Basis of Vedic Architecture and Planning in Total Natural Law

Vedic architecture and planning finds it basis in the most fundamental level of natural law, the level of the administration of everything in nature. Nature administers the universe with perfect orderliness. Quantum field theorist, Dr. John Hagelin writes, “Einstein held the conviction that the laws of nature had a simple, geometric, unified foundation, and that this unification could be understood by the human intellect. Within the past two decades a number of important breakthroughs in this area have led to a progressively more unified understanding of the laws of nature, culminating in the recent discovery of completely unified field theories. These theories afford for the first time, a self-consistent and completely unified description of the elementary particles and forces in terms of a single, self-interacting field.”

The ancient seers of Vedic architecture long ago came to this same realization, but that realization was not derived through the same methods of investigation employed by classical science, but rather through cognitions in their own fully enlivened and expanded consciousness that was wholly in accord with all of the laws of nature. Thus the Vedic principles are on the most basic level of the structuring dynamics of nature’s intelligence and when applied elevate architecture and town planning to a true alliance with natural law.

Any system of architecture and planning that is based on this most fundamental understanding of the structure of natural law does not violate anything in the near or distant environment. It is a system that is entirely supporting to everything in nature.

Revival of Ancient Knowledge by Maharishi

His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, regarded as the greatest scientist of consciousness of our age, and commonly known for bringing the simple technique of Transcendental Meditation to the world, has restored the ancient system of Vedic Architecture and City Planning as a complete system of design and construction.

“Every human designed, man-made structure (art, building, garden, village, city) should conform to the natural laws of structuring if that structure is to be in harmony with the structure of the universe – the expression of Cosmic Intelligence.” – Maharishi

Maharishi Vedic city planning is a system that is unique in the world today for its effectiveness in creating human well-being and restoring balance in nature. Therefore it is  referred to as Maharishi Vedic® architecture and planning or the Vastu Vidya of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda (a shortened term is Maharishi Vastu®).

A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing

Maharishi once said: “All around us today we see the consequences of the saying a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” Most of the environmental problems we face are essentially the consequences of prior solutions – solutions that were not grounded in wholeness. True sustainability will only come from the full enlivenment of natural law.

Leading planners recognize the critical importance of creating “sustainable” cities and towns, and restoring the relationship between the individual and the community. There are many beautifully implemented projects but because they lack a foundation in these holistic and fundamental principles of Vedic architecture there is no assurance that they will ultimately achieve their laudable goals.

Modern planning strives to restore the connection between the individual and the community while Maharishi Vedic planning holds the key to restoring the connection between the individual and the entire orderly structure of natural law, providing profound and truly effective results.

Maharishi Vedic City and Country Planning

The Institute of Vedic City Planning has used the eternal principles of natural law to design housing developments, communities, cities, and even to lay out entire nations. The designs incorporate buildings, sustainable energy systems, comprehensive programs of organic agriculture, and advanced transportation networks.

Principles of Maharishi Vedic Architecture and City Planning:

1. Orientation
2. Site selection
3. Layout with silent center (Brahmasthan)
4. Placement
5. Proportions
6. Timing
7. Natural building materials and sustainable systems

These Vedic principles are ancient and time tested, and the effects are known in detail and can be verified by anyone. They have been fully restored in our time by Maharish Mahesh Yogi. This saves us a difficult search for the best approach, and saves human life from the unknown effects of less holistic systems.

1. Orientation

In the consideration of ideal community planning, Maharishi Vastu places importance on right orientation to maximize the natural life-supporting influence of the planets and stars.
All roads and buildings are aligned with the cardinal directions (based on true, geographic north) and preferably facing east, the direction of the life-giving sun, the strongest influence of natural law on earth.

2. Site Selection and Marking the “Vastu”

The site selection for any building, development or city is of utmost importance, and must consider the influence of the slope of the site, position of bodies of water, mountains, etc. A site for human habitation should be selected that has only positive, life supporting influences from its environment to maintain life in accord with natural law.

On the chosen lot, auspiciously proportioned, and properly oriented, sites (that is Vastus, delineated by a fence or wall) with auspicious entrances will be marked for the entire city and for each individual building.

3. Layout with Silent Center – Brahmasthan

On the site the city or community is laid out with auspicious entrance, roads running north-south, east-west, low-density housing with adequate flow of fresh air, and generous green space.

The center of a structure — in Vedic terminology the Brahmasthan – is a place of wholeness and silence. In a city it usually is a beautiful, open, public garden.

4. Placement

As the sun seemingly traverses the sky from east to west it generates different energies. This influence of the sun on different parts of a structure, as well as particular laws of nature that are more lively in certain areas determine in Maharishi Vedic architecture and planning the suitable place for the various functions of a city and community, or for the different rooms in a building.

5. Vedic Measurements and Proportions

Another unique feature of Maharishi Vedic architecture and planning is that the measurements and proportions of any layout and structure are calculated according to ancient cosmic formulas, thus connecting individual life with Cosmic Life. Every part is connected to the whole to promote health, wealth, and happiness of every individual and the community at large.

6. Auspicious Timing

“Well begun is half done.” For special moments, such as first breaking of the ground, the laying of the first foundation for the village and every building, and the final completion and inauguration, auspicious times are calculated according to Maharishi Vedic astrology for maximum beneficial influence for the undertaking.

7. Natural, Non-Toxic Building Materials and Sustainable Systems

In ancient Vedic architecture and planning only natural building materials and systems were used. This point falls more in the category of “common sense” to not violate one’s own health and the health of one’s environment. However in present days, this awareness of being in tune with one self and nature is only now starting to be appreciated on a larger scale, after the mixed advancements of the industrial age have left their harmful marks on society and the planet.

We support the implementation of pure, natural, non-toxic building materials, energy-efficient construction, and the use of all kinds of sustainable systems, such as solar and other cost-effective, self-sufficient, non-polluting energies, sustainable, and local, organic agriculture for self-sufficiency in food.

ur cities have to go beyond just economical, ecological and environmental balance.

What we are searching for is a city that has no crime, no poverty, where we create health, and don’t create misfortune; we raise the educational outcome. Also, is it possible that our city of the future could make us more creative, more successful? Could it bring us good fortune, make our thinking unrestricted, and maybe even enhance spiritual fulfillment? Can we harness Nature’s Intelligence within the build environment? Is it possible and do we want it?

The ancient science of Vedic Architecture or Vastu was restored by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who also introduced Transcendental Meditation on the basis of published science. Vedic Architecture connects individual life with Cosmic Life. It connects individuals with Nature’s Intelligence which governs the entire universe with perfect order.

By aligning with nature’s intelligence and order, cities planned and built according to Maharishi Vedic architecture and city planning not only create an influence of protection from inner and outer stress and crime as well as being less likely to be hit by natural disasters. They create an influence of harmony, order, creativity, better health and good fortune for their inhabitants.

In the following video from the 2009 Aspen Environment Forum, in Aspen, Colorado, Jeffrey S. Abramson,

who was among the group of invited experts. provides glimpses into the future when discussing Vedic Architectural principals and how they help owners go beyond green, into scientific principles of orientation, placement, and proportion to engineer a building to enhance the success and productivity of its occupants.

Part 2

Maharishi Vedic city planning has a fully developed concept that will take this trend to its fulfillment. Any existing city or town can, in a systematic and practical manner, be reconstructed in stages. The revitalized ideal Garden City will be anciently designed and modernly equipped to bring greatest benefit to its inhabitants as well as the environment.

Transforming any Existing City into an Ideal Garden City

Phase 1

Controlling the expansion of the city by establishing a master plan with parallel roads in true east-west, north-south directions.

Phase 2

Construction of garden colonies and Maharishi Vastu satellite towns around the city, free from pollution, noise, and stress, set in landscaped gardens.

Phase 3

Starting to demolish the congested city center, replacing it with a beautiful central garden (Brahmasthan), parks, and fountains.

Phase 4

Final stage of the expanded garden city, proving ideal living conditions, including modern communication and transportation systems.

Naturally not every landscape will allow for such a schematic, entirely square city layout. Here we show one example where a large river is taken into consideration. In Vedic architecture and city planning the easily verifiable effects of bodies of water are recorded. Therefore the city is on some sides closer to the river, where it creates an auspicious influence, and on the other side beautiful parks and gardens create a buffer and minimum distance before the city continues.

Comparing Ideal Vedic City Planning to Healthy Cells in the Human Physiology

It is striking to notice the similarity in the stricture of ancient Vedic city planning and the structure of healthy cells in human physiology, as well as uncontrolled, disorderly city growth and unhealthy development of cell, up to cancerous cell development.

Meissner Effect – Maharishi Vastu Effect (Maharishi Vedic City Planning Effect)

Another parallel from modern science we find in the Meissner Effect, which describes how an ordinary conductor is penetrated by a magnetic field, whereas a highly orderly Super Conductor is as if “invincible” to the magnetic field, which goes around but cannot penetrate the Super Conductor.

Similarly we can attempt to compare an existing city with “disorderly” road and building layout to a highly orderly city, which is fully planned and built according to the principles of Maharishi Vedic architecture and city planning, including the orientation of roads and buildings according to cardinal directions, only auspicious entrances (position of entrances that have been recorded to only bring beneficial effects, on the north and east), and further application of Maharishi Vedic Technologies that create coherence and harmony in national consciousness, reducing social stress and tension. Such an “ideal”, coherent Garden City will have less negativity from within, and as if a protective shield by its atunement to natural law.

Personal Experiences and Scientific Research

The experiences of even those living only in individual buildings constructed according to Maharishi Vedic architecture (Maharishi Vastu) confirm the greatly beneficial effects of such buildings on health, family harmony, and prosperity.

Incidents of protection from natural disasters such as forest fires have also been reported. It should however be noted, that a Maharishi Vastu design does not be a repacement but an addition to common-sense protection measures.

The ancient Vedic principles applied in Maharishi Vedic architecture and city planning are time tested and can be verified by anyone. This means that also modern science should be able to understand and verify them. This is already happening. Research is already providing evidence that Maharishi Vedic architecture and planning optimizes the functioning of the brain, leading to greater health, financial success, and well being. Also doctors have conducted studies with their patients, verifying some of the Vedic principles.