Questions tagged [idols]
An image or representation of a god used as an object of worship.
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Where do the scriptures mention Ashtvinayak temples?
Ashtvinayak are eight holy self made (Swayambhu) idols of Lord Ganesh. All of them are in Maharashtra, namely Chintamani, Siddhivinayak, Vigneshwar, Ballaleshwar, Varad vinayaq, Mahaganpati, ...
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Difference between santhana gopalakrishna and navaneetha gopalakrishna
In case of murthi of santana gopalkrishna, he holds butter in one hand. In case of navaneetha gopalskrishna he holds butter in both hands. I am curious of this difference. I know the 24 roopas of ...
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How should one interpret srinathji art?
Knowing that SriNathji represents the eight year old krishna, it's unusual that some depictions of SriNathji are unpleasant, eg some are mean looking, some scary, etc.
Its values are derived from and ...
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Ancient words on back of vigraha in Devanagari
This maybe the back of a Jain tirthankar idol. What language are the words?
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Is mind-based idol worship superior to the sensory format?
I always regarded idol worship as requiring the external, physical, gross, but here it says:
The Deity form of the Lord is said to appear in eight varieties —
stone, wood, metal, earth, paint, sand, ...
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Is the Gudimallam lingam a testament to Shivling being phallic?
The gudimallam lingam which dates anywhere around 1 BC to 2 AD is probably the oldest surviving shivling. This however is unmistakably phallic in nature. Does this prove that shivling is a penis after ...
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Do any temple deities wear unusual attires and is there a sthalapurana behind that?
For example, I recall the religious/political speaker Rangaraj Pande say that the Vishnu
idol at Srivilliputtur wears pants.
Are there other idols which are dressed unusually either seasonally or ...
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Can you tell or recommend about the books which is based on Shilpa Shastra?
Can anyone provide me with the information of some books which deals with Shilpa Shastra i.e rules and regulations for making a Moorti or Vigraha of a certain Devi/Deva?
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Position of Shankha, Chakra, Gadha and Padma in Vishnu's hand
Śrī Viṣṇu to Agnibindu explains different forms of Mūrtis
O Agnibindu of great intellect! Listen, I am enumerating to you (the different forms), O sage. Beginning with the first right-hand (upper) ...
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Are the Brahma Sutras saying that idols are the physical forms of the Gods?
If it be said that (the corporeal individuality of the gods involves) a contradiction to (sacrificial) works; we deny that, on account of the observation of the assumption (on the part of the gods) of ...
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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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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 ...
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Which other texts besides Padma Purāṇa describe a deity having scriptures as parts of their body?
In the Svarga Khaṇḍa of the Padma Purāṇa, we get a beautiful composition, where various Purāṇas are described as parts of the body of Śrī Hari Viṣṇu himself.
Here's the description:
श्रीपाद्मे महापुरा...
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Do Tantra Texts Or Hindu Texts Mention Eco-Friendly Kali/Durga Idols Visarjan
Festival idols question : Hey guys, do Hinduism texts say anything about carrying out puja rituals in a way that is eco-friendly ?
Kinda alarming to see the visarjan of Kali/Durga Maa idols.
So much ...
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Do the Vedas prohibit idol worship?
It is a very controversial thing about this verse along the religious websites, especially non-Hindu websites, they claim that idol worship is prohibited in Hinduism.
They are arguing with this verse.
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Hindu Texts Kali Wearing Sari ? Idols Question
Just wondering about this, in many Kali Puja, Shyama Puja ceremonies they have Kali murti atop MahaDev as per usual. But she is sometimes wearing full on rich brocade sari with almost bridal level ...
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How to do trataka on a deity/idol?
I want to know about doing trataka on idol/deity what's the method, what's the benifits and which deity the best to start with
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Mention of Valmiki installing the Saraswathi idol in Brahmanda Purana
The following excerpt is taken from the puranic story of Basara Gnana Saraswathi temple
ఆది కవి వాల్మికి ఇక్కడ సరస్వతీ దేవిని ప్రతిష్టించి రామాయణం వ్రాసాడని
బ్రహ్మాండ పురాణం వివరిస్తుంది.
Brahmanda ...
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Who are the two women standing next to Manasa Devi?
I'm a huge Manasa Devi fan. When you see Manasa Devi murtis, often there are two women with her, one on either side. Do you guys know who they are exactly ?
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Can someone please provide the method of worship for Manasa Devi?
I have read that Manasa Devi is worshipped using a cactus, tree branch or snake idol. Is this correct? Can someone please provide more information regarding the correct procedure to worship Manasa ...
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Kamakshi Ambal having in her hands
Above is an image of Kamakshi Ambal. I've searched many places on the objects that she's holding in her arms. While searching, I found many other deities also having the similar/same objects in their ...
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Is it mentioned to not keep the following idol without offerings?
I heard from several people to not keep the idle of maa kali anywhere if we are not providing any offerings. And if we keep the idol then it will harm the surroundings.
Is it true? Does it have any ...
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is it specified how idols in temples should be dressed (garments, ornaments etc.)?
Male idols typically wear dhotis, female idols sarees. there are also non-human idols like sudarshana chakra.
should they be dressed in specific ways per scripture?
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What is the procedure for removing "powerful/energetic" materials from home?
If someone brought powerful materials like sri chakra, yantras, and salagramas and kept them in their home. Then they should pray to them with special procedures. If they don't offer special worship ...
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Which scripture contains the details about the aniconic idols of the three pañcāyatana deities - Sūrya, Gaṇeśa, and Devī?
It is well known that besides being worshipped in their 'saguṇa' mūrti forms, both Śiva and Viṣṇu are also worshipped by their 'self-manifested' aniconic idols viz - the Śivaliṅga [Bāṇaliṅga ( बाणलि...
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Is it acceptable to sleep in same room as Murti (Idol)?
Naively speaking one might expect that it would be acceptable to sleep/ live in same place as a Murti of some God or Goddess, as can occasionally be seen in some temples. For example, the question ...
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What is the meaning of three-headed Bhairav idols and Shiva Purana 3.8.2?
Shiva Purana 3.8.2 states:
Bhairava is the prior form of Siva, the great soul. Fools who are deluded by Śiva’s Māyā do not know about it.
Bhairavaḥ pūrṇarūpo hi śaṃkarasya parātmanaḥ | mūḍhāstaṃ vai ...
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Ganesh idol not disolving in water, next course of action
We had made small Ganesha idol from modeling clay (we are based outside India). We did the visarjana pooja and immersed the idol in a steel container containing water.
Later I realized that the idol ...
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What is the reference in Vāstusūtra Upaniṣad which mentions significance of Murthi worship?
I came accross an answer on Quora regarding Vāstusūtra Upaniṣad that it mentiones the significance of Murthi (or idol) worship as an inducive step in making a devotee contemplate about the formless ...
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Eyes of the Gods
I saw this image of Sri Narasimha statue :
Why His eyes are depicted in that way?
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Meaning of "Lakshmi murti(moorti) mantra"?
I know what "moorti" means in Sanskrit. But what does a moorti mantra mean? For example, Lakshmi murti mantra- does it mean a mantra for the deity to manifest in corporeal form? Please ...
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Eco-friendly Ganesha idol?
Is it okay to have an eco-friendly Ganesha idol at home at this Ganesha Chaturthi? My mom says, as per Hindu parampara kumbhar (potters) and carpenters make the idols and we shouldn't make it.
Also, ...
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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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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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If Hinduism has only 33 gods made of brahman, then who are the many Graam devtas that we have?
I have understood that primarily we have 33 gods and these gods are brahman attribute forms of parabrahman But if we go to any tiny village of the country, there will be some graam devta or the ...
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Do idols/deities in the temple have soul and consciousness or only prana
I have read about what happens exactly during a prana prathista ritual. I understand that certain procedure is followed for instilling prana in an idol. But I want to know if the idol does have any ...
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Why is lord hanuman worshipped in the form of stone, side faced & not in form of photo?
In many temples, we see lord hanuman carved on a big stone covered with sindoor and Hanuman facing sided. Why there won't be his vigraha just like other gods? Is there any story behind his side ...
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In Yajurveda there is written “Naasptimasti” means there is no idol of god and still we do worship of idols? [duplicate]
I was told that in Yajurveda it is clearly written “NAASPTIMASTI” means don’t make idols. Still people do, why ?
And in Gita, they mentioned that make idols of god.
Can anyone tell me this?
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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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Do photographs or paintings of Gods undergo prana pratishthana?
As I understand from this question , through prana pratishthana ritual God comes and resides in the murti. And if not mistaken, the idols have to be sculpted in line with what is mentioned in Agamas ...
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Does the Yoga Vasishta prohibit idol worship?
Does the Yoga Vasistha, written by Sage Valmiki, strongly discourage or even prohibit idol worship?
How can idol worship be then reconciled with the Yoga Vasistha?
Men in vain rely on mantras and ...
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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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What are the murthis allowed in one's puja mandir?
It is said that the size of an idol should not be more than a thumb size of the family's head. If there is not a special puja/worship, nivedya/food offerings should be offered to the murthi/idol daily,...
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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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Ganesha Idol Position
I read on the internet that the best position to place The Lord, Ganesha , is at Northeast direction of the house. I found this in other scriptures. Can someone tells me the meaning? Normally Shiva is ...
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Is destroying an idol of a god equivalent to killing an avatar of that god?
In Sri Vaishnavism, Brahman makes himself accessible to humans in 5 forms: Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa, and Antaryami.
Para refers to the form of Vishnu that exists in Vaikuntha.
Vyuha and Vibhava ...
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What is the punishment in hell for destroying the statues of gods in temples? [duplicate]
What is the punishment in hell for destroying the statues of gods in temples?
In Sri Vaishnavism, Brahman makes himself accessible to humans in 5 forms: Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa, and Antaryami.
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Does Tirupati Balaji's idol have real hair?
Namaste! I have read facts about Tirupati Balaji idol which is placed in sanctum sanctorum and among them there is one fact which raise my eyebrow: Idol has real hair and claimed to be real hair of ...
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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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How to Give Painting of Baby Lord Krishna [closed]
How give my own painting of Baby Lord Krishna while respecting Hindu sentiments.
Is mailing allowed, or should I deliver personally?
Specifically, what does Hinduism say about transporting/gifting ...
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