The Ultimate Guide to Placing a Ganesh Idol at Home

Ganesha, one of the most revered Hindu deities, is known as the remover of obstacles and a symbol of happiness and prosperity. Often referred to as the protector of households, many people prefer to place Ganesh idols and images near the main entrance to ward off evil energies. Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian science of architecture, prescribes specific guidelines for placing Ganesh idols and images to maximize their positive effects. If you’re planning to bring a Ganesh murti to your home, consider these Vastu guidelines to ensure you place it in the most auspicious manner.

Best Ganesh Murti for Home: Quick Facts

Which Type of Ganesha Idol is Good for Home?

Forms of Ganesha: Types of Ganpati Murti

Ganesha is worshipped in 32 different forms, each with its unique significance. Here are some of the popular forms:

• Bala Ganesha (child-like form)
• Taruṇa Ganapati (youthful form)
• Bhakti Ganesha (devotee form)
• Veera Ganapati (valiant Ganpati)
• Shakti Ganapati (the powerful form)
• Dvija Ganapati (Ganpati who is born twice)
• Siddhi Gaṇapati (the accomplished form of Ganesha)
• Ucchhishṭa Gaṇapati (lord of blessed offerings)
• Vighna Gaṇapati (lord of obstacles)
• Kshipra Ganapati (Ganesha who is easy to appease)
• Heramba Gaṇapati (mother’s beloved son)
• Lakshmi Gaṇapati (the Fortunate one, similar to Goddess Lakshmi)
• Maha Gaṇapati (the great Ganapati)
• Vijaya Gaṇapati (the victorious one)
• Nṛitya Gaṇapati (the dancer form)
• Urdhva Gaṇapati (the elevated form of Ganapati)
• Ekakshara Gaṇapati (the single syllable form)
• Vara/ Varada Gaṇapati (the boon giver)
• Tryakshara Gaṇapati (the three letters form)
• Kshipra Prasada Gaṇapati (the one who gives quick reward)
• Haridra Gaṇapati (the kumkuma colored Ganapati)
• Ekadanta Gaṇapati (the single tusked form of Ganapati)
• Srishṭi Gaṇapati (the creator form)
• Uddaṇḍa Gaṇapati (the enforcer of dharma/ justice)
• Riṇamochana Gaṇapati (the liberator from debts)
• Ḍhuṇḍhi Gaṇapati (the sought after one)
• Dvimukha Gaṇapati (a form with two heads)
• Trimukha Gaṇapati (three-faced form of Ganpati)
• Siṇha Gaṇapati (the fearless lion form)
• Yoga Gaṇapati (the Ascetic form/ one in a yogic posture)
• Durga Gaṇapati (the invincible one, similar to Goddess Durga)
• Saṇkaṭahara Gaṇapati (the dispeller of troubles)

Vastu for Ganesha Photos and Idols at Home

Ideal Placement Directions

• Place Ganesh idols or images in the west, north, and northeast directions.
• Avoid placing the Ganesha idol in the south direction.
• Place the deity on a raised platform, typically at eye level.
• Ensure the area around the Ganesha idol is clean and clutter-free.
• Keep flowers, incense, oil lamps, etc., near the Ganesha statue.

Places to Avoid

• Bedroom
• Garage
• Vacant area
• Laundry area
• Under staircases
• Storerooms
• Any dark place

Which Direction Should Ganesh Face?

Ganesh idols or images should ideally be placed in the north, northeast, east, or west direction, preferably facing the north. This is because it is believed that Lord Shiva, his father, resides in the north. The Ganesha murti can be placed at the main door, facing inside. If you are placing Lord Ganesha images, they should face the main entrance of the home. Always remember that the back of the deity should face the outside of the house.

Which Ganesha Idol is Good for Home Entrance?

Consider placing the Drishti Ganesha at the home entrance to ward off bad luck and negative energies, inviting positivity and prosperity. The image or idol of Drishti Ganapathy must be hung on a wall opposite the main entrance. You can also place a pair of Ganpati idols, with one facing the house.

Posture

When bringing a Ganesh idol for home, notice the posture of the deity. Ideally, the Ganesha images or idol in lalitasana (sitting Ganesha) is considered the best as it represents a state of calm and peace. Ganpati bappa images or Ganesh photos in reclining positions are also considered very lucky as they represent luxury, comfort, and wealth. The dancing form of Ganesha is usually placed for aesthetic purposes. Images of Lord Ganesh with a modak in hand are quite popular.

Direction of Trunk

As per Vastu, the trunk of the Ganesha idol should be tilted towards the left, as this represents success and positivity. It is believed that a Ganesh idol with a trunk tilted towards the right represents a hard-to-please attitude. A rare form of Ganesha is where the deity’s trunk is straight or up in the air.

Modak and Mouse

Make sure a modak and mouse are part of the structure. The mouse is considered his vehicle, while the modak is his favorite sweet. This Ganesh murti is ideal for the home entrance. The mouse represents material desire and our mind, which is full of desire. Although the mouse is small and has tiny teeth, it can continuously nibble and empty out a barn full of grains. The parallel drawn is that there is a ‘mouse’ in all of us – our desires. These desires can eat away even a mountain of goodness within us. A mouse, with its tiny sharp teeth, snips and nibbles away at ropes that bind. Hence, the mouse resembles a mantra that can cut through layers of ignorance, leading to the ultimate knowledge and truth represented by Lord Ganesha. The prasad or modak that Lord Ganesha holds in his hand signifies material, opulence, and strength.

Which Color Ganesha Idol is Good for Home?

Best Offerings for Lord Ganesha

• Small bowl of rice
• Modaks
• Satori, a Maharashtrian sweet flatbread
• Motichoor laddu
• Durva-Dal, a type of grass

Significance of Ganesh Murti

Keeping a Ganesh statue or picture at home is believed to attract good luck and prosperity. A Ganesh murti is a symbol of a perfect life, teaching important principles.

One of Lord Ganesh’s tusks is broken, symbolizing that a wise person is beyond duality. The single tusk also signifies single-pointedness. The four arms of Lord Ganesha symbolize the four attributes: mind, intellect, ego, and conscience. Ganesh murti design, with one leg raised up and the other on the ground, symbolizes that one should be involved in both the spiritual and material worlds.

How Many Ganesh Idols Should Be Kept at Home?

According to Vastu, it is advised to keep only one idol in a room. If there are more than one Ganesh idol together, the positive energy is bound to get disrupted. This can impact the balance of Riddhi and Siddhi, who are the wives of Lord Ganesha, and can lead to a hostile environment.

Which Ganesha Idol is Good for Ganesh Chaturthi?

Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festival widely celebrated across India where devotees bring home Ganesha idols. When installing the Ganesha idol, one should follow Vastu dos and don’ts to bring positivity. One can consider white Ganesha idols that denote peace and prosperity. Make sure the Ganesha is in a sitting position, also known as lalitasana, and the trunk is tilted towards the left for prosperity.

Bringing Home Ganesh Murti for Ganesh Chaturthi

With the onset of the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival, many people bring the Ganesha idol home. While bringing a new Ganpati murti home, the idol’s face is covered and unveiled only during its sthapana. The idol, which is brought home during the festival, is then immersed after one-and-a-half days, three days, or ten days, as per the number of days each family follows. As more people become environment-conscious, there is an increase in opting for eco-friendly Ganeshas for home, which dissolve easily during immersion. There are also options like Ganeshas that grow into plants when immersed. Choose a small Ganesh murti if you have a small mandir at home and make sure you follow the Vastu guidelines when placing the deity.

Eco-Friendly Ganesha Idols

You can bring home eco-friendly Ganpati idols made of natural materials such as natural clay, organic soil, plant seeds, and natural colors.

How to Worship Lord Ganesha?

Place the Ganpati idol in the north, northeast, east, or west on an elevated platform. Keep the space clean and clutter-free. Light a brass oil lamp (diya) and incense candlestick. Prepare a pooja thali with items such as flowers, rice, ghee, and Kumkum. Red hibiscus is considered Lord Ganesha’s favorite flower and must be presented to the deity. Put a garland around the deity, apply tilak to the Ganesha murti, and chant the Ganesh mantra. Offer ladoos and modaks to the deity.

Ganesh Idol Visarjan

According to traditions, Ganpati Visarjan is performed one and a half days, three, five, seven, or eleven days from the start of the Ganesh Chaturthi puja. The idol is kept in the puja room and worshipped for three to ten days. As part of the visarjan, people immerse the idols in a water body.

Can You Place Ganesha Idol Outside the House?

As per Vastu Shastra, the house entrance must be decorated with auspicious symbols to invite positivity into the house. People normally place images of gods or goddesses above the door as a symbol of good luck. However, one should avoid keeping idols of Lord Ganesha at the house entrance or above the main door. This is because one should avoid placing the Ganesha idol with its back towards the house as it is regarded as inauspicious. If it must be placed, make sure to keep another statue of Ganesha on the inner side of the house entrance.

As per Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesh was once asked by his mother, Parvati, to stand guard while she bathed. He did not let his father, Lord Shiva, enter the premises. In anger, Lord Shiva beheaded him. Hence, as per some beliefs, the placement of Ganesha at the doorway can lead to conflicts or troubles. However, you can keep the idol at a suitable place inside the house as per Vastu recommended direction.

Ganesha Photo and Idols to Remove Vastu Defect

As per Vastu Shastra, keeping Ganesha photos and idols at home can help in removing the negative effects caused by Vastu defects. Lord Brahma, on the request of Vastu Purusha, created the rules of Vastu Shastra. Worshipping Lord Ganesha satisfies the Vastu deity. Building a Vastu-compliant house ensures happiness, prosperity, and progress.

If an Ekdanta Ganesha idol or picture is placed at the main door of the house, then on the other side, at the same place, one must place the idol of Ganesha such that the backs of both Ganeshas keep meeting, which helps reduce the negative effects of Vastu doshas.

Further, as per Vastu Shastra, keeping white-colored Ganesha and worshipping vermilion-colored Ganesha helps remove Vastu defects from the house. One must note that a Ganesha statue must have the deity’s favorite modak or laddu and his vehicle mouse, which is considered ideal for rectifying Vastu doshas.

In an office space, placing Ganesha photos, images, or idols where the deity is standing helps remove Vastu defects.

Conclusion

Placing a Ganesh idol or image in your home is more than just a decorative choice; it’s a spiritual practice that can bring peace, prosperity, and positive energy into your living space. By following the Vastu guidelines and understanding the significance of different forms, materials, and placements, you can ensure that you are inviting the best possible energy into your home. Whether you are celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi or simply looking to enhance the spiritual ambiance of your home, a well-placed Ganesh idol can make all the difference.