Questions tagged [idols]
An image or representation of a god used as an object of worship.
44
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
6
votes
0
answers
1k
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 ...
- 4,168
6
votes
0
answers
227
views
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,...
- 5,547
5
votes
0
answers
81
views
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 ...
- 31.4k
5
votes
0
answers
84
views
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?
- 1
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 ...
- 1
4
votes
1
answer
119
views
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 ...
- 31.4k
3
votes
0
answers
23
views
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 ...
- 31.4k
3
votes
0
answers
151
views
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 ?
user27626
3
votes
0
answers
66
views
Idols/Murti positions
I don’t know if this has been asked before.
Why are some idols in standing position and some idols in sitting position in temples? Is there any logic behind the same?
I have always thought Ganesh ...
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
124
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 ...
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
1k
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?
- 10.4k
3
votes
0
answers
3k
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 ...
- 10.5k
2
votes
0
answers
83
views
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 ...
- 1
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 ...
- 370
2
votes
0
answers
87
views
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 ...
2
votes
0
answers
33
views
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
- 679
2
votes
0
answers
46
views
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 ...
- 129
2
votes
0
answers
145
views
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 ...
- 97.2k
2
votes
0
answers
137
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?
- 1,097
2
votes
0
answers
54
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?
- 4,865
2
votes
0
answers
45
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?
user9969
2
votes
0
answers
46
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.
- 1
2
votes
0
answers
3k
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 ...
- 97.2k
2
votes
0
answers
727
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?
- 8,113
1
vote
0
answers
27
views
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 ...
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?
- 666
1
vote
0
answers
27
views
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, ...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
116
views
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 ...
1
vote
0
answers
31
views
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?
- 81
1
vote
0
answers
125
views
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) ...
- 3,081
1
vote
0
answers
54
views
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 ...
1
vote
0
answers
95
views
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...
- 12.9k
1
vote
0
answers
21
views
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 ...
- 185
1
vote
0
answers
37
views
Eyes of the Gods
I saw this image of Sri Narasimha statue :
Why His eyes are depicted in that way?
- 2,104
1
vote
0
answers
81
views
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 ...
- 379
1
vote
0
answers
909
views
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?
- 857
1
vote
0
answers
74
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?
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
132
views
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 ...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
40
views
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 ...
1
vote
0
answers
1k
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 ...
1
vote
0
answers
78
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 ...
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
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, ...
- 37
0
votes
0
answers
26
views
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 ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
204
views
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 ...
- 263