Viswakarma, the primordial architect and master sculptor, propelled by the desire of creation, manifested into the panchabhootas and created flora, fauna and all other animate beings of the universe
Gayathri Shanmugavelan is a Vastu research scholar from Chennai, who have had 15 years of association with the principles and practices of Indian traditional science of Vastu Shastra. Born into a family of Viswakarmas based in Kerala, Gayathri’s childhood and later years were groomed by her father and mentor Sri.P.S.Thankappan who was a scholar and community leader of Viswakarmas (artisan community of India) all over India. She was exposed to the outstanding tradition of the traditional artisan community of India right from her childhood and always evinced keen interest to learn more about their art, craft, architecture and sculptural works. Her interest in art works also traces back to her maternal lineage, of being the grand daughter of Ovia Mannan K.Madhavan, the celebrated artist of Chennai during the early 90s, whose art works remain unparalleled even to this day. Her stint with the Viswakarma tradition took deeper roots after her marriage, as she stepped in as the second daughter-in-law at the household of Padmashree Dr.V.Ganapati Sthapati, the father figure of Indian Vastu Shastra. She married his brother’s son Er.R.Shanmugavelan who himself is a well-established professional Vastu architect cum civil engineer who owns Vastu based constructions firm ‘Manasara Constructions’ based in Chennai. While assisting her husband in building projects based on Vastu, Gayathri could learn more about the practical applications of the subtle Vastu principles which was found to have significant effect on building spaces and the vibrations they emanate. Gayathri’s journey into the world of Vastu took positive turns as she was groomed under the guidance of none other than Dr.V.Ganapati Sthapati himself and soon was appointed as the Associate Research Director of his global organisation Vastu Vedic Research Foundation and co-publisher of another wing titled Dakshinaa Publishing House. During the period of 10 long years of learning and experiencing the nuances of the science of Vastu under Dr.V.Ganapati Sthapati, Gayathri was soon drawn towards the spiritual science which had more depth and substance than the material science in which she had graduated. The subtle and meaningful science underlying Indian architectural wonders mainly temples and sculptural works were elaborated to her by Dr.Sthapati as she participated in many of his lectures and seminars, herself delivering lectures later on. She was also the publisher of books on Vastu Shastra written by Dr.V.Ganapati Sthapati and other scholars under the aegis of our publishing house ‘Dakshina Publishing House’. In this process she has had the great opportunity to go through his hand written notes again and again before getting them typed for publication. Now after the life time of her Guru, under the aegss of Dr.V.Ganapati Sthapati Research Foundation she is putting in her mind and efforts to protect and preserve the authentic Vastu Shastras which form the very back bone of Indian architectural culture.
