Tranquil Temples

If there isn't a special pooja room then the mandir is placed in the north- east section of the house according to Vaastu and in the north west according to Feng Shui. Placing a temple in the kitchen or the balcony evokes negative energies.

But whether it is a niche in your living room or a room by itself, you can rework it to create a prayerful atmosphere.

Marble mandirs add composure to the room. Lacquered wooden temples can be used as well. Besides these, mandirs can be crafted using fibre materials too- a slightly cheaper option.

Italian white marble or ceramic tiles are ideal. If you are creating a niche the floor can be raised about 4 inches to define the area. Also add in decorative mats for seating along with cushions.

A false ceiling with spotlights against an ivory or off-white wall will create a serene aura. If the room is large enough, you could incorporate large oil paintings of Ganesha or that of Radha Krishna done on a fusion of canvas, metal and wood. The painting of the Siddhi Vinayak temple is auspicious and the most used in prayer rooms. In such cases, track lights work well too. But remember, the idea is not to draw too much attention to the walls.

Apart from this, you could suspend a couple of terracotta or brass diyas and an ornate brass bell from the ceiling. A diya stand will complete the room with the perfect glow.