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The art of India can only be understood in relation to the essential characteristics of the country that produced it. Indians have a taste for codifying rules and regulations, a characteristic to be found in the eternal system of castes, and permeating every sphere of activity.
🔸Artists: The artist, in particular, must conform to a fairly strict system of aesthetic principles; his aim is to create not a work of art as such, but a religious work which, if it is to have value, must scrupulously respect the established rules.
🔸Purpose of Statues: To the Indian sculptor, the purpose of a statue is to serve as an aid to meditation, and its position, its expression, its gesture, and even its costume has a very precise meaning. The principal gestures, which are also those of dancers and actors, are known as mudra in Buddhist and as hasta in Brahmanic works.
🔸Material of the Statues: When Indian artists made religious sculptures, they frequently chose sturdy materials such as metal or stone, though sometimes wood-carving was also preferred.
Often called “bronzes,” most Indian metal sculpture – everything from portable household images to large temple icons – was cast by the cire perdue (lost wax) process from a wide variety of copper alloys. Indian stone sculptors preferred soft, fine-grained stones that were well suited to intricate detailing and elaborate undercutting.
🔸Style of Indian Statues: A glance at virtually any Indian sculpture reveals that Indian sculptors were really not infatuated with factually accurate anatomical descriptions of the male or female form. Instead, they wished to show the body idealized in such a way that it became a vessel filled with the vital breath of life. An ideal vehicle for conveying inherent divinity.
In Indian sculpture, the human form is composed of various compact, curved, and almost geometric shapes assembled according to an ideal canon of proportions.
🔸Male figures: Depicted with square shoulders, broad chests, slim waists, and slightly protruding stomachs.
🔸Female figures: Shown with full breasts and wide hips, symbolizing life-giving energy.
🔸Symbolic features: Idealized anatomy includes lotus-like eyes, leonine torsos, and elephantine limbs, drawing poetic parallels to nature.
🔸Divine representation: Sculptures emphasize the superhuman nature of deities with multiple limbs, heads, and unique features.
🔸Spiritual essence: These forms represent transcendental, blissful beings beyond the limitations of the mortal world.
To maintain the sanctity of your statues of gods and goddesses:
🔸Abhishekam: Ritual bathing
🔸Alankaram: Adorning with clothes and flowers
🔸Aarti & Naivedyam: Light and food offering, help create a personal connection with the deity and activate divine power in the idol.
🔸In bathrooms or near impure areas.
🔸Directly on the floor, always use a clean pedestal or altar.
🔸Keep the space clean
🔸Light a lamp daily
🔸Approach your murti with devotion and respect.
🔸A sculpture is a physical form, it may be artistic or decorative.
🔸A murti is a sacred sculpture ritually consecrated to house divine energy.
🔸All murtis are sculptures, but not all sculptures are murtis.
🔸In temple and home worship, a murti is treated as a living presence of the deity, with specific rituals guiding its use.
🔸Temple idols are large, permanently installed, and worshipped through elaborate rituals by trained priests.
🔸Home idols are smaller, more personal, and suited for daily devotion.
🔸Temple icons undergo Prana Pratishtha (life-infusing ritual), whereas home idols may or may not be ritually installed.
🔸Choose according to purpose: for regular puja, opt for sanctified murtis; for decor, select finely crafted artistic forms.
🔸Clean with a soft cloth; avoid water for regular cleaning.
🔸Use lemon juice & salt or brass polish occasionally to restore shine.
🔸Keep away from moisture to prevent tarnishing.
🔸Dust regularly with a dry cloth.
🔸Apply a small amount of wax polish to preserve the patina.
🔸Avoid abrasive cleaners and direct sunlight.
🔸Wipe gently with a damp cloth to remove dust.
🔸Avoid chemical cleaners; use only plain water if needed.
🔸Handle with care to prevent chipping.
🔸Clean using a soft, dry cloth.
🔸Keep away from harsh light or chemicals to preserve natural colors.
🔸Store in a padded box when not in use.
🔸Dust regularly with a soft cloth.
🔸Clean with mild soapy water; avoid acidic or abrasive cleaners.
🔸Use a marble sealant occasionally to protect from stains.
🔸Keep in a dry place away from humidity and pests.
🔸Wipe with a dry or slightly damp cloth avoid soaking.
🔸Use natural oil or wood polish to maintain luster.
🔸Gently polish with lemon and salt or natural copper cleaner.
🔸Avoid water contact to reduce oxidation.
🔸Store in a dry space; moisture causes greenish patina (verdigris).
🔸Best For: Daily Puja, Decor
🔸Care Level: Medium
🔸Worship Suitability: High
🔸Best For: Temple, Decor
🔸Care Level: High
🔸Worship Suitability: Medium-High
🔸Best For: Ritual Use
🔸Worship Suitability: Very High
🔸Best For: Outdoor, Temple
🔸Best For: Interior Decor
🔸Care Level: Low
🔸Worship Suitability: Low-Medium
🔸Best For: Occasional Puja
🔸Worship Suitability: Medium
Though all idols of gods and goddesses have a positive divine presence, when looking for an idol to be kept at home, experts suggest choosing a small idol that can be easily placed in your home Puja Ghar. This makes it easy for you to offer adulations daily including snana (ritual bath), Aarti, and naivedyam. If you want an idol for home decor- interior and exterior, you can go with the large idols available online.
Vastu and Hindu dharma experts suggest that the idol of god should be placed in the east or northeast direction. The east or Purva is the direction of Surya and the abode of universal positive energy, similarily northeast, or Ishana Kona is believed to be the Disha (direction) in which all gods and goddesses and divine energies reside. Placing your deity’s idol in these directions maximizes the potent energies emanating from them.
The followers of Hinduism follow the words of the Vedic scriptures. At many places in the scriptures, it has been mentioned that Lord Shri Krishna is the Absolute Truth. There is no one equal to or above Him. All the incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Shri Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead.
Many great authorities have also confirmed this statement, e.g. Lord Brahma in the Brahma Samhita mentions “Krnas tu Bhagavan swayam”, meaning, Lord Krishna is the Supreme Primeval Lord.
Statues or deities play an important role in the spiritual advancement of practicing devotees. The statues of God are made according to the details and instructions found in the Vedic texts. These are then installed in the temple and a ceremony is organized wherein the original personality of Godhead is called to appear in the form of the deity.
After this ceremony, there remains no difference between the Lord and His deity. The devotees, therefore, offer their humble obeisance and sincere prayers before the deity, and the Lord reciprocates with them. As a result, a loving relationship is established between the Lord and His devotee.
The deities of God are made according to the details and instructions mentioned in the Vedic scriptural texts. God can easily accept any element that He chooses to appear in. It is mentioned that the bona fide materials for making the deities of the Lord are wood, metal, marble, and stone. He appears in these formless materials as a causeless mercy upon the conditioned souls of this material world to give them the chance to engage in His loving devotional service.
Deities play an important role in building our relationship with the Supreme Lord. Developing an attitude of service toward the deities is the most important thing. Thus, the deities should be revered and properly taken care of. The deities should be placed or installed in a separate altar, and if possible, in a separate room.
The surroundings should always be kept clean. Your preferred deity (Ishtadev) should be placed in the center or on an elevated platform. In case you follow a spiritual master, you can keep his image below or at some distance from the deities.
There are different types of metals that are used in making statues and sculptures. But artisans make Bronze as their first preference. It is a metal alloy that has a chemical composition that makes it stronger than copper or iron. It is corrosion-resistant and is thus also prevented to a great extent from any damage, fire, or decay. These properties make Bronze statues highly durable.
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