My special idols

Each of my idols are special, and I feel it is a blessing that they are with me today. But some of them, are rare and even unique. I wish to talk of a few of them today.

One is a fiberglass idol I have of Ganapati and Krishna, modelled after the idol in Malliyoor Mahaganapati Temple of Kottayam district in Kerala, where baby Krishna is seen seated on Ganesha’s lap. It is a very rare confluence of the Vaishnavite and Shaivaite sects, and the Ganapati is also known as Vaishnava Ganapati. The temple is said to have existed even before the reign of Perumals in the region. 

I picked up this idol a couple of (?) years ago in a shop near Guruvayur temple. I generally check for idols of the season every time I visit Guruvayur temple. The shops lining the roads to the temple keep updating their stock of idols. Even though Krishna with flute is ever-present, they also bring new idols and the models keep changing each season. Once, I was lucky to have come across the rather big fiberglass idol of Malliyur Mahaganapati with Krishna. Thankfully, I decided immediately to take Him home, even though the idol was quite large and I was unsure about transportation. This proved to be quite lucky, as I haven’t been able to find this idol in any of the shops there in any visits after that time. Today many guests who come home stop and ask about the special idol, and it is always my pleasure to describe the idol and the story of the original temple to them. 

Another recent happy inclusion is my set of custom handmade idols, procured from two artists, one based in Madurai and another in Chennai. These idols are obviously unique, as I have been talking to the artists during the creative phase and incorporating my colour scheme and my vision of each God also to the design. Therefore, while the basic idea remains the same, the artists have created exquisite new versions for me, with colours and jewels of my taste, and often down to the “pottu” design on forehead, so that each can be considered truly unique. Picture is added for reference. 

Brass Varahi idol, small marble Ganesha with blue handwork from Agra, panchaloha dancing Ganapati purchased straight from the workshop of the manufacturer in Kerala, and many other idols also deserve special mention. 

My experience of “creating” and decorating the Varamahalakshmi idol was of course divine. It takes a whole another post to talk about Her and my experience with the Pooja, so I will leave it at this for now. 

Again, each idol is unique; and each is a treasure trove of positive energy. I am incredibly blessed to have each one of them with me in my life. 

Golu dolls from north India

While clay, plaster of paris, papier-mâché idols of all forms and colours form a big part of my collection, I wanted to branch out a bit and pick up some poly resin / marble dust idols. I procured them from

North India, although there are manufacturers available in the south as well. The main reason is that I found a vendor who has got quite a huge variety of deities with gorgeous stone decor and splendid colours. The payment was made online and since it was a huge order, it did take about ten days to get shipped all the way to me. But they were worth the wait, and how! 

The deities made with this material are predominantly of milk-white complexion. Velvet clothing with stone, bead or sequin work is often part of the idol. Sometimes the clothing is painted on. There is a lot of focus on remarkably beautiful and colourful jewellery with stones, beads and so on. Overall, the idols are quite ornate, and present a picture of peace and prosperity. 

What attracted me the most is the opulent decoration of each idol and the lavish use of bright colours. A single medium to big idol of this sort can really spice up a display and draw the eyes in. Each idol is a big burst of colour, and makes for a great showpiece as well. 

These idols are obviously more durable than those made with the more damage-prone materials like clay, but still need careful handling because of all the ornamentation. They are very beautiful and can easily spark love and Bhakti in us. Baby Krishna I got is adorable, with the big eyes and pink lips. Vaishno Devi in blessing form seated on her tiger, Ram durbar, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and others in my rather big purchase are majestic in all their splendour. I have put up a couple of pictures as examples. 

Among the ones that have come home to me, one that I would like to specially mention is the simhaganapathi, looking resplendent and powerful. The other Ganesha I bought is a baby form that is charming and totally captures any heart. Mahishasuramardini Durga looks powerful, elegant and protective. Krishna-Radha, and Arthanareeswarar, are regal and delightful. 

I am quite happy with the set that I have been blessed with, and plan to use them in my golu this year to add beauty and elegance. I will probably be displaying them year-round as well. There are so many more in the vendor’s collection that attracted me, and maybe one day I would have another shopping spree and add more to my home! Meanwhile, I am readying the dolls for worship, and can’t have enough of the visual feast before me! 

Madurai Meenakshi Amman idols

There is something special about Madurai Meenakshi Devi. I have always adored the gorgeous, stunningly beautiful idol. I remember that as a child, one of the first small brass idols I got was Madurai Meenakshi (other being Krishna). And after that, I have had some more fascinatingly crafted Meenakshi idols join me, but the unique thing is that I always bought these idols as a surprise purchase, never going to a shop looking for Her in particular, usually going to buy some other God idol or walking in for idle browsing, but in the case of each idol I have now, the said idol has suddenly “spoken” to my soul and made up my mind in an instant that they are coming home with me, often becoming the very central purchase of that trip. 

This first happened with my biggest Meenakshi idol. I had gone to an exhibition with the intention to maybe buy something small, without any real clear picture in my mind. And there She was, in all her splendour. With glowing emerald-toned skin, and red saree, the three-foot plus idol looked marvellous. I knew that moment that She was coming home with me, and sure enough, She has been with me ever since. In the course of years, the paint on the jewellery and clothes have become dull and needed repainting. But to this date, the glow in the face has remained exactly the same, and the whole body colour and her facial features look just as they did on day one. The paint in those parts have not aged or faded at all. I have no explanation for this - none that human reasoning can grasp, at any rate. 

Later another year, in Poompuhar, where I had gone looking for another brass idol, I suddenly came face to face with a papier-mâché Madurai Meenakshi, all golden coloured and gorgeous. Sure enough, She won me over at first sight and has come home as well. The same thing happened with a white metal Meenakshi whom I found and brought home while searching for a fibreglass Ganapathi. 

The latest to bless my home is the beautiful custom handmade baby Madurai Meenakshi doll, Balameenakshi. I was not searching for custom vinyl idols, but She came to me as always, suddenly and surely, and I knew She had come for me, and I immediately spoke to the artist, who agreed to customise her down to her nose-ring colour, and delivered her to me today. The whole interaction took about three days from ideation to reality! Many thanks to Vishnupriya of Sri Venkatesha Creations for her beautiful creation and prompt delivery. 

The idols and golu dolls we bring home are very special to us. Somehow, just as much as we choose them, they also choose us, and in many cases, more so. It is my firm belief that there is a strong positive energy in each idol and we are blessed that each has come to us. It is indeed a privilege. 

Early bird golu bommai shopping experiences

Last year, my inexperience led me to scour the markets for golu dolls right at the peak of navarathri season, at the very last possible minute. This led to many desirable items already having been sold out, and the prices being high for remaining stock as well. (I clearly remember missing out on a beautiful Guruvayurappan idol, among other things. ) Also, I couldn’t source from multiple locations and had to get my dolls locally. 

This year, partly from excitement and partly from cold, hard reasoning (read warm, tingly enthusiasm), I decided to plan and shop early. As it turned out, I am shopping really, really early. 

The downside of this is that many varieties especially new sets of the season have not come to online or offline shops at all. But that didn’t matter much to me, as I had only a very beginner collection last year, and staples in most houses were yet to be procured by me. 

Therefore I set out to take advantage of the off season lull, and sate my desire for more dolls by getting some of the traditional sets and individual dolls. This included the Krishna sets described in the previous post for my son, as well as my own choices like the Karthigai Pengal set that I missed last time, a stellar Ashtalingam set, very beautiful Sapthamathika set, a rather unique small Nagapooja set, an adorable balahanuman, an elaborate Sreenivasa Padmavathi kalyanam set, etc. 

I really am the last person qualified to advise anyone on good shopping habits, as my instinctive style is simply to buy lots and buy often (I dread the moment when my family reads this and the memories it is bound to awaken :p ). That said, I have found a few things out during my purchases. 

The first is, there is so much variety out there. We don’t really have to “make do” with dolls that we aren’t sure about, as there is a large selection of sellers willing to ship anywhere. 

The second is, we get remarkably good service when we buy online. There are contact numbers for talking in person before purchase, and most are willing to send pictures by Whatsapp or messenger so we can choose our dolls even beyond what is available on the website. The shipping is timely and some stores offer exceptional packaging, and others offer decent packaging and refund / replacement is guaranteed if our dolls are damaged in transit. 

Thirdly, I found that a lot of customisation is possible in some cases, especially with handmade dolls. We can talk to the artist and choose our own colours of clothing, jewellery, etc., for our dolls. 

Fourthly, the act of even picking out an idol for golu is a spiritual experience. I feel connected to God, and somehow feel that each idol that makes its way to me was meant for me and me alone, and God has blessed me by choosing to grace my humble golu with his image and presence. It is not like buying anything else. We feel a deep bond with the doll, and instant Bhakti when we see it. There is indeed magic in the life and divinity breathed into raw materials by the artists who shape them into idols! 

My son’s Krishna idols

This year a major happiness for me is that my eight year old son has told me he wants to keep his own golu alongside mine, with idols of his favourite God, Krishna! So I have been procuring some dolls with Krishna tales, such as Krishna birth, Vasudeva carrying baby Kannan to safety, poothana moksham and other tales of young Krishna killing demons sent by Kamsa, kaliyamardanam (kalinganadanam in other words), kamsa vadham, Krishna Rukmini wedding, Kuchelan story, Krishna thulabharam, and so on.

In addition to Krishna idols, we will be keeping various temple idol models of Vishnu and Krishna in my son’s golu, and some other avatars of Vishnu. These include Hayagreeva-Lakshmi set, Ulagalandha Perumal, Varadarajaperumal and Perundevi Thayar, Sthalasayanaperumal, Tirupati Sri Venkatesharar, and so on. 

Various gorgeous baby Krishna idols, made of varied materials and sourced from different parts of the country will also form a part of the golu. 

I am having a great time finding beautiful idols, and teaching my son various stories from Srimad Bhagavatham using golu Bommai. It is a great bonding experience and I feel really happy to see his enthusiasm, especially when he enacts the scenes for me after I finish each story! 

I am also expecting to get a really special Krishna idol, but more on that once Lord Krishna actually blesses us with that idol! It is just a hope at the moment. 

First Navarathri Bommai Golu - 2017

Last year I had the blessing to be introduced into the tradition of Golu by a dear lady, who has over two decades of experience keeping Golu. 

From childhood, I have loved the tradition of Golu and marvelled at the beautiful steps of idols and golu dolls laid out at the houses in Agraharams of Thiruvananthapuram. I often wished that I could do the same, but it was only last year that finally the privilege became mine. 

I have always loved idols of God, and from childhood, used to collect Krishna idols, mostly from shops near Guruvayur temple which is my mother’s home town. Later on, many Ganeshas (including a gorgeous Panchaloha NarthanaGanapati or dancing Ganesha, and Panchamukha Vinayaka, and various clay and PoP idols bought during Ganesh Chathurthi), a beautiful big Madurai Meenakshi idol (an impulse purchase at one of my first ever visits to Coimbatore Poompuhar), Karthikeyan idols, and many more, all were purchased by me, way before the thought of a Golu ever occurred to me. 

These formed the larger part of my first Golu in 2017. Just before the start of Navarathri, at the last possible minute, I also got some essentials like Marapatchi Bommai, Dashavatharam set, Rama set, Ashtalakshmi set, Aru Padai Veedu set, Annapoorani, big idols of Lakshmi Saraswati and Durga; and some gorgeous idols including Annamalaiyar- Unnamulaiamman , Shiva kudumbam, gopuram, etc., of my choice. 

The Navarathri of 2017 was one of the happiest festivals for me, with the beautiful golu capturing my heart and soul. I truly loved the experience and couldn’t wait for more. My nine-step Bommai golu of 2017 (picture added) is the basis for this blog and my further golu idols collection.