Setting Up a Home Altar:
A Guide to Daily Worship
How to Create a Sacred Space for Spiritual Growth and Devotion
Why Have an Altar at Home?
Before we talk about how to set it up, let’s understand why an altar matters.
- To Grow Closer to God: An altar reminds you of Krishna, who is God, every single day. You build a personal bond with Him through love and service when you take care of it.
- To Clean Your Heart and Mind: Worshiping at your altar makes you pure inside. It keeps your thoughts on Krishna and helps you let go of selfish or worldly ideas.
- To Make Your Home Special: With an altar, your home becomes a sacred place where God is welcomed. It’s like inviting the most important guest to live with you.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) is the founder-acharya of the ‘International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) stated, that Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He’s so kind that He lets us see Him in forms like pictures, even though our regular eyes can’t see His spiritual form. This way, we can serve Him at home.
Step 1: Pick a Good Spot for Your Altar
The first thing you need to do is find the right place for your altar. Think of it as making a seat for a very special guest. Here’s what to look for:
- Clean and Calm: Choose a spot that’s clean and quiet. Don’t put it near noisy places like the kitchen or where the TV is. It should also be away from wind or drafts.
- Well-Lit: Pick a place with good light. Natural light from a window is perfect, but a lamp works too.
- Easy to Reach: Make sure you can sit in front of it comfortably. Don’t put it up high where you need a ladder or somewhere hard to get to.
- Possible Places: You could use a wall shelf, the mantelpiece above a fireplace, a corner table, or the top shelf of a bookcase.
The goal is to have a peaceful spot where you can focus on worship without anyone bothering you.
Step 2: Gather What You Need
Now that you’ve picked a spot, let’s get everything you need for the altar. There are some things you must have and some extra things that are nice to add.
Must-Have Items
These are the basic things you need to start:
- A Picture of Srila Prabhupada: He’s the spiritual master who brought Krishna consciousness to the world. He’s not God, but he’s God’s dear servant who helps us reach Him.
- A Picture of Lord Caitanya and His Associates (Pancha-Tattva): Lord Caitanya is Krishna Himself, but He comes as a devotee to teach us how to love God. His associates help share His message.
- A Picture of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna: Krishna is God, and Radharani is His eternal partner. She shows us how to serve Krishna with pure love.
Nice-to-Have Items
These extras make your worship even better:
- Altar Cloth: A clean piece of fabric to cover the surface and make it look neat.
- Water Cups: Small cups—one for each picture—to offer fresh water.
- Candles and Holders: To light when you chant or pray.
- A Special Plate: For offering food to the Lord.
- A Small Bell: To ring when you offer something, like food.
- Incense and Holder: To burn incense as an offering.
- Fresh Flowers: To put in vases or at the bottom of the pictures.
You can get these pictures from a Hare Krishna temple or online from trusted places. Start with the three main pictures, and add the other items when you can.
Step 3: Set Up Your Altar
Now it’s time to put everything together. Here’s how to arrange your altar:
- Lay the Cloth: If you have an altar cloth, spread it over the surface to keep it clean and special.
- Place the Pictures: Put them in a triangle shape:
- Put Srila Prabhupada’s picture on the left side.
- Put Lord Caitanya and His associates on the right side.
- Put Radha-Krishna in the center, a little higher if possible—like on a small box or stand. Or you can hang the Radha-Krishna picture on the wall above the altar.
- Add the Extras: If you have water cups, candles, or flowers, place them neatly around the pictures. Keep it simple and tidy.
The setup should look respectful and balanced. Treat the pictures like guests who deserve care.
Step 4: Worship Every Day
Having an altar isn’t just about setting it up—it’s about taking care of it every day. This is how you serve God. Here’s what to do:
Morning Cleaning
- Wipe the Altar: Every morning, use a clean cloth to dust the surface and the pictures.
- Fresh Water: Rinse out the water cups and fill them with new water. Put them near the pictures.
- Remove Old Flowers: Take away any flowers that are wilted. Replace them with fresh ones if you have some.
Offerings
- Incense: Light incense and offer it at least once a day. Move it gently in front of the pictures to show respect.
- Candles: Light candles when you chant or pray in front of the altar. Keep them in holders so they’re safe.
- Chanting: Sit in front of the altar and chant the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This is the easiest and strongest way to worship.
Offering Food
- Prepare Food: Cook vegetarian food—no meat, fish, or eggs. Things like fruits, rice, or simple dishes are good.
- Use a Special Plate: Put a nice portion on a plate just for offerings. Don’t use this plate for anything else.
- Offer It: Place the plate on the altar, bow down, and quietly ask the Lord to accept it. Ring the small bell while you pray—this tells others not to disturb you.
- Share the Mercy: After offering, the food becomes prasadam, which means God’s mercy. Eat it yourself and share it with others.
Do all these things with love, not like it’s a job you have to finish. Krishna doesn’t need anything from us—He owns everything already. But He accepts what we give when we do it with a loving heart.
Step 5: Understand Who You’re Worshiping
Each picture on your altar has a special meaning. Knowing this helps you feel more connected when you worship:
- Srila Prabhupada: He’s the spiritual master who guides us to God. He brought Krishna consciousness to the West in 1965 with his books, magazine, and teachings. His picture reminds us to follow what he taught.
- Lord Caitanya and His Associates (Pancha-Tattva): Lord Caitanya is Krishna Himself, appearing as a devotee to show us how to surrender to God. He’s very kind and forgives our mistakes in worship. His associates help spread His love.
- Radha-Krishna: Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Radharani is His perfect devotee. Together, they show the love between God and His followers. Radharani teaches us how to serve Krishna.
These aren’t just pictures—they’re ways God and His devotees come to us. Treat them with respect, like honored guests in your home.
Step 6: Keep the Right Attitude
Your heart is the most important part of worship. Here’s how to think about your altar:
- Love and Care: Worship because you want to serve God, not because you have to. It’s a chance to show love, not a heavy task.
- Stay Humble: Don’t feel proud because you have an altar. Krishna likes offerings from a simple, honest heart—not fancy things done to show off.
- Be Steady: Try to worship every day. It’s like practice—you get better over time. Srila Prabhupada said we need to purify ourselves to connect with Krishna, and daily worship helps us do that.
If you think the pictures are just objects, they’ll stay that way to you. But if you see them as Krishna and His devotees, they come alive in your heart. Some pure devotees, like Sanatana Gosvami, even talked with Krishna through their worship!
Extra Tips for Your Home Altar
Here are some more things to remember:
- Start Simple: You don’t need a big altar at first. Begin with the three pictures and chanting. Add more as you learn.
- Follow Rules: In ISKCON temples, only trained priests worship statues of God. At home, pictures are okay for anyone who’s sincere, but always keep the altar respectful.
- Don’t Move It: Once your altar is set up, try not to move it unless you really have to. It’s a sacred place.
- Not for Money: The altar isn’t for getting rich or impressing people. Srila Prabhupada warned against using it for selfish reasons—it’s for purifying yourself and serving God.
If you want to know more, visit a Hare Krishna temple or read Srila Prabhupada’s books. They’ll help you go deeper.