Today in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we hardly find moments to connect with God and keep up with any spiritual practices. But what’s important to learn here is that our spiritual growth is equally important as mental and physical growth.
For many of us, the puja room serves as a sacred reserve — a space dedicated to prayer, meditation, and reflection of our inner self.
But did you know that according to the Vastu Shashtra, the items you keep in your puja room can highly influence the energy and atmosphere within your space? Hence, it's important to be mindful of what you place in your mandir.
This blog will help you learn about seven items that you can incorporate into your puja room/ mandir to invite good luck, positivity, and spiritual harmony into your life. So take note and make room for sacred items.
Things You Should Keep in Your Pooja Mandir
1. Idols or Pictures of Deities
Firstly start with placing idols or pictures of your favorite deities, such as Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Shiva, and Ram Lalla, which will help create a divine atmosphere in the puja room. It is believed that worshipping these deities regularly can bring blessings, prosperity, and protection to the household. Meanwhile, make sure to avoid keeping photos of your deceased family members or ancestors in the pooja mandir as these create negative energy around the space.
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2. Diyas (Earthen Lamps)
Lighting a diya twice a day i.e., in the morning and evening is a common practice in most Hindu households and for all the right reasons. A diya is a symbol of enlightenment and knowledge. It is believed that the light from the lamp eliminates darkness and guides us toward the path of knowledge. Hence, keeping and lighting a diya in your pooja mandir is a must.
3. Fresh Flowers
The term ‘Puja’ is made up of two words wherein ‘Pu’ means pushp (flowers) and ja means jap or chanting. Hence, flowers hold a spiritual significance in the Hindu mythology. They are considered a symbol of purity and beauty, which is why they are offered to the holy deities in order to please them. More so, flowers carry sweet fragrances that help create a pleasing and peaceful atmosphere that not only appeals to the Gods but also to you. Therefore, always keep fresh flowers in your Puja mandir and offer them to God daily.
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4. Incense Sticks
In Hinduism, smoke produced from incense sticks and hawan is believed to have a cleansing and healing effect on the environment. While practicing hawan on a regular basis is not quite feasible for most individuals burning incense sticks or agarbattis is a common practice that you can follow regularly. The fragrance of incense is believed to purify the air and create a soothing atmosphere. It is also said to elevate the mood and enhance concentration during prayers and meditation.
5. Holy Water
Keeping a pot or container of holy water, such as Ganga Jal or water from a sacred river, in the puja room is believed to purify the surroundings and ward off negative energies. You can also sprinkle a few drops of holy water around the puja room daily for added protection.
6. Prayer Bell
A prayer bell is considered one of the most important elements of the Pooja Mandir. It is believed that the sound from the prayer bell kills the microbes present in the air and helps create positive energy while dispelling the negative forces. Ringing the bell before starting the prayers is said to create a harmonious vibration and invite the holy spirits to your space.
7. Sacred Books
Keeping sacred scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, or other Dharmic Granths, in the puja room is considered auspicious. Reading or chanting from these texts allows for self-reflection and promotes spiritual growth. And when you’re more self-aware, you’re deemed to become wiser and healthier than ever.
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Tips to Maintain Your Pooja Mandir
Before you start collecting and placing certain things in your pooja room, make sure that your pooja mandir is all clean and well-maintained. Here are some easy tips to help maintain your home temple: Regular dusting: Practice regular dusting to avoid dust accumulating on god idols and other decorative items. For this, you can use a clean, soft cloth to gently wipe off the surfaces and keep the area clean.
Declutter the Space: Remove items that no longer serve your daily spiritual practices or contribute to maintaining the positive aura around the space. Keep everything well-organized as this will help promote focus and calmness during your praying or meditation sessions.Clean Puja items regularly: Make a habit of cleaning pooja items like diyas, bells, utensils, etc regularly using a mild cleanser. This will help maintain their purity and help maintain their effectiveness. Decorate Mindfully: Be mindful of what you add to your sacred space. Avoid overboarding with hefty decorative items and rather go for something minimalistic that enhances the spiritual aura of your setting.
Takeaway
By keeping the above-mentioned items in your puja room, you can create a sacred space filled with positive energy and blessings. These items not only enhance the beauty of your puja room but also attract good luck and prosperity to your home. However, remember that all of this is of no use if you don’t maintain a clean puja mandir. So, make sure to follow the right maintenance practices to seek all the blessings of the almighty.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q. What should not be kept in a pooja room?
A. According to the vastu shastra, you should never keep footwear, broken idols, stale flowers, and photos of deceased members in your pooja room.
Q. Which are the god photos not to keep at home?
A. The idols or photos of Shani Dev, Maa Kali, Bhairava, and Dhumavati are not recommended to be kept at home.
Q. Which God images or idols should be kept in the pooja room?
A. You can keep the images of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Maa Durga, and Ganesha idols in your pooja room.
Q. Can we sleep in the puja room?
A. Yes, you can sleep in your puja room or even place your puja mandir in the northeast direction of your bedrooms. However, just make sure your feet don’t face the temple unit while sleeping.
Q. When should we clean the puja room?
A. Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays are considered the best days to clean your puja room.
Q. Can we keep anything above the pooja room?
A. According to the vastu shastra, nothing should be kept above your god idols as this is considered a mark of disrespect to god.
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