One side opened plot, facing south and having path in the same direction. Such a southerly located path is assumed to be a path of Yama (the deity of death), hence buying such plot is unadvisable.

Plot facing south with ways on two sides (south and east). This location is considered good. Occupant of such a plot is a successful businessman or physician. Only one way is in use here.

Three side open, south facing plot with entrance in the south. This location is considered excellent for the iron merchants. New generations flourish well in such plots.

Four side open plot with entrance facing south. Such location is excellent for shops of betel leaves and electronic goods. It should have entrance in one side only.

One side open plot with entrance facing north, is considered excellent for householders. Middle class families live specially happy in such plots. It too has only one entrance.

Two sides open plot with entrance facing north is also excellent for the householders. Occupants live here peacefully. This plot too has only one entrance.

Three-side open plot with entrance facing north is excellent for commercial purposes. Cinema halls can be run successfully on such plots. It is also ideal for hotels and restaurants. It has only one entrance.

Four-side open plot with entrance facing north, is excellent for businessmen and householders alike. Occupants experience all round development. It has only one entrance. One-side open plot with entrance facing the east. Such location is excellent. Its occupants remain free from diseases life long.

SELECTION OF PLOTS ACCORDING TO SOIL

VAASTU Shastra gives special importance to the type of soil while selecting plot of land. In the famous scriptures of VAASTU Shastra, soil is classified according to its colour, smell and taste.

SUGANDHA BRAHMANI BHUMI RAKTAGANDHA KSHATRIYA |
MADHUGANDHA BHAVEDVAISHAA MADYAGANDHA CHA SHUDRIKA ||

TESTING OF SOIL

According to Maharishi Garg, one should make his home only on such plot of land where he naturally feels pleased. According to a very famous treatise VAASTU Ratna, one must sow all the cereals on the soil where he wishes to make his home. He must avoid the land where the cereals fail to germinate.

UNSATED LAND

Dig a cubit deep pit on the land where you wish to build your home. Now fill the pit with the soil you got from digging. If the soil fails to fill the pit completely, the land is not fit for your living. On the other hand, if the soil fills the pit completely and there still remains some soil, the land is suitable for your inhabitation.

In another method, the pit the filled with water. Then go at least one hundred steps away from the pit and return. If you find the pit half emptied, desert the land for it is not fit for you to make a home there. If the water level falls by only a quarter of the original, the land is good. If the water level does not fall at all, the land is an excellent one. Such a land, which eats it soil away and demands more or drinks all the water given to it is known as unsated land in common parlance. Inhabitants on such land can't flourish in any way.

SOME OTHER TESTS

Such lands where nothing grows are known as barren lands. Inhabitants on such land trail behind in every field. On the other hand, inhabitants on fertile lands flourish in every way. In order to recognise fertile land sow some millet, pearl millets, wheat etc. and water them. If these cereals germinate within three days, the land is fertile enough to support your home.

Such lands where no agriculture is practiced or that remains uncultivated is known as maiden or virgin land. Such lands are also not fit for inhabitation. Such lands on which there already exist a well or small ponds are also not fit for habitation even after filling up the water body. Serious diseases afflict the inhabitants on such lands. They also lose their wealth and madly run after gambling, drinking and exorcism. There is also a fear of cursing them by their ancestors.

THINGS OBTAINED WHILE DIGGING FOUNDATION

All the things in the world are obtained from the earth. While making home, digging is carried out first to lay the foundation for future construction. Many things might be obtained while digging for the foundation. If things like coal, iron, lead, gold, gems and stones, crude oil etc. are obtained, the land is said to have a demonic nature. Retrieval of these things indicates disturbed living for the inhabitants. Things like cowries, tiles and tattered clothes also indicate the same. Retrieval of things like skull and bones indicates untimely death of the owner.

On the contrary, if cow's horns, conch, shells, turtles etc. are retrieved, the land is considered auspicious. Retrieval of gravel and bricks causes acquiring of gold and wealth for the occupant from unexpected sources. If one retrieves copper while digging for the foundation, he gets all kinds of luxuries.

TESTING OF LAND FROM THE SURFACE

From the appearance of the surface land is divided into four categories:

1) Elephant's back, 2) Turtle's back, 3) Demon's back and 4) Serpent's back.

1) Elephant's Back: The land which is somewhat elevated in the south, south-west, west or north-west directions is known as elephant's back. Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi is said to inhabit such land. The occupants, naturally, grow rich and enjoy long life on such a land.

2) Turtle's Back: The land, which is elevated in the middle and shallow all around, is known as Turtle's back. Inhabitation on such land leads to greater enthusiasm, luxuries and accumulation of wealth for the occupants.

3) Demon's Back: The land which is elevated in north-east, east and south-west directions is known as Demon's back. Inhabitation on such a land leads to loss of wealth and children.

4) Serpent's Back: The land, which is elongated in east-west directions and elevated in north and south directions is known as Serpent's back. Inhabitants on such land meet untimely death. They also lose their wives, sons etc. and have lot of enemies.

SHAPE OF PLOTS

Perfect square or perfect rectangular shape of the plot is considered as best for construction of the home. All the four angles of the plot must be exactly of 90 degrees. Though a parallel tetragon has all the four angles, still plots with such shape are not suitable for making home. A perfectly rectangular shaped plot is also auspicious for making home, but its length ought to be one and a half times more than its breadth.

Such a rectangular plot of land that is elongated more in north-south directions than east-west is known as Suryabhedi (dissected by the Sun.)

If the walls are longer in north-south and east-west directions, the plot in question is known as Chandrabhedi (dissected by the moon). If home is built on such plot, clan of the owner does not continue.