Things to Avoid in a Home Temple (Mandir Mein Kya Nahi Rakhna Chahiye)

The common list: broken or chipped idols, photographs of family members who have died, clutter and unrelated objects, stale flowers and offerings, and images facing each other. Here is why, and what to do instead.

Quick answer: The things most commonly kept out of a home mandir are broken or chipped idols, photographs of family members who have died, unrelated objects and clutter, stale flowers and leftover offerings, and images placed facing each other. These come from household custom and contemporary Vastu guidance. The reasons are respect, cleanliness and keeping the shrine for the deities. A home with any of these is not "cursed", and the remedy is simply to tidy and rearrange.

The common list

1. Broken, cracked or chipped idols. Many traditions consider a damaged (khandit) image unsuitable for continued daily worship. Ask the responsible tradition about continued use, repair or retirement; see the damaged-image guide.
2. Photographs of family members who have died. Current guides consistently advise keeping ancestors' photographs out of the shrine itself and giving them a separate, respectful place. Remembering the ancestors is honoured in its own rites, such as Shraddha. Keeping them apart from the shrine is about keeping the shrine for the deities, not about the ancestors being unwelcome. Established ancestral-worship custom can differ; see the ancestor photograph guide before changing a family arrangement.
3. Unrelated objects. Keys, bills, medicines, electronics and papers tend to collect on a shrine shelf. Keep the altar for worship items only.
4. Stale flowers, dried garlands and old prasad. Clear them daily. Many families put flowers (nirmalya) in a plant pot or garden rather than the bin.
5. Images facing each other. Keep every image facing outward towards the worshipper. See puja room setup.
6. Too many images of the same deity. The checked guides favour one main image per deity, but no universal count is established here. See duplicate idols and shrine space before changing an established arrangement.
7. Torn or faded pictures and calendars. Their use and materials can differ from an installed murti. See old pictures and damaged images.

Places commonly avoided for the shrine itself

A wall shared with a toilet, under the stairs, and a basement. If you have no alternative, see home temple direction for practical options.

Old or damaged images need their own care decision

Installed worship objects, ordinary printed pictures and broken frames are different cases. Ask the family, temple or teacher responsible about repair or retirement, and confirm acceptance before any temple handover. No blanket burial, immersion or burning instruction is given here. Use the broken idol and old-picture guide for source limits and practical next steps.

Keep what helps worship

A clean diya and thali, a bell, an incense holder, your japa mala and the book or page you read from all belong in or near the shrine. See diya placement, and start the day with something complete and short, such as the Ganesh Aarti or Gayatri Mantra.