What is Sthapatya Ved?

	Introduction Sthapatya Ved is an ancient architecture from India. It is part of a system of knowledge called Veda. Sthapatya means establishing, and Ved means knowledge. Sthapatya Ved means establishing a relationship between the dweller, dwelling and cosmos. This relationship maintains a cosmic order between the dweller, dwelling and cosmos. This is the same knowledge that was used in the past to design temples, houses and cities. Ancient civilizations around the world were influenced by this architecture, remnents of which still exist. This knowledge has been articulately structured into an integral part of the architectural design process by Deepak Bakshi from ancient Sanskrit texts.
	Origin Shri Vishvakarma is the source of Sthapatya Ved knowledge. He is the origin of the entire knowledge. The universe is created with the very same principles that he passed to Rishis and Maharishis thousands of years ago to utilize in designing homes, cities and countries. This very universe is in precise order, moving with precise time throughout many billions of years. Shri Vishvakarma has said in his Sanskrit commentary that even if one can't apply this Sthapatya Ved knowledge fully, it is still more beneficial to apply some of this knowledge to improve our life and growth.
	Philosophy Understanding of Sthapatya Ved All people are influenced by the building in which they reside, work and worship. According to the design of a structure, one feels either comfort or discomfort. Building designed in accordance with laws of nature will produce a sense of bliss, calmness and fulfillment. In incorrectly designed structures one feels anxious, stressful and dispondent. Poorly designed structures produce sickness and depression.
	How can this be achieved? We all know that the universe is in perfect order since its beginning. If the architect can establish the relationship between building design and the order of the universe, the life of an individual can be healthier, less stressful, more creative and blissful. Ayur-Ved says: As is the atom, so is the universe As is the human body, so is the cosmic body As is the human mind, so is the cosmic mind As is the microcosm, so is the macrocosm With Sthapatya Ved knowledge, one can accomplish: As is the human body, so is the cosmic body As is the human body, so is the body (structure) of the building As is the body of the building, so is the cosmic body As is the building plan, so is the cosmic plan We can see that from the level of the atom to the level of the cosmos, the same laws of nature are reflected.
	TIme and space enter the building plan The order of both manifest and unmanifest creation in the cosmos is reflected in the building plan. The relationship between owner and the cosmos is reflecting in the building plan. Time enters this building plan through the periodic rotation of earth which gives rise to the daily patterns of sunrise and sunset. Space enters the building plan when the building is oriented to the cardinal points, which are north, south, east and west. The naming of directions according to Veda is rel- ated to the movement of the sun. The earth is considered to be four cornered in its fixed position according to Sthap- atya Ved. Sunrise and sunset define two of these points-east and west. As the sun is considered to be life-supporting to every organism, it would represent heaven - then at these two points heaven and earth seem to meet. North and south complete the four points. Each building should be construct- ed in harmony with all four cardinal points.
	Benefits Residence · Improves the health of the residents · Increases creativity and intelligence · Increased longitivity of life · Increase in quality of life · Growth in spiritual and material life · Increase in family bonding · Increase in respect for nature
	Commercial · Improves the efficiency of employees · Increases creativity and intelligence · Expansion in business and profit · Less stressful environent, more output in work
	Institutional · Benefits differ for different types of instititions
	Design steps · Select Vedic Architect · Review land quality prior to purchase · Prepare Jyotish chart with Jyotishi (Vedic astrologer) · Vedic architect will prepare the cosmic diagram, the Vastu for the land · Location of the proposed building on the land will be determined by the Vedic Architect · Vedic Architect will program the functional area of the building · Vedic Architect will prepare the building's Vastu diagram · The conceptual design will provide the proportions and orientation of rooms and their heights according to Sthapatya Ved · The Brahmasthan, a space central to building, the most calm and Cosmically connected place in the building, will be determined · All door and window placement and proportion will be determined according to Sthapatya Ved · Non-toxic and consciousness-supportive building materials will be selected · Interior color scheme will be determined according to planetary orientation in the Vastu diagram · Non-toxic interior finishes chosen and oriented to match planetary placement · Vedic Architect will prepare the conceptual design including a plan and elevations · Stages of construction based on auspicious times · Ground breaking ceremony to take place at an auspicious time The ground breaking ceremony is the birth of Vastu consciousness The building designed with Sthapatya Ved knowledge knowledge is ready to be occupied
	Beyond today's architecture Today's architecture is based on climate, available materials, building methods of the period, geographical conditions, and prevailing styles. Sthapataya Ved provides all of these, but goes beyond them by including detailed knowledge of both the human physiology and the cosmos. As time passes, other systems of architecture become obsolete. This is not the case with Sthapatya Ved, because Sthapatya Ved is not a limited system. It is a dynamic system of architecture that ever changes to precisely match the current cosmic conditions. Sthapatya Ved is a timeless architecture. It is living designed in harmony with the Cosmos.
	Beyond functionality and aesthetic: Today's design process compared to the Sthapatya Ved design process
	Today's design process An architect, today, will complile all the functions required per floor in the house. He will find the best relationship between functions (rooms) and create a functional program of the building, by which he would create the form of the house.	Sthapatya Ved design process The Vedic Architect (sthapati) will go through the design process as an architect would, but he goes beyond. In addition, a Vedic architect will find the relationship between the owner and the cosmos and will try to reflect that relationship by choosing the right orientation, proportion and placement of functions with ancient formulas.
	Orientation in today's design process The consideration of the orientation of the building is based on climate and natural views around the site.	Sthapatya Ved requirements for orientation The selection of building orientation according to Sthapatya Ved is based on the client's relationship with the cosmos. The orientation is chosen in a way that benefits the owner's health, prosperity and spirtual growth.
	Beyond functionality and aesthetic: Cosmic diagram In Sthapatya Ved, the Cosmic diagram is called Vastu - Purusa - Mandala. Here the Vastu is an object, building, town, country or universe. Any physical element is defined as Vastu. Purusa means pure consciousness and Mandala means cosmic blueprint. When a building is designed with this knowledge, the Vedic architect creates a cosmic blueprint and by placing a buil- ding over it, pure consciousness is manifested in it while re- maining in contact with the cosmos. When the building is in a perfectly ordered state, it is concieved to be in the likeness of Purusa (pure consciousness). The Cosmic diagram is a manifest re- semblence of the unmanifest intelligence underlying the structure of the building and all of creation.
	Beyond functionality and aesthetic: Building materials In order to mainifest pure consciousness in the building, the material that envelopes the building should have a high state of consciousness. By be- ing in certain states of mind, the human body can experience higher states of consciousness because the fabrics of its physiology are made of the primal five elements that exist in the cosmos, which are earth, water, fire, air and space. Similarly, building materials should have a high state of consciousness.