Science Behind Vastu - Site Orientation & North Facing House

Aarti Kaushik

In this series of selecting the right site for our house, site orientation is the last topic that we need to discuss. We have dealt with this topic briefly in the beginning too. But now we will understand how the orientation of the site is of prime importance.

Before starting to explain it, I would like to clarify that the word ‘Orientation’ is repeated many times but in different contexts. For example, till now, we have used it with reference to the site or the plot where the house is to be constructed. Later, while discussing the Principles of Vastu Shastra, we will use it with reference to the orientation of the building. In interiors we will use it with reference to the orientation of the rooms. Therefore, it should not be misunderstood or should not create any confusion as to why the same thing is being discussed again and again. It may have some similarities though in terms of reasoning.

We have already understood the importance of the sun rays, earth’s magnetic field and its impact on the inhabitants, the concept of the cardinal directions, nine divisions of the land, their ruling Gods and their impact on us. One can refer to the previous articles in case required. Here we will discuss in detail about the Vastu guidelines for the North facing houses - organisation of the room, open spaces, entrance etc. The direction of the main door of the house is an important consideration for people who follow Vast Shastra rules. Hence, if given a chance to select among North, South, East or West facing houses, most people will tend to choose the North facing one because it is considered the most auspicious. The second choice will be the East facing house. However, a note of precaution- not every North facing house is ideal. The placement of the entrance dictates whether a North facing house is auspicious or inauspicious according to Vastu Shastra Principles. In other words, facing of a house is not a guarantee of it being auspicious, there's something more to it than facing and that's the placement of the main door/entrance and remaining rooms of a home.

• What is a North facing house?
• What does Vastu Shastra say about North facing houses?
• What are the Vastu Guidelines for the location of the main door in North facing houses?
• What are the Vastu Guidelines for the location of the staircase in North facing houses?
• What are the Vastu Guidelines for the location of the pooja room in North facing houses?
• What are the Vastu Guidelines for the location of the kitchen in North facing houses?
• What are the Vastu Guidelines for the location of the toilets in North facing houses?
• What should one avoid in North facing houses?
• What rules should one follow in North facing houses?

WHAT IS A NORTH FACING HOUSE?

Sometimes it is difficult to identify the orientation of the house or plot. Many people find it difficult to understand the orientation of their house or the plot. The orientation can be easily recognised by standing inside the house or the plot and facing out of the main door or gate. The direction you face is said to be the orientation of the house or plot. Therefore, if you are facing West, then it is a West facing house and if you are facing North direction, then it is called a North facing house and so on and so forth.

WHAT DOES VASTU SHASTRA SAY ABOUT NORTH FACING HOUSES?

It is a thumb rule which is accepted by the Vastu specialists' that only North and East facing properties are auspicious and West and South facing houses should be avoided. But that is not true. As per Vastu Shastra, all the directions are equally good, and the auspiciousness of a home doesn't depend upon the direction. The most important factor is the correct placement (location) of the internal elements of the house like a main door/entrance door. Let us understand this by a simple example. In the high rise apartments, it is practically impossible to provide entrance towards the North or East direction for every apartment, but that does not mean that all the apartments that does not face these directions are inauspicious.

For every direction - be it North, East, South or West -Vastu Shastra lays down specific rules for locating the main entrance door of the house. We must locate the entrance at only "allowed" places and never locate it in the "prohibited" zones. Now, since we're dealing with North facing houses, let's have a look at the Vastu Guidelines for them.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE MAIN DOOR IN NORTH FACING HOUSES?

Let us figure out where to place the main door in North facing houses, imagine and divide the North length of the house from the North-East (NE) corner point to the North-West (NW) corner point into 9 equal parts; (each part is called as pada or step in Vastu Shastra). The NE pada is the 1ST pada and the NW pada is 9TH .

Here's a summary of the Vastu guidelines for location of the main door in North facing houses:

1. The 5th pada is the best and the most auspicious for entrance or main door of a North facing home. It's the location of Kuber (the God of wealth) and attracts money.
2. The pada's 1, 2, 3 and 4 are the ones that you can use (for entrance/main door) if pada 5 alone is small. But make sure to include pada 5 along with padas 4, 3, 2 or 1. If you're using space up to pada 1, then make sure that the entrance/main door doesn't touch the NE corner. Leave at least 6 inches of space from NE corner.
3. The pada's 6 to 9 are to be used if there's no option to place the main door in any other padas. From this summary you can see that no pada in the North side is considered "inauspicious" and "prohibited" unlike in other directions. This is the reason why the North direction is most favoured in Vastu Shastra.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE STAIRCASE IN NORTH FACING HOUSES?

It is not advisable to build a staircase on the North-East side. The staircase should be in the South-West, South or West. In case the staircase is in the wrong position according to Vastu Shastra, then there are remedies which you can read about in my post Remedies for North-East defects.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE POOJA ROOM IN NORTH FACING HOUSES?

The first choice for a Pooja Room is the North-East Direction or the centre of the house. Second choice is East or West directions of the house with the idols facing West or East respectively. However, if none of these corners are available, the pooja can be located in the NE corner of any room except bedrooms, toilets and storerooms.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE KITCHEN IN NORTH FACING HOUSES?

First choice for Kitchen is the South- East. But is not necessary that every time we can design a kitchen in this direction. The second choice for the Kitchen is the North- West. But avoid the Kitchen in the North-East.

WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE LOCATION OF THE TOILETS IN NORTH FACING HOUSES?

First choice for bathroom/toilet is the North-West quadrant of the home but not the North-West corner. Second choice for a bathroom/toilet is the North-East quadrant but not the North- East corner and the third choice is the South-West quadrant but not the South-West corner. Avoid all corners and the centre of the house.

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHAT SHOULD ONE AVOID IN NORTH FACING HOUSES?

• Avoid a toilet in the NE corner.
• Avoid bedroom in NE corner.
• Avoid a septic tank in NE corner.
• Avoid staircase in North side of the home especially from padas 1st to 5th
• Avoid having a kitchen in NE corner.
• Location of electricity circuit board: The best direction for an electrical circuit board will be south-east as it balances the energies in the house.
• Avoid a plot that slopes from North to South.
• Avoid big trees in North side of the house.
• Avoid having clutter, dirt, dustbins etc. towards North and NE.
• Avoid a cut in NE corner.

ACCORDING TO VASTU SHASTRA, WHAT TIPS SHOULD ONE FOLLOW IN NORTH FACING HOUSES?

• Choose a plot that slopes from South to North.
• You can make a living room in NE corner.
• Make a Pooja room in NE corner.
• Make walls in North and East slightly shorter and thinner than South and West.
• Place the main door in 5th pada; this'll give lots of wealth. You can place entrance in padas 4th to 1st if pada 5 alone is small.
• Make sure that kitchen is in SE or NW.
• Face East (in SE kitchen) and West (in NW kitchen) while cooking.
• Make a guest bedroom in NW.
• Choose a plot that slopes from South to North.
• Make the master bedroom in SW

Therefore, we have figured out that a North facing property does not automatically mean that it is auspicious or inauspicious. It is important to understand the intent of its principles and apply them with proper reasoning. And hence we will not be bound to place the internal arrangement of the rooms merely because it must be placed in that direction but will have proper reasoning for doing so.

I am an Architect, Interior Designer and a Vastu Consultant, with more than a decade of experience in conceptualization, designing and construction of diverse architectural projects. An alumnus of IIT-Roorkee, I have a thorough background in architecture and interior designing with expertise in directing all project phases. My passion towards architecture inspires me to keep learning about various new trends yet following the age-old traditions.