Silicon Valley is a diverse region and in their business, Silicon Valley Realtors encounter clients from many cultures. Some cultures have beliefs and rituals that involve their home search. Many Chinese homebuyers are guided by the principles of feng shui. Last week, members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors learned many Indian homebuyers are guided by vastu shastra from Gautam Rana, a vastu consultant with Yogic Dwelling in San Ramon.
Vastu is the traditional Hindu system of architecture whose principles focus on the design and layout of houses, towns, cities, gardens, roads, shops and other public areas. Like feng shui, vastu contends if you are not connected with nature, you will not achieve balance in your life. Vastu also seeks harmony with the five elements of nature - water, air, fire, earth and space, but it is a more complex science than feng shui.
Rana, who studied the science in India, adheres to the guidelines of "Vishwakarma Prakash," an ancient scripture of vastu that pays attention to the entrance, the shape of the structure, and the elements placed inside the property. Rana said vastu places importance on 16 zones, 32 entrances and the placements of elements in a property in relation to the structure's center.
"The facing of the property has no relevance in vastu," stressed Rana. "The only way a house can be accurately analyzed is by finding its center."
Rana sketched a house on white board and illustrated how the science is applied. By dividing 360 degrees around the center of a house, building or any other type of structure, you get 32 possible locations or entrances. Once you have calculated the entrance locations, the directions (north, south, east, west) are further divided into 16 zones, which determine the adverse or beneficial effects to those living in the home (ex. wealth, career, success, illness, accidents, etc.). The use of different techniques in accordance with the five elements in the form of colors and/or metals can mitigate the negative effect, said Rana.
Here are some takeaway points Rana shared about vastu:
* Having a pool in the north, east and west is fine.
* Not having the master bedroom in the south of southwest is a plus when considering buying a property.
* Concern about the main entrance and back entrance alignment is irrelevant.
* A staircase right by the entrance is not inauspicious.
* Cookie-cutter formulas (myths) like a master bedroom on top of the kitchen, kitchen next to the bathroom, and a toilet next to the entrance are not negative aspects in a home.
* Ideal locations for a kitchen are southeast, south of southeast, or southwest.
* The number of windows in a house has nothing to do with vastu.
* Colors to avoid in these in these directions: North - shades of red and yellow; South - blue, black, and gray; East - gray and stark white; West - green.
Joanne Fraser, chair of SILVAR's Global Business Council, said Realtors benefit from learning about foreign traditions and beliefs. "It gives us a different perspective and helps us understand what our foreign clients look for in a home."
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
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Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
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