Who is Vastu Purush & Why do we worship him ?

There is a story in Matasya Purana . Long  ago Lord Shiva fought against the demon named ANDHAKASUR and killed him. While fighting with demon, Shiva was very much tired and began to sweat profusely. A man was born of the drops of Shiva's sweat. He looked very cruel. He was very hungry. So he began to make penance to appease Lord Shiva and get a boon from him. Shiva was pleased with his penance and appeared before him.The devotee prayed to Shiva,"Oh Lord! Please permit me to eat away all the three worlds." Shiva said," Let it be so." The devotee's joy knew no bounds. He got possession on all the three worlds and first he was ready to eat the terrestrial world (Bhooloka). Then the celestial (Devatas), Brahma, Shiva and the demons (Rakshasas) also were terrified and caught hold of the devotee encircling him.

Forty-five celestial beings, out of whom 32 from without and 13 from within caught hold of the devotee. The Thirty-two celestial beings are-

(1) ISH (2) PAROJAYA (3) JAYANT (4) INDRA (5) SURYA (6) SADYA (7) BARISHAM (8) AKASH (9) AGNI (10) PUSHNA (11) VITATHA (12) YAMA (13) KRITANTA (14) GANDHARVA (15) BRINGAVAJA (16) MRIGA (17) PITARA (18) DAREPALE (19) SUGRIVA (20) PUSHPADANTA (21) VARUNA (22) DAITYA (23) SESHA (24) YAKSHMA (25) ROGA (26) NAGA (27) MUKHYA (28) BHALLATA (29) SOMA (30) SARPA (31) ADITI and DITI.

All these 32 celestial beings are out of the limits of the devotee whereas the following 13 Beings are within his limits:-

(1) BRAHMA (2) RUDRA (3) INDRAJAYA (4) APAVATSA (5) MARICHI (6) SAVITRI (7) VIVASWAN (8) VISHNU (9) MITRA (10) SAVITA (11) PRITHVIDHARA (12) RUDRA and (13) APA.

These celestial Beings laid force on the different limbs of the devotee and sat on them as shown below:

ISH (AGNI) – head; APA – face; PRITHWI DHARA & ARYAM – Chest; AVANTSA – heart; DITI & INDRA – Shoulders; SURYA & SOMA – Hands; RUDRA & RAJAYAKSHMA – left arm; SAVITRA & SAVITA – right arm; VIVASWAN & MITRA – Stomach; PUSHA & ARYAMA – Wrist; ASUR & SESHA – left side; VITATHA & GRAHAKSHAT – right side; YAMA & VARUNA – Thighs; GANDHARVA & PURAMADAN – on the knees; SUGRIV & BHRISH – shanks; DWARIKA & MRIGA – ankles; JAYA & SHAKRA – on the hairs grown on the feet; BRAHMA – on the heart.

 Vaastu Purusha, being arrested like this, said to the Gods, "Oh, Celestial Beings! You have all caught holdof me and tied me on all the sides. How long shall I be like this, in this position hanging my head down like a prisoner? What shall I eat? Listening to those words, Lord Brahma  said,Today is Bhadrapada Shukla Triteya Saturday and 'Visakha Star'; So you lie down here on the ground changing your position once in three months, i.e. from 'Bhadraspada' to 'kartik' you lie down putting your head in the eastern direction and your feet towards the west. During the months of "Margashira", 'Pusham' and 'Magha', you lie down towards the south looking towards the west and put your feet towards the north during the months of 'Phalgun', 'Chaitra' and 'Vaisakh' put your head towards the west and feet towards the east., looking towards the north; in the months of 'Jyestha', 'Ashadha' and 'Sravana', put your head towards the east. North and the feet towards the south & look towards the east. Whatever side you may turn, you will have to lie down on the left side only. You will be known as 'VASTU PURUSHA'.
And all mankind will worship you as a God of Vastu and the people will donate you some food.

In such Vastu, you will be responsible for the well being, happiness and prosperity of your worshipers.

An Introduction to Vastu Shastra

Vastu Shastra: - Vastu Shastra is a very old Indian science of Architecture. Ancient Indian sages and rishis created Vastu Shastra for the welfare of the entire humanity. Its knowledge enables us to get benefits of mental peace, health, wealth etc. and make our life happy. It is a powerful guide which helps us to have peaceful, harmonies and successful leading life. This ancient science of architecture is useful for all human beings irrespective of caste, creed, religion.This Vast and Sacred science was created by the seven sages for the betterment of the mankind, And the people who follow the Vastu Norms while building there house, office, factory, etc it not only brings prosperity but also brings eternal peace, love, joy, happiness and bliss to them. The aim of Vastu is to balance between the human being and the natural energies. Vastu helps us to make our lives better and also secures us from things going wrong in future.

Vaastu – literally means the energy of a building or an open space.

Shastra – Science/Knowledge

The existence of the universe is based on the five basic elements of ‘sky’, ‘wind’, ‘fire’, ‘water’ and ‘soil’. These five elements have to be balanced in our home too. This very art and science of balancing and enhancing these five elements in a dwelling, forms the basis of ‘Vastu Shastra’.

Vastu Shastra works on the principal of five elements of nature.

Five elements of nature are:-

Water ( Jal)

Fire( Agni)

Earth ( Bhoomi)

Air ( Vayu)

Space ( Aakash)

Vastu Shastra can be defined as harmonious, proportionate, and positive interaction of all the matters encompassing human life.Vastu Shastra offers adequate representation to all factors governing life to create, in a sense, harmonious and melodious music in human dimension. Artistic view point and aesthetic outlook are essential ingredients of Vastu Shastra. It can be explained in terms of constructive or destructive combination of the various oscillatory fields.

Vastu Shastra effectively manipulates the web of cosmic energy for the betterment of humankind. It's well defined rules and regulations ensure that all the houses, buildings and other structures are in harmony with the surrounding environment.

Where modern architecture aims at bodily comforts of a dweller and functional effectiveness of the structure; the Vastu aims at ensuring the health, happiness, prosperity, and well being of the human being occupying the dwelling and endows him with a sustained peace and tranquility of mind.

Vastu Shastra and Fengshui

Vastu and Feng Shui, both are the ancient arts which are following some basic principles in order to live in harmony with nature and to maintain stability.

Vastu Shastra is based on science since Feng Shui is based on local geographic considerations and traditions.