A good place to buy Murti's?

[Antibush5]

I bought a Ganesha murti a while ago and I kind of got ripped off, but I was thinking of worshiping another god, Mata Kali, I used to worship her a while ago, I would like to buy a murti of her.
Also quick side questions, where should I put my old Ganesha murti if I am getting a new one? I can't have them togther because it clutters things up and my Mum, dosn't like seeing my murti's and my Nan freaks out when she sees them.
Also when washing them, would a clean cloth do?

 

[Onkara]

Hi
From the little I know, I understand that Ganesha is already a good sign to have, as He is often praised first before praising the second God(ess) because he clears the path for the puja to begin. So they can and perhaps you will find, will end up together. I would consider ebay, others might have better suggstions?

I would consider covering them, or housing them in a secure box somehow so that they don't bring too much concern to your family and also they are protected for dust or casual visitors who will most certainly want to pick them up and make unhelpful remarks. You can take them out when you feel you want to focus on the diviine. As stated, they are not God itself, but they are something which will help the mind stay focused, through the senses, on something beyond the mundane, so the less they are associated with others comments and handling the purer they will be at yoru time of mediation and worship on the One Divine Source.

I assume one can wash them with a damp cloth. Others will know more

On a tangent, I don't think you were ripped off, you are not a victim . Rather I suggest seeing that the money you paid as a charitable donation, towards the shop owners towards their own surviaval and family. There is no sin in putting others welfare on parallel with our own As everything is linked and all comes from one source all that is really happening is that we are sharing, there are no real winners and loosers at the end of the day, the scales are continually tipping up and down for each individual.

 

[K.Venugopal]

As stated, they [idols] are not God itself, but they are something which will help the mind stay focused, through the senses, on something beyond the mundane...

That's quite right and well known. God is the total and idols are thought of as representation of the total. So in a way our mind transforms a mere idol into a sacrosanct object of divinity. However, I wish to add that there is also a huge science of idol consecration carried out in many temples, particularly in South India, that involve transferring a power known to be lying coiled up in the spine of all individuals, which when aroused through intricate tantric practices, transforms the individual into a source of divine power - which power can be transferred to idols in temples through elaborate consecration rituals. Once the idol is consecrated, then the daily rituals mostly consisting of recitations of mantras help retain the power in the idol and special rituals performed on festival days cause the power to overflow the idol and surcharge the entire temple and even surrounding areas. The science of kundalini arousal and idol consecration remain the very frontiers of Hindu science. Such temples which have idols consecrated through tantric processes have vibrations that have a positive impact on the temple-goers. They say what has been achieved through the consecration process is the creation of an energy field that is not known to be extant elsewhere.

 

[Antibush5]

Hi
From the little I know, I understand that Ganesha is already a good sign to have, as He is often praised first before praising the second God(ess) because he clears the path for the puja to begin. So they can and perhaps you will find, will end up together. I would consider ebay, others might have better suggstions?

I would consider covering them, or housing them in a secure box somehow so that they don't bring too much concern to your family and also they are protected for dust or casual visitors who will most certainly want to pick them up and make unhelpful remarks. You can take them out when you feel you want to focus on the diviine. As stated, they are not God itself, but they are something which will help the mind stay focused, through the senses, on something beyond the mundane, so the less they are associated with others comments and handling the purer they will be at yoru time of mediation and worship on the One Divine Source.

I assume one can wash them with a damp cloth. Others will know more

On a tangent, I don't think you were ripped off, you are not a victim . Rather I suggest seeing that the money you paid as a charitable donation, towards the shop owners towards their own surviaval and family. There is no sin in putting others welfare on parallel with our own As everything is linked and all comes from one source all that is really happening is that we are sharing, there are no real winners and loosers at the end of the day, the scales are continually tipping up and down for each individual.

Thanks for that, it helped.
I kind of have different vews, I view the Brahman more like its the Tao, if you get my meaning? Okay it basically is just another word for Tao to me, so I generally don't worship it.

 

[Onkara]

I view the Brahman more like its the Tao, if you get my meaning? Okay it basically is just another word for Tao to me, so I generally don't worship it.

Hi
Yes, I understand. So you will worship the deity e.g. Kali?

 

[Antibush5]

Hi
Yes, I understand. So you will worship the deity e.g. Kali?

Yes I do.

 

[Riverwolf]

Well, what I do before I can have the money (and the knowledge of where) to buy murthis is print out color pictures of the God in question. Above my shrine, I have a beautiful picture of Lord Shiva, though I'm considering replacing it with a picture of Lord Rama, because I've got a lovely murthi of Lord Nataraja in the center-back of my shrine.

 

[K.Venugopal]

I don't think you were ripped off, you are not a victim . Rather I suggest seeing that the money you paid as a charitable donation, towards the shop owners towards their own surviaval and family. There is no sin in putting others welfare on parallel with our own As everything is linked and all comes from one source all that is really happening is that we are sharing, there are no real winners and loosers at the end of the day, the scales are continually tipping up and down for each individual.

This is a fantastic approach and philosophy. With this state of mind, we would never feel a sense of loss. I think what you've said must be printed out and framed by everyone. It would do us a world of good. Anyway, it is exactly what I am going to do. Golden words. Great going, Onkarah!

 

[Cypress]

@Antibush05: Do you know this site?

 

[nameless]

@Antibush05: Do you know this site?

it says "THIS SITE IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE"

 

[Cypress]

it says "THIS SITE IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE"

Here is the plain link: http://www.exoticindiaart.com/sculptures/
For me it works (with Internet Explorer).

 

[nameless]

Here is the plain link: Indian Sculptures
For me it works (with Internet Explorer).

seems like they are not interested in customers from india (got redirected to maintenance page).

The site is loading good when tried through US proxy server.

 

[Chewbarker1054]

Does anyone know how to add pictures?

 

[Jainarayan]

Get the properties url of the picture, click on the little yellow mountain on your reply screen, and insert the url of the picture. It will look like:

{img}http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Vishnu_Kumartuli_Park_Sarbojanin_Arnab_Dutta_2010.JPG/250px-Vishnu_Kumartuli_Park_Sarbojanin_Arnab_Dutta_2010.JPG{/img}

but instead of { } it will be [ ]

 

[Jainarayan]

Btw, as to disposal of murtis I was told they should be committed to flowing water... a river, or the ocean. Do not bury, burn or donate them to a temple.

 

[Chewbarker1054]

Thanks forthat TouchedbyLord I will have a play and see if I can add a picture!!!!

When my murti of Lord Ganesh broke I placed him in the local river - however I heard the other day a story about one of my favourite Saints Rama Krishna (you would like him he was a sort of Smarta). One day someone brought him a broken murti of Radhe Krishna saying that as Krishna's leg was broken it was going to be thrown into the Ganges - Rama Krishna replied 'If your Uncle leg was broken would you throw him into the Ganges' Rama Krishna mended the statue and venerated it.

 

[Chewbarker1054]

 

[Chewbarker1054]

Yeah I can do it thanks TouchedbytheLord

 

[Jainarayan]

Thanks forthat TouchedbyLord I will have a play and see if I can add a picture!!!!

When my murti of Lord Ganesh broke I placed him in the local river - however I heard the other day a story about one of my favourite Saints Rama Krishna (you would like him he was a sort of Smarta). One day someone brought him a broken murti of Radhe Krishna saying that as Krishna's leg was broken it was going to be thrown into the Ganges - Rama Krishna replied 'If your Uncle leg was broken would you throw him into the Ganges' Rama Krishna mended the statue and venerated it.

Hmm... that's one way to look at it. The guy who told me that said it is negative energy to keep a broken murti. Even pictures that are damaged and worn should be consigned to water. That's what he said.

Yeah I can do it thanks TouchedbytheLord

You got it!

 

[ratikala]

I bought a Ganesha murti a while ago and I kind of got ripped off, but I was thinking of worshiping another god, Mata Kali, I used to worship her a while ago, I would like to buy a murti of her.
Also quick side questions, where should I put my old Ganesha murti if I am getting a new one? I can't have them togther because it clutters things up and my Mum, dosn't like seeing my murti's and my Nan freaks out when she sees them.
Also when washing them, would a clean cloth do?

dear antibush

firstly forget being riped off , onkara spoke perfectly on that subject

the most important thing with any murti is to treat them with respect , keep them in a clean place and yes , if they disturb others it is better to put them away , if you want to keep them in a box wrap them nicely in a clean and beautifull cloth one kept especialy for that deity , one bought specialy is best !and keeep the box in a respectfull place .

to wash a brass or bronze mirti you may use sandle wood paste or tilack(clay usualy brought from various sacred sites in india , some times you will find it in indian shops , by the name of gopi chandan, if you cant find that pure clay or fullers earth will do , this mixed in a little warm water to a thick paste can be used to rub gently allover the body with a soft cloth and then rinsed to remove all traces of the clay then dry again with a soft cloth and buffed very gently .the most important thing to remember is that every thing used must be kept clean and only used for that specific purpous do not use any chemicals or soaps even some oils disscolour the metals , remember that you are bathing the lord (or some form of the lord )so keep a pure mind you might like to chant or sing praise whilst bathing this is nice
if the murti is painted avoid the painted areas with all but water , wooden murtis should not be washed , the new painted resin types , water only ,

there are very strict procedures for temple deities as they are concidered installed but for personal deities love and respect is all that is needed.
but be carefull not to buy them unless you intend to keep them , as once you start to worship them in any way you should not realy stop that respect , if you realy change your mind about a deity prehaps it is better to give the deity to a friend or someone who will value and love the deity .

If your deities desturb others or you live in a shared space you might like to have a little cupboard in which you can make a small shrine , you can open the doors when you want to worship and close them when others are about who do not share your devotion , you can still put small things like flowers and offerings inside this is very respectfull for your deities and for everyone else . :namaste