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Humans have always given meaning to directions and locations. In fact, this is what gives rise to the occult art of geomancy or Vaastu Shaastra, where directions are associated with power. It all begins with the Pole Star, the one star around which the whole sky moves. It is the only thing stationary in our gaze. It marks the northern direction which then comes to symbolize steadfastness and still spiritual reality.

This is why Shiv, the ascetic form of God, sits in the north, facing the south which is why he is called Dakshinamoorti. He is attended by Kuber, the king of Yaksh, who serves as the local Dikpaal or guardian of the direction.

South then becomes the direction of change and death, and is associated with Yam, the god of death. In cities, crematoriums were traditionally kept to the South.

South is also the realm of the Goddess. From the South she comes, which is why she is called Dakshin-Kaalee. Her father Daksh, sits in the South, facing North, performing Yagya, enjoying the impermanence of worldly life.

In the Raamaayan, Raam's journey from North to South can also be seen metaphorically, though many prefer to see it as literal. Metaphorically it is the movement of God from the land of the Pole Star down towards the realm of the Goddess, where flows the Milky Way. As He moves South, animals discover divinity, a monkey becomes Hanumaan. In the end, He returns North and she returns South. It is movement from stillness to movement, from movement back to stillness, from soul to flesh and then back to soul. Thus geography provides vocabulary to express ancient Indian metaphysical ideas.

East has Indra as the Dikpaal; it is the land of the rising Sun. Indra is associated with rain and fresh water. West is the land of the setting Sun and is governed by Varun, the god of the sea, hence salty water.
Lakshmee is born in the West in the sea and moves towards the East where there is fresh water to irrigate fields.

North associated with Kuber and Shiv and Pole Star thus represent stillness. East associated with Indra and the rising Sun and fresh water represents growth. This makes North-east the direction associated with permanence (north) and growth (east).
North East then becomes the most sacred direction in the mythic landscape of India - the Eeshaan Kon.

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