Questions tagged [idols]

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

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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 ...
Mr_Green's user avatar
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17 votes
4 answers
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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 ...
Aby's user avatar
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21 votes
5 answers
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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. ...
Kiran RS's user avatar
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11 votes
6 answers
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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 ...
Pardeep Kumar's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
17k 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 ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
11 votes
8 answers
12k 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 ...
gaj's user avatar
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5 votes
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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 ।
J.S.R's user avatar
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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,...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
13 votes
4 answers
7k 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.
hind's user avatar
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1 answer
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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 ...
Amara Gauranga's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
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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 ...
CR241's user avatar
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6 votes
3 answers
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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 ...
S K's user avatar
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6 votes
0 answers
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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 ...
Sakthi's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
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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. ...
Amrit Dhara's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
111 views

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, ...
Talk is Cheap Show me Code's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
130 views

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 ...
S K's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
253 views

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...
Vivikta's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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Can I keep a small murti of lord hanuman in my room

I have heard that as the size of murti grows it attracts more divine power and requires more Pooja. Hence one should not keep a large murti at home but how about small metal one around 3-4 inch. Can I ...
arush1836's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
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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 ...
Yogi's user avatar
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2 votes
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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 ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
99 views

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 ...
Terjij Kassal's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
147 views

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 ...
Lucky Pashu's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
66 views

Ancient words on back of vigraha in Devanagari

This maybe the back of a Jain tirthankar idol. What language are the words?
ajitdas's user avatar
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0 answers
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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 ...
NeedToKnowAll's user avatar