The Characteristics of Vastu Measurement

Verse 1 (garuda.1.46.1)

।।हरिरुवाच ।। वास्तुं संक्षेपतो वक्ष्ये गृहादौ विघ्ननाशनम् ।। ईशानकोणादारभ्य ह्येकाशीतिपदे यजेत्

..hariruvāca .. vāstuṁ saṁkṣepato vakṣye gṛhādau vighnanāśanam .. īśānakoṇādārabhya hyekāśītipade yajet

Hari said: I shall now briefly describe Vastu, the science of the building-site, which destroys obstacles in the home and elsewhere. Beginning from the northeast corner, worship should be offered across the eighty-one squares.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.46.2)

ईशाने च शिरः पादौ नैर्ऋतेऽग्न्यनिले करौ ।। आवासवासवेश्मादौ पुरे ग्रामे वणिक्पथे

īśāne ca śiraḥ pādau nairṛte'gnyanile karau .. āvāsavāsaveśmādau pure grāme vaṇikpathe

In the Ishana corner, the head and feet; in the Nairritya, and in the Agneya and Vayavya corners, the arms — this scheme applies to dwellings and residences, in towns, villages, and marketplaces,

Verse 3 (garuda.1.46.3)

प्रासादारामदुर्गेषु देवालयमठेषु च ।। द्वाविंशति सुरान्बाह्ये तदन्तश्च त्रयोदश

prāsādārāmadurgeṣu devālayamaṭheṣu ca .. dvāviṁśati surānbāhye tadantaśca trayodaśa

and also to temples, gardens, forts, shrines, and monasteries. Outside there are twenty-two (or thirty-two) deities, and within, thirteen more.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.46.4)

ईशश्चैवाथ पर्जन्यो जयन्तः कुलिशायुधः ।। सूर्य्यः सत्यो भृगुश्चैव आकाशो वायुरेव च

īśaścaivātha parjanyo jayantaḥ kuliśāyudhaḥ .. sūryyaḥ satyo bhṛguścaiva ākāśo vāyureva ca

Isha, then Parjanya, Jayanta, the thunderbolt-wielder (Indra), Surya, Satya, Bhrigu, Akasha, and Vayu —

Verse 5 (garuda.1.46.5)

पूषा च वितथश्चैव ग्रहक्षेत्रयमावुभौ ।। गन्धर्वी भृगुराजस्तु मृगः पितृगणस्तथा

pūṣā ca vitathaścaiva grahakṣetrayamāvubhau .. gandharvī bhṛgurājastu mṛgaḥ pitṛgaṇastathā

Pusha, Vitatha, both Grihakshata and Yama, Gandharvi, Bhrigurāja, Mriga, and the host of ancestral spirits —

Verse 6 (garuda.1.46.6)

दौवारिकोऽथ सुग्रीवः पुष्पदन्तो गणाधिपः ।। असुरः शेषपापौ (दौ) च रोगो।डहिमुख (ख्य) एव च

dauvāriko'tha sugrīvaḥ puṣpadanto gaṇādhipaḥ .. asuraḥ śeṣapāpau (dau) ca rogo.ḍahimukha (khya) eva ca

the Gatekeeper, then Sugriva, Pushpadanta, Ganadhipa, Asura, Shesha and Papa, Roga, and Ahimukhya —

Verse 7 (garuda.1.46.7)

भल्लाटः सोमसर्पौ च अदितिश्चदितिस्तथा ।। बहिर्द्वात्रिंशदेते तु तदन्तश्चतुरः श्रृणु

bhallāṭaḥ somasarpau ca aditiścaditistathā .. bahirdvātriṁśadete tu tadantaścaturaḥ śrṛṇu

Bhallata, Soma and Sarpa, and Aditi and Diti as well — these thirty-two are the outer deities; now hear the inner four.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.46.8)

ईशानादिचतुष्कोणसंस्थितान्पूजयेद्धुधः ।। आपश्चैवाथ सावित्री जयो रुद्रस्तथैव च

īśānādicatuṣkoṇasaṁsthitānpūjayeddhudhaḥ .. āpaścaivātha sāvitrī jayo rudrastathaiva ca

The wise should worship these, situated at the four corners beginning with Ishana: Apah (the Waters), then Savitri, Jaya, and likewise Rudra.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.46.9)

मध्ये नवपदे ब्रह्मा तस्याष्टौ च समीपगान् ।। देवानेकोत्तरानेतान्पूर्वादौ नामतः श्रृणु

madhye navapade brahmā tasyāṣṭau ca samīpagān .. devānekottarānetānpūrvādau nāmataḥ śrṛṇu

In the central ninefold square is Brahma, and near him are eight deities. Hear these, each one place further, by name, beginning from the east —

Verse 10 (garuda.1.46.10)

अर्य्यमा सविता चैव विवस्वान्विबुधाधिपः ।। मित्रोऽथ राजयक्ष्मा च तथा पृथ्वीधरः क्रमात्

aryyamā savitā caiva vivasvānvibudhādhipaḥ .. mitro'tha rājayakṣmā ca tathā pṛthvīdharaḥ kramāt

Aryaman, then Savitri, Vivasvan, the lord of the gods (Indra), Mitra, then Rajayakshma, and Prithvidhara — in due order,

Verse 11 (garuda.1.46.11)

अष्टमश्चापवत्सश्च परितो ब्रह्मणः स्मृताः ।। ईशानकोणादारभ्य दुर्गे च (र्ज्ञेयो) वंश उच्यते

aṣṭamaścāpavatsaśca parito brahmaṇaḥ smṛtāḥ .. īśānakoṇādārabhya durge ca (rjñeyo) vaṁśa ucyate

and the eighth, Apavatsa — these are remembered as surrounding Brahma. Beginning from the Ishana corner, the ridge-line called Vamsha is known in a fortress.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.46.12)

आग्नेयकोणादारभ्य वंशो भवति दुर्द्धरः ।। अदितिं हिमवन्तं च जयन्तं च इदं त्रयम्

āgneyakoṇādārabhya vaṁśo bhavati durddharaḥ .. aditiṁ himavantaṁ ca jayantaṁ ca idaṁ trayam

Begun from the Agneya corner, the Vamsha-line becomes inauspicious and hard to sustain. Aditi, Himavat, and Jayanta — these three,

Verse 13 (garuda.1.46.13)

नायिका कालिका नाम शक्राद्गन्धर्वगाः पुनः ।। वास्तुदेवान्पूजयित्वा गृहप्रासादकृद्भवेत्

nāyikā kālikā nāma śakrādgandharvagāḥ punaḥ .. vāstudevānpūjayitvā gṛhaprāsādakṛdbhavet

and the mistress named Kalika, and then, beginning from Shakra (Indra), the line of Gandharvas — only having worshipped the Vastu-deities thus does one become fit to build a house or a temple.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.46.14)

सुरेज्यः पुरतः कार्यो यस्याग्नेय्यां महानसम् ।। कपिनिर्गमने (णी) ? येन पूर्वतः सत्रमण्डपम्

surejyaḥ purataḥ kāryo yasyāgneyyāṁ mahānasam .. kapinirgamane (ṇī) ? yena pūrvataḥ satramaṇḍapam

The place of the preceptor of the gods should be set to the front, in whose southeast corner the kitchen should lie; and through that passage, to the east, the sacrificial pavilion should be placed.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.46.15)

गन्धपुष्पगृहं कार्य्यमैशान्यां पट्टसंयुतम् ।। भाण्डागारं च कौबेर्य्यां गोष्ठागारं च वायवे

gandhapuṣpagṛhaṁ kāryyamaiśānyāṁ paṭṭasaṁyutam .. bhāṇḍāgāraṁ ca kauberyyāṁ goṣṭhāgāraṁ ca vāyave

In the Ishana corner, a fragrant chamber for flowers, with a raised platform, should be made. In the direction of Kubera (north), the storehouse; in the direction of Vayu (northwest), the cow-shed.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.46.16)

उदगाश्रयं च वारुण्यां वातायनसमन्वितम् ।। समित्कुशेन्धनस्थानमायुधानां च नैर्ऋते

udagāśrayaṁ ca vāruṇyāṁ vātāyanasamanvitam .. samitkuśendhanasthānamāyudhānāṁ ca nairṛte

In the direction of Varuna (west), a northern lodging fitted with a window; and in the Nairritya direction (southwest), the storage for kindling, kusha grass, fuel, and weapons.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.46.17)

अभ्यागतालयं रम्यसशय्यासनपादुकम् ।। तोयाग्निदीपसद्भृत्यैर्युक्तं दक्षिणतो भवेत्

abhyāgatālayaṁ ramyasaśayyāsanapādukam .. toyāgnidīpasadbhṛtyairyuktaṁ dakṣiṇato bhavet

The guest-house — pleasant, furnished with a bed, a seat, and footwear, provided with water, fire, a lamp, and good servants — should be in the south.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.46.18)

गृहान्तराणि सर्वाणि सजलैः कदलीगृहैः ।। पञ्चवर्णैश्च कुसुमैः शोभितानि प्रकल्पयेत्

gṛhāntarāṇi sarvāṇi sajalaiḥ kadalīgṛhaiḥ .. pañcavarṇaiśca kusumaiḥ śobhitāni prakalpayet

All the inner chambers of the house should be adorned with water-features and plantain-bowers, and made beautiful with flowers of five colors.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.46.19)

प्राकारं तद्बहिर्दद्यात्पञ्चहस्तप्रमाणतः ।। एवं विष्ण्वाश्रमं कुर्य्याद्वनैश्चोपवनैर्युतम्

prākāraṁ tadbahirdadyātpañcahastapramāṇataḥ .. evaṁ viṣṇvāśramaṁ kuryyādvanaiścopavanairyutam

Outside this, a boundary wall five cubits in measure should be built. Thus one should construct the abode of Vishnu, furnished with groves and gardens.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.46.20)

चतुः षष्टिपदो वास्तुः प्रासादादौ प्रपूजितः ।। मध्ये चतुष्पदो ब्रह्मा द्विपदास्त्वर्य्यमादयः

catuḥ ṣaṣṭipado vāstuḥ prāsādādau prapūjitaḥ .. madhye catuṣpado brahmā dvipadāstvaryyamādayaḥ

For temples and the like, the Vastu-mandala of sixty-four squares is honored. In the center, four-square Brahma; and Aryaman and the rest occupy two squares each,

Verse 21 (garuda.1.46.21)

कर्णे चैवाथ शिख्याद्यास्तथा देवाः प्रकीर्त्तिताः ।। तेभ्यो ह्युभयतः सार्द्धादन्येऽपि द्विपदाः सुराः

karṇe caivātha śikhyādyāstathā devāḥ prakīrttitāḥ .. tebhyo hyubhayataḥ sārddhādanye'pi dvipadāḥ surāḥ

and at the corners, Shikhi and the other deities are also declared. Beyond them, on both sides, at one-and-a-half squares, other gods too occupy two squares each.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.46.22)

चतुः षष्टिपदा देवा इत्येवं परिकीर्त्तिताः ।। चरकी च विदारी च पूतना पापराक्षसी

catuḥ ṣaṣṭipadā devā ityevaṁ parikīrttitāḥ .. carakī ca vidārī ca pūtanā pāparākṣasī

Thus sixty-four deities are declared. Charaki, Vidari, Putana, the wicked Rakshasi,

Verse 23 (garuda.1.46.23)

ईशानाद्यास्ततो बाह्ये देवाद्या हेतुकादयः ।। हैतुकस्त्रिपुरान्तश्च अग्निवेतालकौ यमः

īśānādyāstato bāhye devādyā hetukādayaḥ .. haitukastripurāntaśca agnivetālakau yamaḥ

beginning from Ishana and outward, the deities beginning with Hetuka — Haituka, Tripurantaka, Agni-Vetala, and Yama,

Verse 24 (garuda.1.46.24)

अग्निजिह्वः कालकश्च करालो ह्योकपादकः ।। ऐशान्यां भीमरूपस्तु पाताले प्रेतनायकः

agnijihvaḥ kālakaśca karālo hyokapādakaḥ .. aiśānyāṁ bhīmarūpastu pātāle pretanāyakaḥ

Agnijihva, Kalaka, Karala, and Ekapadaka — in the Ishana corner, the fearsome-formed one; in the netherworld, the lord of the ghosts;

Verse 25 (garuda.1.46.25)

आकाशे गन्धमाली स्यात्क्षेत्रपालांस्ततो यजेत् ।। विस्ताराभिहतं दैर्घ्यं राशिं वास्तोस्तु कारयेत्

ākāśe gandhamālī syātkṣetrapālāṁstato yajet .. vistārābhihataṁ dairghyaṁ rāśiṁ vāstostu kārayet

in the sky, Gandhamali — after this, the Kshetrapalas (guardians of the site) should be worshipped. The product of the plot's length and breadth should be taken as the sum-total of the Vastu.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.46.26)

कृत्वा च वसुभिर्भागं शेषं बद्धा यमादिशेत् ।। पुनर्गुणितमष्टाभिर्ऋक्षभागं तु भाजयेत्

kṛtvā ca vasubhirbhāgaṁ śeṣaṁ baddhā yamādiśet .. punarguṇitamaṣṭābhirṛkṣabhāgaṁ tu bhājayet

Having divided that by eight (the number of the Vasus), the remainder should be assigned according to Yama and the rest. Having multiplied it again by eight, it should be divided by the portion of the nakshatras.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.46.27)

यच्छेषं तद्भवेदृक्षं भागैर्हृत्वाव्ययं भवेत् ।। ऋक्षं चतुर्गुणं कृत्वा नवभिर्भागहारितम्

yaccheṣaṁ tadbhavedṛkṣaṁ bhāgairhṛtvāvyayaṁ bhavet .. ṛkṣaṁ caturguṇaṁ kṛtvā navabhirbhāgahāritam

Whatever remains becomes the ruling nakshatra; dividing further by the portions yields the imperishable factor. Having made the nakshatra fourfold and divided by nine,

Verse 28 (garuda.1.46.28)

शेषमंशं विजानीयाद्देवलस्य मतं यथा ।। अष्टाभिर्गुणितं पिण्डं षष्टिभिर्भागहारितम्

śeṣamaṁśaṁ vijānīyāddevalasya mataṁ yathā .. aṣṭābhirguṇitaṁ piṇḍaṁ ṣaṣṭibhirbhāgahāritam

the remaining portion should be known according to the opinion of Devala. Having multiplied the total by eight and divided by sixty,

Verse 29 (garuda.1.46.29)

यच्छेषं तद्भवेज्जीवं मरणं भूतहारितम् ।। वास्तुक्रोडे गृहं कुर्य्यान्न पृष्ठे मानवः सदा

yaccheṣaṁ tadbhavejjīvaṁ maraṇaṁ bhūtahāritam .. vāstukroḍe gṛhaṁ kuryyānna pṛṣṭhe mānavaḥ sadā

whatever remains becomes the life-span; the reckoning of death is found by dividing by the five elements. A person should always build the house in the interior of the plot, never at its rear edge.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.46.30)

वामपार्श्वेन स्वपिति नात्र कार्य्या विचारणा ।। सिंहकन्यातुलायां च द्वारं शुध्येदथोत्तरम्

vāmapārśvena svapiti nātra kāryyā vicāraṇā .. siṁhakanyātulāyāṁ ca dvāraṁ śudhyedathottaram

One sleeps upon the left side — there should be no question about this. Under Simha, Kanya, and Tula, the northern door is auspicious;

Verse 31 (garuda.1.46.31)

एवं च वृश्चिकादौ स्यात्पूर्वदक्षिणपश्चिमम् ।। द्वारं दीर्घार्द्धविस्तारं द्वाराण्यष्टौ स्मृतानि च

evaṁ ca vṛścikādau syātpūrvadakṣiṇapaścimam .. dvāraṁ dīrghārddhavistāraṁ dvārāṇyaṣṭau smṛtāni ca

and likewise under Vrishchika and the rest, the east, south, and west doors are auspicious. A door's width should be half its height; eight kinds of doors are thus remembered.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.46.32)

सन्तानप्रेष्यनीचत्वं स्वयानं स्वर्णभूषणम् ।। सुतहीनं तु रौद्रेण वीर्य्यघ्नं दक्षिणे तथा

santānapreṣyanīcatvaṁ svayānaṁ svarṇabhūṣaṇam .. sutahīnaṁ tu raudreṇa vīryyaghnaṁ dakṣiṇe tathā

A wrongly placed door brings a decline in offspring and servants, and loss of one's own conveyance and gold ornaments; under the Raudra configuration it brings childlessness, and in the south it destroys vigor.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.46.33)

वह्नौ वध(बन्ध)श्चायुर्वृद्धिंपुत्त्रलाभसुतृप्तिदः ।। धनदे नृपपीडादमर्थघ्नं रोगदं जले

vahnau vadha(bandha)ścāyurvṛddhiṁputtralābhasutṛptidaḥ .. dhanade nṛpapīḍādamarthaghnaṁ rogadaṁ jale

In the fire-direction it brings bondage, yet also increase of life, the gaining of sons, and full satisfaction; in Kubera's direction it brings affliction from the king and loss of wealth, and in the water-direction it brings disease.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.46.34)

नृपभीतिर्मृतापत्यं ह्यनपत्यं न वैरदम् ।। अर्थदं चार्थहान्यै च दोषदं पुत्रमृत्युदम्

nṛpabhītirmṛtāpatyaṁ hyanapatyaṁ na vairadam .. arthadaṁ cārthahānyai ca doṣadaṁ putramṛtyudam

It brings fear from the king, the death of a child, or childlessness — it does not grant freedom from enmity; it grants wealth yet also causes its loss, brings fault, and causes the death of a son.

Verse 35 (garuda.1.46.35)

द्वाराण्युत्तरसंज्ञानि पूर्वद्वाराणि वच्म्यहम् ।। अग्निभीतिर्बहु कन्याधनसम्मानकोपदम्

dvārāṇyuttarasaṁjñāni pūrvadvārāṇi vacmyaham .. agnibhītirbahu kanyādhanasammānakopadam

These are the doors called northern; now I shall describe the eastern doors. A wrongly placed one brings fear of fire, many daughters, and gives rise to disputes over wealth and honor.

Verse 36 (garuda.1.46.36)

राजघ्नं कोपदं पूर्वे फलतो द्वारमीरितम् ।। ईशानादौ भवेत्पूर्वमाग्नेय्यादौ तु दक्षिणम्

rājaghnaṁ kopadaṁ pūrve phalato dvāramīritam .. īśānādau bhavetpūrvamāgneyyādau tu dakṣiṇam

It brings ruin to the king and gives rise to anger — thus is the result of the eastern door declared. Beginning from Ishana, the favorable door falls in the east; beginning from Agneya, in the south;

Verse 37 (garuda.1.46.37)

नैर्ऋत्यादौ पश्चिमं स्याद्वायव्यादौ तु चोत्तरम् ।। अष्टभागे कृते भागे द्वाराणां च फलाफलम्

nairṛtyādau paścimaṁ syādvāyavyādau tu cottaram .. aṣṭabhāge kṛte bhāge dvārāṇāṁ ca phalāphalam

beginning from Nairritya, in the west; and beginning from Vayavya, in the north. Having divided each side into eight portions, the auspicious and inauspicious results of the doors should be known.

Verse 38 (garuda.1.46.38)

अश्वत्थप्लक्षन्यग्रोधाः पूर्वादौ स्यादुदुम्बरः ।। गृहस्य शोभनः प्रोक्त ईशाने चैव शाल्मलिः ।। पूजितो विघ्नहारी स्यात्प्रासादस्य गृहस्य च

aśvatthaplakṣanyagrodhāḥ pūrvādau syādudumbaraḥ .. gṛhasya śobhanaḥ prokta īśāne caiva śālmaliḥ .. pūjito vighnahārī syātprāsādasya gṛhasya ca

The pipal, the plaksha fig, and the banyan in the east and other directions, and the udumbara fig, are declared auspicious for a house; and the shalmali tree in the Ishana corner, when duly honored, becomes the remover of obstacles for both temple and house.