7 mistakes to never commit in the home temple to maintain positivity

A home temple is the first place people go to when they are sad, disappointed, angry with life and God, or even just happy when something goes right for them. A home temple, or the Puja room at home, is one that has so many memories attached to it, from the early morning aartis with grandmothers, or the evening blowing of the conch with the parents.
And in this home temple, we do everything possible to maintain its purity and positivity. But there are certain mistakes that people do unknowingly, and here we mention some of them.

One of the most important things to remember is the placement and direction of the home temple and it should be done according to Vastu principles. It is believed, according to Vastu Shastra, that the temple in the home should ideally be placed in the northeast corner of the house, and this direction is considered the most auspicious to allow the flow of divine energy.
Sometimes, without proper knowledge, people casually keep the home temple in any direction, and this can be negative for them. For example, South is said to be the direction of Lord Yamraj and the direction of underworld, and thus it is believed to be best if the home temple is not in the South or Southwest directions.

Tulsi is considered to be sacred in Hinduism, and is one of the most respected plants. Tulsi leaves are said to have medicinal properties, and it is said that in a home where there is a healthy Tulsi plant, there will never be any problems.
But, the story of Shankhchud and Lord Shiva is the reason why Tulsi leaves are never offered to him. According to legends, Tulsi was once a devoted wife who was tricked by Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva killed her husband, who was a demon. When she realised the deceit, she cursed Lord Shiva that he would never be worshipped by her.

Another mistake people usually make is to offer rice to Lord Vishnu. When we apply ‘teeka’ to the Gods, and us, it is a mix of kumkum, chandan, and rice. But, it is believed that when applying the teeka to Lord Vishnu, one should never add rice to the mix.
In fact, even during Ekadashi fasts, which are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, eating rice is not allowed.

Another mistake that people might make is to keep two Shivlings in the same temple. But, it is believed that there should never be two idols of the same Gods in one home temple.
Why? Well in the case of Shivlings, it is said that a shivling represents the divine energy of Lord Shiva and is a powerful symbol. And so when people keep two Shivlings in the same space, it can create an energy imbalance and even overpower and overwhelm the household and the puja room.

As there is a set direction for the home temple, people should also make sure to never keep it in certain rooms. It is said that a home temple should be placed in a dedicated space, in the Northeast direction ideally, and placing it in the bedroom, or near a washroom, or a place where it is visible as soon as someone comes in from the door is frowned upon.

Cleanliness is an important part of everyday life, and also of worshipping and pujas. And if the home temple is dirty, it will not attract any good energies, ever. Just like humans, Gods (in the form of idols or images) too need a clean, pure place to live, and a dusty or neglected temple can lead to negative energy accumulation.

So make sure to clean the temple and idols regularly using clean clothes and water, change the clothes and fabrics often, and offer fresh flowers, water, and other items daily.

Another mistake to never do in a home temple is to keep a broken or chipped idol. Why?
Well the idols we bring home are considered representations of deities, and any damage to them is believed to bring negative energy into the home. A broken or chipped idol is a sign of imperfection and should not be kept in a home temple.
If an idol gets damaged, it should be replaced with a new one as soon as possible, and the old, broken idol should be immersed in a river or kept below a sacred tree.