2 things.
1) Its in the stuti shlokas
2) As you want them to be.
Eg Ganesha. As described in Atharvashirsha
He is
रक्तं लंबोदरं शूर्पकर्णकं रक्तवाससम्॥
रक्तगंधानुलिप्तांगं रक्तपुष्पैः सुपूजितम्॥
(1st image)
His Form is having a Beautiful Reddish Glow (Raktam), with a Large Belly (Lambodara) and with Large Ears like Fans (Shurpa Karna);
He is wearing Red Garments (Rakta Vasam),
His Form is annointed with Red Fragrant Paste (Rakta Gandha),
and He is worshipped with Red Flowers (Rakta Pushpa),
But people also use light colors like skin color etc. (2nd Image)
Eg 2: Saraswati (Stotra: Ya kundendu tushar)
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता
या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना ।
या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा पूजिता
सा मां पातु सरस्वति भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥१॥
Translation Who is Pure White like Jasmine, with the Coolness of Moon, Brightness of Snow and Shine like the Garland of Pearls; and Who is Covered with Pure White Garments,
Whose Hands are Adorned with Veena (a stringed musical instrument) and the Boon-Giving Staff;
And Who is Seated on Pure White Lotus,
Eg 3: Surya (Sun)
लोहितं रथमारूढं सर्वलोकपितामहम् ।
Translation You are Reddish in colour, and mounted on a Chariot; You are the Grandfather of all persons.
Eg 4. Kalabhairaba (Stotra: Kalabhairav ashtak)
श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।
Translation: Whose Body is Dark, Who is the Primordial Lord, Who is Imperishable and Who is beyond Diseases [of the World]
Eg 5: Krishna (Stotra: Sri Bala Mukundashtakam)
इन्दीवरश्यामलकोमलाङ्गं
Translation: Who is like a Dark-Blue Lotus with Tender and Soft Body (Image 1)
But there are idols where krishna is fair. Its as per people prefer.
There is a concept of prakriti and purush in Hinduism. Its a bit tough to explain but let me try to explain you in short. (I will write a big post of prakriti and purush explaining each and every small details later)
Samkhya: Samkhya or Sankhya is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy. Samkhya is strongly dualist.
It regards the universe as consisting of two realities, Pursha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter).
a living being or Jiva is that state in which purusha is bonded to prakriti in some form. This fusion, state the Samkhya scholars, led to the emergence of buddhi (“spiritual awareness”) and ahankara (individualized ego consciousness).
The universe is described by this school as one created by Purusha-Prakriti entities infused with various permutations and combinations of variously enumerated elements, senses, feelings, activity and mind.
During the state of imbalance, one of more constituents overwhelm the others, creating a form of bondage, particularly of the mind. The end of this imbalance, bondage is called liberation, or moksha by Samkhya school of Hinduism.
Simplify:
Its a big topic, so i’ll just simplify it for you. Just learn this, Prakriti = material reality and Purusha = spiritual reality
Material reality is to please our five senses. Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell and touch are the five senses that we have. We work and do everything to please them. Every little and big thing you do in your life is to please one or all of these. From cleaning your house to visiting romantic places and to taste exotic foods.
Apart from this, material reality contains Art, Music, Sex, Pleasure, Prosperity, etc.
You will work hard, earn lot of money, your needs will increase, to keep up with them, you will work harder. It’s a loop. Human needs are unlimited, but the resources he have are always limited.
Material reality is impermanent; Sooner or later it withers away. Today you are eating the best food, tomorrow you may have a great financial loss and you won’t be able to afford what you can afford now. With this there comes a stage where you become restless, frustrated, pain, anxiety, stress, fear and all sorts of emotions.
So Now, Prakriti = material reality = Unstable
Purusha or spiritual growth is the ability to overpower these emotions so that one has the wisdom to appreciate and enjoy all things material without getting needy or clingy. One is happy when the material world favours us and not unhappy when it does not. This can only happen when material growth is accompanied by intellectual growth. Only intellectual growth can control emotional turmoil caused by dependence on material things.
So Now, Purusha = Spiritual reality = Stable
Prakriti Vs Purusha
Ok i think you got the basic idea of Prakriti and Purusha. Now, Think of our human body. The heart is on the left side, so the side is unstable. and so that side i.e. the left side of a body is considered as Prakriti Side.
So eventually, the right side, being stable is Purusha Side.
Moving on, When any person wants to go to a temple, he want to go there to calm himself. Technically, to exit the material world and enter the Spiritual world. So sit there, calm himself, to meditate, to pray. So if an individual wants to enter the spirituality i.e. the purusha, then why not to start from spiritual side of the body i.e. the purusha, the stable side, i.e the Right side..
Hope you got the answer.
Further info:
You can stop reading here. But if you are intrested in further understanding prakriti and purusha side, here is the small explaination.
Visit an temple or see any Hindu GOD’s photo. If the GOD’s right leg is on the ground, He or she represents the Purusha side.
Shiva and shakti are perfect blend of Purusha and Prakriti. SHIVA symbolises consciousness, the masculine principle.
SHAKTI symbolises the feminine principle, the activating power and energy.
Here are some of the top verses according to The HinduFAQs from various Hindu Scriptures such as vedas, Puranas and Upanishadas.
1. Truth can not be suppressed and always is the ultimate victor.
-the Yajur Veda
2. When the family is ruined,the timeless laws of family duty perish;
and when duty is lost,
Chaos overwhelms the family.
-Bhagavad-gita 1:40
3. You must learn to endure fleeting things
they come and go!
-Bhagavad-gita 2:14
4. Life and death, joy and sorrow, gain and loss; These dualities cannot be avoided. Learn to accept what you cannot change.
-the Ramayana
5. Do not be led by others,
awaken your own mind,
amass your own experience,
and decide for yourself your own path.
-The Atharva Veda
6. One should, perform karma with nonchalance
without expecting the benefits because
sooner of later one shall definitely gets the fruits.
-The Rig Veda
7. On this Earth do I stand,
Unvanquished, unslain, unhurt.
Set me, O Earth, amidst the nourishing strength
That emanates from thy body.
The Earth is my mother,
her child am I!
-the Atharva Veda
8. One should strongly resent miserliness
and indulge in charity
because one can acquire the never-ending wealth
of immortality by doing so.”
-The Rig Veda
9. Strive to move away from untruth towards truth.
-the Atharva Veda
10. Knowledge increases his thinking capabilities and helps him in getting new and innovative ideas.After implementing those ideas successfully he earns wealth. -The Rig Veda
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