Quick answer: Vastu tradition generally favours the north, northeast (Ishan corner), east or west of the home for god idols, placed at chest height or below eye level, facing into the room rather than straight out of the main door, and kept out of bedrooms, bathrooms and the space under a staircase. Each deity has its own commonly recommended direction and placement, which we've set out idol by idol below — treat it as traditional guidance to work with, not a fixed rule, since practices vary by region and practitioner.
General Rules That Apply to Every Idol
Before the deity-specific guidance, a few principles are commonly followed across almost all Vastu traditions, and are worth getting right first:
- Height: Idols are traditionally kept at chest height or below eye level when standing — not so high that you look up at them, and never directly on the floor.
- Facing: Most guidance places the idol facing west or into the room, so the person praying faces east or north — rather than the idol facing straight out through the main door.
- Rooms to avoid: Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and the space under a staircase are commonly avoided for a mandir or idol shelf.
- Spacing: Idols are traditionally kept a little apart rather than touching, and two idols of the same deity are not placed facing each other.
- Condition: A chipped or broken idol is traditionally replaced rather than kept on display.
With those in mind, here is commonly recommended placement for the deities most Indian homes bring in.
| Deity | Recommended direction | Facing | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ganesha | North, northeast (Ishan corner) or west | West, or into the room, visible from the entrance | Facing straight out of the main door; a second Ganesha facing it |
| Lakshmi | West wall of the mandir, often paired with Ganesh | East, so the worshipper faces east | South wall; placing Lakshmi alone without Ganesh nearby, by tradition |
| Durga | North or east wall of the mandir | West or into the room | Bedroom or a cluttered, low shelf |
| Hanuman | South or southwest of the home | North, or toward the main entrance | Bedroom; placing two Hanuman idols in one room |
| Krishna (standing, flute) | East or north of the mandir | West, or into the room | Direct floor placement; low, dark corners |
| Shiva | Northeast (Ishan corner) | North or east | South-facing placement, by tradition; bathrooms |
| Saraswati | Northeast or east, often in a study | West, so the worshipper faces east | Kitchen or storage-heavy shelves |
| Ram Darbar | East-facing wall of the mandir | West, so the worshipper faces east | Splitting the set across different rooms |
Ganesha: The First Idol Most Homes Bring In
Ganesha traditionally goes in the north, northeast or west of the home, angled so he is easily seen from the entrance rather than staring straight down the main door — and kept out of bedrooms, bathrooms and the space under a staircase. Mapland's Ganesha Sandstone Idol – 6 inch (₹1,799) comes in two hand-painted antique-gold designs — Lotus Seat (15 cm tall, 10 × 9 cm base) and Round Base (16 cm tall, 10 cm round base) — sized for a mandir shelf, entryway console or work desk. For a deeper size and design comparison, see our dedicated Ganesha placement guide.
Krishna: From the Playful Bal Gopal to the Standing Flute Player
A standing Krishna with his flute is traditionally placed facing west or into the room, in the east or north of the mandir. Mapland's Standing Krishna with Flute Sandstone Idol (₹2,999) stands 30 cm (12 inch) tall on a compact 6.5 × 6.5 cm pedestal, hand-painted in antique gold with a pink-coral dhoti — enough presence for a console or living room shelf on its own. Where Radha stands beside him, the Radha Krishna Sandstone Idol follows the same placement guidance and comes in 6 inch (₹1,899, 16 cm) and 12 inch (₹3,949, 30 cm) sizes.
Baby Krishna is the one commonly held exception to the "no idols in the bedroom" rule: because Bal Gopal is worshipped as an infant rather than a full deity, many households keep a Laddo Gopal figurine on a bedside shelf as well as in the mandir. Mapland's Laddo Gopal Sandstone Figurine (₹1,999 Antique Gold / ₹1,899 White & Gold) stands 20 cm tall on a 13 × 10 cm base — a size that works equally well in either spot.
Hanuman: Facing Outward for Protection
Hanuman is traditionally placed in the south or southwest of the home, often angled toward the main entrance, on the belief that he watches over the household. Mapland's Sanjeevani Hanuman Sandstone Idol is available in 6 inch (₹1,599, 15 cm tall) for a compact mandir shelf and 9 inch (₹2,499, 23 cm tall) as a fuller centrepiece, both hand-painted in antique gold with his signature coral-red sash. Avoid keeping more than one Hanuman idol in the same room, and never place him in a bedroom.
Lakshmi: Paired With Ganesh for Prosperity
Lakshmi traditionally sits on the west wall of the mandir, facing east so the worshipper faces east while praying — and is rarely placed alone, since Ganesh is believed to clear the way for her blessings to enter the home. Mapland's Lakshmi Ganesh Sandstone Idol (₹2,499) seats both deities together on one 16 × 8 cm pedestal at 12 cm tall — a single hand-painted piece rather than two separate idols to place, which sidesteps the placement question entirely.
Durga: A Seat of Her Own
Durga is commonly placed on the north or east wall of the mandir, facing west or into the room, on a shelf that isn't cluttered with other objects around her. Mapland's Sherawali Maa Durga Sandstone Idol (₹1,899) shows her seated on her lion at 15 cm tall and 15 cm long, hand-painted in antique gold with a coral-red saree — sized to sit comfortably on her own section of shelf rather than crowded beside other idols.
Shiva and the Wider Family
Shiva idols are traditionally placed in the northeast (Ishan corner), facing north or east, and kept away from south-facing walls and bathrooms. Mapland's Meditating Shiva Sandstone Idol (₹1,799) is 17 cm tall on a 13 cm base, hand-painted with a coral-toned tiger skin and rudraksha detailing. For the wider family together, the Shiv Parivar Sandstone Idol follows the same northeast placement and comes in 6 inch (₹1,945, 16 cm) and 9 inch (₹2,499, 23 cm) sizes, with Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh and Kartikeya seated together on one base.
Saraswati: Best Placed Near Study or Learning Spaces
Saraswati is traditionally placed in the northeast or east, facing west, and many families keep her specifically near a study table or bookshelf rather than in the main mandir. Mapland's Saraswati Maa Sandstone Idol with Veena (₹1,899) is 16 cm tall on a 10 × 9 cm base, hand-painted in antique gold with a copper-coral saree — a fitting size for a study shelf as well as a home mandir.
Ram Darbar: Keeping the Set Together
Ram Darbar — Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman — is traditionally placed on an east-facing wall of the mandir, facing west, and kept together as a set rather than split across rooms. Mapland's Ram Darbar Sandstone Idol Set comes as four separate hand-painted figurines you can arrange on one shared base — 6 inch (₹3,999: Ram 15 cm, Sita 14 cm, Lakshman 14 cm, Hanuman 10 cm) or 9 inch (₹6,999: Ram 22 cm, Sita 21 cm, Lakshman 21 cm, Hanuman 15 cm).
Related Reading
- Sandstone Ganesha Idol for Home: Size, Placement and Vastu Guide
- How to Place Home Decor by Vastu: Planters, Brass Idols & Pooja Items
- How to Choose Pooja Decor for Your Home: A Room-by-Room Guide
- Shop the full Pooja Essentials collection
Frequently Asked Questions
Which direction should god idols face at home?
Most Vastu guidance places idols facing west or into the room, so the person praying faces east or north. The exact favoured direction varies a little by deity — see the table above for each one.
Can a Laddo Gopal or Krishna idol be kept in the bedroom?
Baby Krishna (Laddo Gopal / Bal Gopal) is the commonly cited exception to the no-idols-in-the-bedroom rule, since he is worshipped as an infant rather than a full deity. Standing Krishna idols and other full-form deities are traditionally kept in the mandir rather than the bedroom.
How high should a god idol be placed?
Chest height or below eye level is the commonly followed range — high enough to feel respectful, low enough that you aren't looking sharply upward, and always above floor level.
Which direction should a Hanuman idol face?
Hanuman is traditionally placed in the south or southwest of the home, often angled toward the main entrance, in the belief that he watches over the household.
Should Lakshmi and Ganesh be placed together?
Yes — Lakshmi and Ganesh are traditionally placed together, with Ganesh believed to clear the way for Lakshmi's blessings. Many households use a single combined Lakshmi Ganesh idol for exactly this reason.