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.

Statues of Indian Goddesses Kali and Maa Durga

Statues of Indian Gods or Goddesses can be found in every religious Hindu household all across the world. Even in places like Nepal and Bali, you can come across statues of Indian Goddesses Kali and Maa Durga, depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.

One of the most popular Goddess in the Hindu mythology is Durga, an avatar of Lord Shiva’s wife, Goddess Parvati. In Sankrit, the word Durga means a protected place or fort, but in Hinduism the Goddess Durga stands for “the invincible”. Her devotees and followers also call her Maa Durga, Durga Maa, or the Divine Mother. The many forms of Durga include Kali, Bhawani, Shantadurga, Mahishasurmadini, Amba, Jagdhatri, Annapurna and Tara. A multi-dimensional Goddess with many facets, her pictorial or idol is symbolic of power and strength. She has eight arms and she is always riding a lion or a tiger; she is almost always clothed in shades of red. The distinct quality of this idol is that even though she carries weapons and a lotus flower with her, she always has a calm smile on her face.

She is the personification of femininity, purity, knowledge, self-realization and truth, and exists in the state of Svatantrya that literarily means she is free from the universe and self-sufficient. Maa Durga is prayed to as the protector of mankind from known and unknown evils in times of distress.

Kali or Kalika is an avatar of Goddess Durga emoting visible anger. This form of Durga is deeply associated with everlasting energy. While Kali is the Goddess of destruction, her name comes from the Sanskrit word Kala, which means black. Even though, she is depicted as violent, Kali is also prayed to as Bhavatarini, the redeemer of the universe. With her tongue out and with many destructive weapons in her numerous hands, the dark goddess’s idol is unique.

Considered the Goddess of change and changing times, Kali is one of the fiercest tantric Goddesses. Some of her pictures and statues also show her standing on Lord Shiva, her consort. It is believed that in her pose as Daksinakali, Kali was drunk on the blood of her victims and she began dancing like there is no tomorrow. In her vehemence she did not see the body of her husband, Lord Shiva, lying among the corpses on the battlefield. Ultimately the cries of Shiva attracted Kali's attention, calming her fury. As a sign of shame for having disrespected her husband, Kali sticks out her tongue. If Kali steps with right foot and holds sword in left hand she is considered to be Dakshinakali and if the Kali steps out with the left foot and holds sword in her right hand, she is terrible form of Mother, the Smashan Kali.

Hindu mythology is complex and has many connotations; therefore different people have different beliefs. Statues of Indian Goddesses Kali and Maa Durga are often acquired as decorative pieces or for praying.

Carved Statues of Indian Gods and Goddesses

Carved statues of Indian Gods and Goddesses have become a great objet d’art to place in your home in order to decorate it, and give it a feeling of warmth and wellness. Thanks to the spotlight that eastern cultures bask in now, many people around the world, irrespective of their religion recognize the different Gods and Goddesses of India and understand the significance of placing statues of different deities in the residence.

Some of the known Gods in Hindu Mythology are Lord Ganesh, Lord Krishna, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. Placing statues of these deities are very common in Indian households and you will find one of these Gods or Goddesses in almost every Hindu home. These idols are either placed as art or even prayed to everyday by the worshippers.

With number of options depicting different forms of the almighty, and his expressions, you can choose an idol based on your beliefs and also one that goes well with your home decor. You can choose from a wide variety of statues like Shreenathji, Parshvanath, Ram, Jalaram, Saibaba, and Ganesh with Devi Parvati. All these artifacts are religious by nature but they don’t make your home feel overtly spiritual. Your place of residence is an extension of your personality and if you take pride in your culture and beliefs, this could be a way of showcasing that to the world.

Hindu mythology states that the three supreme Gods. They are, Lord Bhramha – the creator of the universe, Lord Vishnu who is the Protector or the Preserver of the universe, and Lord Shiva who is the Destroyer. Hindus around the world worship different avatars of Gods and Goddesses and this choice depends largely on family beliefs, communities and traditions. Some of the most worshipped Goddesses in Hinduism are Lakshmi – the deity of wealth and prosperity, Saraswati – the Goddess of knowledge, Parvati – the mother of Lord Ganesh, Durga – an aggressive avatar of Goddess Durga, and Kali who is considered the eternal energy Goddess.

Hinduism is a complex and multifaceted religion, and all the Indian Gods and Goddesses are respected and prayed to with enormous zeal and enthusiasm, thus for Hindus such idols mean more than just artifacts to decorate the home. But, with people across the world becoming more aware of other religions and cultures, these carved statues can now be spotted at the trendiest restaurants, lounges, buildings and art lovers’ houses, thanks to their beautifully intricate work.

Krishna Statues, Lakshmi Statues and Vishnu statues

India is home to many Gods and Goddesses, which are unique in their own way and have their own following of zealous devotees who believe in them with indefinite conviction. For example, Krishna statues, Lakshmi Statues and Vishnu statues find a place in the homes of millions of devotees the world over.

Krishna is a vital figure in Hindu Mythology. Said to have written the Bhagavad Gita, this avatar of Lord Vishnu is considered as the one and only God, the Supreme Being. The deity was one of the chief figures in the Mahabharata, in addition to the many fascinating stories and legends that are associated with his name and time. It is very easy to recognize an idol of Krishna, as his skin and color are usually represented in shades of black or blue, wearing a yellow or orange silk dhoti, with the unmistakable peacock feather on this head. Often painted or sculpted as a young boy playing the flute, you can be sure of finding many statues of Krishna where he is playing the flute and his one leg is bent in front of the other.

Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi is known as the Goddess of wealth, light, wisdom, fertility and prosperity. She is the quintessential lady, who has beauty, grace and charm. Known to bring good fortune to those who pray to her, entreating this Goddess is said to protect you from financial troubles and difficulties. Being the daughter of the powerful deity Durga, Saraswati, Ganesha and Karthikeya are Lakshmi’s siblings. Lakshmi is referred to by a number of names like Prakruti, Vikruti, and Vidya, but since she is connected closely to the lotus flower, most of her names emit the essence and being of the lovely flower.

Vishnu is one of the principal forms of God. Known best as the preserver of the universe, he is the Pramatma or the Highest soul and Parameshwara or the Highest God, and is praised as the supreme essence of all beings. Said to be the ultimate teacher of the past, the present and the future, he is the supreme authority that presides over the universe. Vishnu is omnipresent; he is shapeless and is the ultimate reality. If he is to be represented in paintings and sculptures, there is a very strict idealization that has to depict him. The idol is a four-armed male form; the two front arms represent his physical existence while the two arms behind signify his spirituality.

All these Gods and Goddesses are an integral part of Hindu Mythology and just the mere placing of Krishna statues, Lakshmi statues and Vishnu statues in the home can give devotees a sense of inner calm and divinity.