Vastu Shashtra

Colour and nature of Soil

The colour and nature of the soil also plays an important role and it should not be neglected.

For brahmins (Priests, Teachers, Scientists or intellectuals) White soil is good. For Ksatriyas (Rulers, Soldiers or Administrators) Red soil is good. For Vaisyas (Businessmen, Farmers or Bankers) Yellow soil is good. For Sudras (Laborers, Artisans, Craftsmen or Servants) Black soil is good. According to Vastu Shastra, Black and Clay Soil is not good for building. If the soil is crumbly rock, money can easily be gotten. Yellow soil is good for businessmen. Shapes of Plots or Land Before buying any plot or land you must follow the basic rules of Vastu in regard to the shapes. The best shapes are either square or rectangular. If the plot is not a perfect rectangle, it is best if at least the southwest and southeast sides of the land are at 90º angles from one another. Land that extends past the northeast side of the quadrilateral, however, brings wealth, happiness, and good name. Land extending on the northeast side is very good. Extensions on any other side are inauspicious. Extensions of the northwest side will cause loss money and peace. Round, oval, and triangular plots should be avoided. The house should not be built in the shape of a diamond, with the corner facing north. L-shaped plots are also inauspicious and should not be purchased. It is good if the plot is narrower at the entrance and wider at its rear, but the opposite is not good. The best shapes for plots or land are square or rectangular. A land tilt of 20 degrees, off square by 20 degrees, is acceptable. If the plot is rectangular, it is better that the longer sides run north to south rather than west to east. Location & Roads of Plot or Land It is usually best not to purchase land next to a bridge. A plot or land situated on a hill is also not to be a good purchase in most cases. It is better to purchase level ground. If the land to be purchased is on the side of a hill, however, and the land slopes down toward the north or east, that is all right. If the land slopes to the west, do not purchase it. After choosing and purchasing land, plants should be grown on the land. Also, if possible, keep a cow and her calf on the land for a while to make it more auspicious. It is not good to purchase a piece of land squeezed between two larger pieces of land as such land will bring its owner poverty. The northeast side of the land should be the lowest side. The land should either slope down toward the north or east, but not toward the west or south. Land sloping north brings riches, sloping east brings good fortune, sloping south brings ruin, and sloping west brings financial loss. It is auspicious if tall buildings or hills do not obstruct the north, northeast, and east sides of the land. Do not purchase land with such obstructions to those sides because the sun's rays will be blocked. Similarly, there should be a minimum number of doors and windows set into the southwest side of a building; the majority of windows should be set in the northeast side. It is not auspicious if there is an electrical power supply or large electric pole on the northeast side of the plot. A telephone pole is not negative in the northeast, however. There should not be any valley, a depression in the land or large pit aroundthe land. The plot or land should not be within twice the distance of the height of the house to a public place-a hospital, factory, temple, church, marriage hall, courthouse, cemetery, or cremation grounds. There should not be a laundry place, shoe shop, meat shop, or workshop with loud machinery opposite the property. The house should be at least 80 feet from the entrance of a temple. The property's gate should not face a temple or church, and the shadow of a temple or church should not fall on the house. A square piece of land surrounded by roads on four sides is considered very good. A person who owns this land will become wealthy, healthy, and happy. If a road runs alongside the property and ends at the northeast corner, that is also very good. If a road ends on any other parts of the property, however, that plot is usually not good. Land should also not be next to a T or Y intersection. A road on the north side of the property is good, but a road on the south side is not so good. If there is only one road, it is best if it is located on the east side. It is not so good if it is located on the west side. If there are roads on only the east and north side, that is good. If there are roads on the west and north, it is average. It is inauspicious if there are three roads only on the east, south,west Construction Only new bricks, wood, and materials should be used when building a new house. Materials from an old building should not be used to build a new one in case those old materials repeat negative incidents that occurred in the old house. There is unhappiness in using old things. If there are old materials available, better to sell them and use the money to buy new materials.Good quality soil, gravel and cement should be used. Wood from thorny trees should not be used, as it will have a negative effect. Materials that have been stored for a long time should also not be used. Iron grills should only be used when needed.