A human being is part consciousness (Atma – soul) wrapped in 5 layers known as Panchkosha in Vedanta. The layers are Physical Body (Annmaya Kosha), Energy Body (Pranamaya Kosha), Mind Body (Manomaya Kosha), Intuition Body (Vigyanmaya Kosha) and Joy Body (Anandmaya Kosha).

Anandmaya Kosha is part consciousness (Atma) carrying the core desire with a purpose to manifest and experience joy. This innermost core body of one’s being has a pure part of Universal Consciousness (Parma Atma) experienced as eternal joy or bliss. Other functions of this Kosha (body) are co-creation like the Creator himself, peak experiences of super consciousness and sexual ecstasy (beyond normal sexual pleasures).

Vigyanmaya Kosha is the second innermost layer which is responsible for all the new knowledge and intuitive functioning of human beings. The other functions of Vigyanamaya Kosha are ordinary awareness for day to day intuitive working which facilitates you in deciding what to do next and how to do it. Only from this Kosha do you get intuitive solutions in intense situations when the logical mind is not able to answer your questions. The natural function of healing inside the human body is also governed by this Kosha.

Manomaya Kosha is the domain of functions of the human mind. This is the central layer among the 5 Kosha. The function of this Kosha is primarily to receive information through 5 senses and process that information for manifestation of core purpose. Manomaya Kosha has 3 layers as recognized by contemporary psychology. They are conscious mind, sub-conscious and super conscious state of mind. In Medical Science these states are studied in brain wave theory and known as Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta states of brain activity. Through Yogic or Tantric meditations, awareness is expanded to Alpha, Theta and Delta brain wave patterns, where an ordinary human being falls asleep, that’s when Alpha waves are activated in the brain.

In an experiment EEG tests (Electro Encephalogram – an instrument used to record brain waves) were done while mediators were in meditative state. These EEG actually showed Alpha to Delta brain wave patterns even while those mediators were in fully aware state.

The conscious state of mind is responsible for perception through the 5 sense organs and then taking action via the physical body to perform day to day functions.

The sub-conscious mind receives information from the conscious mind and stores the complete information. In acute cases of emergency or through regular meditative practices the sub-conscious mind receives knowledge from Vigayanamaya Kosha which is called sixth sense or intuition. The deeper sub-conscious or super conscious state of mind is when a person is aware at Theta and Delta brain waves. In this state of mind person gives instant healing or give some innovative outputs.

The Pranamaya Kosha is energy body depicted by Kundalini, sun and moon channels and 7 Chakras along the spinal column. Each one of the 7 Chakras is responsible for controlling different organs in the human body at conscious and sub-conscious levels of mind. When awareness is extended to the super conscious state then these Chakras open up to perceive the new realities of universe and start illuminating by healing all the body functions. In Yogic literature the level of illumination and opening of these Chakras is the basis for measuring the evolution of an individual’s mind and soul.

Annmaya Kosha is the outer most and physical form of a human being – that is the human body. The Annmaya Kosha is made up of 5 elements (Air, Fire, Earth, Space and Water). It is nurtured and sustained by food (Ann), that’s why this is called Annmaya Kosha. In Ayurveda disease is recognised as imbalance of tridosha – Vata (Air + Space), Pitta (Fire) and Kapha (Water + Earth)]. Through physical body the part consciousness (Atma) manifests the core desire to experience the absolute joy. But due to the conditioning of social and academic environments a person gets programmed at the different levels of different Koshas. Thus making him experience pain and miseries. To manifest one’s purpose on this planet, human beings create the structures in the form of buildings to perform certain functions. And these structures become the living or working environment for human beings.

In the Hindu Alchemy of Space; pain, misery and blockages of mind are due to the deviation from the core desire of one’s Anadamaya Kosha or soul. The living environments are either supportive to Manomaya Kosha and Pranmaya Kosha or the living environment also becomes responsible for negative conditioning and programming and thus, cause problems in one’s life. In MahaVastu™ the points of blockages are recognised at the different layers of existence thus creating a way for human consciousness to manifest its core purpose.

Every building is governed by energy-fields which are termed as Devtas, these comprise a vital element of MahaVastu™.

Man makes structures and buildings to perform certain functions in a building. As soon as space is enclosed, it starts behaving as a scaled down model of the Universe. Different energy-fields emerge automatically. These energy-fields react with human consciousness. They alter, blend and redirect consciousness as per their own attributes.

There are 45 such major energy-fields in a building that control and influence consciousness, and 980 minor energy-fields. These energy-fields are termed as Devtas in Sanskrit. The meaning of the word Dev is, ‘the one who is self-Illuminating’. As per the property of the energy-field, their names were derived. In a building, the combination of 45 Devtas is called Vastu Purush Mandala the one who is carrying 45 energy fields is Vastu Dev. These 45 energy fields or Devtas are mentioned in detail in Vedas.

The presence of these Devtas has been felt at a specific place in any building. Exactly the same form of energy (corresponding to a Devta) gets developed in exactly the same portion/place/space, in a building, when it is constructed, forming a grid, which has been termed as Vastu Purush Mandala.

It’s really interesting to know the attributes of these fields. For example, Indra is Devta or presiding God of East and contains the power of controlling influence. Symbolically, Indra is considered as mind, the ruler of 5 physical senses. In a society, Indra represents the ruling power that connects and binds people together.

Yama is the God of absolute rest and power to bring any phenomena to completion. Completion of one’s life on this planet is considered as death; so in Hindu Vedic philosophy Yama is perceived as the God of death also. Varuna is the observer and controller of worldly affairs, the presiding Devta of West. Gods of all the seas on Earth is also Varuna. He is responsible for creating the governing protocols of the world.

Soma is a Vedic god of elixir of life and presiding Devta of North zone. He also has properties of healing and sexual power. Transformation of sexual energy in elixir is governed by Soma. Bhudhar carries the power to manifest. Aryama has the power to connect with the world in order to (find a mating companion to) sustain the process of evolution. Vivaswan controls the change, which in turn initiates (manifestation of) the whole existence.

Mitra, which has been invoked repeatedly in Atharvaveda, carries the power of holding the world together; and, Aapaha boosts your immune system. In Vedic literature Aapah is perceived as power that is responsible for all the flows in Universe. Sometimes that very meaning comes very close to the flow of a river. So Aapah is responsible to preserve the flow of life by empowering the immune system.

Now you can imagine, why you are the way you are! Hindus in the past clearly defined the attributes of these energy fields; they developed the art of perfect placement of different activities to experience the peak performance in their actions. Based on this understanding, they made temples to such a great precision so as to fulfill their wishes. VastuShastri Khushdeep Bansal believes that old Hindu temples are ideal examples of the application of the Alchemy of Space. The same knowledge tools are used in MahaVastu™ to solve problems or to achieve your targets.