All Questions
23 questions
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146
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Is the Rāma Lalla murti that's up for consecration designed in accordance with the shāstras?
Jai Sri Rama
As you all are aware about the recent consecration of Rāma Lalla's idol in the newly constructed Ayodhya temple.
At first when a quick glance of the idol was revealed, people were not ...
1
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0
answers
35
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Abandoned vigrahas
Namaskaram to all !
I am planning to set up a temple inside my house. I wish to do prana-pratishta of the vigraha, offer naivedya twice everyday, recite sahasranam etc. The deity is Venkateswara.
But ...
- 39
1
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1
answer
93
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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, ...
- 67
1
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1
answer
222
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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 ...
- 944
1
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0
answers
181
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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 ...
- 409
8
votes
1
answer
5k
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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 ...
- 311
2
votes
1
answer
133
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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 ...
- 22.5k
1
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0
answers
155
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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.
...
- 22.5k
5
votes
1
answer
731
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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 ...
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
118
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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?
user16895
5
votes
2
answers
724
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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. ...
- 927
8
votes
2
answers
1k
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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.
- 89
5
votes
0
answers
89
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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?
- 1
1
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0
answers
135
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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 ...
- 1
4
votes
0
answers
158
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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 ...
- 1
6
votes
3
answers
2k
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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 ...
- 1
6
votes
0
answers
2k
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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 ...
- 4,196
1
vote
1
answer
191
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 ...
- 553
3
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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?
- 10.5k
1
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0
answers
268
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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 ...
- 3,780
2
votes
0
answers
4k
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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 ...
- 98.5k
2
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0
answers
763
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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?
- 8,191
17
votes
4
answers
12k
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 ...
- 10.2k