The Vaastu of Cities

“All over the world, most thriving cities are located near
water. Manhattan, one of the world’s most well-known
urban landscapes, is surrounded by water. The Hudson
River is on one side and the East River on the other. The
flow of water is predominantly from the north-west to the
south-east. However, because the water also flows from
the north to the south, it also indicates that prosperity
flows out of New York.
The island is oriented along the north-east and southwest
axes and so activities related to these areas are the main
preoccupation for most New Yorkers. The south-east is the
kitchen area and so eating out is big in New York. A
depleted north-west encourages restlessness, which
probably also contributes to the transient nature of New
York. The south-west is connected to business and
ancestry and this is where the thriving financial district is
located. Ellis Island in the south-west is where the
immigrants first entered America and so there is a strong
connection to the island’s ancestry.
The north-east is the direction of the arts and ”

“learning, and New York is and has been filled with

thinkers and reformers of all kinds with a surfeit of cultural
events adorning the ethos of a bubbly, buzzing city.
The centre of New York, the Brahma bindu, has been left
open with Central Park, the wide-open lung of the city.
Obviously, Vaastu is at work in New York too. Is this by
intent or accident?
 Tirupati’s Vaastu

Tirupati in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh is the

abode of Lord Venkateshwara, the Lord of Wealth. It is
arguably India’s most popular devasthanam or place of
pilgrimage, and a special destination for those seeking
favours from the Lord. It is considered the richest temple
in India and is said to receive over 100,000 pilgrims every
day and over Rs.5 billion in donations every year.
Tirupati is also well known all over the world, thanks to the
large number of Indian immigrants everywhere. Its claim to
fame also lies in the tonsuring of human heads that
happens in the hundreds of thousands every year. It is a
common sight for a visitor or pilgrim to Tirupati to see
tonsured heads every inch of the way!”

“There are three main temples: Tiruchanur, Tirupati, and

Tirumala. Tiruchanur is the gateway to Tirupati, next to the
Swarnamukhi River. Tirupati is situated on the plains
between the river and the mountains and is the largest
temple complex. The shrine of Lord Venkateshwara at
Tirumala temple lies on a hill, which is part of the Eastern
Ghats. This is the heart of Tirupati. Paths lead to it from all
directions and the climb can be arduous. There are buses,
taxis and every form of transport plying in plenty, but there
are many who also make the difficult climb on foot, on all
fours and even on their knees to appease the Lord or in
answer to a prayer granted. Tirumala is the oldest temple
at Tirupati and was built in the mid-twelfth century during
the culturally rich Chola period. The temple was built with
 the principles of Vaastu as a place of unconditional
surrender to the larger powers that decide the destiny of
the world.
The temple is set lower than the surrounding hills. The
highest peak is to the south-west of the temple and the
lowest towards the east.

“in itself and, if properly applied, will ensure happiness in

worldly life. It offers a vision of the supreme truth of the
energies lying behind all phenomena, reconnecting
humankind to the environment and to our true nature.”
A refuge art thou, O house with broad roof and stores full
of good clean grain. May at evening the calf and the young
son enter your gates with a stream of cattle when they
return home.
This dwelling built with worship, designed by the wise,
may Indra and Agni, the gods immortal, preserve the
house, the seat of Soma.
May all thy directions, to eastward, southward, northward,
and westward, receive me graciously whenever I go about
them. May I never fall down when standing on thee!
–Atharva Veda
”