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 ...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.
user9969
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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 ...
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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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?
user13497
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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 ?
user27626
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 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 ...
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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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