Directions are of utmost importance in vastu. Each direction is governed by a specific planet and lord. The construction of each aspect should be done according to the direction and rule for that purpose. If anything is constructed violating the rule regarding direction, the natives are bound to suffer.

Vastu shastra is a behavioural science based on the energies of the directions. In vastu shastra the vastu of any piece of land or a house is calculated according to four main directions, i.e. North, South, East, West and four sub directions namely :

• Northeast (Ishan)
• Southeast (Agneya)
• Southwest (Nairritya)
• Northwest (Vayavya)

All the angular directions have the combined influence of both the directions. For this reason each direction in vastu has a special significance. Each direction carries the combined influence of planets, gods, energies of the universe and the effect of various types of rays. For these reasons, even thousands of years back our rishis felt the need to keep the directions flawless so that man could get peace, happiness, good health and prosperity.

Determination of Directions

The compass is placed at the centre of the plot. There is a magnetic needle in the compass. One end of this needle is red coloured, this represents the North direction. The other end of the needle is black in colour and this represents South direction. The compass is taken to the centre of the plot and either placed on even ground or on the palm of the hand steadily for one minute. The red part of the needle will always point towards the North. The right side of the red portion will be the East and the left portion will be the West. The black side will be the South. The sub directions can also be read on the compass easily in between the main directions.

East

Magnetic compass denotes the area from 67½° to 112½° as east direction. The lord of this direction is Sun and the deity is Indra. Sun rises in the East. Therefore this direction has been given first place. This direction represents good health, intellect, wealth, destiny, happiness and prosperity. It is essential to keep this direction free from any fault otherwise we won't get the blessings of deceased forefathers (pitrigana). The health of head of family won't remain good and he won't live long. In addition to this it might result in the loss of progeny also.

Directions

West

Magnetic compass denotes the area from 247½° to 292½° as the West direction. Planet Saturn is the lord of this direction and deity is Varun. This direction brings success, fame, prosperity and bright future. The fault in this direction proves inauspicious for the stability of mind, the mind remains tense and one doesn't get complete success in accomplishing the tasks.

North

Magnetic compass denotes the area from 337½° to 22½° as the north direction. The planet Mercury is its lord and deity is Kuber. This direction gives all sorts of happiness. This direction signifies intellect, knowledge, contemplation, meditation and studies. It also denotes the feeling of motherhood. If the house is constructed leaving open space towards North direction, then it gives happiness from the mother and gives achievement of all kinds of material comforts and prosperity. If there is high wall in this direction then it results in ailments related to chest, lungs and heart.

South

Magnetic compass denotes the area from 157½° to 202½° as the South direction. Mars is the lord and deity is Yam. This direction signifies success, glory, post, reputation, courage and patience. This direction also represents the left side of the chest and the spine. Keeping this direction high and heavy is beneficial. Source of water and mirror in the South is disease producing.

South-East

Magnetic compass denotes the area from 112½° to 157½° as South- east direction. Venus is the lord and Agni is the deity of this direction. This direction is connected with health. Therefore if this direction in a house has some defects the health of the person staying in that house doesn't remain good. Any one of the family members always has some health problem and other members of the family become lazy. If this direction doesn't have any fault, then it fills the family members with lot of vigour and energy. In addition to this, head of the family also enjoys happiness from his wife and children.

South-West

Magnetic compass denotes the area from 202½° to 247½° as South- west direction. Rahu is its lord and deity is Nairriti. This is the direction of devil and that of a person engaged in cruel activity. Therefore this direction should not be kept vacant. The area of South- west has been fixed for earth element. This is the most stable among all elements. Therefore this area enables us to fight all sorts of difficulties. If this portion of the house is defective, the owner of that house always has problems in life and there is a constant fear of enemies, accidents, sudden death and mental or physical injury.

Family members might even become victims of evil eye or black magic etc.

North-West

Magnetic compass denotes the area from 292½° to 337½° as Northwest direction. Lord of this direction is Moon and deity is Pawandev. This direction signifies friends and enemies. It is connected with relatives and guests also. If this direction is defective then the friends turn into foes. The behaviour of other people with the head of family is not good and they become his enemies unnecessarily and he gets into legal disputes. This direction represents the naval, inestines, gall bladder, sperm, uterus, upper part of the stomach, right leg and the knee. Defect in this direction creates problems in these body parts and also produces asthma, eye sight problems and digestive problems.

North-East

Magnetic compass denotes the area from 22½° to 67½° as Northeast direction. The ruling planet is Jupiter and deity is Paramapitaparmeshwara. This direction is very auspicious for intellect, knowledge, spiritual discrimination, patience and courage. Any fault in this direction causes various types of troubles. The intellect gets corrupted and there is an atmosphere of lack of harmony in the family and mental tension keeps on increasing. The mind of head of family and that of other family members get corrupted. Family starts complaining about the lack of a male child. Therefore it is inevitably essential that this direction doesn't have any fault.

Direction and Deity

According to fundamentals of vastu there are 4 sub directions apart from 4 main directions, therefore the calculations of entire vastu are done on the basis of these eight directions.

Directions and Dieties

Planets and Direction

Each direction has a specific importance in vastu shastra because each direction is under the combined impact of a specific planet, a specific deity and a specific universal energy.