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My researches on Vaastu and housing

Four Field Research Observations from Vaastu–Architectural Practice

Since 1985, I have been practising house design as a profession. In addition to this, I have been engaged in land subdivision and sales, as well as developing houses on those lands and selling them. Over the years, I studied Harmaness Appuhamy's book "Residential Architecture and Vaastu Science" and applied the knowledge gained from it to my projects in a practical manner.

As these efforts proved successful, I established an office at the Maharagama Minister's Building to share this knowledge more practically with others. With growing exposure through the media, I also began teaching and guiding students who wished to learn. As my work became increasingly recognised, I naturally expanded my focus into the field of commercial Vaastu as well.

Dissemination of Knowledge

During this period, I published books and magazines in order to share my knowledge more widely. Programmes such as Lakhanda "Home Clinic", "Nuga Sewana" and "Sandae Nimnaya" on National Television, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation's "Nenasara", and "Niwahana" on Siyatha TV provided valuable platforms for sharing my expertise with the public.

While carrying out my professional work, I conducted several research studies to resolve various Vaastu-related issues that arose in practice. Because I successfully applied the conclusions of these studies to my work, my projects progressed more rapidly and became firmly established in real-world outcomes.

Research Finding 01: The Courtyard as the "Natural Main Entrance"

Background:
During house inspections, I observed that certain houses performed well even without a perfect match to the door chart. I wanted to understand what made this possible.

Sample / Data:
Approximately 300 houses were examined.

1

Key Finding

  • The observations revealed that the courtyard (COURTYARD) often functions as the "natural/main entrance" (urudu mukha dwārayā) in many homes.
  • Because of this, the overall entrance logic of the house (as interpreted through the door chart) appeared to become "correct" or balanced in practice.
2

Essential Condition

For a courtyard to be treated as an "entrance element," it must be capable of providing:

  • Ventilation (air movement), and
  • Sunlight / daylight penetration.
3

Practical Value

  • This idea has helped architects apply Vaastu-based planning more practically, especially in constrained sites.
  • In houses with blind walls (common on small plots), the courtyard became a major advantage, improving light and airflow and acting as a functional "gateway" to the home.
  • I later recognized similar effects in commercial Vaastu practice as well. Therefore, the courtyard should be considered a valid "door" or entrance component within the door-chart concept.

Research Finding 02: Misconceptions about the "Number/Size" of Doors and Windows

Background:
There is a widespread belief that the number or size of doors and windows has a fixed "truth" or strict rule. Earlier, I also believed this because I followed traditional opinions. Later surveys clarified the real situation.

Sample / Data:
Approximately 1,000 houses were studied.

Key Finding

  • The survey results showed that there is no factual basis to claim a fixed truth in the number of doors and windows.
  • This misconception appears to have spread mainly due to:

which led some people to popularize unsupported "rules."

  • incorrect calculation of the central point, and
  • inability to apply the door chart correctly,

Additional Observation

This belief is especially strong in parts of the southern region, where it is widely accepted with great confidence.

Conclusion

The meaningful factor is the door chart and correct spatial analysis, not superstition about the number of doors and windows.

Research Finding 03: Location of the Well and Its Real Impact

Background:
The location of a well is widely believed to directly influence the household. I investigated what is truly valid and under what conditions it matters.

Key Observations:

  • A well can be located in any direction—North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, or Northwest—according to the compass.
  • However, whether it becomes a "defect" is not simply about direction; it depends on where it is placed relative to the front of the house and visibility from key points.

Sample / Data:
Approximately 500 houses were used for the critical observations related to defects.

Well Position

A well behind the house is not a defect in most cases.

Distance from House

Although a well in the front-right / Southwest area is often considered unsuitable, observations showed that if the well is located about 15 feet away from the house, it does not necessarily produce negative effects.

Visibility Rule

The most important practical rule observed was based on visibility: If the well is visible from the main door within the front 180° field of view (90° to the left and 90° to the right), then a well in the Southeast/South/Southwest zone may be considered unsuitable.

Research Finding 04: Placement of Toilets and a Common False Belief

Background:
A common belief states that toilets should not be located in the Southwest direction. I tested this through direct observations.

Sample / Data:
Around 50 houses were directly observed.

Key Findings:

The general belief that "toilets in the Southwest are always unsuitable" is incorrect.

A toilet can be placed in almost any direction except the Northeast (which is widely treated as sensitive in Vaastu interpretations).

I also observed a cultural factor: among many Tamil Hindu households, the North direction may be avoided for toilets due to religious beliefs about a deity associated with that direction. In such cases, they should follow their own belief system.

For people of other religions, that specific belief has no necessary influence, and planning decisions can be made without it.

Closing Note

These four research observations suggest that several popular beliefs in house planning should be re-examined through field evidence.

Concepts such as the courtyard, and the importance of airflow, daylight, and visibility, often provide more practical explanations than rigid numerical rules or generalized directional fears.

The research demonstrates that evidence-based practice, grounded in direct observation of hundreds of homes, offers more reliable guidance than traditional superstitions.


Look forward to my observation reports in the future

Thank you for engaging with these insights. We are continuously gathering new data and refining our understanding of architectural principles. Stay tuned for future observation reports where we will delve into more evidence-based findings to inform better design and planning.