Vastu shastra facts for kids

Vastu shastra is an ancient Indian system for designing and building. It's like a "science of buildings" that helps people create homes and temples that feel good and bring positive energy. This system was mostly used to build Hindu buildings, especially temples, in ancient India.

What is Vastu Shastra?

Vastu shastra is a traditional guide for architects and builders. It helps them decide how to design buildings, choose their direction, and arrange rooms. The goal is to make sure the building works well with nature's energies. People believe that following Vastu principles can bring health, wealth, and happiness to those who live or work there.

Important Ideas in Vastu

People who believe in Vastu shastra think that the universe and everything in it is made of five main elements. These elements are very important when designing a building:

• Earth (Bhumi): This represents stability and strength.
• Water (Jal): This is about flow, purity, and healing.
• Air (Vayu): This relates to movement, growth, and fresh energy.
• Fire (Agni): This stands for light, warmth, and power.
• Space (Akasha): This is about openness, connection, and expansion.

Vastu shastra tries to balance these five elements within a building. For example, it suggests where to place windows for air, or where to have water features.

How Vastu is Used Today

Even though Vastu shastra is very old, people still use its ideas today. Modern architects sometimes use Vastu principles when designing new homes, offices, and public buildings. They adapt the ancient rules to fit modern building styles and needs. This shows how timeless and useful these ideas about space and energy can be.

Images for kids

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  Ancient India produced many Sanskrit manuals of architecture, called Vastu Sastra. Many of these are about Hindu temple layout (above), design and construction, along with chapters on design principles for houses, villages, towns. The architect and artists (Silpins) were given wide latitude to experiment and express their creativity.

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  Vastu directional chakara

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  Vastu Shastra-inspired plan adapted and evolved by modern architect Charles Correa in the design of Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, Rajasthan.

See also

In Spanish: Vastu shastra para niños