The main entrance: where Vastu begins

In Vastu Shastra the main entrance is called the simha dwar, the lion's gate. It is the mouth of the home: every person, every opportunity and every kind of energy enters through it. That is why it is the first thing studied in any consultation.

Directions and the 32 padas

Classical texts divide each side of a building into eight padas, giving thirty-two possible entrance positions around the plot. Each pada is governed by a deity and carries a distinct result. Two entrances on the same wall, a few feet apart, can therefore behave very differently.

This is also why the popular rule of "north and east are good, south and west are bad" is too simple. There are favourable padas on every side of a home, and unfavourable ones on every side too.

Signs the entrance needs attention

• The door is placed in a corner rather than within a favourable pada
• The entrance opens directly onto a staircase, a wall or a toilet door
• The door is damaged, creaks or does not open fully
• The area in front of the entrance is cluttered or poorly lit

What can be done without rebuilding

Moving a door is rarely practical in a finished home. In most cases the entrance can be balanced through the colour of the door, metal strips at the threshold, specific symbols, lighting and by keeping the approach clean and open.

The right remedy depends on the exact pada of your door, so it should be decided after the plan is read rather than copied from a general list.