Understanding Vastu Directions for Harmonious Living

Explore the significance of cardinal and intercardinal directions in Vastu Shastra to bring positive energy into your home.

What Are The Principal Directions?

What Are The Auxiliary Directions?

House Direction Guide Showing Cardinal and Intercardinal Directions

Compass Directions and Their Corresponding Degrees

There are a total of 16 directions, comprising 8 cardinal directions and 8 intercardinal (ordinal) directions. Below are their names with corresponding degrees.

All Directions Information

• Vastu for East Facing Homes
  Explore the advantages and disadvantages of the East direction in this East link.

• Vastu for North Facing Homes
  Discover the benefits and drawbacks of the North direction by visiting this North link.

• Vastu for West Facing Homes
  Know the merits and demerits of the West direction through this West link.

• Vastu for South Facing Homes
  Understand the positive and negative effects of the South direction in this South link.

• Northeast Facing Vastu Homes
  Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the Northeast direction using this Northeast link.

• Vastu For Southeast Homes
  Find the pros and cons of the Southeast direction by clicking this Southeast link.

• Vastu benefits of Southwest Homes
  Check the advantages and disadvantages of the Southwest direction in this Southwest link.

• North West Vastu Defects
  Explore the positive and negative aspects of the Northwest direction via this Northwest link.

• Best Bedroom Vastu ideas
  Learn Bedroom Vastu do's and don'ts via visiting this helpful Bedroom link.

What are the Secret Magical Numbers in All Directions?

Have you noticed a secret magic in direction degrees? When you add the digits of each direction's degrees, the sum is always "9". For example: East-Northeast = 67.5° (6 + 7 + 5 = 18; 1 + 8 = 9), and North-Northeast = 22.5° (2 + 2 + 5 = 9). This could be a reason why many people are fascinated with the number "9".

Many vehicle owners, including billionaires and millionaires, spend a significant amount to get registration numbers like "9", "99", "999" or "9999". It's a popular sentiment among them.

Significant Information on Directions

1. East-Southeast lies between East and Southeast, while South-Southeast lies between South and Southeast. These are sub-directions used for finer directional analysis.

2. South-Southwest and West-Southwest together form the broader Southwest zone.

3. West-Northwest and North-Northwest together form the Northwest zone.

4. For Vastu assessment, a plot or house is divided into eight directions starting from the central point known as Brahmasthan.

5. Brahmasthan represents the geometric center of a plot or building.

6. Ideally, plots should have regular shapes (square or rectangular). Irregular shapes may require corrective planning. Aligning the plot parallel to the adjoining road is generally preferred where possible.

7. Vastu measurements begin by identifying magnetic North using a compass.

8. Place the compass at the center of the plot or flat, mark North and South, and draw a straight reference line between them.

9. From the same center point, draw a perpendicular line to establish East and West. This completes the four main directions.

10. Each primary direction is then divided further to identify intercardinal zones (Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Northwest), creating eight directional segments around Brahmasthan.

11. These divisions help determine the influence of the four cardinal and four intercardinal directions on the property.

12. The remaining corner areas form the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest zones. A central square or rectangular area aligned with the building outline is considered the Brahmasthan.

13. In flats or apartment complexes, in addition to the eight horizontal directions, two vertical zones, Sky (Up) and Earth (Down), are also considered in traditional Vastu practice.

14. Services such as overhead tanks, staircases, pumps, and utility areas are usually located on the ground or rooftop levels.

15. Since these shared services influence the entire building, Vastu practitioners often consider all ten directions (including Sky and Earth) for apartments.

16. Many assume each direction occupies exactly 45°. In practice, for residential planning, dividing directions equally into 45° segments generally provides workable results.

17. Scientifically, the Sun does not rise or shine at a fixed angle throughout the year due to Earth’s axial tilt. Therefore, compass-based measurement is preferred over solar observation.

18. Using approximate 45° divisions is sufficient for most homes. Minor variations do not usually create noticeable differences in practical Vastu applications.

19. It is important to understand the difference between true north and magnetic north.

20. Magnetic north differs slightly from true north because of Earth’s magnetic field generated by its molten iron core. Determining true north requires advanced calculations, while magnetic north can be easily identified with a compass.

21. For practical Vastu purposes, using magnetic north and standard directional divisions is widely accepted and sufficient in most residential and commercial situations.

What are the International Standards in Directions?

2. Vastu for Directions: Before delving into this topic, please acquaint yourself with "How to Find Directions". In Vastu, understanding directions is crucial, similar to the importance of eyes in a human body. Accurately determining the directions of a property, whether it is a house, land, or factory, is essential for assessing its positive or negative influences as described in Vaastu Shastra.

3. The four primary compass directions are known as the cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West, abbreviated as N, S, E, and W. It is suggested that the term NEWS derives from these directions.

4. These main compass points are also referred to as cardinal points, with each direction sometimes prefixed with “due”, such as "due north".

5. The directions situated between the cardinal points are called ordinal directions, which include Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), Southwest (SW), and Northwest (NW), and are also known as intercardinal directions.

6. Located between each cardinal and ordinal direction are the secondary-intercardinal directions, which total eight. These include NNE (22.5°), ENE (67.5°), ESE (112.5°), SSE (157.5°), SSW (202.5°), WSW (247.5°), WNW (292.5°), and NNW (337.5°). To determine these directions, add 22.5° to each corresponding ordinal direction.

7. Similar to how a doctor depends on a stethoscope to assess a patient's health, a Vastu consultant requires precise directional knowledge to properly evaluate a property and provide accurate advice. Without such knowledge, even a famous Vastu consultant would struggle to make effective evaluations.

8. Misidentifying the directions of a property can lead to errors that persist through the development process, adversely affecting the occupants and their descendants. Although errors are common, vigilance is crucial in this field to prevent long-term issues among residents.

9. In Vastu Science, Magnetic North is used as a baseline to establish other directions. Depending on whether properties are regular or skewed, the primary directions, East, West, North, and South, are aligned perpendicularly in regular plots but may not align perfectly in skewed plots.

10. The central point of a property, known as the Brahmasthan, is essential. After plotting a property on a map and identifying the Brahmasthan, the principal directions are marked accordingly.

11. The Earth’s axial tilt at 23.5 degrees influences the positions of sunrise and sunset, which affects how true east and other directions are determined. The cardinal directions are integral parts of any property evaluation, each covering specific degrees in the compass layout, ensuring accuracy whether the property is regular or skewed.

"Fig A" is a regular square plot. "O" is Brahmasthan which is the geometric center of the plot.

"Fig B" is a skewed plot, yet square. Note how NE, SE, SW, and NW are sited with reference to the regular plot.

"Fig C" is a rectangular plot and regular with reference to the principal directions. Note the positions of NE, SE, SW, and NW.

"Fig D" is a rectangular skewed plot. Again note the siting of NE, SE, SW, and NW.

Always mark the directions of the plot/house are a room with reference to the geometric center of the same. Needless to repeat that the geometric center is the Brahmasthan. In every direction, one half of the same is exhalted where one can locate doors so that movements reduced positive energies. Those on the other half or debilitating half where if there are doors produced adverse negative energy.

In "fig-2", the exalted half of each of the eight directions are indicated with green lines. At these precise positions, doors produce positive energy. Note that all of Northeast direction is exalted. Similarly, all of Southwest directions is debilitating.

A. “Directions in Vastu” form a fundamental part of Vaastu consultation. Traditionally, directions were identified by observing the Sun in the early morning, facing the rising Sun indicates East, with West behind you, North to your left, and South to your right. While this method offers a basic understanding, it is not always accurate.

B. In many situations, the Sun may not be visible due to clouds or weather conditions. In such cases, a compass becomes essential. A compass reliably indicates North using Earth’s magnetic field and works during day or night, in any season, making it a dependable tool for directional identification.

C. A standard compass displays directions using degrees: 0° or 360° for North, 90° for East, 180° for South, and 270° for West. Although some Vastu Pandits still estimate directions manually by observing sunrise, this method lacks precision because the Sun does not rise at the exact same point throughout the year.

D. In earlier times, experts depended on sunrise observation because compasses were not commonly available. Today, however, accurate tools are easily accessible. For reliable Vastu assessment, consultants should always use a compass, as proper directional measurement is the foundation of any meaningful site evaluation.

Imaginary Animated Directions File

2. You may observe that the arrow rotates from North (0°) and completes a full circle to return to North (360°). This visual demonstration helps explain how directions correspond with degree measurements.

3. In standard compass orientation, North is always shown at the top. Most images on this site follow this international convention. In a few cases, East has been placed at the top for layout or illustration purposes; however, those images clearly display a compass or road direction so viewers can easily identify the remaining directions.

4. If you find any image without a directional compass or clear directional guidance, please inform us through the SubhaVaastu Contact Details page so we can correct it promptly.

5. The arrow sequence follows this order: 0° (North), 90° (East), 180° (South), 270° (West), and finally returns to North (360°), completing a full directional cycle.

6. Directional arrows are shown using different colors to help visually distinguish each direction. If this section feels unclear, the information provided below may help improve understanding.

Best Example Of Finding Directions Through Animated Image

Directions With Degrees

Which Is More Reliable For Finding Directions : Sunrise Or A Directional Compass?

1. A directional compass is the most accurate and dependable tool for identifying directions of land, houses, flats, or any location. Although many people traditionally rely on sunrise or sunset, this method is not precise.

2. The Earth is tilted on its axis, which causes the Sun to rise at different points along the horizon throughout the year. Except during the equinox periods, the Sun does not rise exactly in the East or set exactly in the West. Therefore, using sunrise or sunset can result in directional inaccuracies.

3. A compass, on the other hand, functions based on Earth’s magnetic field and consistently indicates the North-South reference. This makes it scientifically reliable regardless of season or date.

4. For accurate site evaluation, architectural planning, or Vastu assessment, it is always recommended to use a directional compass instead of estimating directions from the Sun.

The Importance of Corners in Directions

1. A corner is the meeting point of two directions. Because of this, every corner carries the combined influence of both directions. These mixed directional energies make corners especially significant in building design.

2. Therefore, corners should be carefully planned during construction. Special attention is required for the Northeast corner, as it is traditionally considered delicate and highly influential for growth and development.

3. The Northeast is regarded as a salient feature of any property. Although every house has the same eight directions, their effects vary based on usage, construction quality, neighborhood influence, and overall maintenance. When followed according to the principles of Vasthu, a house is believed to support the well-being of its residents.

4. When construction goes against these principles, the living environment may feel uncomfortable or stressful. Directional impact largely depends on how occupants utilize and manage the space.

5. For example, if the Northeast (Ishan) corner is properly designed, residents may experience better satisfaction, gradual progress, prosperity, and stability in life.

6. If the Northeast corner is disturbed, truncated, or blocked, occupants may experience setbacks such as reduced growth opportunities or challenges in family harmony and education. Understanding Vastu concepts helps people avoid unnecessary stress.

7. By learning specific Vastu principles, people can choose positive spaces that promote harmony, health, and financial stability. Vastu is a vast subject, and thoughtful application can support a balanced living environment.

8. Proper building orientation contributes not only to energy efficiency but also to better architectural design, comfortable living, and improved quality of life for occupants.

9. Orientation also considers the relationship between planetary movement and building directions with respect to the North. Using suitable local materials and correct orientation can enhance a building’s durability and improve occupants’ comfort.

10. There are examples where buildings lacking proper orientation deteriorated faster than those constructed with careful directional planning. Proper orientation requires clear understanding of all Eight Directions.

11. It is commonly known that the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. When facing East, North lies to the left and South to the right.

12. Corners, where two directions meet, are more influential because they combine the effects of both directions. The eight primary directions are North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, and Northwest. Traditional Vastu principles are based on these.

13. Are there eight directions or ten directions? Some practitioners recognize ten directions by including Sky (Up) and Earth (Down). This is considered a philosophical extension of Vastu, and future research may further explore these concepts.

Northeast Direction Shown With Animated Picture

Southeast Direction Displayed With Animated Image

Southwest Direction Displayed With Animated Image

Northwest Direction Displayed With Animated Image

Sun's Journey From Uttarayan to Dakshinayan and to Next Uttarayan

2. Showing that Earth is wobbling while journeying around the Sun, this wobbling is to the extent of 47° from the meridian 23 1/2° of each side. In the wobbling of the earth on 21 March of every year, the sun is directly facing the equator on 21st march when the earth starts wobbling down so that the Northern hemisphere faces fully towards the Sun.

3. The ancient Rishis recognized this aspect and looked for the date as an auspicious moment to start any huge construction activity.

4. The Konark temple in Odisha is constructed taking these aspects into the view and very properly placed vis-a-vis Sun.

5. There are many temples in South India where Sunrays falls on the principal diety on a particular date and time only. One can see this phenomenon in Hampi Virupaksha Mandhir and Shiva Mandir in Tadipatri, Anantapur District, and Suryanarayana Swamy temple in Srikakulam, and many other places.

6. It is indeed a great tribute to the ancient seers as to how they visualized these phenomena without modern-day techonology etc.

Sunrise Direction Changes After March 21 (Equinox)

1. On or around the March equinox, the Sun rises almost exactly in the East at 90° azimuth. This is a special time of the year when day and night are nearly equal across the world.

2. After March 21, the Sun does not remain fixed at 90°. Instead, it begins a gradual shift towards the North-East direction. Each day, the sunrise point moves slightly by about 0.3° to 0.4°, which is a very small change but becomes noticeable over time.

3. For example, on March 22 the Sun rises around 89.7°, on March 23 around 89.4°, and continues shifting further northward in the following days. Within a month, this results in a total shift of nearly 9° to 10°.

4. In simple terms, after the equinox, the Sun rises north of East, and this movement continues until the June solstice. Understanding this natural shift is important in Vastu and directional studies, as it influences sunlight entry and energy flow in a property.

Daily shift ≈ 0.3° (very small but noticeable over time)

In 10 days → about 3° shift

In 1 month → about 9–10° shift

Solstice (Ayanantham) - Simple Notes

1. Solstice (Ayanantham) is the time when the Sun reaches its maximum position either towards the North or South.

2. It occurs twice a year - once in June and once in December.

3. The June Solstice (around June 21) is the day with the longest daylight of the year.

4. The December Solstice (around December 21 or 22) is the day with the longest night of the year.

5. During solstice, the Sun appears at its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon.

6. After the June solstice, the Sun gradually starts moving southward, and after the December solstice, it starts moving northward.

7. Solstice plays an important role in seasonal changes and affects climate patterns.

8. Understanding solstice is useful in Vastu and directional planning, as it influences sunlight direction and energy flow.

The Placement of Quadrants According to Directions

1. To help you understand this concept clearly, several images are displayed below. Please observe all of them carefully. Viewing only one image may not provide a complete understanding. Here, we are considering a single place or house, and the visuals explain how that location is divided into different directional parts and how each part is identified.

2. These illustrations are intended to guide readers through a visual explanation of spatial layout. Such representations are commonly used in architecture, planning, and directional studies to help people recognize how a single property can be segmented into multiple zones based on compass directions.

3. The term “Quadrants” refers to zones or divisions within the same location. These may also be called portions, sections, partitions, or parts. Although all images relate to one property, different terms may be used to describe these areas depending on context or interpretation.

4. Understanding these quadrants helps in identifying how each directional segment contributes to the overall layout of a site, which is useful for planning, design, and traditional directional assessments.

East and West Quadrants

North and South Quadrants

Travel Over the Four Directional Quadrants

NorthEast and SouthWest Divisions

NorthWest and SouthEast Divisions

Exploring the Six Enchanting Regions

Discover the Six Captivating Divisions of This Place

Explore 9 Enthralling Sections of a Place

1. Observe how one location is called by many different names. For example, a person is referred to as a son, husband, brother, father, brother-in-law, son-in-law, officer, manager, chairman, or a friend, but it's still the same person. Similarly, the place is the same, but how various names are applied to it should be carefully observed.

2. This place highlights the idea that just as a person can have multiple roles or identifiers depending on the context or relationship, a single geographic location can also be referred to by various terms, each reflecting a different aspect or "CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PLACE". This analogy helps illustrate the complexity of naming and categorization, whether it pertains to human roles or spatial divisions.

3. A skilled Vastu consultant meticulously examines every corner of a location from various angles to uncover the facts about the place or home. They have a deep understanding of how to identify the unique characteristics of a home. Wise residents (For example NRI's) always seek opinions from these experts and always avoiding those with only partial knowledge, regardless of their service fees.

Is There Any Particular Direction to Move When Buying a New Home?

Dear Sir, kindly let us know if there is any specific Vastu guideline about choosing the direction of a new home when relocating, for example, whether the new residence should be located to the North, South, East, or West of the current home. - Balaji - Chennai

Respected Balaji, One practical case often shared involves a resident named Madhusudhan, who received astrological advice in 1993 to move only toward the Northeast from his existing home. He followed this guidance and purchased a house in that direction. However, after moving, he experienced several personal difficulties.

Later, when he considered relocating again, the same astrologer insisted he should move only toward the Northeast once more. Since no suitable property was available in that direction, Madhusudhan eventually chose a home located to the Northwest of his original residence and shifted there in 1996.

Contrary to earlier predictions, he lived peacefully in that home for many years. Over time, his financial condition improved, and he was able to invest in additional properties. This experience highlighted that blindly following directional movement advice alone does not determine life outcomes.

This example suggests that selecting a new home should be based on practical factors such as Vastu of the home, the quality of the property, internal layout, surroundings, and personal comfort, rather than merely the direction of relocation from a previous residence. In Vastu practice, the internal & external orientation of a house is generally considered more important than its relative position to a former home.

Finally, you don’t need to worry about the direction when moving to a new home. If the new house is well planned according to Vastu, you can move there with confidence without thinking about its position compared to your current home. One important thing to remember is the distance between your old home and the new one, because the effect of relocation depends more on the overall location and surroundings than on direction alone.