Which are the eight directions?

What are the directions?

Which are the eight directions described in Vastu shastra?

And how are they linked with our house…

The directions…or the cardinal points are the directions of  North, South, East and West. These form the four points of the compass. There are another four intermediate or sub directions located at the center of two main directions. North-East, South-East, North-West and South-West.

Direction can be determined by the compass or from the position of the sun and the shadows. Sun rises roughly in the East and sets roughly in the West. During its course of travel from East to West, sun leaves an imprint on the house and thus on us. In the feng-sui it is known as the chi imprints ..and the Hindu Philosophy of Vastu shashtra uses the imprints of sun in relation with the five elements to create a building or a house in tune with nature.

Below we are listing down the potential qualities of each direction. The qualities are based on the actual climate, the seasons, the vastu shashtra beliefs and some feng-sui chi imprints.

It will give you a specific idea as how to go about planning your house and what to expect from each direction.

North ( Uttar ) – Water, wealth, open, lighter, more openings .

You should place your living room which is more open and lighter in this direction.

South ( Dakshin) – Mountain, earth, Store for the energy in the house, less open, highest  point in house.

You should place staircase or store in this direction.

East ( Purva) – thunder, Wood, Sunrise, Growth, Open , Lighter and clean.

You should place your study,office, drawing room or guest room in this direction.

West ( Pashim ) – Metal, sunset, reflective, satisfied, enclosed

You should place bedroom for children, toilet or septic tank in this direction

North-East ( Ishan ) – Earth, Motivated, clear minded, knowledge, spiritual growth, water

You should place temple, entrance and underground water tank in this direction

North – West ( Vayavya ) – Heaven, Wind, moon

You should place bedroom for teens , toilet, parking or wash yard in this direction.

South-East ( Agani ) – Wood, Active, Creative, imaginative, Sun and Fire

You should place Kitchen in this direction.

South-West ( nairutya ) – Down to Earth, Practical, highest point in the house, Confidence

You should place master bedroom, dressing room and staircase in this direction

So now you must have a feel of all the directions. In other articles we will go in the placement of rooms in more detail. Though there is one more thing that should be kept in mind when we are looking at direction….

There are two more directions as per Vastu shashtra principles – Aakash ( Sky ) and Patal ( towards the center of the earth ). These also have to be incorporated in the house in form of an open courtyard. We will go in detail in the article of ‘Central Courtyard’

Also all the directions and the Meanings for the same are for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. They will change if you live in the Southern Hemisphere.

We hope that this article will help you relate to the direction more..more in the next article.