Where do you purchase murthis, malas, scripture, clothes, and other items?

[StarryNightshade]

Like this kind ... it has a wick in the middle, should be available at Indian stores.

That's it.

 

[Jainarayan]

In the old temple building the aarti lamp was a small oil lamp like the picture, on what appeared to be a personal pizza pan. I kid not. Now there is a large tray with the lamp fused to it in the center, and only the priest waves the light, because he goes into the sanctum sanctorum, then brings the lamp out.

 

[Vinayaka]

The plain stainless steel trays are common in temples, people use them for archana trays, offerings are put on them etc.

 

[Jainarayan]

Stainless steel is durable! The tray in the old temple looked to be aluminum and had more than a few dings, dents and bends. I wonder how many times the poor thing had been dropped over its years of service. In the old temple, people came in a line to wave the lamp.

 

[Kalidas]

I use something like this

http://vtblacksmith.com/store/images/211candleHolder.jpg

But mine is a golden brass color.

 

[Vinayaka]

Meals get served on them too. Somebody figures out that they make fairly durable banana leaf replacements.

 

[Jainarayan]

I want to get something like these for doing the 108 names. The temple gift store has them in silver.

http://sripuram.com/108_Gold_plated_Silver_flowers_for_Archana.jpg

The picture is too big, I put just the link.

 

[Vinayaka]

I use real petals, and in midwinter, if I feel cheap, the last half or so, have to be with akshatam. Another couple of weeks and we'll have some flowers around here again. Vancouver was amazing ... rhododendron everywhere... I kept trying to find a place where nobody would notice some 'borrowing' for garlands, but alas it didn't happen.

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

I've brought everything in India, it's muuuuch cheaper <___<

But usually, you can find good malas on amazon for a good price (don't purchase rudraksha mala on amazon unless you know how to make a difference between fake/real rudraksha)
Rudraksha ratna is a very, very very good website, with decent prices. I've purchased online there in Europe and in India, there is no problem and the things are really amazing quality !
If there is no way to get fresh flowers where you are, I recommend their garlands. They are cheap, excellent quality... But unless you've got a life size murti, don't take the large ones

Never had any experience with Krishna store :0 Maybe I'll give it a try next time

I use real petals, and in midwinter, if I feel cheap, the last half or so, have to be with akshatam. Another couple of weeks and we'll have some flowers around here again. Vancouver was amazing ... rhododendron everywhere... I kept trying to find a place where nobody would notice some 'borrowing' for garlands, but alas it didn't happen.

I always do with akshatam too

 

[Jainarayan]

OK, using petals and akshatam... I suppose you count out the petals before hand so you have 108? Using akshatam, is it one grain at a time, or a tiny spoonful each time? I'm such a neophyte. We can get flowers all year round in the stores. But it would be my luck to get a bunch that has 107 petals on all the flowers.

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

OK, using petals and akshatam... I suppose you count out the petals before hand so you have 108? Using akshatam, is it one grain at a time, or a tiny spoonful each time? I'm such a neophyte.

I remember when I attended SatyaNarayana pûja's friends in India, they took entire branches of plants full of petals... But there was like, 5 or 6 persons offering each time... So at first we offered a flower, then there wasn't enough so a woman teared the flowers to give small parts of petals for everyone... But then there wasn't any flowers left at all, and it wasn't over so... We started offering the leaves

For akshatam, I take a pinch each time. Don't think too much

 

[Vinayaka]

OK, using petals and akshatam... I suppose you count out the petals before hand so you have 108? Using akshatam, is it one grain at a time, or a tiny spoonful each time? I'm such a neophyte. We can get flowers all year round in the stores. But it would be my luck to get a bunch that has 107 petals on all the flowers.

I never count them, because after ashtottaram is the mantra pushpam chant, which needs some more. Depending on the kind of mum, one petal at a time. If it's carnations, roses, or mini-carns, I break it down to just petals. Unless I somehow go broke, there will always be at least one real flower.

Akshatam is one or two grains at a time, like a pinch... if you tried to pick up one grain, you'd lose the focus on the God you're doing puja to. For me, it's about 90% focus.

 

[Jainarayan]

For akshatam, I take a pinch each time. Don't think too much

That's what I thought. Thanks.

 

[Jainarayan]

OK good, I usually buy carnations or mums to keep by the altar. There will be more than enough petals then.

Btw, sorry to hijack your thread Starry.

 

[StarryNightshade]

OK good, I usually buy carnations or mums to keep by the altar. There will be more than enough petals then.

Btw, sorry to hijack your thread Starry.

Lol, it's all good. This is all very informative.

Actually, I went to my first SatyaNarayana puja yesterday.

 

[Jainarayan]

I have yet to attend one. I always missed the one on the first Saturday of each month, and on the full moon. Something always came up.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

My supplies are a mishmash. incense and burner from a new age store, Shrine was designed by me and made for me on Etsy, Lakshmi murti I also made - Thali was a gift from my former temple, lamp was gift from a friend, bell was from a consignment shop.

You find ways to make it work

:camp:

 

[Sb1995]

Thanks. I'm generally not familiar with religious stuff that isn't generally affiliated with Hinduism. I've never seen one of those on a shrine.

Starry, what's the chalice for?

Actually, it's very common in Hinduism. I use one for my shrine as well.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I (sorry) do not like Satyanarayan puja. If you worship God, then you have riches. If you don't, then they are taken away. Not a good idea for a God. But every one in the family is for that.

 

[Aupmanyav]

There is a small selection of devotional items, but they are extremely cheaply made (as in plastic and covered in glitter...) and break easily.

So, as members of this DIR, where do you purchase your devotional items? I've bought them on Amazon in the past, but A.) they are really expensive (the cheapest statues are around $50) and B.) buying a statue of Ganesha that was made in China seems less...authentic.

Probably China-made. There is a roaring trade in India in China-made Hindu devotional items. Perhaps ask someone going to India to buy from here. Hindus will be delighted to help you in this. What do you want? My nephew is returning to Stamford, CT end of the month.