As per classics, Vastu Purusha is present in each and every plot whether it is big or small. He has a fixed and peculiar body. His head remains hanging down and his body is spread all over the length and breadth of the ground. There is an interesting story in the MATSYA PURANA in which the birth of the Vastu Purusha is narrated. By reading that story one knows why the worship of the Vastu Purusha is necessary before beginning constructing any house.

While fighting with the demon, Shiva was very much tired and began to sweat profusely. A man was born of the drops of Shiva’s sweat. He looked very cruel. He was very hungry. So he began to make penance to appease Lord Shiva and get a boon from Him.

Shiva was pleased with his penance and appeared before him. The devotee prayed to Shiva, “Oh Lord! Please permit me to eat away all the three worlds.” Shiva said, “Let it be so.” The devotee’s joy knew no bounds. He got possession on all the three worlds and first he was ready to eat the terrestrial world. Then the celestial beings, Brahma, Shiva and the demons (Rakshasas) also were terrified and caught hold of the devotee encircling him.

Being bound like that, the devotee lay down there only. Since then, he has been lying there surrounded by the celestial Beings and thus he was called “the God of Vastu or VASTU PURUSHA”.

You will be known as ‘VASTUPURUSHA’. You will tease the people, to your heart’s content, who construct buildings and temples, dig wells and tanks on the side towards which you see and in the direction towards which you hold your feet. You may trouble and even devour those people who construct the aforesaid buildings and temples etc. In the direction where you lay your head and back and those who lay foundation stone without worshipping you or without satisfying you with ‘Homa’ and the like. Then the Vastu Purusha was quite satisfied. Since then the worship of Vastu-Purusha has been in vogue and it has become compulsory for those who want to construct any kind of building.

Vastu Purusha is the god for construction of structures and buildings. Once upon a time, an unknown person came into existence and he obstructed the earth and the sky with his huge body. The Devtas suddenly caught the person and threw him below with his face down, and whichever part of the body of the person was held by different Devtas, the Devtas became presiding deities of that part of the body. The creator, Brahma, had made the person as “god of the house” - ‘Vastu Purusha.’