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This is when you are psychologically at home!

But this alone is not sufficient. The psychological security and mundane comforts of your house will not take you too far.
Therefore, You will crave and yearn for more, and then,  at some point of time in your life, or cycle of lives, you will strive to go beyond the psychological security and mundane comforts and seek more meaning out of the structure called house.

This is the right time  to take notice of an 'invisible' member of your house called Vastu Purusha.
 
Vastu is the ancient science of architecture that transforms a house ( or any structure) into a celestial and sacred space where the divine manifest itself in the form of a living, 'invisible' entity. That divine presence is called Vastu Purusha ( Vaastu or Vasthu or Vaasthu).  If a house is constructed and maintained on the principles of Vastu,  the space enclosed and trapped by structure of bricks, mortar, wood  begins to function on a different level of reality.  The house becomes epitome of divine energies. If a house is not constructed,  not maintained and not respected according to the Vastu principles, the house feels neglected and becomes epitome of negative energies.
Fundamentally, a house ( or any structure) draws its power from Vastu-Purusha, which  is the invisible mandatory member of any structure. Accepting or ignoring the presence of Vastu is a choice less choice. Vastu Purusha is also the presiding deity of any structure meant for dwelling. You ignore its presence, is your loss.

We would,  however, here in this article confine our self to buying a new house.

Caution : Vastu and the Modern Science.
Vastu makes an extensive use of directions and elements ( earth, fire, water, air, ether) in planning of any structure. Do not attempt to drag and investigate this from the angle of modern science. The realm of Vastu is different and you would never be able to explain scientifically, for example, why a kitchen  not located in southeast direction ( ruled by the element fire) could make cooking activities a very onerous and dull exercise! Fire, when scientifically investigated, would ultimately yield electrons, protons with out showing any apparent connections to the act of cooking. Therefore do not stretch your scientific investigation too far and try to define Vastu in scientific terms.
The Indian tradition is full of references to Panchabhuta, the elements viz fire, water, air, earth, ether. From Vastu to Yoga to Ayurveda to Astrology to Tantra to Vedanta  - you would find innumerable references to these elements. I even have  a Pandit Jasraj's bhajan mentioning about these elements in highly decorative language!
The Indian tradition is not only sure, but dead sure about these elements. You would need a different orientation and outlook to comprehend intellectually how these elements work and exercise their influence - and then a sadhna (meditation) to experience this first hand. Vastu effects can be felt but how-it-works comes from a different realm of perception.
 
Hunting for a house :
Location of the house : The latitude and the longitude

Have you ever reflected and appreciated this fact that a  great deal of your relationship with certain people happened because you stayed in a certain neighborhood? You meet people, develop bonds with them, equate or quarrel with them, casually or profoundly – all this is a part of greater destiny and  happens due to a reason. . Therefore, selecting a right locality, a conductive neighborhood is the first task.  This is done by matching your horoscope with that horoscope of the locality! In Vastu, the locality is treated like another breathing, living entity. This fact find its expression in the form of mantras which are common to many of our pooja rituals. ( I offer my prayers to the presiding deity of the city and the presiding deity of the locality) The country, state, city , road, sub division  you live in, are all treated as living, breathing individual. And you got to have a good matchmaking with each of these. To ensure this, your birth rashi ( according to Indian astrology system)  is reckoned and matched with the birth rashi of the city, road, sub division you are going to in habitat. The rashi of city, road is derived from the name of the city and name of the road. You would need help of an astrologer to figure this out.
Matchmaking : You and the house Many of us are aware how a matrimony prospect is subjected to matchmaking ( horoscope matching ) in India. Horoscope of the prospective bride and the groom is prepared and matched from several angles. A similar kind of matchmaking is done between you and the house which you propose to buy. Certain parameters of the  house are taken and based on that a horoscope of the house is prepared.

 
      Here is a sample matchmaking report

Directions and the Elements
You might want to imagine your house ( constructed area) as a square shaped plot. This is how the various directions are ruled by various gods, elements and planets.

Based on these data a meticulous planning  of the house is done to ensure its maximum attuning with the Vastu Purusha. Every nook and corner of the house is subjected to the Vastu planning  with one single goal in mind - maximum prosperity, peace, happiness and joy for all the residents of the house including pets if any!

Here is a quick Do's & Don'ts for the kitchen.

Few more Vastu likes and dislikes

Bedroom:-
Northwest - The room in this direction is suitable for guests and girls.
Southwest - Master bedroom
Northeast - No bedroom should be situated in this direction.
Southeast - No bedroom should be located in this direction. No sound sleep.
West -  There is a possibility of birth of larger number of girls in the family.


Bathroom: - West and South. Never in Northeast

Children's Room: - The children are future of the nation. If the parents are able to give right direction to the children at their tender age then tomorrow they will turn into disciplined citizens. The children's room, too, should be constructed in the North-West corner but the bathroom should be arranged in above noted direction only.

Doors: - North and East recommended. Depends on individual horoscope also.

Living Room: - It should be in Northeast, South or West direction.
Formal Dining  - South-East.

Entertainment Room: - Northwest or South.

Garages: - South-East or Northwest. 
Guest Room: - It should be in North-West corner.

Kitchen: -Most suitable in fire angle, i.e. in Southeast. While cooking,  face should be towards the East. 

Vastu Dosha

Vastu Purusha has certain likes and dislikes about how the various units of the house have been planned. Vastu Dosha are the faults in the planning of the house.
For example :  Northeast is the most favored of all places. This is where the head of the Vastu Purusha is located. This area is ruled by the benefic Guru ( Jupiter) . What happens  if you have a toilet or a kitchen in this area? These are a strict no-no-no for northeast. But you purchased a house and now realize these faults. You cant demolish the kitchen or move it elsewhere. In a way you cant just do much about it. So what is the solution?
Don't worry. Vastu Purusha understands your problem. However, the fact is that the equilibrium of the  Vastu planning has been disturbed and you are required to take certain corrective measures ( with out demolishing the house or kitchen) to restore the equilibrium. The invisible member of your house expects a certain balance and equilibrium of energies.

Part II of this article will deal with the corrective measures and how to restore the subtle elemental equilibrium..

The picture of that  lake with serene water is great. But don't hang it on a southeast wall, southeast is for fire!
North is the abode of Kuber, the god of wealth. Keep your cash, jewelry, check book in North !