AUTHENTIC DWELLING OF HUMAN EXISTENCE: A COMPARATIVE APPRAISAL OF VĀSTU ŚĀSTRA AND HEIDEGGER’S PHILOSOPHY

सार

This research paper attempts to make a comparative and critical analysis of the Vāstu Śāstra, an ancient Indian architectural system, and Martin Heidegger’s phenomenological view of architecture. Both philosophical systems of thought have defined architecture as an existential and spiritual connection between the human and their environment, challenging the modern definition of architecture as mere shelter or a place to live. Because, after World War II, modern architecture shifted towards a more technological, functional building design. Unlike this view, Vāstu Śāstra and Heidegger explained it as a spiritual and existential connection between men and their environment. The origin of Vāstu Śāstra is the Vedas, and it emphasizes designing spaces that harmonize with nature and the energies of the Paňcamahābhūtas by using a specific set of geometrical and metaphysical grids known as the Vāstu-Puruṣa-Mandala. This metaphysical grid is structured in a way that connects human energy with cosmic energy. In comparison, Heidegger’s philosophy is an ontological exposition that can be examined through its etymological roots, in which ‘Building’ is inseparable from ‘Dwelling’, reflecting the relationship between the cosmos and beings. For him, true dwelling refers to sparing and preserving the fourfold- the earth, sky, mortals, and the divinity.

And building becomes a gathering site for these elements, which makes the earth a meaningful place for humans by safeguarding their true essence. In this context, resemblances may be seen between Heidegger’s “Building, Dwelling and Thinking” and the principles of Vāstu Śāstra, though there is a chronological gap. The ultimate goal of these two lines of thought is to bring harmony between humans and their surroundings by connecting their inner selves to the external world. This analysis will also find parallels as well as the differences between the philosophy of Vāstu and Heidegger, both of which prioritize aligning ordinary human life with universal laws to achieve an authentic existence in this world.