Mandir direction in home: Vastu direction gods should face (2024)

In Indian culture, a pooja room or mandir holds great significance as it is the area where idols of deities and religious texts are kept, and the entire family prays and worships together. The mandir is a sacred place and a source of positive energies.

Vastu Shastra lays down rules related to the construction of a house and placement of the rooms, including the best direction for a temple in home. Each direction has some significance and cosmic energy. For instance, north is the direction of wealth and success, while the south is the direction of health and longevity.

The best direction for placing the mandir or temple at home is the northeast direction or Ishan kona, considered auspicious according to Vastu Shastra. This direction is associated with Lord Ishana, a Hindu deity, and is considered the direction of knowledge and wisdom. Placing the mandir in this direction brings good health and prosperity while inviting positivity.

See also: Pooja Space in Living Room: All you Need to Know

The temple area should be a zone of tranquility that is full of divine energy, says Mumbai-based Nitien Parmar of VastuPlus. “This is a space where one surrenders to the Almighty and gains strength. If one does not have the space to allocate an entire room for the temple, one can set up a small altar on the east wall, towards the north-east zone of the house. Following mandir direction as per vastu will have a positive impact.,” adds Parmar.

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Mandir direction in home: Vastu tips for temple

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Which direction should a mandir in home face?

According to Jayshree Dhamani, a Vastu Shastra and astrology expert, the earth’s tilt is also towards the north-east direction only and it moves with the starting point of the north-east. Hence, this corner is like the engine of a train, which pulls the entire train. The mandir face direction in home is also like that – it pulls the energies of the entire house towards it and then takes it forward.

See also: Simple puja room designs for Indian homes

Which direction should god face in home pooja room?

According to the pooja room Vastu, the idols of gods can face the west so that you face east direction when worshipping.

• Lord Ganesha must be placed on the left side of the goddess Lakshmi and goddess Saraswati must be placed on the right side of goddess Lakshmi.
• Shivling (only of a small size, says Vastu) must be placed in the northern part of the home.
• Lord Hanuman’s and Bhairav idol in the temple or pooja room, as per Vastu, should always face the south direction.
• The idols of gods that need to be kept in the north, facing the south direction are Ganesh, Durga, and Kuber.
• Lord Kartikeya and Durga idols can be placed facing east direction.
• Surya, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, must be placed on the east facing the west.

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Tips to follow when placing idols in pooja room

• Further, the face of gods idols should not be covered with garlands and flowers.
• Always keep a solid statue of the god and avoid keeping hollow statues in the temple.
• One should avoid large idols in the home temple. Vastu recommends idols of only nine fingers as they are considered auspicious.
• Keep small idols as per pooja room Vastu for home. Ideally, the idols can be seven inches in size.
• The temple must be placed high, such that the feet of the idols placed should be at the level of the devotee’s chest.
• Ensure that the idols are not placed in a cramped manner.
• The idol of Lord Ganesh should be placed on the left side of Goddess Lakshmi.
• The idols should be in the sitting position and should be kept on a ‘chowki’. According to the pooja room vastu, idols should not face each other.

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Idols of gods to be avoided in the temple at home

• Natraj, the angry incarnation or Rudra form of Lord Shiva, should not be kept in the house as it can lead to unrest in the house.
• Do not keep two Shivlings in the temple.
• The idol of Shani Dev should be avoided in the temple at home. One should worship him in the temple outside the house only.
• Keeping the idol of Rahu-Ketu in the house is considered inauspicious.

Direction you should face in Mandir while worshipping

When building a home temple, you must align the structure in a way that the gods face the recommended Vastu direction such as east or west, so that the person worshipping faces west or east while praying. When worshipping idols in mandir or devghar, avoid facing south direction because as per Vastu, it is not considered auspicious.

Sitting in the north or east direction for worshiping is favourable as it brings peace of mind and concentration, as per Vastu Shastra. Many believe facing auspicious direction for praying and worshiping fulfils wishes.

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Significance of mandir direction and location as per Vastu

According to Vastu Shastra, the cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west) have a vital role to play. Besides the direction, the five elements of nature – earth, wind, fire, etc. are also significant. Each direction is associated with specific characteristics. Thus, considering the right direction is important as it would generate auspicious energies and vibrations in the house.

Construction of any structure in accordance with Vastu requires a thorough understanding of favourable directions. In ancient times, people used to follow the sun’s shadow for directions, but in modern times, a magnetic compass is useful for verifying navigational directions. There are ten directions. However, according to Vastu Shastra, only eight directions are shown in a magnetic compass.

Northeast, which is the ideal direction for a mandir, should not be used for designing a kitchen. Avoid a bathroom in the northeast direction as it can lead to health and financial problems.

Mandir location as per Vastu

• Place idols of gods on a raised platform or pedestal
• You can choose any space in the living or create a dedicated pooja room
• When placing a temple in the kitchen, reserve the north-east corner for it.

Ground floor is the best location for mandir in home

If you have a duplex house, it is advisable to place the temple on the ground floor. Some people keep the temple in the bedroom or kitchen. In such cases, hang a curtain in front of the temple, when you are not using the temple. A small temple can be designed in the upper floors like the bedroom or kitchen. However, if there is a separate pooja room in the house, it should be in the ground floor.

Pooja room in bedroom

If there is no space available in the living and you wish to design a pooja mandir in your bedroom, make sure to follow the Vastu guidelines. Install the mandir in the northeast corner of the room. While sleeping, make sure your feet does not point towards the mandir.

Mandir location to avoid

• Basem*nt
• Under a staircase
• In front of the main door
• Next to a toilet or any wall behind it
• Below a toilet on the upper floor

Mandir direction as per Vastu: Dos and dont’s

5 things to keep in pooja room

1. Lights/diya in a temple room: According to pooja room Vastu, lighting a diya wards off negative energies. Diyas should be placed on the right side of the person performing the puja. Always use cotton wicks inside the diyas. Ensure that the wicks are not jumbled up. Always keep the lamp clean.
2. Flowers in puja room: Always use fresh flowers in a puja room. Avoid stale ones. Flowers should be removed in the late evenings from the temple, once they dry and wilt.
3. Idols, photographs and pictures: Place idols, statues and pictures of god as per mandir vastu direction. Do not put your own pictures in the puja room. You must also avoid photographs of your family members/ancestors who have passed away. It leads to an imbalance in the energy of the house.
4. Incense sticks: Lighting incense sticks in the pooja room creates a calm environment and ensures positive flow of energies.
5. Holy books: Keep the holy books and dharmic granths on the west and south wall. Ensure only those holy books are kept in the temple area which are read regularly. Do not keep torn books at all.

Design the pooja space with auspicious symbols such as Swastik and Om and rangoli designs. Keep the temple bell on the left side and agni kund in southeast direction. Choose a puja thali, made of made of silver, brass, copper or steel. Keep rice kumkum, turmeric, flowers, sandalwood paste, betel leaves or betel nuts, etc.

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See also: Vastu tips for the bedroom

Things to avoid in the pooja room

Avoid impure items in the puja room. Leather is one item that is considered impure. Animal skin should not be placed in the temple space. Also, avoid keeping money in the puja room. While it is not impure, it is not considered right to save/store money in a place where you seek peace and blessings.

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Best direction for mandir in home as per Vastu

Temple direction in home: Simple remedies for Vastu dosh

• Ensure that the idols do not face each other.
• Keep the idols raised – even a simple bench would do.
• Place the idol at least an inch away from the wall.
• Lamps and diyas should be placed in the south-east.
• Never keep a damaged idol.
• Ensure a clutter-free environment in the puja room.

See also: How to improve the Vastu of a house without making structural changes?

When it comes to identifying the right direction for mandir, use a compass and stand in the centre of the house to identify the different directions. The house entrance is the point from where the positive energies enter the house. As per Vastu, a house should not have a southwest facing door as it can bring in negative energies and misfortune. One Vastu remedy for this defect can be placing two images of lord Hanuman on the tiles outside the door.

How should a temple at home be constructed?

“The temple should be made of marble or wood. Avoid temples made from glass or acrylic. Do not clutter the temple. Ensure that you do not have multiple idols of the same God or Goddess, either in a seating or standing position in the temple. The idol or photos placed in the temple, should not be cracked or damaged, as it is considered inauspicious,” suggests Parmar.

According to pooja room Vastu , a home should not have any idol that is more than nine inches in height. Avoid keeping in the temple at home photos related to war, in which the form of God is angry. Always keep idols of God with gentle, peaceful and blessed posture for positive energy.

During special pujas, the entire family tends to pray together in the house pooja room. Hence, ensure that there is enough space for the family to sit down and pray. The temple area should have a good and healthy flow of energy. So, keep it neat and clean, without dust or cobwebs and avoid stuffing the space with too many accessories. Above all, the temple should give you a feeling of serenity and calmness.

Northeast is the best direction for a temple in your house, since it allows natural light. In the absence of natural light, you can illuminate the puja room with artificial lighting also, especially when it is a space with no windows, according to pooja room vastu.

See also: Vastu tips for positive energy at home

Materials

• Wood is an excellent material you can choose when designing a mandir at home are wood.
• You can also combine these with materials such as glass to give your home temple a bright and appealing look.
• Pick natural materials like stone.
• Marble and granite are good choices.
• Lighter shades of tiles such as light green or yellow which work well and create a positive ambience.

Temple direction in home in an east-facing house?

The pooja room in an east facing house as per Vastu plan should be designed in a way that a person faces the Vastu recommended directions while praying.

As per vastu, temple direction in home, in east facing homes, the puja room should be located in the north or east corner, so that one faces either of these directions while praying. As per pooja room Vastu principles for east facing house, facing these directions and praying is regarded ideal and it brings positivity in the house. Ensure that the room is not adjacent to the bathroom or staircase.

Mandir direction for north facing house as per Vastu

For a north facing house, the ideal direction for the living room and the pooja room is the northeast. You can go for a wall mandir unit or create a partition in the room to create a designated pooja space.

Mandir direction for homes with southern exposure

According to Vastu, the mandir should not be placed towards the south direction, which is associated with Yama, the Lord of death. Identify the northeast direction and design the mandir in this location. Choose the room’s ceiling in the form of a triangle.

Vastu for pooja room in office

When designing an office, the mandir must be placed as per Vastu guidelines. Make sure to keep clearly figured god’s idols, water in a jug, and water for daily consumption. The right mandir position as per Vastu is the north or north-east corner of the room.

Position the diyas facing north, east or west. Avoid south as it is considered inauspicious and leads to loss of wealth. Moreover, the pooja room should not be designed under a staircase or near the washroom area.

Puja room storage design as per Vastu

Storage cabinets in the pooja room should always face towards southeast direction. Make sure there is no obstruction for the sunlight to enter.

Avoid keeping unnecessary items below the temple or dustbins in this area. Do not store anything above the idols. For water, use copper vessels only and change the water of the kalash daily.

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Design ideas for puja mandir in small flats

• A pyramid-structured ceiling that looks like the gopura of a temple, would be a good design for your puja room. The pyramid shape is known to attract positive energy.
• Create a puja corner in entertainment unit in the living room.
• Customise a kitchen cabinet to make it work like a small mandir. Place the mandir in the kitchen on the left or right side of the stove. Never place the mandir above the gas stove or the kitchen sink as it can bring bad luck.
• You can convert an empty corner of the dining room into a pooja space by designing pedestals.
• Create a pooja corner by using a simple curtain, a glass wall, an ornate plaster of Paris divider, or vertical garden room dividers.
• Convert a small niche or alcove on a wall for a temple in a small home
• Metal shelves built into a corner of the house make a trendy pooja area.

See also: How to remove negativity from home

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See also: Vastu tips for keeping Lord Ganesha at home

Which god can you place on main door?

One can place auspicious symbols and images of gods or goddesses such as Ganesha and Lakshmi on the main door entrance of the house. This will attract good luck and prosperity.

Best colours for a puja room as per Vastu

• White
• Light blue
• Beige
• Lavender
• Orange
• Cream
• Light yellow

Colours to avoid

• Black
• Dark brown

See also: Pooja Room Designs in Wood for your Home

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See also: How to choose the right colours for your home, based on Vastu

(With inputs from Sneha Sharon Mammen)

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