Buying a Flat? Read this first!

By Sudha Pai
In this issue, we shall see how a knowledge of Vastu can be helpful to those who plan to invest in ownership flats. 
First, how does a Vastu-compliant look, what does it consist of? A Vastu-compliant flat has a streaming North and streaming East, has the kitchen in Southeast (zone of Agni-tatwa), and the master bedroom in Southwest. Its main door is in main directions and not in sub-directions. It has toilets in the South or West. 
Seen such a flat lately? Highly unlikely!  Quite simply because achieving 100% Vastu compliance in flats is next to impossible mainly because of shared common areas and placement of terraces/ stairs/ lift wells/toilets generally in wrong directions.
Main Doors: It is a common feature that ownership flats have a common central staircase and 2 flats to each landing.  In such cases, main doors are provided in sub-directions like NW/NE/SE or SW because of central staircase.
According to the "dwar nivesh" principles of Vastu Shastra, main doors are auspicious in the main directions only. Any door is a cut in the perimeter of the house which disturbs the energy streams. Door in the main directions affects any one energy stream whereas doors in the sub-directions affect both the streams. Mandalakar streaming of energy gets disturbed. Hence, ownership flats can be said to have Vastu faults right from entrance.
Terraces: Terraces are open spaces representing voids and wind element and should be placed carefully in the right directions and zones.  All terraces to source directions like North, Northeast and East add to the virtue of the flat as they accelerate jaivik and pranik energy streams. 
Terraces to South and West project the house to unhealthy thermal imbalance and solar radiations.  They enhance negative energy streaming.
Closure of source directions: The presence of common walls between two flats creates closure of one or both source directions (north and east).  A closed North wall leads to ill-health in the women folk in the household. A closed East leads to loss of pranik energy. East represents intellect, progress and continuity.
A closed East suppresses all of this and the family suffers from related problems.
Lift Wells: These are voids, and hence should not be placed in South and West, nearer to the flat in question. 
Toilets:  Are treated as polluting blocks and hence should not be placed in North, East, Northeast (source directions) and also Southeast.
The above situations lead to health problems for self and family members, financial problems, problems related to children, problems in marriage/ partnerships/ business, accidents, fire hazards etc. depending on the direction and severity.
All such faulty flats can be (and need to be) treated with Vastu remedies to reduce/ nullify the problems. 
The following guidelines will help choose a flat with least irregularities:
* North, Northeast and East in the flat are not polluted by the presence of toilets.
* Maximum streaming from North and East.
* Avoid position of lift wells in South and West, close to the flat.
* Avoid top floor flats (high thermal torque will affect the energetics of the flat).
* No terraces to South and West.
As the saying goes: Prevention is better than cure. So it's better to seek the advice of an expert at the time of selection of the flat itself. 
(Next week: Vastu problems faced by commercial establishments. The writer is a Vastu Pandit and can be contacted on 98801 15056, pai.sudha@yahoo.com.)