Vastu shastra
Vastu means material. And Shastra means science. Thus Vastu or Vaastu Shastra means science and engineering pertaining to dwelling housess and town planning. And Vastu Shastra is part of Indian Astrological science of Jyotish Shastra. So it deals with the science of synchronising cosmic forces into our living places. This author proved that Vastu Shastra originated in Indus Valley. (The following texts are extracts from Chapter 14, Vastu Sastra in author’s BOOK: “A Tribute to the Ancient World of India”)
Vastu Sastra aligns physical science and the influence of cosmic energies on individuals. Vastu Shastra enhances the material prosperity of inhabitants while also aligning cosmic energies to be favorable and harmonious for humans.
Vaastu Sashtra outlines specific guidelines to adhere to during the construction of a structure. Numerous regulations are established for planning and construction, ranging from foundation depth to room dimensions and their arrangement based on function, etc. For instance, the central hall or room in a house is referred to as Garbha and is associated with Brahma.
In the same way, the northern direction is referred to as Dhana Sthan, where it is believed that Lord Kubera resides. The western direction is assigned to Varuna (the water deity), the eastern direction to Indra (the ruler of Devas), and the northeast direction to Esana (Lord Shiva). Therefore, it is recommended that fresh drinking water be sourced from the northeast direction, as Shiva resides there and brought the Ganga waters from the heavens.
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The South East direction is associated with Agni (the fire god), hence it is recommended that the Kitchen be oriented towards the South East as Agni resides in this area. The Nirruta deity is associated with the South West direction, while the North West direction is linked to Vayu, the god of wind. Let us investigate whether there is a relationship between Vastu Sastra and the geography and history of the ancient Indus Valley culture and civilization. The subsequent sloka is utilized in a ceremony known as ‘aMkuraarOpaNa’. This ceremony is performed to call upon five deities (paMca- pAlikas) during the seed planting for germination at the foundational rites prior to building a home.
मध्यॆ चतुर्मुखं विन्द्यात्पूर्वॆ तु इन्द्रमॆवच
दक्षिणॆच यमं विन्द्यात्पश्चिमॆ वरुणं तथा
उत्तरॆ धनदं विन्द्यात्पालिका स्थापनं क्रमात
madhyE caturmuKaM vindyAtpUrvE tu indramEvaca
dakShiNEca yamaM vindyAtpaScimE varuNaM tathA
uttarE dhanadaM vindyAtpAlikA sthApanaM kramAt
hymn we learn that Chaturmukha Brahma is at the Center of the Ritual Vedi (altar) and there is Vindhya at the Center. And this central place is surrounded by four directions and ruled by four gods respectively.
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North East (Esana):
According to the following sloka, one who intends to construct a house has to prepare some sacred grains along with a copper plate with the following sloka inscribed on it. Then the plate should be planted in North East (Esana) corner of the house. This would fix and treat North East corner of a house against evil forces.
This mantra is called as eeSaanya diSa digbhaMdana mahaa maMtra,
ड्ज़ल्र श्ज़ शपश्ल
गृहस्त्यैशान्यां दिशि गर्तं खात्वा मूलिकादि संहितं यंत्रं निक्षिप्य पंचॊपचारैस्संपूज्य अभिमंत्रयॆत.
gRuhastyaiSaanyaaM diSi gartaM khaatvaa mUlikaadi saMhitaM yaMtraM nikShipya paMchOpachaaraissaMpUjya abhimaMtrayEt.
ऒं नमॊ भववतॆ अघॊर वीरबडबानल सर्वतॊमुख शरभ साळ्वॆस्वराय अष्टकॊटि त्रिशूल हस्ताय स्पटिक वर्णाय वृषभ वाहनारूढाय ईशानाय ऒं खॆं खॆं खं खं खां फं रं रं घॆं घॆं घं घ्र्सौ ऒं शं आमुकगॊत्रॊत्पन्नस्यामुकनाम्नः गृहस्तैशान्य दिशं भंधय भंधय
OM namO bhavavatE aghOra veerabaDabaanala sarvatOmukha Sarabha saaLvEswaraaya aShTakOTi triSUla hastaaya spaTika varNaaya vRuShabha vaahanaarUDhaaya ISaanaaya OM khEM khEM khaM khaM khaaM phaM raM raM ghEM ghEM ghaM ghrsou OM SaM aamukagOtrOtpannasyaamukanaamnaH gRuhastaiSaanya diSaM bhaMdhaya bhaMdhaya
According to above mantras, God of North East direction is called as Eesana and He holds a Trident in his hands (Trisula Hastaya ), He is white crystal colored (Spatika Varnaya ) and He has a Bull as his mount (Vrushabha vahanarudhaaya ). These descriptions of the God of Esana invariably hold good for Lord Siva. So that Eesana direction is allotted to Lord Siva. And let us also look at the following sloka from Rig Veda,
कृतॊद्वाहं तु दॆवॆशं गच्छंतं समरुद्गणम
दर्षयामास दुर्मॆधा हुंकृतश्च महात्मना
kRutOdvaahaM tu dEvESaM gacCaMtaM samarudgaNam
darShayaamaasa durmEdhaa huMkRutaSca mahaatmanaa
Meaning: “After decimating Cupid God Manmadha, Lord Siva sped away towards North East along with his Maruta ganas.”
By looking at the map at Picture 14.3 we can see that Harappa then Siwalik hills and thence Kashmir is in the North East direction of Ganweriwala. Kashmir is a noted abode of Siva since ages. And the famed Gandhamadana mountain (abode of Siva) is located here in Kashmir only. From the above observations we can easily understand that Ganweriwala is the point from where Siva begun his journey to North East where mount Gandhamadana is situated. And hence Ganweriwala was the Center of Universe of ancient Indians.
By the way, let us also observe that Devi Parvati is alluded to be daughter of King of Hills (Shaila Raja Putri). Before Siva sped to Gandamadana usually Devis are worshipped as Goddesses of Water bodies (Saraswati) and Prasavitri, Goddess of Prasava (Savitri/Savita). But after Siva made Gandamadana Parvata as his abode he started worshipping Devi placed in that Hill. That is why She is called as Parvati (Goddess of Hills).