According to the ancient literature, there are  the following eighteen (18) originators, teachers and preachers of Vaastu Shastra :

Brahma, Narada, Brihaspati, Bhrigu, Vashishtha, Vishwakarma, Maya, Atri, Garg, Kuma, Nandish, Nagnajita, Vishalaksha, Purandara, Shaunakh, Vasudev, Anirudh, Sukra.

Not just  houses but temples, palaces, forts, market places, army buildings, stables for domestic animals adopted the principles of Vaastu Shastra. 

From time immemorial all Vedic teaching adopted the procedure of Shruti (hearing), Smriti (memorising) and Darshan (observing) through the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda and Sama Veda, the four Vedas. Vaastu Shastra is Sthapatya Veda which is a branch of Atharva Veda.

The word "Vaastu" means the site for a constructed or to be constructed property and the word "Shastra" means the knowledge or principles. Vaastu Shastra is the Vedic knowledge or principles for building and construction of properties.

Vedic sages after studying nature evolved certain principles to construct temples, residential buildings, and shops based on the understanding of the five basic elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space) comprising the universe and their harmony with human being. 

Archeological findings at Harappa and  other sites around the bed of the lost Saraswati river (which have now been found more significantly after the research on satellite images) reveal that not only houses but  entire towns were planned according to a specific design. "All the buildings have been structured to orient to the cardinal point of the compass", stated archeologists.

Foreign invasions and corruption of cultures left little room for the growth and practice of all Vedic Sciences including Vaastu Shastra, Ayurveda and Jyotish. This is the most painful part of our history. During the Buddhist period, Buddhist monks carried the tradition of Vaastu Shastra to China, where it was very developed as Feng Shui with similar principles but local interpretations and has now become popular all over the world.

Vaastu Shastra principles have been revealed in many old classics including; Brihat Samhita, Maya Matam, Vaastu Ratnakara, Matsya Purana, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana, Vayu Purana, Garuda Purana, Narada Purana, Vishnu Purana, vaastu Raj Vallabha, Shilpa Ratna, Shilpa Prakasha etc. In South India the classical works of two sages; Vishwa Karma and Maya by the name Vishwa Karma Shilpa and Maya Matam are more popular, while in North India Vishwa Karma Prakash and Samarangan Sutradhar, compiled and authored by King Bhoj are more referred to.

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