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Kitchen
The kitchen should be located in the South-Eastern corner of a building after leaving more open space towards the East. The scientific reason for this is that the morning sun, rising from the east moves in an arc towards the South due to the rotation of the earth and is in a position of vantage to pump Ultra -Violet rays into the South -Eastern aspects of the earth. The Ultra Violet rays are capable of cleaning the foodstuff kept in the kitchen, more particularly because of the elements present in the Southern & Western side of walls. The Ultra-Vioiet rays also provide Vitamins E & D, which are very good for the bones. Similarly, the foodstuff also gets additional strength to reinforce the calcium contents in the human system.
Master Bedroom
It is recommended that the master bedroom, other bedrooms and also the dining hall are located towards the South -Western side of the house to achieve cooling in summer and warmth during winters, because of the reason explained above for leaving more open space towards the North -East & less open space towards the West.
The hot breeze generated by solar energy in less open space between the compound and main wall in the southern and western zone becomes hot air, because lighter air goes up and cool air from the North east zones occupies the area. This process of replacing the hot air with cool air is known as the ‘Joule Thompson Effect’ (JOTE).
In this process, the hottest air tends to become cooler due to compression of air molecules pressurized by small horizontal openings. This pressure, inducted by small openings coupled with the earth’s rotational force automatically pushes the cool air into the openings (windows / doors) in different directions of the house, resulting in the South -West zone getting purified air i.e. the bedrooms, dining room and kitchen.
Similarly, in planning and developing the new city it is advisable that utmost care be exercised while placing high rise structures, large, heavy industrial hubs, mushrooming R.C.C. structures and big Hydro Electric Projects. Any haphazard positioning and crowding of these buildings in a city would definitely attract the formation of heat islands. In this context, the weather conditions on the earth are mainly controlled by the tilt of the earth. A tilt of a few more degrees would adversely affect the weather conditions on the earth. Assuming all scientific probabilities and in view of the fact that the angle of inclination of the arch which is now stabilized at 23½ has the tendency to change slowly varying between the minimum 200 and the maximum 24.50 within a period of about 40000 years. Therefore, the average tilt works out to be 23.25 degrees, which, most probably, is the best tilt to maintain good weather conditions for all living creatures on this planet.
It is therefore, suggested that less weight be put in the North -East direction of the earth to facilitate a healthy living environment. Due to these facts, Vastu Shastra insists on following these principles. Such examples are also available in Vastu Shastra which suggest that water bodies like water storage tanks, wells, tube wells, pumps, ponds etc. should be placed in the North / North -Eastern zones of the site.
The reasons for this being, the Earth rotates at a speed of around 465 miles with the curved surface leaning towards the sun at 23½ degrees and the major mass of the earth distributed in the Northern part of the globe. In order to achieve stability, it is essential to locate all heavy construction towards the South -Western zone and counterweigh it in the North -Eastern zone to maintain the equilibrium on the rotating surface. This equilibrium is achieved by construction of water tanks, wells, pumps, etc in the North -Eastern direction.
During the Vedic period the sages who thoroughly understood the science of Vastu Shastra, put this science into practice by identifying the correct and safe locations for the various famous structures in the shape of temples, hermitages, places of worship and monasteries, particularly those built in the Himalayan regions. These structures were planned within the energy grids and therefore, even after thousands years, are protected from destruction from earthquakes and other natural calamities.
The prosperity and survival of the buildings constructed in the earlier age gives a variety of results. However, this does not mean that all ancient buildings were as per Vastu principles.
It also doesn’t mean that the ancient buildings built on the principles of Vastu did well in the past and are still good for habitat. Many ancient buildings are lying unused and in a state of decay for no specific reason. People living in old buildings sometimes feel that they are not deriving proper results proportionate to their inputs and efforts. In the Bhagwat Updesh, Lord Krishna advises:
“Do your duties sincerely, use all your five senses properly, and leave the fruit’s to me.”
However, in the present times, people lack patience and expect good results immediately, irrespective of the inputs and efforts put in. Very often, we find that there are technical errors in orientation, layout, planning, adherence to climatological norms, construction techniques. selection of building material, lighting and colour, interior decor and layout, orientation of rooms, etc.
Such ignorance of Architec- tural Planning can be rectified and remedial measures put in place so that one can feel good and comfortable. Practical factors can be incorporated within the same premises by application of the relevant Vastu principles.
 Prof. B.B. Puri
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