Problems faced in Structural Corrections

The ideal method of restoring a structure is by correcting the periphery and the structure, which are defective to fall in line with Vaastu. There is obviously no equivalent to this approach. In almost all cases, the corrections if properly carried out, give desired results and the residents or users of the building can feel the change in the atmosphere almost immediately.

However, carrying out structural corrections through demolitions and renovations are often not practical or possible owing to the following factors :-

Building Byelaws

Every city has its own corporation which lays down rules for the construction of buildings. These are always not Vaastu favourable. For example, in Bangalore wider setbacks are allowed on the right side of the house for making driveways and for car garages. This means only a north-facing plot owner will have the good fortune of having higher setback in the east than in the west.

For a south-facing plot, the higher setback will be on the west side. As the minimum stipulated height is about ten feet for a 2400 square feet plot of size 60 x 40, the owner will have no alternative but to leave less setback on the eastern side. This automatically affects the peripheral energy field adversely.

Similarly in the case of an east-facing plot, the setback in the south will be more compared to the north. Although east-facing plots are preferred by people, but if they are to follow the byelaw, the Vaastu benefits will get affected.

Naturally all the houses, or at least a large majority of them have already adhered to these byelaws. In all these cases corrections are impossible as the byelaws are not sympathetic to Vaastu.

Strength of the structures

In case of existing buildings, another important factor is the feasibility of resorting to corrections keeping the age and strength of the structure in mind. Any concrete structure is supposed to last for a period of about 50 years. Thereafter it has to be raised to the ground and should be built afresh. In a developing country like ours, this is easier said than done. It is not surprising to see structures which are more than sixty or seventy years old where the residents are not even considering demolition but hope to continue there for their lifetime.

Even in cases where the inmates consider corrections as per Vaastu, it may not be possible to demolish walls and rebuild it, as the strength of the structure would have been reduced considerably during the process of restoration due to aging. Restructuring old buildings by changing the position of the doors and windows is a formidable task as the ‘lintel’ technology was unknown in those times.

Again the “Madras” roof technology, which did not use reinforced concrete cement but relied on wooden girders with tiles to cast the roof, is another factor, which makes structural corrections in many houses very difficult.

Practical Inconvenience

Many of the independent homes are built in accordance with the requirements of the owner. Whatever may be the Vaastu defects, it cannot be denied that the factors regarding convenience are well taken care of. Not all corrections can be carried out simultaneously ensuring the safety of the originally planned conveniences. Most of the people do not like to sacrifice the features, which contribute to comfortable living in exchange for Vaastu benefits. All they want is the incorporation of Vaastu benefits along with the protection of the existing features. Because of the contradictory demands of the owner, carrying out structural corrections in the existing structure becomes impractical.

Apartments

In apartments the scope for structural correction is almost non-existent. Although you may be the owner of an apartment in a block you are not permitted to make any structural alterations as the walls, roof and floor are all shared among the various occupants. Short of disposing of the apartment you have no other choice here.

Rented Houses

Here again the problem remains the same as far as structural correction is concerned. Normally the owners are very reluctant to carry out corrections in their buildings as per the tenant’s desire. Even when the tenant offers to pay for such corrections most of the landlords refuse as they fear that the looks of the buildings might get affected. They are also worried that the strength of the structure may be affected if extensive corrections are undertaken.

Reluctance

In any family it is too much to expect of everyone to think alike. If a few members of the family are in favour of any correction, as they ‘believe’ in Vaastu the others more often oppose it. This is a normal situation in most of the households. In business enterprises the problem is more complex as the other partners may not believe in Vaastu at all, and hence, may show disinterest in carrying out structural corrections in the building. In all these cases, the effort of the few to get the building corrected structurally will be successfully foiled by others, resulting in a ‘back of square one’ situation.

Disruptions

In the case of an industry or a business enterprise, structural correction cannot be carried out without disrupting their daily regime. This means loss in terms of money. Depending on the extent of work involved it would be necessary to shut down the plant and give paid holidays to the workers for the entire duration of the renovation work. Most of the industrialists and businessmen are not understandably, receptive to such ideas.

Then there are some industries where the question of stopping the work itself does not arise as it may involve loss of several lakhs of rupees.

Layout Compulsions

In case of any industry or manufacturing unit the machines are so planned that the raw material fed at one end undergoes various operations and is delivered at the other end as finished goods. It will be unrealistic to expect the weight and the function of each machine to fall under the tenets of Vaastu and at the same time fulfilling the requirement of line manufacture. Thus a heavy machine involved in an intermediate operation may be installed in the southeast or northwest portions whereas a light machine may have to be placed in the southwest because of the requirements of the process involved.

Again in case of some industries, the process requires pit formation right underneath the machine. Such machines are common in leather and silk reeling industries as a result of which the levels get disturbed. Similarly requirements of cold water, hot water and steam at various points may go against the Vaastu rules. While all these factors do contribute to the malfunctioning of the unit, there is obviously no possibility of correction by the conventional method.

Large plots

In case of large plots running into several acres, the correction of the levels cannot be carried out because of the costs involved. One cannot deny the fact that the amount spent on Vaastu corrections are rather hidden expenses and that there is no tangible result to justify the spending. If the same amount is invested in purchasing a gadget or in adding a block, the result of the expenditure is there for all to see. But in case of Vaastu correction, except the factor of bringing about mental satisfaction for the believer, there is nothing perceptible.

In case of large plots, factors like a hostile terrain rocks and mountains, canals and rivulets, etc. can all hinder in carrying out structural corrections even if one is mentally prepared to do so.

Roof Corrections

By far the most complicated part to be corrected is the roof. It virtually means that all the members occupying the building have to vacate the premises before this particular correction is resorted to. Dismantling the roof is expensive and time consuming. Apart from this, one has to find a suitable alternative accommodation and shift all activities and household to the new premises before undertaking roof correction. Certainly not possible for a large family. All these broader problems and certain personal problems, which vary from person to person makes one, explore the possibility of Vaastu correction without demolition.

Certainly a need exists to explore this path and popularize it as well so that those who come under the various categories discussed above and are unable to take the conventional correction methods can have an alternative aid.

We shall discuss about these in the following chapters.

Corrections of Vaastu Defects through Feng Shui

Feng Shui

Feng Shui is a Chinese word, which means wind and water. The concept of Feng Shui is not very different from Vaastu. The principle behind both are the same. Chinese refer to Chi as the cosmic breath and recognize that there is a male (positive) force and a female (negative) force which they call ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’. Just as Vaastu recognizes that the entire universe is made up of five basic elements, the Chinese also recognize the five elements.

However the concept here is slightly different. In Vaastu, the five elements are earth, water, air, fire and ether (akasha). In Feng Shui the five elements are designated as earth, water, fire, wood and gold. Both sciences believe that the building should be oriented towards the north-south direction.

But there are irreconcilable differences as well. Feng Shui considers north as evil whereas according to Vaastu, the north is an auspicious direction, the ruling lord of the direction being Kubera, the lord of wealth.

Again Feng Shui declares that flow of water in the form of a canal or river or a rivulet in front of the building is auspicious, but Vaastu allows such flow only in the northeast direction and strictly forbids water flow in any other direction.

Feng Shui is also not without superstition. It takes into consideration the year of birth of the owner while choosing the plot.