Before the discovery of magnetic compass, ancient cultures had always used heavenly bodies and astronomical observations for locating directions. From the heavenly bodies these cultures derived their cosmic view of life.The integrated man-spirit cosmos view evident in ancient Chinese, Egyptian, and Mayan cultures has in fact been the backbone of Indian philosophy and outlook towards life in general. Man, the thinker, occupies a distinct place in the Indian perception of nature. The Vedic rishis put forward their cosmic view through the concepts like purush (cosmic element), and prakriti (nature). Shri B.K.S.Iyengar in his book Light on Pranayama has commented:

" Purusa is the universal psychic principle, which though unable to perform any action by itself, animates and vitalises nature (prakriti or the producer), the universal physical principle, which through its three qualities and evolutionary powers (gunas) produces intellect (buddhi) and mind (manas). Purush and prakriti acting together stir the material world to activity .Both are limitless, without beginning or end."

The Indian Vedic view considers the cosmic energetic source as a procreator ofall the manifest world. There is also a concept of the Light-Infinite beautifully described in various forms by Sri Aurobindo in his book Savitri. In the Upanishads the Brahman is referred to as the 'Self-Luminous Light'. In this system, the sun, the moon, the planets and the stars are assumed as the manifest entities originating from the infinite light source.

Vastushastra goes deeper into these concepts to understand the true significance of the sun, the moon, the planets and the stars in terms of cosmic energy fields and cosmic forces at play and the resultant micro-effects on nature and human life. The edicts of Vastushastra evolved out of cosmic humanitarian outlook that sought to ensure a harmonious life which is in tune with nature and the cosmos for the entire mankind.