Every house includes a pooja room in Indian culture and is considered to be a sacred place at home. Prayer helps in concentrating on our work and gives us the strength to have control over ourselves mentally and spiritually. It fills us with a positive energy and relaxes our mind.

But, there are certain rules that one has to follow in placing the idols in the pooja room. Before we know about the placement of idols, it is vital to know that the pooja room is as per the vaastu principles.

The first and foremost thing is the location of the pooja room. It should be constructed in the north-east corner of the house facing east to west or west to east direction.

It should be preferably made of wood with a conical top and keep it as natural as possible.

The religious books should be kept either in west direction or south direction.

Make sure that the bathroom is not close to the pooja room nor it should be above, below or next to the pooja room as it emits negative energy.

The pooja room should not be located in the bedroom or under the stairs.

Placing the deities in the right direction makes the pooja room complete.

Many of us may have a makeshift temple in our homes, and whenever we leave for long holidays, we tend to lock, either the mandir or the puja room behind us. So, never lock the pooja room.

Set of laws one has to follow in placing the idols:

There are specific directions that are considered to be auspicious in the placement of few gods. For instance gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, Kartikeya, Indra, Surya are to be placed in the east direction of the house facing west. This increases positivity in the house.

The idols of Lord Ganesh, Durga, Shodas, Matrika, Kuber, Bhairav are to be placed facing north to south direction. One should not place the idol or photo of Hanuman facing Southeast direction. Generally, the North East direction is extremely auspicious to place all the idols, gods and deities.

If not daily, then regular cleaning and bathing of idols or photos of Gods and Goddess must be done.