Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c7.22

v1.c7.22

The images of gods and goddesses are worshipped by the Hindus not only in temples as public places of worship but also in private households. Since the regular worship of images requires attention to a great many details in respect of ceremonial purity and piety, such worship is only occasionally conducted in many house-holds, even though the rule is that it should be conducted every day. Every Hindu household possesses its own images of the family deity (*iṣṭa-dēvatās* and *kula-dēvatās*) ; and worship is offered to them in many families only occasionally. On all other days a *śālagrāma*, a *bāṇa-liṅga*, a *sphaṭika-liṅga* or some such small object is worshipped, since nothing can be eaten by a pious Hindu which has not been offered in worship to his deity. A *śālagrāma* is generally a flintified ammonite shell, which is river worn and thus rounded and beautifully polished. The river Gaṇḍaki, which is one of the well-known tributaries of the Ganges, is