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Questions tagged [idols]

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An image or representation of a god used as an object of worship.

49 questions
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Is it okay to keep a nataraja statue at Northeast corner of the house?

Some sites say not to keep nataraja statue at home, but Is it okay to keep nataraja statue at Northeast corner in home?
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2answers
164 views

Can Moksha be achieved through Bhakti towards a physical object?

I am looking for any scriptural sources relating to whether Bhakti towards a lover, a king, a country, or a physical idol can lead to Moksha by itself, or does one need to have Bhakti for the formless ...
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1answer
116 views

Where is the account of Ramanuja recovering the Melkote idol from the Delhi Sultan originally recorded?

I have heard that Ramanuja went to Delhi to ask for the idol after it had been plundered. The idol was in a room with other plundered items but when he called out its name the idol came and sat on ...
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2answers
68 views

Why do people put warm clothes on idol in winter?

I notice people put warm clothes on idols in winter time. Is this a personal practise or is it supposed to be followed?
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0answers
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What scriptures describe making statues of Muktas?

The Satadhusani is a work by the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan consisting of 100 refutations of Adi Shankaracharya's philosophy of Advaita. One chapter of the work is devoted to refuting the ...
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1answer
59 views

Do the idols of gods and goddesses need to be made of same colour?

Do the idols of gods and goddesses worshipped in temples be of same colour as depicted in scriptures?
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2answers
159 views

Which scripture mentions Vishwakarma made the idols at Jagannatha?

I had always head that Vishwakarma was designing the deities at Jagannatha when he was disturbed that is why he left them incomplete. But I couldn't find any reference in the scriptures for the same. ...
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1answer
314 views

What is the proper method of disposing deity idols which are broken?

Jaya Radhe! Can someone explain me about broken idols of deities? There was a broken Buddha in the apartment building I live. I read they had to be thrown into the river or lake but what karma has a ...
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0answers
70 views

Pran Pratishta 's life scale in Deity's idol or statue and Scriptures of Pran Pratishta mantras

Can anyone let me know what is the life scale of Pran in Deity's Vigraha and where the Pran Pratishta Mantras are mentioned in religious Scriptures?
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0answers
51 views

Idols of God and various phases

The idols are made by stapathis. What are the various phases the statue will be put to test? How many phases are there for testing? How is the power acquired to the statue after the tests are over?
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1answer
260 views

Which goddess (Ishta devi/Kula devi) sits legs folded & holding shiva linga?

Goddess sitting and holding shivling on one hand. And sitting folding both legs.Please help me find this goddess and details about the temple I'll find her if possible.
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1answer
106 views

How to find defect in a Shiva linga or a Vigraham or a Shaligram

I started performing Shiva pooja of the family pooja which was carried forward from great-grand father to grand father to father to mother and now me. Are there any experts, priests who can see ...
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1answer
211 views

Are idols only imagination or someone had really seen God(s)

I'm always thinking how Lord Krishna is seen different in every photo , sculpture idol etc . Was there anyone who drew the first painting of him or what we see everywhere is only imagination?
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1answer
107 views

What is Mindedness(chitt ekaagrata) based on Hinduism?

There are many ways to find yourself, As per Hinduism Mindedness(chitt ekaagrata) is one way to find yourself. I've also read that using of Mindedness with proper practice and Idol Worship, Which ...
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0answers
43 views

Do Agama Shastras talk about materials that can be used for making idols?

We have granite in the South, marble in the North. There are bronze idols, Saligrama idols, something called pancha-loha. Are there any prescriptions as to what materials can be used to make idols?
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Do Agama shastras prescribe rules regarding parivara-devatas?

Are they deities who are relatives/associates of the main deity at a temple? do agama shastras prescribe how their idols should be installed?
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Do shastras sanction displaying idols of Hindu Gods as landscaping?

This Tripadvisor link shows idols of Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati used as landscaping at a Swaminarayan Temple. (This photo of Shree Swaminarayan Temple Bhuj is courtesy of TripAdvisor) A ...
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1answer
94 views

Is it necessary for devotees to have idols at home?

Do the scriptures mandate that devotees need to have idols and portraits of gods in their houses?
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0answers
37 views

What are the causes of losing prana-pratishtha in a deity?

What are the list of causes of losing prana-pratishtha in a deity according to scriptures? Can somebody remove prana-pratishtha purposely in a respectful manner?
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0answers
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Do idols that receive worship in temples lose power over time and have to be re-energized?

I have seen an idol re-energized. Yagnas were conducted with kalashas filled with water placed next to the fire. The idol was then bathed in the energized water. Are procedures like this mentioned ...
5
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3answers
435 views

Is it allowed to hug/touch the main idol at a temple?

Is it allowed to hug/touch the main idol at a temple? In Southern India the idol is usually in a garbhagriha and as far as I know only the priest can touch the idol. I have seen sai baba temples ...
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0answers
40 views

for gods that are worshiped in both north and south india are their faces depicted similarly in the two areas?

do scriptures like agamas prescribe how different deities should look? to me except siva,durga/kali and ganesa all other gods look quite dissimilar in north and south india.
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1answer
462 views

What scriptures say that Prana Pratishtha is removed by a Chandala's touch?

As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school. But there are five other Astika or orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy: Purva Mimamsa, Samkhya,...
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1answer
64 views

What exactly is explanation of Hindus when they perform idol worship? [duplicate]

Is it they worship, the power inside idols. They use it as a point of concentration. Only a representation. God is present in idol. 4th option included after reading question here. What is the ...
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0answers
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Can I have Gangadhareshwara Idol (not the Linga) to perform Abhyanjana, Abhisheka and pura?

I'm worshiping our family deity Jaganmaate Omshree Gangadevi and I'm the priestess too. I, now want to install Lord Gangadhareshwara in idol form (not the Linga form). What are the steps I need to ...
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0answers
599 views

Murti Sthapana - why, what and when to do

I have seen murti sthapana puja for common festivals like Ganapati. Do we need to do Murti Sthapana for all the Gods we have in our home-temple? Is it like we don't need to do Sthapana for photo-frame ...
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2answers
7k views

What is Lord Vishnu's favourite food?

I am gonna install Lord Vishnu's deity. So I would like to know what is Lord Vishnu's favourite food.
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1answer
551 views

What is the difference between worshiping an idol or image and worshiping God?

Idol:- An image or representation of a god used as an object of worship. God:- The creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being. My question was, What is ...
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0answers
257 views

What do the Snake Idols in Binded form Indicate?

In many Hindu Temples we can see Snake Idol which has two Snakes, bound to each other like a DNA. QUESTION : What does this form of two snakes indicate and why do we worship it ? Below is a picture ...
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2answers
1k views

Is it necessary to worship of idols (ie. Lord Shiva's or Hanuman"s Idol) ? Can one worship of The God without idols?

Can one worship of The God without idols? already written in vedas as na tasya pratimā asti yasya nāma mahadyaśaḥ ।
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1answer
106 views

What technique they used earlier to make idols stand for centuries

We all know there are lot of Hinduism temples where idols are standing from many centuries best example is Lord Venktaeshwara in Tirumala, Tirupati. This idol is standing from many centuries it ...
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5answers
20k views

Do Yajurveda 40.9, Yajurveda 32.3 and Bhagavadgita 7.20 reject idol worship?

First of all, I am a Hindu myself and I am saying this with no intentions of converting to any other religion but there some misconceptions that really boggle my mind. The biggest of them is that in ...
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0answers
112 views

Who is this in the image and what are the objects held in the arms?

I am a graduate student at UW-Milwaukee in the United States and I am currently doing object research at the Milwaukee Public Museum. The specific object I have a questions about is listed in the ...
3
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2answers
181 views

Influence of the classical Upanishads on the belief of the maiority of contemporary Hindus

Nearly every book about the classical Upanishads emphasizes their importance for every Hindu. The Upanishads are considered part of Shruti. My question asks for the relevance of the Upanishads for ...
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0answers
61 views

Does gold plating of Idols affect their energy?

We have Idols of Vishnu, Sridevi and Bhudevi of metal, dating back to many generations. We would like to gold plate the Idols. After they are gold plated what are we supposed to do so that the Idols ...
2
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0answers
479 views

What are the mantras recited in a Prana Pratishtha pooja?

I was reading about the opening ceremony of a temple, that mantras are recited to welcome the divine to reside in the Murti. What are the mantras recited?
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0answers
2k views

How to do Prana Pratishtha of Idols of Ganpati, Shiva, Vishnu and Durga?

To be specific I am asking about the procedure for prana pratishtha for Shri Mahaganapti, Lord MahaVishnu, Lord Shiva (shiva linga) and Godess Durga). Please answer mentioning vedic mantras and vedic ...
5
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5answers
974 views

Why Hindu gods are always depicted with multiple hands and heads but not legs?

I have always wondered if there is any god with multiple legs ? It may seem silly but I don't quite understand the need of multiple hands ( considering them as supreme being why do they need it ?). ...
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0answers
196 views

Navabhashanam in Palani Murugan Idol? [closed]

The following are my questions on this topic. What are the Navabhashanas in the Palani Murugan Idol consecrated by Siddhar Bogar? Where are the ingredients of Navabhashana sourced from and what is ...
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0answers
1k views

Why is Panguni Revati considered the “birthday” of Vishnu's Ranganatha form?

As I discuss in this answer, the oldest Vishnu statue in the world, and probably the oldest Hindu statue in the world period, is the famous Ranganatha statue in Sri Rangam. The story of Ranganatha ...
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3answers
400 views

Idol worship in Hinduism

What is the earliest reference for idol worship in Hinduism? It seems like, there is no direct indication or advice of idol worship in any of the religious texts. If there are no references how did it ...
2
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0answers
629 views

How and when are idols cleaned in temples?

I saw many time idols are getting cleaned by priests. My question are: What is used to cleanup the idols? Just water or something else? Is there any timing for cleaning?
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3answers
4k views

Do we have any details about the oldest idol of any Hindu God found anywhere in the world?

What is the oldest idol of any Hindu God being found anywhere in the world? If possible provide some details about how much old it was. How did it look like? And what material was it made of? Please ...
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2answers
10k views

Why do images of Sudarshana have Yoga Narasimha on the other side?

I'm currently visiting India, and in the Vishnu temple in my native village of Poondi, I saw a shrine dedicated to Chakrathalwar. For those who don't know, that is the Sri Vaishnava name for ...
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6answers
7k views

Why did Adi Shankara promote idol worship?

Today Adi Shankaracarya's Adavaitvaad is a prominent philosophy in Hinduism but if we go through his life, we see that he not only preserved the idol worship practices across India but actively ...
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4answers
76k views

Do the Vedas prohibit idol worship?

It is a very controversial thing about this verses along the religious websites, especially non-Hindu websites, they are claiming that idol worship is prohibited in Hinduism. They are arguing with ...
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4answers
4k views

Which Hindu sects prohibit idol worship?

I have often read that there are some Hindu sects which speak against idol worship. I want to know who they are and what reasons they cite to justify their claims.
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1answer
161 views

Do Hindus believe that Idols make a person spiritually closer to God? [duplicate]

Is the idol target of worship or is God the target? Is the idol used only to get nearer to God? If yes how can an idol bring us nearer to God?
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7answers
4k views

What is the significance of Murthi pooja (idol worship)?

Hindus believe in Murthi pooja or idol worship. What is the reason behind this? Since my childhood, I believed that God does exist in an idol but I don't have the exact clarification or history ...