Krishna murti from Braj: brass, marble, how to choose and carry

What to buy and why

A murti is not only a decoration. For many families it is a form of the Lord to be served daily, with a bath, a cloth and a meal. If you buy one for that purpose, think about how big your shrine is, how often you can serve and whom the household worships. A small brass form is easy to care for. A large marble is beautiful but heavy and delicate.

If you wish to install a murti formally at home, ask your family's priest or a trusted elder how to do it. We do not describe any ritual, because practices differ between families and sects.

Consider, too, how the figure will look in your home. A Krishna playing the flute in the tribhanga pose, bent at three places, is the form associated with Banke Bihari, according to our place notes. A child Krishna sitting with a butter ball recalls Gokul. A standing Radha Krishna pair recalls the Rasa. Each is lovely, and each speaks of a different part of the story, so choose the one that speaks to you.

Materials

Brass is the traditional metal for household deities. It is durable, can be cleaned, and sits well in a small shrine. Marble is common in Braj, and the Shahji Temple in Vrindavan is itself a marble building, with Makrana marble used in its spiral columns according to our notes. Alabaster and plaster statuettes are sold near the Shahji Temple, as an archive photograph records. Silver ornaments and crowns for temple deities are sold in the old town.

Resin and plastic figures are also sold, and one guide warns against factory resin idols sold near temple gates. Resin is lighter and cheaper, but it is not what most families want for daily seva. Ask the seller plainly what the figure is made of.

Where to buy

Loi Bazaar and the old lanes around Banke Bihari are the main hunting ground for devotional goods, according to one travel guide. The gift shops at ISKCON and Prem Mandir are described as pricier but reliable. We have no verified shop names. Ask your driver or guide for a place that has served them for years, and compare two or three before you decide. Buy in daylight, and handle the piece.

How to tell good from poor, and fair prices

Look at the face first. A good murti has a calm, symmetrical face with clear eyes and a gentle smile, and fine detail in the hands, the flute and the ornaments. Run a finger along the seams. Rough casting, visible bubbles and thick, uneven paint are signs of quick work. A brass piece should feel heavy for its size. A marble piece should be cool to the touch and have no chips at the base or the fingers.

No verified price list is available to us. Ask for the price of the same size and material at three shops, and note the range. A seller who is proud of his work will tell you how it was made. Bargain gently and in good humour, as one guide advises, and walk on if you feel pushed.

Take your time with the decision. Walk the lane, look at three or four shops, and come back to the one whose figure you keep thinking of. A shopkeeper who sees you return is usually pleased, and the price often settles more gently on a second visit. You can sleep on it; the Lord is patient.

Packing and carrying home

Wrap the murti in several layers of soft cloth, then bubble wrap, then a rigid box with padding on all sides. Keep the flute and any thin parts well supported, and pack small ornaments separately. Carry a marble or a delicate piece in your hand luggage, not in a checked bag. For heavy pieces, ask the shop to pack them for transport and to give you a receipt.

Check your airline's weight limit and, if you are leaving India, the rules on exporting religious items; we have not verified them. Keep the receipt handy in case a security officer asks.

For older family members who cannot carry a heavy box, have the shop send a larger piece by a reliable courier, and keep the receipt and tracking number. Insure anything valuable. A marble murti that arrives intact is a pleasure to unwrap, and one that arrives broken is a lesson we would rather you did not learn.

Related guides

See our guides to Loi Bazaar, the tulsi kanthi mala and brass bells and puja items for the rest of a small shrine. A lala:Cab guide can take you to a shop he trusts and wait while you choose, so that the murti you carry home carries no regret.

Questions, answered