Vastu Shastra · वास्तु शास्त्र
Vastu directions: the eight directions and the centre
Vastu divides every home into eight directions around a central zone, the Brahmasthan. Each direction is traditionally linked with a deity, a planet and an element, and the rooms of a house are placed according to these links: the kitchen in the fire zone, prayer in the north-east and the master bedroom in the stable south-west.
This guide lists all nine zones in one table, explains what each is said to govern and shows you how to find them in your own home with a simple compass.
The eight directions and the centre at a glance
The table follows the placements used across this site. Where a zone has no first-choice room, it is still usable; the room guides explain the acceptable options.
The elements of the four corners (water in the north-east, fire in the south-east, earth in the south-west, air in the north-west) and space at the centre are the same in almost every source. The elements given for north, east, south and west follow a common modern zone scheme, and practitioners differ on them; some link the west with water, as Varuna is the lord of the waters.
| Direction | Deity and planet | Element | Traditionally linked with | First choice for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North (उत्तर) | Kubera, Mercury | Water | money, careers and new opportunities | main entrance, living or drawing room, study room or desk, underground tank or borewell |
| North-east (ईशान) | Ishaan (Shiva), Jupiter | Water | prayer, clarity and peace of mind | main entrance, living or drawing room, pooja room, study room or desk, underground tank or borewell |
| East (पूर्व) | Indra, Sun | Air | health, growth and social standing | main entrance, living or drawing room, children’s bedroom, dining area, study room or desk, underground tank or borewell |
| South-east (आग्नेय) | Agni, Venus | Fire | cooking, energy and cash flow | kitchen, garage or servant’s quarters |
| South (दक्षिण) | Yama, Mars | Fire | rest, recognition and stability | staircase, store room, overhead water tank |
| South-west (नैऋत्य) | Nairutya (Pitru), Rahu | Earth | stability, the head of the family and relationships | master bedroom, staircase, store room, overhead water tank |
| West (पश्चिम) | Varuna, Saturn | Space | gains, children and steady results | children’s bedroom, dining area, toilets and bathrooms, staircase, store room, overhead water tank |
| North-west (वायव्य) | Vayu, Moon | Air | movement, guests, support and change | children’s bedroom, guest room, toilets and bathrooms, garage or servant’s quarters |
| Centre (ब्रह्मस्थान) | Brahma, no planet | Space | the energy of the whole home | kept open and light |
The four cardinal directions
North belongs to Kubera, the keeper of wealth, and is linked with Mercury, money, careers and new opportunities. It is kept open and light, which is why living rooms, main doors and study desks suit it.
East belongs to Indra and the Sun. It receives the first light of the day and is linked with growth and social standing. Main doors, living rooms and study rooms are traditionally placed here.
South belongs to Yama and Mars and is linked with rest, recognition and stability. Its walls are traditionally kept thicker and higher than those in the north, and it suits staircases, storage and bedrooms.
West belongs to Varuna and Saturn and is linked with gains, children and steady results. It suits children’s rooms, the dining area and staircases.
The four corners
The corners carry the strongest associations in Vastu, so they matter most when planning.
- North-east (Ishaan): the zone of prayer and clarity, ruled by Jupiter. The pooja room and underground water belong here; toilets, stairs and heavy storage do not.
- South-east (Agni): the fire zone, ruled by Venus. The traditional place for the kitchen and electrical equipment.
- South-west (Nairutya): the earth zone, ruled by Rahu. The master bedroom, the overhead tank and heavy storage belong here; the main door and toilets do not.
- North-west (Vayu): the air zone of movement, ruled by the Moon. It suits guest rooms, children’s rooms, toilets and the garage.
The centre, Brahmasthan
The centre of the home belongs to Brahma and is linked with the energy of the whole house. Traditionally it is kept open and uncluttered, without pillars, toilets, staircases or heavy furniture. In a flat, keeping the middle of the main hall clear of large furniture is a simple way to follow this.
How to find the directions in your home
Each of the eight directions covers a 45 degree slice of the compass, 22.5 degrees on either side of its point. You only need a compass, or a phone compass app, and a rough floor plan.
- Stand as close to the centre of the home as you can, away from steel cupboards, fridges, speakers and electrical boards, which pull the needle.
- Hold the compass flat at waist height and let the needle settle. Vastu works with magnetic north, which is what a compass shows.
- Note the angle between north and the wall in front of you. If the walls are off the compass points by only a few degrees, most consultants treat the home as straight.
- If the walls run well off the compass points, the home is tilted: the corners then face the main directions, and the reading needs more care.
- Mark north on your floor plan, divide it into a 3 by 3 grid and label the nine zones.
- Repeat the reading at the main door and in one more room. If the readings differ widely, something nearby is disturbing the compass.
Do
- Take compass readings from the centre of the home, away from metal and electronics.
- Use magnetic north as shown by the compass.
- Draw a simple 3 by 3 grid over your floor plan before planning any change.
- Keep the north and east lighter and more open than the south and west.
- Keep the Brahmasthan free of heavy furniture.
- Check two or three readings before deciding a home is tilted.
Avoid
- Do not guess directions from the time of sunrise alone.
- Do not read the compass next to a fridge, steel almirah or inverter.
- Do not place toilets or staircases in the north-east.
- Do not put the main door in the south-west corner.
- Do not fill the centre of the home with pillars or storage.
Adjustments without rebuilding
- Many consultants suggest keeping the north-east the brightest and tidiest corner of the home, with a small water bowl or plant there.
- Placing the heaviest cupboard against the south-west wall is commonly suggested to strengthen the earth zone.
- Many consultants suggest a warm light or a lamp in the south-east when the kitchen cannot sit there.
- A bowl of fresh flowers or an open rug in the centre, instead of a heavy table, is a common suggestion for the Brahmasthan.
These are traditional practices that many families follow. They vary between Vastu schools; for your own home, a consultant can say which matter most.
Questions
Which direction is best in Vastu?
No single direction is best for everything. North and east are traditionally kept open and suit doors and living rooms, the north-east suits prayer, the south-east suits cooking and the south-west suits the master bedroom.
Should I use true north or magnetic north for Vastu?
Most consultants use magnetic north, which is what an ordinary compass or phone compass shows. The difference is small in most of India, so it rarely changes the reading.
Where should I stand to take a Vastu compass reading?
Stand as close to the centre of the home as you can, away from metal furniture, appliances and electrical boards, and hold the compass flat. Take a second reading near the main door to confirm it.
What is the Brahmasthan?
The Brahmasthan is the centre of the home, the zone of Brahma. It is traditionally kept open and light, without pillars, toilets, staircases or heavy furniture.
What if my house is tilted from north?
If the walls are off by only a few degrees, most consultants read the home as straight. If they are well off, the corners face the main directions and the reading needs more care, so it is worth getting it checked.
Related Vastu guides
- What is Vastu Shastra? Meaning, principles and uses: Where Vastu comes from, the five elements, the four pillars and the Vastu Purusha mandala, in plain words.
- Vastu colours: The shades traditionally linked with each direction and room, with easy ways to use them in a rented home.
- Vastu tips for home: Where each room traditionally goes, how to treat the centre and the corners, and what to change in a flat.
- Main door Vastu: The best directions for the main door, where it sits on the wall, and what to keep out of its way.
- Plot Vastu: Plot facing, shape, slope, roads and soil: what Vastu commonly checks before you buy or build.
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