A study in comparison: Feng-Shui and Vastu Shastra
Vastu Shastra is the science of architecture or construction and is a traditional system of design as practiced by Hindus, based on the directional alignment. It is mostly applied in temples or at homes as home vastu. The Chinese Feng-Shui is often considered an alternative form of this system. The latter believes in amalgamating the laws of heaven and earth in order to improve one’s living by incorporating positive energy. Like the Vatu Shastra, it is used to align and orient buildings of spiritual importance- like tombs and other structures. These science forms are considered auspicious and are now spreading far and wide in way of practice. However, there are basic differences between these two practices.
Feng-Shui and its practice was a Chinese system of aesthetics which dates back to the ancient times. In those times, an auspicious site was determined by the reference of local features like naturally occurring water bodies, stars and also the compass. Suppressed only for a short period of time in the 1960’s during the Cultural Revolution in China, Feng-Shui has gained popularity and is widely practiced ever since. The first part of its name translates to wind and the second part to water. According to popular belief, the wind carries energy and the water retains it. The five elements used in Feng-Shui are earth, fire, wood, water and metal.
Home vastu purports to a harmonious life and seeks equilibrium. Its basic principle is based on the fact that the earth is in itself a living organism and the other living things are generated from it. His life energy that is proposed is known as the vastu purusha. Vastu Shastra works at attaining a state of equilibrium within a bounded area. This will be achieved only if there is a harmony between the outer and inner environment. The five elements that home vastu uses are Agni (fire), Akash (ether), Tej (light), Prithvi (earth) and Vayu (wind). Out of all planets, it is believed, our planet has life because of a balance of all these elements.
Both Feng-Shui and Vastu Shastra work on three principles. For home vastu, these principles are that of Bhogadyam (the premise must make itself available for easy application and must be useful), Sukha Darsham (the premise must be pleasing in an aesthetic sense) and Ramya (the premise should stir up a feeling of comfort and security in the user). In Feng-Shui, equal importance is given to time, space and action. Therefore, the three principles are ‘earth luck’(energies in the allotted space and time), ‘man luck’ (individual actions and free will) and ‘heaven luck’ (destiny and fate).
The Vastu Purusha Mandala needs to be mentioned specially with reference to home vastu. It constitutes the diagrammatic and mathematical basis for generation of any design. This plan of a building is metaphysical and incorporates the course taken by supernatural forces and the heavenly bodies.
To know more about Feng-Shui, contact us now. We will be happy to be of help. Information can also be gathered regarding home vastu and its auspiciousness.
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