paastu

Paastu, often rendered as vaastu, is a traditional Indian system of architecture and spatial design that aims to harmonize built environments with natural forces and cosmic principles. Proponents contend that proper alignment, proportions, and materials influence health, prosperity, and well-being of occupants.

The concept is rooted in the broader Vedic tradition and is known in the classical manual Vaastu Shastra, along with later texts such as Manasara and Mayamata. The practice often uses a grid known as the Vaastu Purusha Mandala to map space in relation to cardinal directions and elements.

Key principles address the orientation of buildings and rooms, the balance of five elements (earth, water, fire, air, space), and the placement of doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms, and stairs. Common guidelines include east or north-facing entrances; kitchen placement in the southeast (fire); water features in the northeast; and bedrooms in the southwest, with attention to proportionality and natural ventilation.

In contemporary contexts, paastu is applied in residential and commercial design by architects, designers, and practitioners who may combine it with modern building codes. It remains a matter of belief and cultural practice for many people, rather than a scientifically validated methodology.

Paastu is often contrasted with other systems such as feng shui, which shares similar aims but arises from East Asian traditions. See also Vaastu Shastra, Feng shui.