Vaastu

Walking to the second floor to get the keys I see a visibly tired auntie sitting with her daughter. Auntie had been going up and down the stairs supervising construction to the balcony. Going upstairs I see the red railings on the right side taken out and small concrete wall being constructed. As this construction was not warranted, I inquire as to the reason.

I am told that a year back a Vaastu Shastra priest had been called to inspect the house. After careful observation he had made two diktats. First that the underground water tank located at the front of the house had to be shifted to the back of the house as it should face North. Secondly that any open space on the west side of the building be covered as luck and financial gain would escape if left open.

Vaastu Shastra is a concept that deals with ensuring that the design and building of a living space is in harmony with both the physical and metaphysical forces. It is not an exact task but interpretations that are given by priests that also bless the house. In some ways it is similar to Feng Shui (both harmonize the flow of energy/ life-force, Prana in Sanskrit) but differ in the details, such as the exact directions in which various objects, rooms, materials are to be placed.

While auntie could not completely change the placement of the underground tank, another smaller water tank was constructed at the back of the house with both in use. And now a year after, a bare concrete wall was being built to cover the balcony. Even for a staunch believer of fate, Vaastu is able to interact for it suggests that while no one can change destiny, surroundings can be improved by both correcting and leveraging ‘bad Vaastu’ for positive results. As I was living on the third floor I thanked auntie her for the good luck would also permeate to me as I was living there. She smiled and agreed.