India Crafters | Artistic - Unique - Carved

Monday 29 August 2011

Deity statues and idols

One need not be a devout Hindu or overtly religious to place deity statues and idols in their homes. Many consider Hindu God statutes as auspicious and pious and pray to them everyday. But if you just like the way these statues look in your home even though you are from a different religion or faith group, you can go ahead and adorn your home with them; they are said to bring luck and happiness.

Some of the popular Hindu Gods are Lord Ganesh, Lord Krishna, Goddess Laxmi and Goddess Saraswati. Every Hindu will have a statue of at least one of these above-mentioned Gods in their homes to bring them good fortune and prosperity. Hinduism is a very old religion, dating back to a time before Christ. Hinduism is a term used by many to categorize religious beliefs based on the Vedas and Vedic traditions.

Hinduism teaches you to be tolerant to every different belief and idea. Many people would even state that Hinduism is a way of life rather than a religion; it can be aptly defined as a Religious Tradition. It is one of the oldest religions in the world and is also the most diverse as it preaches tolerance and respect. Hinduism is characterized by its belief in reincarnation and Karma (Karma is not considered as being a punishment but instead it is an expression, or rather a consequence of acts).

Every different God and Goddess symbolizes something unique and special. Lord Ganesh is the easiest God to recognize as he has an elephant head, a big, round belly and a jovial personality. People pray to him as he is the remover of hindrances and he is the Lord of beginnings. Lord Krishna is an indispensable figure in Hinduism. He is the personification of Lord Vishnu and is unanimously considered by most Hindus as being the Supreme Being. It is a common and well known fact that Lord Krishna originally spoke the whole Bhagavad-Gita.

Krishna’s birthday, also known as Janmashtami is celebrated every year in the month of August or September. This is a very colorful event also known as Dahi Handi. A clay pot, filled with Krishna’s favorite food – buttermilk, is positioned at a significant height. It is then broken by making a huge human pyramid. Handis are set-up in every nook and cranny of some Indian cities, especially in and around Maharashtra. Indians abroad too celebrate this festival by gathering in groups, praying together and eating special food, prepared using specific ingredients.

Deity statues and religious idols are an integral part of Hinduism. Hindus love their Gods and Goddess with unquestionable faith and celebrate their birthdays and special occasions with happiness and enthusiasm.

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