1 Vastu Vidya in Indian Tradition:A Retrospection Dr. N. C. Panda, Professor of Sanskrit, Dept. of Sanskrit (V.V.B.I.S. & I.S), Panjab University, Sadhu Ashram, Hoshiarpur,146021, E-mail: ncpanda@gmail.com VÁstu is an ancient Indian Science of Architecture, which helps in making a congenial setting or a place to live and work in a most scientific way taking advantage of the benefits bestowed by nature. The derivative meaning of this word is the palace where creatures live properly (vasati prÁÆino yatra). The word at first denoted only the place /land on which one lived. In course of time, it came to mean also the house standing on such a land. In the famous work ArthaÐÁstra (3.8), the word is used in the following senses: house, field, bridge, garden and tank. VÁstu is a vidyÁ, i.e. science. The system of VÁstu is an admixture of science and astronomy. It is covered with the influence of the sun, moonlight and heat, the earth’s atmosphere, wind direction, magnetic field and gravitation force on human beings. It gives practical guidelines on site selection, orientation of the building in relation to climatology and micro weather, arrangements of areas or rooms in relation to the difference activities of the proposed building. VÁstu-ÐÁstra unifies the science, art, astronomy and astrology. It can also be said as an ancient mystic science for designing and house building. VÁstu-ÐÁstra helps us to make our lives better in the society. This ÏÁstra is creating a congenial setting or a place to live or work, in most scientific way taking advantages of the benefits bestowed by the five great elements, called pañca-mahÁ-bhÚtas of the nature there by paving the way for enhanced health, wealth, prosperity and happiness is an enlightened environment. VÁstuvidyÁ is one of the sixty four arts to be learnt by men according to KÁmasÚtra. Actually it is difficult to determine when VÁstuvidyÁ originated. That the Indian acquired skill in the house building in