Perhaps after you have visited a Hindu temple and you have chosen your ishta devata, preferred god or goddess, you feel inspired to create your own altar at home for your personal worship.

Why Set Up an Altar?

• Inspiration to explore Bhakti Yoga, yoga of devotion
• Using Bhakti Yoga as a path to self-realization and oneness with everything
• As an outpouring of your love for your personal deity
• Develop your devotional side, open your heart chakra, and establish a heartfelt connection to the Divine

Place of Worship

First choose a proper place for it like a corner in your living room or bedroom, best is a separate room for worship, yoga, and meditation because a higher energy field is created through repeated worship. This space is sacred and is entered barefoot, without shoes. The preferred direction for worship is you facing either East or North.

Which God or Goddess is Best to Worship?

In the Hindu tradition your personal preference is what is respected and honored. So it is simply up to you. Here are a few of the more popular deities.

• Lord Ganesha is worshiped in all Hindu traditions as he is the obstacle remover to all undertakings. It is tradition to worship him first and always have his image as part of your altar. He could also be the ishta devata of yours.
• As a yogi, you may wish to worship Lord Shiva, the founder of yoga, or Patanjali, the organizer of yoga scriptures. Shiva is worshiped in form or as a linga, column of light.
• If you are a more heart-centered and devotional person who loves singing and creating poetry to the Divine, Lord Krishna is a good choice.
• Lakshmi Devi is worshiped as a form of the divine mother energy as she is one of the many expressions of the Goddess.
• Lord Kalabhairava is the one who helps you discover and let go of thought patterns and blind spots so you start feeling more at peace with yourself and fulfilled.

There are many more deities. Some say there is one deity for every one person in the Hindu tradition. Whichever deity you choose is totally up to you. Wherever your heart pulls you. And it is ok too to go from one deity to another one without feeling guilty. It’s simply a reflection of your inner growth and personal preference. When you move from one deity to another, don’t just throw out the old deity but keep it on your altar, give it to a friend, respectfully place it under a tree or in your backyard.

Basic Worship Items

There are a few basic items each Hindu altar contains for your daily worship of your preferred god or goddess.

• Preferably an image made of metal, stone, clay, or wood or at least a photograph/drawing of your ishtha devata, personal god or goddess
• Oil lamp
• Incense like sandalwood, jasmine, or any other scent you prefer
• Food offering on a plate and/or a glass of water. Food offering can be a complete meal, a small side dish, or fresh or dried fruits
• Flowers like lotus, rose, jasmine, or whatever you have at hand
• Other items depending on how elaborate you want to worship

Worship is what is called Puja in the Hindu tradition. Start with a simple puja and then gradually move to longer and more elaborate forms of worship.

Learn how to do puja or for any questions, contact Udaysree