Temple for Your Home

Creating a home altar or temple is a deeply spiritual endeavor that connects individuals and families to their roots, traditions, and the divine. In Hindu culture, a home temple is not just a place of worship; it is an embodiment of a family’s devotion, and its setup plays a significant role in creating an atmosphere of peace and spiritual growth. Here, we delve into the right way to create a temple or altar in the home, including the aspects to consider in selecting its size, placement, materials, and the overall arrangement of deities.

1. Size and Room Allocation

The first aspect to consider when setting up a home altar is its size and location. In older times, especially about 50 years ago in India, people often allocated an entire room to spiritual practices, a tradition that has profound significance. If you have the space, dedicating a room exclusively for worship is ideal. The puja room used to be placed near the bedroom so that the spiritual practitioner (dikshita) could walk from their bedroom in a wet, unstitched cloth—like a sari or dhoti—immediately after bathing, to do their guru mantra japa (recitation). This practice was believed to ensure that such individuals would avoid falling into negative karmic cycles and that their family line would be blessed, with ancestors who had not yet attained moksha taking rebirth within the family, leading to a blessed life.

If a separate room is not available, the altar should be set up in a clean and quiet corner where it will remain undisturbed. The size of the altar depends on the space you can allocate, but it should be big enough to house the main deity comfortably, along with the necessary offerings and accessories used during puja.

2. Direction and Placement

The placement of the puja room or altar should ideally be decided based on the astakavarga rekha of the Sun after sodhana, following the Parasari system. This approach ensures that the altar is positioned in the direction where there is the highest presence of deva-bimba (divine influence). If a Shiva Linga is to be installed, it must be placed in this room to maximize the presence of divine energy.

The main deity of the altar should face either west or south, depending on the native’s ascendant sign. For individuals whose ascendant is an odd sign, the main deity should face west, known as the Sadyojata direction. For those with an even sign as their ascendant, the deity should face south, known as the Aghora direction. Regardless of the deity’s direction, the person performing the puja should primarily face east or north while worshipping, as these directions are considered auspicious for spiritual practices.

The devata (deity) must be placed at a height higher than the devotee’s eye level, emphasizing reverence. When looking at the deity, the devotee should naturally be looking upward, symbolizing the elevation of one's consciousness toward the divine. This simple placement conveys humility, devotion, and respect for the divine presence.

3. Materials and Cleanliness

The altar itself should ideally be made of wood, which is considered highly auspicious for spiritual use. Wood has been traditionally used for temples and altars because of its organic, grounding qualities, making it an appropriate medium for divine presence. However, it is crucial that every item in the puja room or on the altar is kept impeccably clean, as cleanliness is seen as synonymous with divinity in Hinduism. Time should be spent cleaning after each puja to maintain the purity of the space, ensuring that positive energies are sustained.

4. Panchayatana Arrangement

A home temple should ideally honor the tradition of the Panchayatana puja, a practice revived by Adi Shankaracharya that involves the worship of five deities arranged in a specific formation. These deities represent different aspects of the divine and are meant to create a holistic spiritual environment. The Panchayatana concept is reflected even in the traditional village governance structure, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all things.

The central deity should be the Kula Devata, or the family deity, which plays an essential role in converting a mere house into a home imbued with divine blessings. The Kula Devata must take precedence over all other deities, and the other four deities should be positioned around it. In many homes, Lord Somanath Shiva, representing the Kula Devata, is placed in the center, surrounded by the other deities, such as Maha Vishnu, Surya, Devi, and Ganesha. However, depending on the family’s tradition, these placements may vary.

The arrangement of the altar and the deities in the Panchayatana is significant. It symbolizes the importance of maintaining balance in one’s spiritual practice. The use of small idols or even special gemstones for the other deities is a common practice and is acceptable, as long as the focus remains on the central Kula Devata.

5. The Importance of the Kula Devata

The Kula Devata is more than just a family deity; it represents the core of the family's spiritual essence. Sadly, modern lifestyles often lead to people neglecting their family deity, as priorities shift towards individual needs. However, the presence of the Kula Devata ensures that divine blessings are showered upon all family members. It fosters harmony, unity, and spiritual well-being within the household, turning a physical structure into a sacred space.

For any home altar, ensuring the Kula Devata is prominently positioned in the center of the Panchayatana arrangement is critical. This central positioning symbolizes the heart of the family’s devotion, where all other spiritual practices emanate from and converge upon. For instance, in some homes, Maha Vishnu is placed at the center due to changes in personal circumstances, which may be influenced by the presence of two lords associated with the Moon sign. These changes are natural and reflect the evolving spiritual journeys of families and individuals.

Om Tat Sat