpowering and which cannot be scrubbed down easily.
- Separate toilets for men and women are statutory to a given number of employees . The traps , the Indian and the western WC with the urinals to accommodate all the users.
- If ventilation is less than ideal, an exhaust or ceiling fan may help, for there are few things as off-putting as a smelly toilet.
- Facilities for dispensing toilet paper,towel,hand dryer etc should be provided.

Thus, planning the ideal offices large and small, opulent and spartan, the professionals can help make the complicated thing, simple to understand and to work out.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A PLOT

Vaastu, is like the astrology , is a vast science and its not possible for a normal human being to understand it fully ,but one should always consider some basic rules of Vaastu. If you are looking for a plot , keep these things in mind. All the four directions , hills , water bodies , cremation places , highways etc , they all influence the Vaastu of the place in one way or other.

There are some important factors that you should always consider while looking for a plot. Whenever possible one should always try to follow the Vaastu principles as violation of these principles does destroy the happiness of one’s life.

You should never purchase the land from the following persons as the atmosphere of the particular space depends on the people living there.

• · From people suffering from sickness, lunatics.
• · From people who have become insolvent.
• · Land donated to any religious place.
• · Land without any deed.
• · From people who have left the country.
• · The place where magicians used to live.
• · Land containing ant-hills, bones , skeletons.
• · Houses sold by distressed, unfortunate people.
• Considering the color, smell, taste and texture of the soil, it is categorized into following:
• · The soil white in color , having lotus smell and sweet taste and that contain greenery is good for the learned people and teachers.
• · The soil red in color , smelling blood and astringent in taste is good for Warrior class.
• · The soil yellow/pale green in color , grainish smell and sour taste is good for the Business class people. The soil black in color , having pungent small and bitter taste is good for the lower or backward working class.

STUDENTS : TIPS FOR ATTAINING A BETTER RESULT

This is an academic week as now coming the TEACHER’S DAY……. So why not to give some tips to the students who are very bright but are not able to explore themselves fully .Many a times students complain that they are not able to concentrate , learn or retain what they have read .The remedy to these problems was formulated by our ancestors in the form of the directional science of Vaastu Shastra .For students eager to do well , here are a few techniques , following which the students can achieve success in their studies and obviously bring about a positive changes in grade and will come off with flying colors.

• · The room to be chosen for study should be in the east ,North or the North-East direction of the house. These directions improve the absorption power and increase the knowledge content. Along with that if the door of the room is also in either of these directions , the result turns out to be the best.
• · The study room should have images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswati.
• · The books in the study chamber should be kept in the South-West , South or West direction and not in the North – East .In addition to that if the north – east direction bears heavy weight it shall pressurize the students’ mind.
• · Furthermore , if the student studies on the table and chair , the table should not stick to the wall .It should be at least 3 feet away from it . Along with that unnecessary books should not be piled up on the table . Only the books which are needed should be kept on the table. Load of books on the table create unnecessary mental pressure on the mind .The study books should be placed in the cupboard in the cabinet rather than in the open .And if the shutter of the cupboard is kept shut , the flow of energy is constantly maintained.
• · If the learner makes use of the Table lamp then the lamp should be kept in the South-East corner of the desk. Plus if it is a square table then nothing like it. Further the size of the study table should not be too big nor too small. It should be just the size which is comfortable for the working of the student. A big sized table diminishes the working capacity , whereas the small table gives rise to depression.
• · Moreover , if possible , the walls of the study room should be light orange in color as it is very auspicious and enhances the wishing power as well as supports the speedy progress of mind.
• · Along with that , at the same time of study , the learner should use a pyramid cape as it proves to be extremely beneficial . Not only that it embellishes the remembering power and absorption.
• · The student should ensure that after studying when they go off to sleep , their head is in the South direction . It helps in maintaining the magnetic balance of the body and the earth.
• · And last but not the least , a pendulum watch is a must in each and every study room.

VAASTU WISDOM

Are you headed in the right direction?

If in doubt, better stop and check with the help of the Vaastu compass. This will save you from the chaos and hardships on the unpredictable road of life.

Vaastu Shastra, basically a science of directions, specifies the correct directions for everything — from eating to sleeping and from working to decorating the house.

According to Vaastu, each direction is governed by a ruling deity and a ruling planet that dictates the location of rooms and the placement of components within. If any element is not located or placed in the proper direction, it causes defects and compromises the suitability of the place.

What Vaastu does is to harness the energies of different directions for our prosperity. This makes it all the more important for all to have some knowledge about the attributes of the eight directions.

Let us take a look at the characteristics of each direction:

North: The north is governed by Kuber, the God of Wealth and Soma, the Lord of Health. It is ruled by Mercury, the planet influencing the mind and intelligence. Its element is water and colour black. Its attributes are : Associated with tranquillity, relaxation and sexual relationships. Good zone for spiritual studies and meditation. Enhances the healing properties of medicines. Source of female issues and should never be blocked. Ideal for master bedroom, bestowing contented marital relationship and stable sex life.

North- east: The north- east is governed by Eesh, the Lord of Energy and Knowledge. It is ruled by the planet Jupiter. Its element is earth and colour blue. Its attributes are: Associated with self- awareness and knowledge. Promotes divine contemplation. Bestows honour, respect and prestige in society to the occupants. Most favourable for keeping Gods idols and pictures.

East: The East is governed by Indra, the King of Gods. It is ruled by the Sun, the promoter of health and source of divine influence. Its element is wood and colour green. Its attributes are: Provides contentment, optimism and encouragement. Infuses positive energy in the dispirited and the depressed. Bestows long life and continuance of family lineage.

South- east: The South- east is governed by Agni, the Lord of Fire. It is ruled by the planet Venus. Its element is wood and colour purple. Its attributes are: Influences health, wealth and prosperity in all forms. Promotes creativity and natural abilities.

South: The South is governed by Yama, the God of Death. It is ruled by the planet Mars. Its element is fire and colour red. Its attributes are: Most auspicious for wealth, success, happiness and peace. Provides strong energy for business and other commercial ventures. Helps re- ignite passion and promotes enjoyment of carnal pleasures.

South- west: The South- west is governed by Niriti, the Lord of Demons and the Goddess of Destruction. This direction is ruled by Rahu. Its element is earth and colour pink. Its attributes are: Bestows tranquillity and purity. Provides character and longevity.

West: The west is governed by Varuna, the God of Water and Rain, and Upholder of the Universal Law. This direction is ruled the planet Saturn. Its element is metal and colour white. Its attributes are: Associated with success, glory, fame and fortune. Promotes love amongst family members and ensures their overall prosperity. Children do not face childhood difficulties. Most suitable for locating the dining room

North- west: The North- west is governed by Vayu, the God of Wind. This direction is ruled by the planet Moon. Its element is metal and colour grey. Its attributes are: Promotes sense of responsibility and ability to plan, organise and lead. Benefits employees seeking promotion and enhances social life.

RESIDENTIAL

Every Vaastu has got it’s own ‘Samrudhi Index' and it can be increased by redesigning using Vastu norms. Samrudhi Index not only decides how much wealth an occupant will get but also decides his health & relations.

According to my study every vastu have certain Samrudhi Index & this can be improved. Every vastu have certain capacity to attract money from market & with hold it. It is like a brick which can absorb certain amount of water when it is put into water. While a spongue of same daimensions will absorb more water. This is " absorption capacity " of particular material. This capacity depends on the " micro structure " of that material. Simillarly the " Samrudhi Index " for different houses/vastues is different. This depends on following items. Please note that asthetically beautiful house may not have good samrudhi index while a simple house may have better Samrudhi Index.

The maximum Samrudhi Index is 100 % but practically it is not possible. Even if you could change your vastu's Samrudhi Index from 40 % to 70 % your life will be more comfertable- wealth,health & relationwise.

• Entrance door position and direction.

This have 30 % marks in total 100 % . Still this is not the only factor which decides Samrudhi Index. Most of the people think " entrance " as only factor deciding wealth/ health. This is not true. As per vastu if you have entrance in East or North then it is good, but they forget that any direction have three subparts in it. This is like East is comprising of ENE Eastern North-east, East & ESE Eastern South-east. The assumption that all these three parts are good for entrance is WRONG. This is the reason why few " East Facing " houses do have PROBLEMS! You certainly need a consultant to decide this.

• Vastu’s angle of inclination w.r.t. magnetic north.

This is yet another important factor contributing to " Samrudhi Index ". This have 10 % marks in total 100 %.As per vastu your house MUST be in cardinal directions. The earth's magnetic field is making it's effect on you. Our body contains " iron " which is important parameter in total blood flow system of our body. The earth is a MAGNET & our body also acts as MAGNET giving their effect on health of occupant. Unfortunately the houses/ buildings are allined with respect to roads instead of " Magnetic Axis ". If inclination is too high then it leads to " MAHA_DOSHA " ( Unrectifiable Error ) which no vastu consultant can rectify. I have seen houses where people face certain health problems which no Allopathic Doctor can identify & rectify !

• Internal layout of Vastu and use.

This is the third important factor which have 10 % marks in total 100 %. We may not change the entrance of our office or house but still we can use our vastu in different ways internally. In short if it is a office, we can change the Managing Director's cabin or Account Department, Canteen etc as we wish. This changes done as per vastu norms helps for better success. The changes must be done as per " aspirations" of that direction. For this you must know the importance of directions as per Indian Vastu Science or as per Feng-Shui. Try to understand " PAKUA " or " MAGIC SQUARE " and " VASTU PURUSHA MANDALAS ". All are same !!!

• Staircase location.

This is the forth important point which contributes to Samrudhi Index. This have 8 % marks in total 100 %. For any vastu there is one " area centre " & one " gravity centre" where the weight of vastu acts. These centres may not be acting at same point. Rather we should try to shift Centre Of Gravity to SW South-west direction. The staircase is important because of weight shifting & entry at upper level. It should never be in the centre of house as it is " BRAMHA STHAN " as per Indian vastu science or known as " GOOD LUCK CENTRE " as per Feng-Shui. On top of staircase normally a over head water tank is designed , so be careful about location.!

• Window / Door openings - locations and their areas.

According to me,this have 7 % marks in total 100 %. This is because of gravity/weight effects and due to importance of particular direction as per vastu or Feng-Shui. The bigger size windows/openings in North or East direction allow good " chi energy " or " prana shakti " to enter in house/vastu. As per Indian Vastu Science North brings "prosperity" while East brings " progress & health ".Check door/windows at your place & rectify them to get abundance of health & wealth!!

• Positions of ducts -sizes & areas.

This point cotributes 7 % marks in " Samrudhi Index".According to vastu & Feng-Shui the house should be " square " in shape or should be " rectangular". You know that this is not possible because we require a duct for toilet/sanitation pipes etc.These ducts CUT vastu in particular direction & effectivly makes owner to loose aspiration related to it.There are ways to rectify these effects. So be practical & do not worry.Still never locate your toilets to North-east or South-east. Check at your place,if yes then remove & experience the magic of vastu.

• Balcony projection- size, area & location

As per vastu bacony should be in North and/or East direction.This allows good " Jaivik Urja" to enter into your house.The benifits of this are beyond imagination. I think it contributes 7 % to total 100 % of " Samrudhi Index ".

• Dead wall (between two apartments) position.

As per vastu no wall should be dead. The opening/window is MUST for each wall,but in modern apartment buildings we have this situation. This certainly reduces the " Samrudhi Index " of vastu if it is at North or East direction of your house. There are solutions to this problem. This contributes 7 % in otal 100 %. Check dead walls of your appartment & consult vastu practioner for remedy.

• Elevation / Height difference to rooms (particularly for duplex and bungalow).

Here again you must check where the centre of gravity of house is shifting with respect to it's arial centre. The double height of living room will be advisable if it is in North-east zone & more number of stories of building on South-west side. In short structure must be heavier on south and/or west side. This have 7 % contribution in Samrudhi Index.

• Terrace location. Size etc.

As per vastu terrace should be in North and/or East direction.This allows good " Jaivik Urja" to enter into your house.The benifits of this are beyond imagination. I think it contributes 7 % to total 100 % of " Samrudhi Index ".

HOW TO CHOOSE A PLOT

One should be very careful before taking any decision. Some basic points I have already told , now the main things that one should consider are (1) Orientation of plot (2) Four side angles of the plot in respect to orientation. The length of the plot should be more in North-South direction as compared to East-West direction.

· If all the corner angles of plot are 90 degrees,it is a good plot.

· A plot with all corners 90 degrees having two sides road front and back is a good plot.

· A plot with four corners having 90 degrees angles with three sides of four sides road is a very good plot.

· If the house is projected in any of the either directions , then one should always consider the following rules. The North/East projection is good and is recommended.

· The South/East , South/West and North/West projections are not the good sites and are not recommended according to vastu but if one has already has this kind of plot , it can be corrected.

· If you are seeing the plot which is cut on either direction , then it is not recommended.

· Now if the plot angles are not at 90 degree , be sure about it whether it is ‘shermukha plot’ or ‘gau plot’. The shermukha plot is one which has a broader entrance and it becomes narrower as we go in. It is NOT at all recommended for the residence.

· The gau mukha plot is one which is narrower at the entrance and becomes broader as we go in. It is very auspicious.

Usually people believe that South facing plot is not good ,this and that these are all myths ,it entirely depends upon the full orientation ,. The entrance of the house depends on the zodiac sign of the owner. It is as follows.

1.	Kark (Cancer) Virchak (Scorpio) Meen (Pisces)	EAST facing plot
2.	Mithun (Gemini) Kanya ( Virgo) Makar(Capricorn)	SOUTH facing plot
3.	Rishab ( Taurus) Tula (Libra) Kumbh(Aquarius)	WEST facing plot
4.	Mesh(Aries) Singh (Leo) Dhanu(Saggitarius)	NORTH facing plot

The Plot Holds the Key to Prosperity

The house where we live gives us both peace and prosperity. It energizes our body, soul, and mind and makes the inhabitants of the house feel happy by maintaining good harmony among the family members. But if the selection of the plot or the house goes wrong, life could be pretty miserable.

In a recent case, a lady was offered a plot in the high- end city of Gurgaon, Haryana for an astronomical amount. She asked me to check the plot for her. The moment I reached the location, I rejected it. It took me no time to reject this plot. What was wrong with the plot? Well, it had one of the gravest flaws a plot can ever have, as far as Vaastu is concerned. It was located between two big plots, whose front areas were more than this plot. A small house sandwiched between two big ones on either side is very bad because the occupants remain under mental pressure exerted by the big houses. This results not only in a suffocating existence, but financial problems and losses too. Selection of the plot also carries a lot of significance. This is the first and the most important point that should be kept in mind. There are so many points that one should take care of while selecting a plot or a constructed house. A few points to be kept in mind while selecting a plot:

Orientation: East or north- facing plots are considered the best. An east- facing plot receives the benefit of the morning sun, while a north- facing plot receives the blessings of Kuber and Soma, ensuring both wealth and health. However, there are distinct benefits of other directions too.

Cardinal directions: A plot should align with the exact cardinal directions — north, south, east or west. Avoid plots that are not exactly aligned.

Shape: Square and rectangle are the most ideal shapes. If constructing on any other shapes, keep the shape of the building square or rectangular. Only circular plot should have a circular building.

Angles: Plot with all corners at right angles is most auspicious. If the plot does not conform to this, ensure the angle on the north- east corner is not more than 90 degrees.

Frontage: Plot with wide frontage and narrow rear, called Singh Mukhakar, is good for commercial purposes, but not for residence. Its reverse, Gau Mukhakar, is ideal for residence, but not for commercial purposes.

The slope of the land: A plot should be elevated towards the south- west and depressed towards the north- east. Reject the plot if the situation is reverse. Although some minor Vaastu defects can be rectified even without demolition of the building or the house but it is always better to opt for an ideal plot, since a plot is the key to ones prosperity!

Pyramid yantra for vaastu remedies

The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt still fascinates people. Although posing as a tomb, it seems to have a greater purpose. Otherwise, why would the Egyptians build their tombs in the shape of a pyramid and not in any other shape? Research has shown that pyramid- shaped structures possess certain powers that influence persons and objects placed under it. Pyramids are seen to heal and improve the general state of health, help in mental relaxation and even keep milk and grocery fresh! The powers possessed by pyramids have been used in Vaastu remedies for long. Since, in the present- day scenario, it is practically impossible to ensure Vaastu in readymade apartments, flats and even designer houses, pyramid yantras come in handy. Furthermore, their use help prevent expensive demolitions and renovations — the common remedies for Vaastu defects. The pyramid yantra works on the premise of mind over matter, that is, it rectifies the negativity of the structure at the mental level and obviates the need to do anything at the physical level.

Let us see how the pyramid yantra helps in overcoming Vaastu defects:

Plot shape: According to Vaastu Shastra, the Vaastu- compliant shapes are square, rectangular, circular (provided the building constructed on it is also circular), hexagonal, quadrangular and octagonal. The plot shapes that should be avoided are triangular, dholak or mridang shaped, wheel- shaped, cartshaped, fan- shaped, winnow- shaped, bow- shaped, elliptical and irregular shaped. In case you are stuck with any of these defective plots, you can make use of the pyramid yantras . Place nine yantras on each corner of the plot to form a square or rectangle. The combined power of these will help confine the prana energy within the four walls of the plot and ease their circulation over the plot. Plot direction: According to Vaastu Shastra, the alignment of any plot should be exactly along any of the cardinal directions. A plot not orientated to the cardinal directions should be avoided. In case you already possess a defective plot, pyramid yantra can help remedy the defect. Plot slope: According to Vaastu Shastra, the south- west corner of a plot should always be higher than the north- east corner. So, a plot with slope towards the southwest constitutes a major flaw. To remove this defect, place four pyramid yantras in the north- east corner and five in the southwest corner of the plot. Centre of the house: According to Vaastu Shastra, the centre of the house is ruled by Brahma, the Creator, and is called the Brahmasthan. Although it does not belong to any direction, this central zone possesses the most powerful energy, which influences the physical, spiritual and emotional health of the occupants. Unfortunately, the modern- day architecture pays little importance to the sacred space and does not even cater for it. Ideally, place 25 yantras in the centre of the house that is built on 500 square yards and 49 for the one built on 1,000 square yards.

Entrance: The main entrance of the house is important, as this is the entry point of prana energy, which brings good fortune, prosperity and happiness into the house. So, the main entrance should always face the auspicious directions – east, west or north. In case it faces some other direction, make use of pyramid yantras . For the main gate on the compound wall, place a yantra about two feet from the pillar on either side of the gate. For the main door of the house, place the yantra in the centre of the door.

Bedrooms: Wrongly located bedrooms pose a serious problem for the occupants of the house. For example, a bedroom in northeast strains relationships and undermines health and the one in south- east lead to irritability and short tempers. Place one yantra outside the entrance door of the room and another opposite to the door on the far wall, inside the room. One yantra should be placed in the corner of the room, adjacent to the wall on which the door is installed.

Toilet: According to Vaastu Shastra, a toilet in the east causes illness and one in the north- east weakens the finances and general prosperity of the occupants. So, if your toilet is located in any of these directions, rectify it with pyramid yantra . Place six yantras, three each on either side of the toilet door, on the outside. The correct placing of the pyramid yantras is important, as wrong placement can prove ineffective at best or cause negativity within the household, at worst. It is advisable to engage a Vaastu expert for this.

Can Vaastu Improve Your Sex Life?

Sex remains a taboo subject despite the hype and hoopla of sexual revolution. Most people still talk in hushed tones about this subject. But sex is important. Whether you admit it or not, it is the foundation on which the institution of marriage rests.
Any problem in this area and the impact is felt in all aspects of married life. The factors that contribute to marital satisfaction, besides sex, are age at the time of marriage, physical attraction, compatibility of socioeconomic backgrounds, similar goals and interests, children, and so on. But why do some compatible married couples experience hiccups in their sex lives? The mystery lies more on the outside than in the mind. This is where Vaastu fits in. It is true that Vaastu Shastra does not have anything exclusive on enhancing ones sex life, but it does provide enough inputs to make your life rock in bed. All it requires is an expert who can interpret it in our context. The first and foremost consideration for a happy sexual life is making the environment conducive to total enjoyment. Vaastu can help you achieve that.

The Importance of Your Bedroom:
Your bedroom is as important as the person you sleep with! The location of your bedroom in the house does influence your sex life.

Let’s see how:

· A bedroom to the south or south- west provides stability in a marital relationship. A couple staying in this bedroom enjoys long- term physical attraction towards each other that generally translates into good physical relations. The occupants always remain in control of their lives – even their sex lives – in this room.

· South- east, the agni corner, is associated with heat and brings fiery passions to the fore. A couple generally desires instant sexual gratification in this bedroom. Little wonder, this direction assures an active life between the sheets! Be warned, though, that this direction can also make you short tempered, leading to frequent tiffs with your spouse. Don’t make it your permanent bedroom.

· A bedroom to the north is ideal for young couples. Sex in this direction is not only satisfying, but also most enjoyable. Care should be taken in arranging the bed in this room. The headboard of the bed should not point towards the north.

· A newly married couple can enjoy great sex in the north- west bedroom. This is because Vaayu, the God of Wind, who governs this direction, provides sexual energy for those steamy sessions. But this bedroom does not promote stay for longer periods.

· A bedroom to the West is most fertile and is a perfect prop for a satisfying love life. According to Vaastu Shastra, there is more probability of girls being born, than boys, in this direction. If your bedroom is not in any of these directions, don’t worry. There are remedies to make your existing bedroom your sex zone.

Make Your Bedroom Your Sex Zone.

The first step is to ensure your bedroom reflects your and your spouse’s personality and is aligned to the needs of both. For the prerequisite for good sex is to get into the mood, especially for women, it is important that the bedroom is arranged accordingly. It may surprise you to know that by following the principles of Vaastu you can make your bedroom your sex zone, irrespective of its location.

Here’s how:

· Make your bedroom exclusive for intimacy by getting items that remind you of work out of sight. For example, there should be no briefcases, files, aprons, dusters, and the like, visible in the room.
· Nature has a way to soothe and relax the mind, so bring it into your bedroom by placing fresh flowers on the north- east side of the room. The freshness and fragrance of flowers help in enhancing the feelings of love.
· Clutter in any form is akin to a jarring note in a carefully arranged piece of music. Because making music in bed is your aim, never allow clothes, shoes, papers, toiletry items, and so on to lie around in the room. Put them systematically in their respective places. A neat and clean look enhances romantic feelings.
· The head of the bed should ideally point towards the south, even though no one expects you to point your head towards the south during your play in bed! But ensure the door to the bedroom is clearly visible from your bed.
· Although a mirror is not recommended in the bedroom and should always be covered when not in use, it enhances pleasure while making love.
· If there’s a puja corner in your bedroom, partition it out, so that you can engage in sex without getting distracted by pious thoughts.

Why am I disturbed?

Living in a house which has its entrance facing the Northeast? That could be the reason for your financial problem, mental disturbance.

Q. The entrance to my house faces the northeast or east direction and the master bedroom is towards the southeast direction. I have of late been very disturbed mentally and have had some problems where finances and my career are concerned.
A. It is preferable to have the front door facing the northeast direction instead of the southeast. You can go for this house if the main gate is from east and there is a driveway in the northeast.

Q. I want to plant some sacred plants, bilva patra and peepal ( banyan) at home. Where should I put them?
A. One does not recommend planting a peepal near a residence. Bilva is ok. Other acceptable plants are jackfruit, plantain, pomegranate, grape, neem, lime, tulsi , and mango. If not on this list, then other plants are probably unacceptable. Trees with insects, worms, honeybees, owls and serpents, should be avoided. Sweet smelling flowering plants like jasmine, lotus etc, are considered good.

Q. Please recommend some simple ways to get rid of negative energies inside a house.
A. Bless the home and treat it like a dear friend. Anoint it with good scents and decorate it with flowers. Play sacred chants regularly on your music system.

Q. Is it considered good to put a kitchen sink in the southeast?
A. A sink is not that important but a burner location and cooking direction is. These should be in the southeast side with a person facing east while cooking. Don’t have the burner and sink on same platform.

Q. Can staircase be in an anticlockwise direction?
A. A staircase needs to circulate clockwise as it goes up.

Q. My house is southwest- facing. Please tell me what’s good about this house.
A. A house that faces southwest will have less coherence with the earth energy grid and the solar energy influences. This means less abundant energy feeding the occupants. It could also have an influence of too much heat on various levels, body, mind and heart. However, this is not necessarily the case all the time and the exact orientation must be analysed.

Q. Why are east- facing houses preferred over west facing houses? What are the effects of Vaastu on west facing houses?
A. All directions give different outputs.
East facing: Physical comfort, mental peace.
West facing: Material prosperity.
North facing: Money.
South facing: salvation and redemption.

Q. We have a nice bedroom with large windows and a balcony leading from it. We want to place a dressing table with a mirror in it. Which is the best direction for it?
A. Normally exposed mirrors are not good in the bedroom if you use a night lamp at night while you sleep. If the lamp isn’t used then the dressing table can be put on the north or east wall. It should at no cost be in front of the bed or facing the bed.

Introduction to Vaastu

Every living being in this world aspires for a place in which to live comfortably, enjoying all the luxuries and happiness of this world getting maximum benefits of heavenly boons. Every one is aspirant of having sound health, beautiful wife, healthy children, wealth, and means of earning through business, profession, and high reputation in society and over all mental and spiritual peace.
The sea animals and amphibians prepare a dwelling place on the sea shore, the birds build nests in the trees, the insects make a hive, and human beings are ambitious of making a house on the earth where all the liabilities towards this world and towards heaven can be fulfilled without any disturbance and trouble.
Therefore, aware of the need of a house and in order to avoid troubles, man wants to construct a house on such a ground where he can feel all sorts or happiness and can lead a peaceful life free of troubles and enemies, thereby deriving spiritual peace. With this aim in his mind, he sets out in search of the learned wise persons who can guide him in selection of a site (plot) of his choice, and in construction of the house. He wants to know the proper auspicious time, and principles (laws) of construction of the house.
Also he has in mind the colony or city, neighborhood, sources of water, natural environment, means of transport, etc. while selecting a plot for building a house, at the same time he thinks of his own interests and profits. The external features of the plot can only be known with the help of persons living around or nearby the flat. Only Shastra can judge the quality and nature of the land. Therefore the selection of a site and the plan of the building is materialized only after consultation and seeking advice of expert astrologer and Vaastu Specialist.
There are saying like Nadi Shotriyo Raja Devagyo Na Chikitasak Tatra Vaso Na Kartavaya A place where there is no river (Source of water - pond or well etc.), scholar, astrologer, ruler and medical expert, should not be selected for living thereon, it should be rejected. Dushta Bharya Shath Mitra Bhratiyaschottar Dayak;Sasarpe Ch Grahey Vaso Mirturev Na Sanshaya. If there is house in which lives an unfaithful wife, a foolish friend, an outspoken servant and a snake, the owner of such a house may die any moment.If such things are associated with the house constructed by some one, the life of the inmates becomes troublesome and unhappy, and there is always a fear of death.
Therefore everyone is curious to know as to what is Vaastu Shastra, and what principles and methods regarding construction of buildings have been given by the ancient saints and seers on the basis of their experience and commands in the divine scriptures. With the help of Vaastu Shastra and Shilpshastra, knowledge about the better and auspicious way of construction of a house, the positions and direction of gates, doors and rooms etc. in it, is gained so that a house may be built which will provide all round prosperity and happiness to the inmates.
Thus Vaastu Shastra provides some principles and rules on the guidelines of which suitable and comfortable buildings for residence, temples, etc. are built and towns, colonies are planned.

Origin of Vaastu

The origin of vaastu shastra may have taken place well over thousands of years ago. The learned men of those days may not have lived in houses themselves but they most definitely dedicated their lives to the development of the science "vaastu shastra" or "vaastu", as it is popularly known today.

The principles of the science laid down during those days were based purely on the effect of sun rays during different times of the day. The observations and corrections made were noted and concluded only after in depth screening of the situation.

Proofs of vaastu shastra can be found during the time of Ramayan and Mahabharat. Even in the cities of Mohanjodaro and Harappa the application of vaastu shastra can be seen.

Since the science goes far back to the times of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna there are many interesting mythological stories concering the origin of Vaastupurush (the deity).

One such story :
Lord Shiva had killed a devil named Andhak after a long war which had continued for years. A spirit originated out of the perspiration of Lord Shiva and consumed all the blood from the body of the devil. His hunger was still not satisfied. He then undertook penance. Lord Shiva was impressed and highly satisfied by his penance and offered him a boon. The spirit then went wild and started eating men and animals. This terrified even the Gods in heaven. 81 Gods including Lord Bramha laid the spirit face down and they then sat on different parts of its body. When the spirit asked for forgiveness Lord Brahma offered him a boon: "After building any structure, the people who offer you prayers and worship you as vaastu devta will be blessed with pleasures and prosperity. However only those people, who do not offer you prayers shall be at your mercy and you may trouble them in any way". There is a possibility that these stories were added in the olden scripts only to scare people and make them conscious about the subject. The science of vaastu shastra is however no mythological story and has stood the test of time for thousands of years.

Questions on Vaastu Shatra

Q:What is Vaastushastra?
The science which deals with the construction of houses, palaces, temples and town is called vaastu shastra. It reads the characteristic of houses and explains the effect of the same to the inmate of houses.

Q:Who one should refer to Vaastu?
The sciences like astrology, palmistry and numerology, if practised and climinated its bad effects, it may some how nullified its negative aspects but destiny can not be changed by referring the science called Occult.

Q:What is the ideal plot/house?
The ideal plot is the one whose length and breadth are same and ideally facing each side of plot to exact north direction, south direction, east direction and west direction, and the house constructed in this plot shall also be ideal, if utility rooms are constructed as per the norms of vaastu shastra.

Q:Why directions are important in Vaastu Shastra?
The Sun, as our ancestor revealed long back is the only source of light and heat for human and other living being, from where we are able to live and feel the presence and direction of object. Therefore, the Sun, rising Sun is like a god, who gives us our essentials to live in, and the direction from where it is apparent to the entire world is taken as reference as the EAST direction. So the East direction is considered to the pious direction from where we get our main essentials. If we face the rising sun, the facing direction is called East, behind us shall be West, our left hand denotes North direction and right hand denotes South direction, therefore, the effect of the direction leads to its result to the building / house constructed therein.

Q:What is the best direction of the house?
The house/building faces east or north direction, the same is called auspicious subject to the other factors also laid down as per Vaastu Shastra.

Q:What should be the proportion of length and breadth of house?
Ideally, the proportion between length and breadth should be 1:1.

Q:Does the size of rooms affects the fortune of the person who is living in?
Yes, the size of length, breadth or both effects the fortune of inmates.

Q:What are the main factors to be considered regarding the doors of the house?
As per the Vaastu Shastra, the number of doors and windows of a house should be even in numbers.

Q:Can facing of main door be decided?
Yes, the zodiac sign of the owner of the house, on whose name the deed of house is made can be taken as reference, and according to zodiac sign of the owner main door can be fixed. But since the houses are used generation after generation and in every generation the owner of house is changed the main door if fitted as per the location of plot and road abutting according to Vaastu Shastra then only it may be considered auspicious.

Q:What should be the depth of the foundation of the house?
As per Vaastu Shastra the foundation should be of 9 feet, but presently as because of sky rise multi-story building are coming up, day by day, the depth of foundation shall depend on the load bearing capacity of soil and the number of story, going to be constructed and the material to be used for construction

Vaastu Shastra

Vaastu Shastra deals with various aspects of designing and building living environments that are in harmony with the physical and metaphysical forces. Building practices based on limited interpretations of these principles are still sustained in parts of India.Though Vastu is conceptually similar to Feng Shui in that it also tries to harmonize the flow of energy (Also called life-force, and Prana in Sanskrit, similar to Chi in Chinese) through the house, it differs in the details, such as the exact directions in which various objects, rooms, materials etc are to be placed.