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Where do you purchase murthis, malas, scripture, clothes, and other items?
- Thread starter StarryNightshade
- Start date
It's up to the individual.
Kalidas
Well-Known Member
Though to be honest I would like something more private. It does get annoying having to ask my wife to "leave our room" every time I want to have puja. It's not that I DON'T want her there (if she asked I would let her join me), but she doesn't. I don't feel uncomfortable with her just laying there either on her computer, listening to music, or watching T.V while I'm trying to have this very personal and important moment.
she understands and leaves with no protest, but I still hate having to do that to her.
Poeticus
| abhyAvartin |
The installation of the Ghar Mandir (house-altar)
varies from tradition to tradition. While many of
the house-altars I have come across are in a
certain room, they were quite visible to the eye.
Plus, like temples, there are numerous rules for
a specific Ghar Mandir. Which direction they face,
which wall of the house they must align against,
what material the Ghar Mandir should be, etc.
varies from tradition to tradition. While many of
the house-altars I have come across are in a
certain room, they were quite visible to the eye.
Plus, like temples, there are numerous rules for
a specific Ghar Mandir. Which direction they face,
which wall of the house they must align against,
what material the Ghar Mandir should be, etc.
For the first time in my life, ours is actually in the NE corner room of the house. Since it's Siva, He faces south. So finally after 35 years, we got it right.
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Fireside_Hindu
Jai Lakshmi Maa
Mine is facing northwest and I'm pretty sure that's wrong, but it's good to know I don't have to get it right for another 35 years
:camp:
:camp:
Andal
resident hypnotist
Mine is a small table with drawers for puja accessories. It's facing east. I have a very unique living situation because of work so it's in my room which means automatically it's just me who sees it unless someone close to me comes in (which is fine).
I had a friend ask me once to show him how to do puja. He was interested in Hinduism and my best friend. I showed him and it felt sooooo awkward. Puja is a very private for me as are my deities.
Aum Hari Aum!
I had a friend ask me once to show him how to do puja. He was interested in Hinduism and my best friend. I showed him and it felt sooooo awkward. Puja is a very private for me as are my deities.
Aum Hari Aum!
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Unfortunately all I have available is a corner of the dining room section of the living room/dining room "great room". The altar faces west, so I face east. I have 48" high Japanese screens to close off the space, but I rarely close them. I like seeing the shrine when I'm in the room; I occasionally stop in front of it and do a namaskar. It keeps me mindful. I close them if we have company (once in a blue moon) and the food is non-veg. However, I would prefer a separate small room or an unused closet.
Sb1995
Om Sai Ram
Same here haha, no worries. I have Muslims and Christians who come in my room all the time (majority of my friends) they don't say anything though because they know I'm a Hindu.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Like Bhagawat katha, there is no need to hide it. Keep it lovingly and show it to those who are interested. No harm. If they criticize, take the criticism in a humorous way. What do they know about your relationship with your deity? (Just as many do not understand my relationship with the Hindu deities)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.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
For many years/decades, my wife wanted a small altar room. Made do with a table during Navaratri celebrations. Now, by her deities' mercy, she has it. Deities do not want anything, we want things. Come, the lunch is ready. Remember, it is for my grandson's 'mundan'.
Kalidas
Well-Known Member
Yeah! Congrats on that by the way!
...If they criticize, take the criticism in a humorous way. What do they know about your relationship with your deity? (Just as many do not understand my relationship with the Hindu deities)
To be serious here for a moment, I think it's less criticism than mockery or ignorance sometimes. My family does not understand; one day I was relating the story of Lord Narasimha, Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu to my niece's husband. He was fascinated, but she piped up with "so what are you, a Budhhist?"
I said no, Hindu, with a sidelong glance. My other family members just at me. Someone else said something about "some blue dude with 8 arms". I said "there is no blue dude with 8 arms; there is a blue dudette with 8 arms". Other people have come to the house who've paid no attention to them, or said "oh those are pretty" or asked about them in a curious way.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Oh, they do not know about the 'dudette', what all armaments she holds. It is like a loaded F-22 Raptor. And to top it all the third eye, whenever required.
That's another thing... "gee why so many arms?"
"Uh... to show their attributes, among other iconography".
"Uh... to show their attributes, among other iconography".
I have been openly criticised, not in the house, mind you, but in the car, about the Ganesha on the dash. I was trying to sell the car,and didn't remove the picture.
Mostly it is just ignorance. In the west, because the average religion hater has only dealt with western religions, they transfer that hatred over to us without a single inkling of understanding. Nor do they want to try, because the mind is already glued in one spot.
Mostly it is just ignorance. In the west, because the average religion hater has only dealt with western religions, they transfer that hatred over to us without a single inkling of understanding. Nor do they want to try, because the mind is already glued in one spot.
Poeticus
| abhyAvartin |
I have noticed such inconsistencies as well.
Many, especially in the West, are just vastly
unable to conduct a simple transference or
utilization of differing paradigms to evaluate
something that may be "foreign". It comes
from a lot ethnocentrism, cultural-centrism,
among other related factors. A paradigm is
prematurely chosen, and it is kept as the
creme de la creme of paradigms.
Many, especially in the West, are just vastly
unable to conduct a simple transference or
utilization of differing paradigms to evaluate
something that may be "foreign". It comes
from a lot ethnocentrism, cultural-centrism,
among other related factors. A paradigm is
prematurely chosen, and it is kept as the
creme de la creme of paradigms.
Indeed. A similar type has one racial slur for 2 to 3 billion people coming from maybe 100 different countries speaking 100 different languages. But if you ask them to explain, they just shrug it off like a universalist, and say, "All same, all same!"
Life is a tad more complicated, wethinks.