Vaastu believes that there are essentially two types of forces which are equally and opposites in nature. The interaction of these two forces is cosmic ordained and produces a third type of force which is called 'bioforce' or 'prana' needed for life to exist.
One type of force is subtle and fine. The other is dark and dense. We can,for sake of understanding this subject, call the first one as 'positive'and the other as negative'.
'prana'is liberated by the interaction of these forces

Over the surface of the globe these forces continuously interact releasing bio-energy. When a structure is built over the surface of the earth it comes in the way of a natural interaction. Both the forces enter the structure where the interaction continues.
However, the intensity of forces that enter the structure need not be the same. Depending on various factors like levels, water bodies, door placement etc., either the positive or the negative can have stronger presence.

If the structure is so designed that the positive forces override the negative forces then there is a beneficial release of bio-energy which helps all the inmates to be healthy. Even after such reaction with the negative forces a positive cosmic surplus is always present in such a
structure which is the Supreme Being Himself. In such an atmosphere life is smooth and happy with every thing in life coming your way without any great struggle. It is a happy and healthy life for all the inhabitants.

If on the other hand the structure is built in such a manner that the negative forces override the positive then you have a weak bio-energy field which manifests as diseases in the occupants.The over bearing negative field makes your actions, efforts, thinking negative so that ultimately the whole life is ruined.

Architecture has five distinct branches according to ancient texts:

• Residential building of ordinary people.
• Gorgeous mansions of the nobles and princes-like the palace.
• Abodes of Gods - like the temples.
• Public buildings - like rest house, libraries, theatres etc.
• The common facilities - like swimming pools, tanks ponds, well etc.

(a) Architectural :The five fundamental pillars of stable edifice
of our science, which have already been dealt with, like :

• Shankustaapan - Doctrine of orientation
• Vastu Pad Vinyaas - Vastu Purush Mandal
• Hastalakshan - Proportional measurements
• Aayaadi-Sadvarga - The six cannons of Vedic Architecture,
• Pataakaadi-Sadschandas - Character of the building or Perspective view.

(b) Non-Architectural activities are tabulated under five heads:

• Vaastupuja   


• Balidaan,   


• Halakarshan,   


• Ankuraaroopan
  
• Shilaanyaas.
  

Though Vaastupuja and Balidaan are ritualistic in performance they are primarily concerned with philosophy of architecture in India where site is not just a bare earth but a transformed entity, the life divine. Itis an artifice in which the ground(Bhoomi)is converted into the extentof the manifested Universe. According to sage Narad Vaastupuja should be performed in the North-East portion of the building area on an auspicious day and muhurat.

Balidaan "With the offerings gods spirits and demons are prayedto leave. The gracious gesture releases their forces and sets the site free from all associations. The way too, steaded and purified. Emptied of its former contents, it retains its receptiveness and the power to incorporate new ones".

Halakarshan is the levelling of the site which has to be taken up next.Ancient texts suggest the use of oxen and plough in ploughing the selected site, as when the ground is tilled it is purified of the past and under auspicious stars new life is given to the soil and new cycle of production begins. Thus the rhythm of nature remains untampered.

Ankuraaroopan is the sowing of the seed, the final offering to the memory of those who have left the place and is also the first offering in the new ground where the germination of seed means the fulfilment of an undertaking.

Shilaanyaas has got technical as well as ritualistic aspects. It is the foundation stone laying ceremony with all the connected rituals. Stone which has already been consecrated during Vaastupuja in the North-East is laid in the South-West corner of the trenches dug for the foundation of the building.

The honouring and presenting the architect, engineer, carpenter, masons and labourers and others connected with the building is the sixth and the last of those ritualistic performances, as in their happiness and satisfaction lies the completion of an architectural undertakings they are engaged in.

SITE SELECTION

Vaastu gives high importance to the selection of the plot. If the topography of the plot is as per vaastu then there is a strong positive energy field on the plot. This is favoured as even if mistakes are committed in placements of the various utilities, a strong field compensates and saves the inhabitants from the ill effects. We shall briefly see the parameters preferred in Vaastu

Facing

Facing of the plots are not considered important. There is a wrong notion that North and East facing plots are better than South and West facing plots. This is not true.

One point however has to be borne in mind. In the case of North or East facing plots the half of plot that lies towards North or East is the sensitive portion. The rear half is dense. Thus the building can come up in the rear half allowing for a beautiful front garden. This increases the aesthetics as well.

This advantage will not be available if the plot faces an approach road on South or West. Here, as you can see, the sensitive half is in the rear and the dense portion capable of taking the load of the building is in the front. Necessarily the building has to come up in the first half facing the road. A owner of such a plot has to reconcile himself for a backyard and garden as he will have less space in the front. If this is acceptable by all means purchase a west or South facing plot.

The problem arises when an owner of a South or West facing plot uses the rear half for building and goes for a garden in the front. This will make the subtle energy areas in north and east to come under great strain thus affecting their strength adversely. The dense areas which are in the front are negatively strong and thus the whole structure is placed in a distorted field. Most of the ill effects ensue because of this problem. So before you purchase a plot decide the first question; would you like a garden and wide open space in the front or the rear?

VAASTU VIDHAANA

The Vaastu Vidhaana (VIII-26-32) of  Narad says that the Vaastu Purush Mandal is the magic diagram (yantra) and the form (roop) of the Vaastpurush. It is the body (sharir) and a bodily device (sharir yantra) by which those who have requisite knowledge attain the best results in the temple building.

In Purush, the celestial man, the supreme principle is seen. Beyond form nd non-contingent, it is beyond description. It is known by intellectual intuition as residing in man, the microcosm ans in Universe, the macrocosm. Man and Universe are equivalent in this, their indwelleing centre, of thild equivalence the Purush is an image. Any place where this body lies down,where this plan is laid out by those who know it, exemplifies the presence of the Purush and its Bhoomi (Prakriti), the ground on which it rests.

The image of  Vaastu Purush, one with mandal is drawn in the likeness of  man. His head lies in the North-East in the mandal of 64 squares,the legs in the South-West, right hand in North-West, left hand in South-East and other parts of the bodyfill the square. Forty Five Gods or dieties are constituent of the body of Vaastupurush, their number necessarily is the same in the mandal of 64, 81 or any other number. Only the extent alloted to each of the diety differs but not their relative position in the plan.

The lord of central square is always the Lord of cosmos:Brahma and is attributed to the lord of wealth (Kuber), South to the lord of death (Yam),the East to the lord of light (Sun), the West to the lord of winds (Varun), suggestting that there be a courtyard in the centr of the building.

When these are scrupulously followed proper ventillation and good disposition to Sun and privacy is ensured. The house is compared with the human body and the central courtyard with Brahma, the eternal soul and their relationship is invoked when the grihpravesh ceremony is performed with Vaastupuja and other traditional rituals.

This is the cosmological or metaphysical background on which the most fundamental doctrine of Vaastu-purush-mandal rests, and when Vaastu, Purush,and Mandal are brought together in a balanced manner the solution unquestionly relates to the place and the life style of the persons concerned ensuring certain minimum standards.

Western science is unwillingly to look at the physical and metaphysical are concurrently due to an intellectual conditioning that denigrates any kind of mixing up. In ancient India science, medicine, astrlogy, astronomy, mysticism, philosophy and spirituality lived in amiable juxta position,their boundaries overlapping and the enriching the other. Herein, infact lies its truth and freshness, a holistic sweep that allows us more than 2000 -3000 years later to draw on perspectives that are missing in occidental science. GEOPATHIC STRES

People in different parts of the world have recongnized the influence of the environment on the human being and had accepted the fact that environment and the mental and physical health of the human being was closely related.Once this factor gained recognition efforts were made to create proper environment for the people to enable them lead healthy and happy lives.

While this recognition gave birth to the science of vaastu in India,the same concept led to the birth of Fengshui in China.In the western world the recognition led to the understanding and development of the science of geopathy.

Geo means 'earth' and pathy means 'disease'.The science odf geopathy is therefore the study of the diseases of the earth.One interesting aspect of geopathy was that equal importance was given to both the structure and the radiations underneath the earth which are invisible.

Geopathy recognises that electromagnetic radiations which are cosmic in origin surrounds the globe. The geopathic scientists were of the view that radiation distortions was a natural phenomenon which could make a site unsafe for building any thing over it.These distortions would result in a distorted energy field in a structure if the structure was near or over the distorted point.Geopathists put forth the theory that this could result in unhappy homes,sickness and lack of prosperity.

There are several factors which can contribute to geopathic stress.One is the underground streams which suddenly change course or meet with falls even if they are at great depths from the surface.Dr.Curry of Germany discovered electrically charged lines of natural origin flowing on northeast-southwest and southeast-northwest lines at approximately three meters apart forming a grid which is now known as 'Curry grid'. Dr.Ernst Hartmann,another German scientist discovered charged lines crisscrossing on east-west and north-south directions and where two lines met they formed eother a double positive or double negative junctions.Painstaking studies established that sleeping over these crossed junctions can cause organic diseases including cancer.

Geopathy has made tremendous strides in the past few decades and today geopathic experts are routinely called to analyse 'sick building syndromes'when the effect is not due to adequate ventilation.Modern geopathy recognises several factors which could make a building 'sick'.I want to mention a few of them just to show that vaastu although evolved in a different part of the globe has much in common with geopathy.

DAMPNESS An area which is consistently damp or smells of dampness without any apparent cause is an area of 'negative energy'according to geopathy.Vaastu also holds that one should not build a structure where there is dampness all the time.

DRESSED STONES Geopathists stress that dressed stone strructures are harmful and are unfit for human habitation.Particularly dressed stone buildings as dwellings are not recommended.Dressed stones were used commonly in India in Temple architecture.It is recommended in Vaastu that one should not build his dwelling near a temple.Probably the recognition that dressed stones emit negative energy could be behind this rule.

ANTHILLS Vaastu advocates rejection of plots with anthills.Geopathy also concedes with this observation.Any place where ants build a home has negative grid points and are not advisable.As per geopathy certain measures are to be taken to overcome the negative energy before considering a structure on the plot.Here again we see that the opinion of both schools are complimentary.

BEEHIVES Again Vaastu rejects plots having trees where bee hives exist.Similarly according to vaastu in a existing structure if bees try to form a hive it is considered as ill omen.Geopathy also states that bees favor negative energy field for building a hive and corrective measures to eliminate the negative fields are to be adopted if bees are spotted frequently or if they start working on a hive.

The above examples show that the ancient Indians were well aware of the negative energy fields which exist on plot and gave guide lines to recognise and avoid the effects of such fields.