How to arrange Idols (Deities) in Home temple?
A divine temple at home is the basic requirement for Pray (Puja). The correct way of arranging the Idols in Home temple is to derive maximum spiritual benefit of the God Principle.
- Conical arrangement of Idols in Home temple
We have to arrange all the Idols in a conical shape. In front of the devotee performing the Puja at the center, place Lord Ganesh. To the right of the devotee place the female Deities beginning with the family Deity followed by sub-forms of superior Deities and then other female Deities. To the left of the devotee place the male Deities in the same sequence as right side.
- The seven superior Deities and their sub-forms
- Lord Ganesha
- Shree Ram
- Hanuman – Panchamukhi ( Five Headed), Maruti (Manifest Kriyashakti), Dasmaruti (Iccha Shakti), Veermaruti (Unmanifest Kriya Shakti)
- Mahesh (Shiva) – Vetal (Kriya Shakti)
- Devi (Shakti) – Nine forms of Durgadevi
- Dutta
- Shree Krishna – Balkrushna (Iccha Shakti), Balram (Kriya Shakti)
Conical arrangement of Deities
1.2 Sequence of Arrangement of Superior Deities
The Superior Deities – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, which represent Creation, Sustenance and Dissolution respectively. The preference should be in accordance with their association with waves of will, action and knowledge respectively.
- Characteristics and Importance of the Conical Arrangement
In a conical arrangement of Deities, the tip represents the Shakti that is active by manifesting in sagun form followed by nirgun forms of Shanti (Peace) and Anand (Joy). Lord Ganesha, followed by the sub-forms of superior Deities and then the superior Deities themselves respectively represent the journey of an individual from the sagun to the nirgun state. Gradual widening of the cone denotes the wider coverage of nirgun.
Lord Ganesha is placed at the centre of Home Temple. He comprehends the human language (sound), hence he is the Deity who can be pleased first. Lord Ganesha is a Deity who transforms the language of sound to language of light and vice-versa. Other Deities mostly understand only the language of light. Besides, Lord Ganesha is also associated with waves of desire that’s why, he conveys the desires of the devotee to his Kuladev (Family male Deity) or Kuladevi (Family female Deity) who then rush to devotees help.
The Kuladev or Kuladevi also plead before superior Deities for fulfilment of their devotee’s desires, as a result of which, their Principle is activated and functions for the individual’s benefit.’
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Some practical suggestions
3.1 What if there are less Deities to be kept in the Home temple?
For example, if there are sub-forms of Deities and none of the superior Deities, then in the conical arrangement should the photos of superior Deities be placed at all?
‘There is no need to place new photos. Place the one’s you have as per the arrangement. Lord Ganesha, Kuladevi and Kuladev are sufficient, because this helps the individual awaken bhav faster than for other Deities. This rule is applicable to puja and it is associated to a large extent with the sagun form of Deities. In spiritual practice involving worship of sagun form, going from many to one, that is, going towards non-duality is more important. Our sojourn should be from Idol worship to the various sagun and nirgun Principles of the respective Deities, and from there on to God who, although completely linked with the nirgun, encompasses all these Principles.
3.2 What if in the Home temple there are many Deities?
For example, if there are two or more sub-forms of a Deity, should both be retained or only one will do?
The inclination of the individual should be towards retaining only one of the two forms. Constant awareness of the fact that we have to move from ‘many to one’ at every step and developing faith in God to match this awareness should be our goal. Only then, can an individual traverse from sagun form to the nirgun form of God & enjoy life accordingly.
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