Filter
The principal deity of many Hindus throughout India is viewed as feminine, embodied as the Goddess known generically as Devi. Her individual names and identities are countless.
☸ As Mata, Ma, or Amma, she is the Cosmic Mother, from whom all are born. As Shakti, she is pure dynamic power, creating, sustaining, and eventually destroying this world.
☸ Householders worship Goddess Lakshmi for welfare and prosperity. This Goddess of Abundance is also regularly worshipped by businessmen to ensure the success of their endeavors. She is the wife of Lord Vishnu.
☸ For many, like those from Bengal, the most important Hindu Goddess is Durga, the warrior deity who fights evil. She is prayed to for strength. Any of these Goddesses may be worshipped alone as a devotee’s primary focus.
☸ Supremely popular all over the world is Goddess Kali, the wrathful goddess. Her statues inevitably show her in a militant poise with her feet placed on the chest of Lord Shiva.
☸ The Hindu Goddess Parvati is the wife of Shiva, and integral to his worship. Together they may be shown conjoined in statues as Ardhanarishvara or fused together as a Linga.
☸ Radha is the beloved of Krishna, the darling God of Vaishnavas. Sita, the Goddess wife of Rama, avatar of Vishnu, is the standard symbol of feminine virtue for all Hindus.
☸ Goddess Saraswati is the consort of Brahma the creator. She is the patron deity of all knowledge in the world.
Gender does not appear to affect the personal choice of the devotee—both men and women worship the Divine Feminine. Within any given family it is just as likely that a man’s chosen deity will be a Goddess or a God. The same equality of choice is available to his wife and to their children.
As per the Vastu, a broken idol of Gods or Goddesses is an inauspicious and bad omen. Likewise, worshiping or offering prayers to damaged or broken idols is not good and is considered adverse.
Even the falling of the Deity's crown is also considered a bad omen. It is unpromising and considered ill-fated. Such an idol must be handed over to a nearby temple or place of worship or be placed under a peepal tree.
Pandits in the temple or experts of Shastra (Vastu tips for the kitchen) would be of much help with a remedy for the broken idol. If it’s pran – pratishtha has not been performed, it should be immersed in a nearby lake, river, or water body.
The Vastu home altar or mandir should always be in the north-eastern direction.
Ganesha should always be placed in the mandir before any other deity because he is the lord of beginnings.
Other devas may be of the devotee’s choice including the Ishta Deva.
A ready-made mandir or a small table with a saffron-colored cloth draped over it (altar) will do perfectly in its absence.
Placement of Murtis : facing towards the devotee. Murtis should be properly dressed or given some form of clothing, flowers, incense, & other offerings regularly as these are the physical manifestations of god(s).
General upkeep and care of the mandir are imperative. To rules or better the guidelines for a home mandir are.
Most of the god's idols or statues are made up of Brass. An idol of Lord Ganesha made out of brass if kept in the house and worshiped regularly brings immense prosperity and joy to the people concerned.
The Ganesha idol facing towards the left is known as Vastu Ganesha which solves most of our Vastu-related problems.
Placing an idol of Lord Ganesha made out of silver in the house and worshiping it regularly, helps bring fame, good health, long life, and success to the worshippers.
One should not keep more than two pictures and idols of Ganesha at home as it is not considered auspicious.
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist