Pocket temples with charan paduka: a small mandir that goes where you go
3 min read · Updated 09 Oct 2026
A pocket temple is a small gold-finish mandir in a box, made to sit in a bag, on a desk or on a car dashboard. This guide covers what the charan paduka in it stand for, which deity suits which person, and how people use and gift them.
What charan paduka means
Charan paduka are the footwear, or the footprints, of a deity or a guru. Touching someone's feet is the oldest gesture of respect in an Indian home, and the paduka let you make it when the one you bow to is not in front of you. In the Ramayana, Bharat carries Ram's paduka back to Ayodhya, places them on the throne, and rules in Ram's name until he returns.
In a pocket temple, the paduka sit at the foot of the deity's image. The whole thing is small enough to keep with you, and that is the point of it.
Where people keep one
- In a wallet compartment or a handbag, for the commute and for travel
- On a car or truck dashboard
- On an office desk, or on a shop counter beside the till
- In a hostel room or a first flat, for a student or a new job in another city
- In a suitcase, for a family member moving abroad
Which deity, for whom
Hanuman, for the one who is always on the road. Many families turn to Hanuman for courage and protection, and keep him close when they travel. The Hanuman pocket temple with charan paduka is gold finish, in a box that closes with a magnet. ₹249.
Krishna, for a home that prays to him. The Krishna pocket temple with charan paduka is the same size, in the same magnetic box. ₹249.
Ganesh, for a new start. Ganesh is prayed to first, before anything new begins, so he is the usual choice for a new job, a new shop or a new house. The Ganesh pocket temple, gift box comes in a wooden-look gift box. ₹450.
Lakshmi, Ganesh and Saraswati, for Diwali and the new business year. The three are worshipped together on Diwali night and at Chopda Pujan. The Lakshmi-Ganesh-Saraswati temple box puts them in one gold-finish temple with a wooden-look case. ₹450.
Giving one
A pocket temple makes the most sense as a gift when the person is about to go somewhere: a student leaving for college, a son or daughter moving abroad, a driver starting a new route, a friend opening a shop. At Diwali it is the gift that is still in use when the sweets are long gone.
If you give Diwali gifts to staff or regular customers, the two magnetic-box temples, at ₹249 each, are a gift that is not food.
Looking after it
The finish is gold foil. Wipe it with a soft dry cloth, and keep polish, water and perfume off it. Close the box when it travels, so the image does not rub against keys or coins.
Ordering one
All four temples are on the Festive & Pooja page. Tell us on WhatsApp, +91 63531 35986, which ones you want and where they should go. We send anywhere in India, or courier to you abroad, and one temple is enough for an order. Prices include GST.
