9" Maa Durga (Sherawali Maa) | Handmade

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Unveiling the Wisdom and Creativity of Saraswati: A Deeper Understanding

Mother Saraswati is one of the three principal Goddesses in Hinduism who are known as “Tridevi”; the other two being Lakshmi and Parvati. In the Vedic scriptures, she is mentioned as the consort of Lord Brahma, the creator of the material world, and thus assists him in his activities. She is often depicted as having a beautiful youthful body with four arms holding a book (represents the Vedas), a rosary (signifying the importance of chanting the holy names of the Supreme Lord Vishnu), a water pot, and a musical instrument called Veena. She sits on a white swan that symbolizes the capacity to discriminate between good and evil.

She is worshiped by many people across the globe in different forms. She is the Goddess of knowledge, art, music, speech, and learning. People in parts of India celebrate Saraswati Puja in the month of spring in which the elders of the family begin the day by taking the blessings of Mother Saraswati and then teach their children to read and write the letters of the alphabet.

Can Saraswati idol be kept at home?

Goddess Saraswati is the manifestation or expansion of Goddess Lakshmi or Srimati Radharani, the eternal consort of the Supreme Lord. She is very merciful toward all living entities and blesses them with whatever material desires they have. But if one sincerely and genuinely approaches her and serves her to know about the Absolute Truth and the real aim of human life, she bestows all good fortune upon them and inspires them to walk the path toward the Supreme. Thus, if you want to please Mother Saraswati through your selfless service, you can keep her deity at home and worship her with faith and devotion.

Where should we keep a Saraswati idol at home?

Knowing that Goddess Saraswati is worthy of our respectful obeisance at her lotus feet is important. If you have a deity of Mother Saraswati at home or are planning to buy one, the best place to keep it is the altar. She should be worshiped with the right attitude and mindset. However, if you want to keep the deity in your living room for spiritualizing the space, you should keep it on a clean surface.

The Fierce and Powerful Goddess Durga: Discovering the Symbolism and Significance

Goddess Durga is a revered deity in Hinduism and she is worshiped by many people in the eastern part of India and also in other countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh. She is considered the mother of this material world who takes care of the conditioned souls trapped in the material existence. She protects them from the demons who threaten peace and establishes Dharma. In the Shakta tradition or Shaktism (those who believe that feminine energy is supreme), Mother Durga has been given the highest position. She is often considered the expansion of Mother Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva who is the destroyer of the material world. The Vaishnavas consider Mother Durga as the external energy of the Supreme Lord Krishna or Vishnu. She takes charge of the material world and reforms those souls who do not abide by the rules of the Supreme Lord.

Mother Durga is often depicted as a young and beautiful woman, wearing a saree, and sitting on a tiger or lion. She has multiple arms (usually ten arms) that hold different items and weapons that express her martial skills. She tramples down the demon Mahishasura, with her trident, representing the subduer of vices.

What does Durga symbolize?

Being the powerful assistant of the Supreme Lord, Mother Durga tests our dedication to the Lord. She represents the material nature and like a loving mother, she gives a clarion call to all forgetful souls to turn their faces towards Lord Krishna, who is the only well-wisher of all living entities. The depiction of her violently killing the demon Mahishasura with her trident shows her extraordinary prowess. Mahishasura represents our demoniac mentality that wants to enjoy separately from the Supreme Lord, forgetting our eternal relationship with Him. Goddess Durga killing the demon symbolizes the victory of good over evil or wisdom over ignorance.

Where are Durga statues made in Kolkata?

The worship of Goddess Durga is prominent in festivals such as Durga Puja, Durga Ashtami, Navaratri, etc. On those days, people gather at a place and a big idol or deity of Goddess Durga is worshiped with faith and devotion. These idols of the Goddess are made in a place called Kumortuli, located near Kolkata, West Bengal. This city is renowned for its beautiful clay sculptures made by local manufacturers.

How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?

Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.

Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.

• The best and simplest way to maintain a brass statue is to clean it at least twice a week using a soft cloth or cotton rag. This will prevent dust from accumulating on the surface. Dusting is especially important for outdoor statues since it is prone to dust accumulation much more than indoors.

• To give a natural shine and luster to the statue, you may apply coconut or olive oil using cotton on every portion. You can use a toothbrush to get to the small crevices but do not be too harsh. This will make the brass statue appear fresh and new with a polished look.

• In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth. 

Brass idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are especially known for their intricate and detailed work of art. Nepalese sculptures are famous for small brass idols portraying Buddhist deities. These sculptures are beautified with gold gilding and inlay of precious or semi-precious stones. Religious brass statues can be kept at home altars. You can keep a decorative brass statue in your garden or roof to embellish the area and fill it with divinity.