Vaastushastra is more 5000 years science. It started when the primeval man wanted safety from heat, cold, wind, rain etc. Taking the basic five elements into consideration he built a house as comfortable as possible. As the human mind developed he started studying the impact of environment on his house as well as on his body. The science of Vaastushastra developed in a logical and simple manner so that an ordinary person could follow it. The ancient sages write the books 'Vishwakarma Prakash' and 'Vastupadvinyas'. They are considered as the most ancienmt books on Vaastushastra.
Our sages devoted their lives to study scientifically the ideal structure for a man to live in. Agnipuran, Vayupuran, Skandpuran, Garudpuran, Matsyapuran, Suryapuran etc. are some of the books which give information about Vaastushastra. The deductions were based on the scientific method of experiment, observation and inference.
We can find reference of Vaastushastra in the Ramayan and Mahabharat. At that time the City of Ayodhya, temples, water storeges and gerdens etc. were built as per Vaastushastra. When Lord Rama built the Setu (bridge) between India and Sri Lanka he took the help and guidance of Nala the son of Vishwakarma. Nala was a great expert of Vaastushastra.
We can also find proofs of Vaastushastra in the Mahabharat. The Pandavas built Indraprastha city. At that time, Maya, an expert of Vaastushastra, built Mayanagari as per the instructions of Lord Krishna. A big rectangular tank was built at the centre of this city. However, it looked like plain surface. Duryodhan thought it to be a surface and fell in the tank. Lord Krishna knew that the Kauravas would win Indraprastha from the Pandavas with foul means. He had, therefore, asked Maya to build a tank in the middle of the city. As per Vaastushastra, a tank, well or pit in the middle of the plot or structure leads to its destruction. Hence, Kauravas were ruined totally.
Lord Krishna was omniscient. He asked Vishwakarma to plan and design the city of Dwarka. Vishwakarma had built all structures following the principles of Vaastushastra. The whole city of Dwarka lived happily and peacefully. As per the directions of Lord Krishna, Vishwakarma had built Dwarka with water all around it. Both of them knew that Dwarka would sink and submerge in water after a specific time. The remains of Dwarka are still found at that place under the sea.
As per Vaastushastra, 'Vaastoshpati' that is 'Vaastupurush' is always in action in all types of buildings. In Matsyapuran some very interesting stories of Vaastupurush and his worship are narrated. Probably these stories were included in 'Puranas' to make people conscious about the subject which would make them build their house as per Vaastushastra. Even in Mohanjodaro and Harappa use of Vaastushastra is clearly visible.
