How to check the Vastu of a house
To check the Vastu of a house, find North, mark the eight directions from the centre of the plan, note where each key room falls and compare it with the traditional table. You need a floor plan and a compass app. The result tells you how the layout matches tradition, and nothing more.
2 min read ·
How do I find North, the centre and the eight directions?
Find North with a compass app, mark the centre of the plan, then divide the plan into eight directions. Stand inside the home, open a compass app and read it in a few spots, away from metal and electronics. Then confirm it against the plan, for example by checking which wall the road or a known landmark is on.
Next mark the centre of the plan, the Brahmasthan. For an irregular plot, use the middle of the usable built area. Draw eight equal wedges from the centre, with North at the top of the first wedge, naming them north, north-east, east and so on around the plan.
| Room | Preferred | Acceptable | Avoided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main entrance | North, north-east, east | West | South-west, south-east, south |
| Kitchen stove | South-east | North-west | North-east, south-west, north |
| Master bedroom | South-west | North-west | North-east, south-east |
| Pooja room | North-east, north, east | Not listed | South-west, south |
| Toilet | North-west, west-north-west, east-south-east | Not listed | North-east, south-west, centre |
How do I place the rooms and compare them?
Note which wedge holds each key room, such as the main entrance, kitchen stove, master bedroom, toilets, pooja room, staircase and any water tank, then compare it with the table. If a room spans two wedges, use the one holding most of its area.
Compare each position with the table. Mark each as preferred, acceptable or avoided, so you can see which findings matter more. Traditions differ, so treat the table as common guidance.
What are the limits of this method?
A plan without a North marking cannot be checked until you find North on site. In a flat, you can only check your own flat's layout and cannot change the building around it. An irregular or diagonal plot has no single clean centre, so the wedges are an estimate.
The method does not inspect the site, judge structure or replace a practitioner for rituals or disputes. It describes a layout and does not predict an outcome.
If a room does not match
These need no building work.
- Redo North with the compass in another spot if the result looks surprising.
- Mark each mismatch as avoided or only not preferred before deciding what to do.
- Fix what is simple: rearrange furniture, move a stove inside the kitchen, clear the centre and entrance.
- Take any structural question to a qualified architect or engineer and the local authority.
In VastuLive
VastuLive does steps 1 to 5 from your floor plan. It reads the rooms and the entrance, asks you to confirm rooms and North when unsure, and the report shows each finding with the rule behind it, plus optional non-structural suggestions.
See how the app worksQuestions
Can I check Vastu from outside the house?
No, not reliably. The check works from the layout inside, so a floor plan or a walkthrough with a compass is the right input. The outside view alone is not enough to place the rooms. Traditions differ, so treat the result as common guidance and not a verdict.
How do I check a diagonal plot?
Use the middle of the built area as the centre and treat the wedges as an estimate, since an irregular or diagonal plot has no single clean centre. Traditions differ on odd shapes. A practitioner or architect can advise, especially where the plot shape makes the rooms hard to place.
Do I need a professional?
Not for a first check. You need a floor plan, a compass app and the table on this page. A professional is useful for rituals, disputes, or when you want a second opinion. For structural, legal or safety questions, ask a qualified architect or engineer and the local authority.
What if my plan has no North marked?
Find North on site with a compass app and mark it on the plan before you start, because every other step depends on it. Stand inside the home and read the compass in a few spots, away from metal and electronics. Then confirm the reading against the plan.
Keep reading
Based on traditional Vastu texts and practice. Traditions differ, and nothing here promises a result. For structural, legal or safety questions, ask a qualified architect or engineer.