A puja mandir in a house is a place reserved for an altar and worship of a god or several gods of the Hindu pantheon. Pooja is important in the home of a devout person, and its location and decoration should reflect a sense of the sacred and precepts of vastu-shastra - the Hindu equivalent of feng shui, or the art of accommodation.
Focal points
Puja Mandir is the house of the gods, a place where Hindus meditate, chant and make daily offerings, asking the deities for blessings, as well as expressing reverence and devotion. In the center of the altar may be one or more murti - images of gods such as Lakshmi, Ganesha, Shiva and Saraswati. A murti is a sculpture or statue, often cast in bronze, that conveys a traditional resemblance to god and his attributes. She is enlivened by devotion and prayer. Hindus consider murtis to be living representatives of God; they treat statues with respect and care befitting a living being. In houses where there is little space or there is no access to statues, images of gods take the place of murti. Statues are installed on altars, and images can be displayed on altars or walls.
Altars and accessories
The altar can be as simple as a shelf-even a kitchen table-or as complex as a carved sandalwood temple mounted on a platform or on a carpet. Statues or images are placed in the center of the altar, sometimes on silk cloth, and are surrounded by instruments and vessels intended for worship. These accessories may include a lamp with melted butter or a votive candlestick and candle; special plates, bowls and trays for offerings of food, water and flowers; an incense burner; brass or carved symbols of the sacred word "Om" japa-mala or a string of prayer beads used to repeat mantras. On the floor in front of the altar, the believer puts an asana, or prayer mat, on which he sits only during meditation or chants.
Personal Pantheon
There are many deities and avatars in the Hindu faith, each of which is known for bestowing certain benefits and blessings. A house, like a temple, can be dedicated to the main god or goddess. Ganesh, the elephant-headed god, is a popular figure because he removes obstacles, bestows favor and good luck. Goddess Lakshmi grants abundance in everything: material, well-being and health, relationships. But every person in the family, including children, is encouraged to develop personal devotion. This usually leads to the appearance of many gods for the family altar. The abundance of gods requires a harmonious visual design of the mandir. Place the main murtis on the altar in the center - in no case opposite each other - and surround them with smaller statues of additional gods and goddesses. Build a grid of open booths, which is located on the main altar or behind it, and place a certain murti in each booth. Hang silk paintings with images of deities behind the altar and along the side wall if the altar is in an alcove or niche. Line up a row of framed paintings on the wall above the offering rack.
Vastu-Shastra Prescriptions
Vastu-shastra describes in detail the important considerations when creating a mandir for puja. Always place the puja mandir in the northeast part of the house, and never in the south or southeast - the directions of the gods of fire and death. If possible, set aside a separate room for the mandir puja, but allocate it as a sacred space in the common room, preferably not in the bedroom. Use light tones on the walls to promote tranquility. Avoid placing the puja next to a bathtub, gas stove or large electrical appliances to honor the sanctity and energy of the space. Add the tulsi plant - the sacred basil - to the area of the mandir for puja; it is believed that it symbolizes Lakshmi. Raise the altar above the floor; position the murti facing west so that the gods are above the seated worshippers who are praying to the east, in the direction of the rising sun. The promo codes offered by the 1xBet bookmaker as a bonus for registration are used according to the same algorithm, regardless of the method of account creation. Specify when registering 1xbet promo code and then you are guaranteed to receive a welcome bonus of 100% of the balance replenishment amount. The registration promo code is intended for one-time participation. It is strictly forbidden to create multiple accounts for the re-delivery of a gift. If suspicious activity is detected, the system will block the account.