Popular Vastu says a borewell or open well belongs in the north-east, or failing that the north or east, and never in the south-west or south-east. Part of that has a classical root: the Brihat Samhita gives good results for water in the north and north-east of a house (53.119), and the same text has an entire chapter on how to find underground water. The best place for a borewell, though, is a place where there is water, and the tradition itself says so.
What the Brihat Samhita says
There are two separate classical threads, and it helps to keep them apart.
The first is the verse on water by direction (53.119). A piece of water in the north-east is said to bring an increase of sons, in the north an increase of wealth, and in the other directions various troubles or losses. The verse names a reservoir in the plan of a house and does not speak of a borewell, which did not exist in its form. The results are old-world vocabulary, and this site does not repeat them as predictions.
The second is chapter 54, which is about finding underground water. It lists the eight quarters with their lords and links veins of water to them (54.3 to 54.5), and it goes on to describe signs on the ground, in plants and in the soil that point to water below. That chapter is what the tradition used for siting a well: observation of the land, not a rule about the corner of a plot. In that sense the older practice was closer to modern hydrogeology than to the popular rule.
What modern guides add
| Suggestion | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Well or borewell in the north-east | Modern, with support from 53.119 | The best corner for water in the popular chart |
| Second choice: north or east | Modern, with support from 53.119 | Both are favoured in the verse |
| Never in the south-west or south-east | Modern | The verse cautions against water in the south-east and south |
| Not in the centre | Modern | Centre kept open (53.66) |
| Well not directly opposite the gate | Classical | A well opposite the gate is listed as unhelpful (53.76) |
| Borewell cap and cover | Practical | Safety |
The gate rule is interesting. The Brihat Samhita lists a well among the things whose position directly opposite the gate is unhelpful, unless it is farther than twice the height of the house (53.76). That is a rule for the well’s relation to the entrance and is easy to apply: do not site a well or borewell on the line of the front door.
Finding water first
A borewell that has no water is useless however well placed. Before you decide a corner:
- Ask a geologist or a hydrogeologist. A survey can identify aquifers and likely depth. Many state groundwater departments offer data.
- Look at your neighbours. Their borewell depth and yield tell you what the area gives.
- Check the local rules. Many places require a permit for a borewell and regulate depth and spacing, with restrictions where groundwater is over-drawn.
- Keep both aims in mind. If the survey and the north-east agree, you have no conflict. If they disagree, the survey wins.
The Manasara summary says tanks and ponds were dug in places convenient to the people who would use them (chapter 9), which is the classical way of saying the same thing: the water has to be where it can be had and used.
Safety and distances
Open wells and unprotected borewells are a serious danger, especially to children and animals. Whatever the direction:
- Cover an open well with a strong grill or lid, and raise its rim with a parapet.
- Cap a borewell that is not in use with a welded or bolted cover, and never leave a bore open.
- Keep the well at a safe distance from any septic tank, soak pit or drain. The required spacing depends on the soil and local code, so ask your municipality or an engineer.
- Test the water for bacteria and for chemicals such as fluoride, arsenic and nitrate at a certified laboratory, since some of these have no taste or smell.
- Keep the area around the well clean and drained, so that runoff does not flow into it.
The Brihat Samhita’s concern with clean water and sound sites (the soil tests in chapter 53 and the chapter on water) is, at bottom, this concern. For a general account of site conditions, see plot shape, slope and surroundings.
Rented homes, plots and flats
If you own a plot and are choosing where to dig, combine the survey with the popular chart where they agree. In a rented home the borewell is where it is. In a flat the water comes from the society’s supply or its borewell, which you cannot influence. If your building depends on a borewell, ask the management how often the water is tested, and consider a filter.
What cannot be changed, and what helps
If your well or borewell is in the south-west or south-east, and a consultant says it must be closed, ask what evidence supports that. The verses we read do not demand it, and a working well is worth a good deal. Some gentle steps:
- Test the water and keep the area clean.
- Cover the well and the borewell securely.
- Keep the north-east of the plot clear, or plant a tree or lay a path there, if you wish to follow the modern chart.
- Do not seal a productive borewell because of a direction.
See water tanks for the storage side, septic tanks for drains, and toilets and water for the verse on water by direction. Remedies without demolition gives the general principle, and the eight directions explains the scheme behind the preference for the north-east.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Which direction is best for a borewell in Vastu?
Modern guides say north-east, then north or east. The Brihat Samhita gives good results for water in the north and north-east (53.119). The best place is where a survey finds water, and the verse and the survey often agree.
↳ What does the Brihat Samhita say about finding water?
Chapter 54 describes signs in the ground, plants and soil that point to underground water, and lists the eight quarters with their lords (54.3 to 54.5). It is about observation of the land more than about the corner of a plot.
↳ Can a well be in front of the main door?
The Brihat Samhita lists a well opposite the gate among unhelpful features unless it is farther than twice the height of the house (53.76). Siting a well off the line of the door is easy and sensible.
↳ Should I close a borewell that is in the south-west?
No text we read asks for it. A working borewell is valuable. Test the water, cover it and keep it clean, and consider the direction a convention you may follow in future plans.
Sources
- Varahamihira, Brihat Samhita, chapter 53, verses 66, 76 and 119, and chapter 54, verses 3 to 5, in the English translations of Iyer and Sastri.
- Prasanna Kumar Acharya, Summary of the Manasara, chapter 9, for tanks and ponds dug in convenient places.
- Borewell direction rules are modern teaching, in part supported by the verse on water by direction.