Deity clothing

[Jainarayan]

OK, I'm just stuffed to the gills today with curiosity.

When you put clothes on the deity during puja, they are left on until the next puja. What do you do with the clothes you remove if they are not really clothes but just a piece of cloth? I don't have clothes per se, but I use satin ribbon I place on the statue of Sri Krishna (brass, 9" tall), and tuck in, in places. At temple there are real dhotis and saris for the deities, and I've seen them being ironed and prepared for puja.

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

Mh, I don't have the money to buy deities clothes, but you have many options:

> You can buy some fabric and decorate it or cut it and make some deities clothes yourself.

> Sometimes at temples (I've seen that in India, not in other countries through...) sometimes they give you as prasad a piece of cloth like this:

Spoiler: Big picture

I use it for pûja, then before the next puja, I remove it, clean it, and use it again.

> I use some fabric like colored paper (the ones used for handicrafts and stuff) to make dhoti and sarees, then at the next pûja I throw them (since it's paper) and make others.


Hope it helped !

 

[Jainarayan]

That's a good idea about the paper! It's easy enough to get colored tissue paper, cut a small piece and fold it into "pleats" (neatness counts ). I would probably take the used paper clothes and dispose of them with the used flowers and akshata in the garden or under the trees and bushes (where they won't get stepped on). Maybe that's what to do with the satin ribbon, you can't wash it without it falling to pieces.

 

[Vinayaka]

It varies around here. She makes some, we cut some, I've used ribbon. Currently I'm mostly using some dollar store bandanas that I cut up. They had mangkolam designs on them, and were bright beautiful colours.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

My murti is only about 5 inches tall, but sometimes I wrap in a colorful scarf or un-used fabric handkerchief. She's so little it gets tricky sometimes. I like the paper idea though!

:camp:

 

[Jainarayan]

Those are good ideas, and easy enough to do and take care of. I like the handkerchief idea too. Colored fabric napkins too. Those can be washed and used over and over.

 

[Kalidas]

OK, I'm just stuffed to the gills today with curiosity.

When you put clothes on the deity during puja, they are left on until the next puja. What do you do with the clothes you remove if they are not really clothes but just a piece of cloth? I don't have clothes per se, but I use satin ribbon I place on the statue of Sri Krishna (brass, 9" tall), and tuck in, in places. At temple there are real dhotis and saris for the deities, and I've seen them being ironed and prepared for puja.

Wait you leave it on? lol I take it off after puja well don't I feel dumb.

I have a piece of cloth I bought from Johans. I cut it down and wrap it around he and pin it together with a safety pin (yeah I know), like a skirt.

 

[Vinayaka]

Ganesha here gets a veshti and a shawl. The veshti is about 2 inches by 10 or so and gets tied in the back. The shawl is about half an inch thick and 8-10 inches long, and just settles on his shoulders. He has a crown, a cord, a mala, and some jewelry too.

 

[Jainarayan]

Wait you leave it on? lol I take it off after puja well don't I feel dumb.

I have a piece of cloth I bought from Johans. I cut it down and wrap it around he and pin it together with a safety pin (yeah I know), like a skirt.

I assume it's left on, because when the murthi at temple is dressed for abhishekam, the same item is on until the next abhishekam. So I've seen.

 

[Kalidas]

I assume it's left on, because when the murthi at temple is dressed for abhishekam, the same item is on until the next abhishekam. So I've seen.

Good point... I do a lot of things different. Mostly because I probably just don't know any better.

 

[Jainarayan]

Ganesha here gets a veshti and a shawl. The veshti is about 2 inches by 10 or so and gets tied in the back. The shawl is about half an inch thick and 8-10 inches long, and just settles on his shoulders. He has a crown, a cord, a mala, and some jewelry too.

One Sunday morning for a Mahaganapati abhishekam, the priest had so much trouble wrapping the dhoti/veshti, he had to re-do it 4 or 5 times. He was clearly getting frustrated. And he wasn't by any means new.

I think most temple murthis are cast or carved in such a way they can be clothed properly. For the ones we get in stores or on-line they already have the clothing as part of the statue. It's often difficult to get clothing on them properly.

 

[Jainarayan]

Good point... I do a lot of things different. Mostly because I probably just don't know any better.

It's really the devotion that counts.

 

[Kalidas]

It's really the devotion that counts.

I'm worried that one day I will make some real life Hindu friends,and they will come over for puja one day. And just look at me like "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

I'm worried that one day I will make some real life Hindu friends,and they will come over for puja one day. And just look at me like "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Ahahah, from experience, don't worry about that x'D They will be surprised for sure, but really usually they are very nicely pleased to see dedication.

 

[Jainarayan]

I'm worried that one day I will make some real life Hindu friends,and they will come over for puja one day. And just look at me like "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Then they're not real Hindus (oh no! here we go again! ).

 

[Vinayaka]

I'm worried that one day I will make some real life Hindu friends,and they will come over for puja one day. And just look at me like "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

I wouldn't worry about it, but generally the home pujas are private and personal, (atmartha) and we never do a full puja for guests. A simple aarthi is another matter. I've only ever had one person come to my daily puja ... Boss, and fortunately she refrains from commenting ion my ineptitude.

 

[Kalidas]

Okay well that certainly is load off my chest. Because I am sure you all remember when I was trying to essentially make my own words up pretty much lol. I pretty much personalised the entire thing.

But yes as far as clothing goes I kept it pretty simple.

 

[Aupmanyav]

What do you do with the clothes you remove if they are not really clothes but just a piece of cloth? I don't have clothes per se, but I use satin ribbon I place on the statue of Sri Krishna (brass, 9" tall), and tuck in, in places.

My wife bathes and dresses her 'Bala Krishna' every day. New clothes at festival time. Deity clothes with decorations are available in the market. Otherwise she washes and reuses. 'Bala Krishna' is real small, two inches. It is from my maternal grandmother. My two-year old grandson knows that Bala-Krishna too wears a diaper just like he does (he is getting out of the practice), since he sits in my wife's lap while she is conducting her puja.

It's easy enough to get colored tissue paper, cut a small piece and fold it into "pleats" (neatness counts ).

Cloth, satin, etc. are better (or perhaps woolen, since it may be cold in your place). Stitch or glue the pleats at the top. And reuse after washing. The Gods will be content. They don't ask for much.

 

[Jainarayan]

Thank for the tips. I'll work on something that will fit the statue itself. It is not unlike this:

 

[Aupmanyav]

You don't really have to clothe this Krishna. He is already wearing his clothes and ornaments. All dressed up to entice the 'gwala balas'. Personal opinion. Perhaps a garland around his neck and a few petals at his feet.