Vastu Shastra

The Sanskrit word vastu means a dwelling, home or house with a corresponding plot of land.

The vrddhi, vāstu, takes the meaning of "the site or foundation of a home, site, ground, building or dwelling-place, habitation, homestead, house". The underlying root is vas "to dwell, live, stay, reside". The term shastra may loosely be translated as "doctrine, teaching".

Vastu shastra represents a body of ancient concepts and knowledge to many modern architects, a guideline but not a rigid code. The square-grid mandala is viewed as a model of organization, not as a ground plan.

The ancient Vastu shastra texts describe functional relations and adaptable alternate layouts for various rooms, houses or buildings and utilities, but do not mandate a set compulsory architecture.

The mandala is a guideline and employing the mandala concept of vastu shastra does not mean every room, home or building has to be square. The basic theme is around core elements of central space, peripheral zones, direction with respect to sunlight, and relative functions of the spaces.