Sixteen sectors of the circle
The classical Vastu tradition refines the eight directions into sixteen: the four cardinals, the four inter-cardinals, and eight sub-directions between them, such as NNE between north and north-east. Each zone is a sector 22.5° wide — that is, ±11.25° on either side of its centre line. North itself is the sector from 348.75° to 11.25°.
What each zone carries
In the tradition every zone has a governing element, activities that suit it, activities that disturb it, and areas of life it is said to influence. The north-east, for instance, is treated as the most sensitive zone, suited to prayer and water and harmed by weight and waste, while the south-west is the seat of stability and the master of the house. The tool reports these attributes for whichever zone your degree falls in.
How to use this tool
Measure your facing with the Live compass, enter the degree, and read the result: the zone's name in English and Sanskrit, its span in degrees, its element, and what the tradition welcomes or avoids there. Use it for the main door first, then for any room whose placement you want to understand.
FAQ
Q. My degree sits right on a boundary. Which zone applies? Boundary readings deserve a re-measurement; even one degree decides the sector, so confirm the bearing before judging.
Q. Are 16 zones better than 8 directions? Neither replaces the other. Eight directions give the broad frame; sixteen zones add the finer grain the tradition uses for doors and activities.
Q. Does the tool tell me remedies? It explains the zone's character. For balancing ideas, see the Balancers and Colour and material pages.
This page explains the traditional principle; it names no specific text.