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

[Vinayaka]

Of course the mightiest, most beautiful puja stuff in the world is nothing more than art if it's never used, just as the statues sit void of vibration with no invoking of deities.

Scriptural books should look well used.

 

[Vinayaka]

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

The kind that was in the picture link above? Upon further reflection, I have seen simple brass ones, but not the ornate ones. They remind me of the stuff in the old Ukrainian Orthodox museums around here.

 

[Jainarayan]

Probably China-made. There is a roaring trade in India in China-made Hindu devotional items.

Yes, most of the resin ones I've gotten locally have a Made in China sticker on the bottom. The ones I've picked are actually nice, some on the store shelf were horrid. I don't remember if those from Krishna Culture and Krishna Store are Chinese made, but they are very nice. I have these from Krishna Culture. They're actually nicer than the pictures show.

 

[Vinayaka]

There is 'Made in China' in India as well, but just the cheap stuff in the temple stalls, not a quality shop where you can buy good brass. At Tiruchendur, I was telling my driver that, and he didn't believe me. After I showed him some of the stickers, he did. But he was surprised.

 

[Sb1995]

The kind that was in the picture link above? Upon further reflection, I have seen simple brass ones, but not the ornate ones. They remind me of the stuff in the old Ukrainian Orthodox museums around here.

Yeah mine is simple brass, no decorations haha.

 

[Aupmanyav]

We have a few large brass Shivas and Ganeshas but they are not for worship, only for decoration. I do not like them. Those that my family worships are small idols or images. One small brass Ram/Lakshman/Sita was given to me along with a bottle of water from River Sarayu by an engineer from Ayodhya who had come to me for admission to American universities at my request. He asked me what he could do for me, so I said bring me these.

 

[Kalidas]

Yes, most of the resin ones I've gotten locally have a Made in China sticker on the bottom. The ones I've picked are actually nice, some on the store shelf were horrid. I don't remember if those from Krishna Culture and Krishna Store are Chinese made, but they are very nice. I have these from Krishna Culture. They're actually nicer than the pictures show.

I got my Kali Maa Murti from Krishna Culture, and Jain here is correct. They are very well done, and look very nice.

 

[Sb1995]

It's unfortunate seeing the prices of these murtis..You'd be surprised how much better quality and price you'd find in India..

 

[Andal]

I have a Ganesh, Shivji, and Narayana all from Krishna Culture and they are very nice. I have found some places online that will carve and ship marble murties to the US. The price range seems to be about $120-$150 for a 12 inch murti (not counting shipping) for those in India, is this reasonable? It seems fair to me. I'm just curious if it is lower there.

Aum Hari Aum!

 

[Poeticus]

The price range seems to be about $120-$150 for a 12 inch murti (not counting shipping) for those in India, is this reasonable? It seems fair to me. I'm just curious if it is lower there.

Paying 5000-8000 rupees for
a 12in mUrti is quite a rip off.​

Numerous mUrti-s from these
online websites can be found
in India for 70-80% off, and
they are of similar quality, too.​

And as Aup detailed earlier, it
is the norm for there to be
rather very small (1-2in) mUrti-s
in one's altar, whereas the big
or larger ones are for show or
to be displayed throughout the
house. Most Hindus in India, &
this is from personal experience,
have, especially in the North,
images/photos of various deities
in their altars.​

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram Starry ji

I live a city with only one Indian store, and it mainly caters as a grocery store. 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.

I am very fortunate in that I have many freinds who visit india so one can allways request them to bring somthing back if it canot be found here .

but may I make a suggestion do not buy these resin and plastic things especialy made in china they are not made with the right consciousness and it is better if they are made of natural materials , a picture is better than a cheap resin murti as these are made for comercial reasons . it is better to have a small brass indian murti or even a carved wooden or soapstone one which one can somtimes find in gift shops or even you can make your own from clay even if it is a little crude it dosent matter what is more important is that it is made with love .

and for all other puja and devotional items just choose something narural and non comercial you can use the most simple things .


but usualy if I realy want something I just pray for it and it allways turns up somewhere that one would not even expect ...even Murtis

 

[Andal]

Paying 5000-8000 rupees for
a 12in mUrti is quite a rip off.​

Numerous mUrti-s from these
online websites can be found
in India for 70-80% off, and
they are of similar quality, too.​

And as Aup detailed earlier, it
is the norm for there to be
rather very small (1-2in) mUrti-s
in one's altar, whereas the big
or larger ones are for show or
to be displayed throughout the
house. Most Hindus in India, &
this is from personal experience,
have, especially in the North,
images/photos of various deities
in their altars.​

I figured it was the "foreigner price".

I do not like the small murtis. I am legally blind and cannot see the tiny murtis. I prefer to be able to see the face of my Beloved. That in mind I do not display them either. My altar is kept in a private space. The statues not used in puja are kept throughout the home.

Aum Hari Aum!

 

[Vinayaka]

Paying 5000-8000 rupees for
a 12in mUrti is quite a rip off.​

Numerous mUrti-s from these
online websites can be found
in India for 70-80% off, and
they are of similar quality, too.​

And as Aup detailed earlier, it
is the norm for there to be
rather very small (1-2in) mUrti-s
in one's altar, whereas the big
or larger ones are for show or
to be displayed throughout the
house. Most Hindus in India, &
this is from personal experience,
have, especially in the North,
images/photos of various deities
in their altars.​

We have a 14 inch stone Ganesha in the front greeting area, several nice wooden ones, and a 5 inch one in the shrine room. If we started worshiping the big one, the energy would make the house more like a temple. So bigger ones aren't used in this way. The house has to still be a house.

 

[Kalidas]

We have a 14 inch stone Ganesha in the front greeting area, several nice wooden ones, and a 5 inch one in the shrine room. If we started worshiping the big one, the energy would make the house more like a temple. So bigger ones aren't used in this way. The house has to still be a house.

Does the size effect the energy?

 

[Vinayaka]

Does the size effect the energy?

Depends on who you ask, but I think so. My Gurus recommend smaller for shrines. When I had the large lingam here destined for a temple, I could just tell I wasn't supposed to do puja for it.

 

[Kalidas]

Depends on who you ask, but I think so. My Gurus recommend smaller for shrines. When I had the large lingam here destined for a temple, I could just tell I wasn't supposed to do puja for it.

The one I have is like 1 in a half feet tall.

 

[Poeticus]

I figured it was the "foreigner price".

That in mind I do not display them either. My altar is kept in a private space.

The existence of fraudulent, inflated prices depends on
where one goes in India. Therefore, it is a must that
visitors, tourists, pilgrims, NRIs, etc., find mUrti shops
that are accredited, wherein both locals and foreigners
are subjected to the same prices, and rightly so. And
even those prices are much less than the ones from
websites mentioned herein.
- - -
Is your home-altar hidden from view? Is that what you
mean by it being kept in a private space?​

 

[Vinayaka]

Our shrine room is 'out of bounds' too. Occasionally friends might get a peek, but only friends. It's a private place, for us and God.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Our shrine room is 'out of bounds' too. Occasionally friends might get a peek, but only friends. It's a private place, for us and God.

Mine is tucked in a small closet where the door can be left open during the day after puja and closed at night. A friend of mine recently asked to see it, but I politely said no. It's not much but it's a nice little bubble of sacred space.

:camp:

 

[Vinayaka]

Mine is tucked in a small closet where the door can be left open during the day after puja and closed at night. A friend of mine recently asked to see it, but I politely said no. It's not much but it's a nice little bubble of sacred space.

I totally get that.