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Pooja Mandir

By Deepu #craft, #pooja mandir

Hi Buddies,

Happy Krishnasthami to all !!!This is my first post on my craft work (Actually, I didn’t have any recipes to post as was super busy with my work 🙁 ). I always wanted to have a small pooja mandir but couldn’t find the right one online. Either it was very small or very expensive. While I was searching for it, I came across an interesting blog on how to build Pooja Mandap at home. When I shared this link with my hubby, he encouraged me to build it (he was the one who built it 🙂 ). We started this almost a year back and drafted all the required items and rough design (I was the architect and my hubby was my developer 🙂 ) . After 6 months of groundwork, we finally started our workshop this summer. It took us almost 1.5 months to complete it .It was fun and felt satisfied .Finally making some time to post step by step process . Hope you all would find it useful.

Step by step Process

  • Draw a rough design and decide the exact sizes you need.

Pooja Mandir

  •   Make a list of items.
Material Type Size ( W/L X D) Thickness(inch) Purpose Comments
Wood Plank oakwood 24x 20 1/2 or 3/4 Bottom & Top plank cut it into 2 pieces of 20×24
Wood Plank luaun plywood 20x 16 0.25 Step 1 cut it into 20×16
Wood Plank luaun plywood 16x 12 0.25 Step 2 cut it into 16×12
Wood Plank luaun plywood 12×8 0.25 cut it into 10×8
Wood Plank Oak Ply wood 22x 23 0.25 Back support cut it into 22×23
table Legs early american 21 in. Table leg 21 2 pilars Ht is 21
table Legs h & P Hardwood Tuning 7 in. Traditional Pine Table Leg 7 2 legs Ht is 7 inch
Wood Mouldings Ornamental Mouldings 3/8 in. x 1-1/4 in. x 96 in. White Hardwood Embossed Trim Moulding 128 0.25 around top and bottom area cut them into
1. 2 pieces of 24 inch length
2. 4 pieces of 20 inch length
Wood Mouldings Ornamental Mouldings 1/2 in. x 2-1/4 in. x 96 in. White Hardwood Embossed Chair Rail Moulding 168 0.25 around steps cut them into
1. 2 pieces of 20 inch length
2. 4 pieces of 16 inch length
3. 4 pieces of 12 inch length
4. 2 pieces of 8 inch length
Rail Mouldings Foster Decorative Millwork 48 in. x 2-1/4 in. x 3/4 in. Maple Galley Rail Moulding 44 0.5 around 3 open sides cut then into
1. 2 pieces of 18 inch length
2. 2 pieces of 4 inch length
Wood Brackets Foster Decorative Millwork 8-1/2 in. x 6 in. x 1-1/2 in. Hardwood Scroll Bracket (2-Pack) 2 X 2 0.25 for 3 open sides
wood knobs/finial Wood Shapes Acorn Dowel Cap 2 per Package 2 2 for corners , steps and gopuram
Wood beads 25mm Rnd Bead 25mm 12
Screws
Screw driver
Hand Saw 1
Wood Glue Elmer’s 8 oz. Carpenter’s Wood Glue
Wood stain/ paint Minwax 1-Qt. Oil-Based Espresso Wood Finish Interior Stain red oak, walnut, red mahagony
wood cormner blocks DecraMold DM 6518 1-1/8 in. x 6-1/2 in. Pine Wood Outside Corner Block Moulding corners for railing
bells front n sides
  • Cut all the items in to required sizes ( We did it from Lowe’s/Home Depot itself).
  • Start with basic structure. Fix the chair legs between Top and bottom plank ( we used both wood glue and screws).

Pooja Mandir

  •  Screw the bottom legs too.

Pooja Mandir

  • Now build the gopuram steps. We created them as different blocks and glued them one above the other.
  • Now glue the beading around the corners and railing on three sides of mandir.
  • Glue/Screw knobs for the four sides of gopuram (main level) and can stick the small knobs (other steps).
  • Finally, we sanded the mandir and stained it. We have used Red oak wood finish.

Pooja Mandir

  •  Let it dry for 1 day. Re-stain if required.
  • Then polish it with clear wood polyurethane (glossy finish). This protects the wood from water and gives glossy finish.

Pooja Mandir

  •  Finally fix the bells .

Pooja Mandir

  •  This is how I decorated it for vara Lakshmi vratam.

Pooja Mandir

Notes:

  • We stained the wood after fixing the mandir. But would suggest to do it other way. This reduces a lot of work.

IMG_7097

 

 

 

By Deepu

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118 thoughts on “Pooja Mandir”

      1. Hi, very beautiful mandir, i have question regarding the roof border, how did you align in the corner as we get the square strainght wood rail in home depot.

        Reply

  2. Hi Deepu,

    I got inspired with your post regarding puja mandhir. I need some inputs. Where did you get the design on the legs of your am. Also the the small nobs and bells? Thanks for sharing this. Also how long does to take to build this if continuously done?

    Thanks
    Radhika

    Reply

    1. Hi Radhika,

      Thanks for checking my post. I bought legs, small knobs from Lowes and Bells from Micheals. If continously done, you can do it in 7-10 days (to perfection !!!).

      Thanks,
      Deepika.

      Reply

  3. hi
    i liked your mandap so much i am looking from long to make one got clear instructions from your site i have one small doubt
    for fixing legs how u did screw and what are those metal plates which u fixed bfore the legs
    it will be great if u could explain

    thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Madhu,

      Thanks for checking my post. I have screwed metal plate first and then fixed the legs.I used metal plates for legs and pillars too.
      Let me know if you need anything else.Please don’t forget to send the completed mandap to you. I will post it through my blog.

      Thanks,
      Deepu.

      Reply

  4. HI Deepu,
    I was looking for the mandir design, but your only the one who provided with detailed design. I like the mandir and going to do the same kind of mandir with 3’*2′ with Drawers. My wife wants big mandir with Drawers. Thanks for the Clear instructions.

    thanks,
    Srinivas

    Reply

    1. Thanks Srinivas for visiting my blog .Please let me know if you need more information.Also don’t forget to send the picture of your mandir when your done.

      Thanks,
      Deepu.

      Reply

          1. Hi Srinivas garu ,

            can you give me idea how to include drawers to the mandap .

            Thanks and regards,
            Lalitha

          2. Hi Laitha,
            Drawer can be easily accomadated in the design . All you have to do is to increase the leg length and get drawer set along with rollers and fix it below the mandir.Hope this helps.or let me know will find out more for you.

            Thanks,
            Deepu.

          3. Hi Deepu ,

            Do we get the ready made drawers in home depot. and where do you use the hard wood brackets …in the mandir . and do you screwed the back panel or just glued it , I was wondering if we try to screw it , whether the ply wood can handel the force of the nails …?

            Regards,
            Lalitha

          4. Yes, you can get ready-made drawers, wooden brackets in home depot/lowes. We did both (glued and nailed). I used small nails throughout.

            Thanks,
            Deepu.

          6. Hi , I haven’t added drawers but can be easily attached by getting pre-made shelves and a roller from lowes/homedepot. Attach a roller first and then run the premade drawer into it. If you want to make drawer by yourself, choose the size little smaller than main mandap base and cut them into main base plank with four rectangles for the corners. Glue and nail them to make a box. Run it on the roller (from home depot).

        2. Hi Srinivas,

          I really liked the mandir you made. Can you please send the details of how you have put the drawers? I am planning to make a mandir, and definitely would want to have the drawers.

          Deepu, I I have got a Marble mandir done in India and ever since I moved to US , I was planning to make one. Your blog has inspired me a lot and I am now persuading my husband to allow me to make one.

          Thank you both!!

          Reply

    2. Excellent work .Thanks to both of you ( Deepu and Srinivas).
      Right now iam searching for good puja mandir. After going through your posts me and my wife got confidence we can build too.

      Srinivas – can you please post if you have design details of your puja mandir with storage drawers.
      or please send to balajipeddireddy@gmail.com

      Thanks
      Balaji

      Reply

  6. Fantastic work.i really appreciate your work.u have put lot of effort and i could see the devotion reflecting in your mandir

    Reply

  7. Hi deepu

    Ur mandapam is excellent.i would love to make one for our home.i was going through the description and missed few things .how did you fix a drawer and i couldnt find a bracket.if you have a even more detailed description can you kindly mail me at madhavi.banda@gmail.com.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much madhavi. I haven’t planned for a drawer but that was an enhancement my viewer has done. Drawer can be easily accomadated in the design . All you have to do is to increase the leg length and get drawer set along with rollers and fix it below the mandir.
      Hope this helps.or let me know will find out more for you.
      Thanks
      Deepu

      Reply

  8. hi
    deepu thanks for your reply

    still i am not able to undrstand what are metal plates are they screws whaich u need to fix can u tell in detail

    thanks

    Reply

  9. Hello Deepu,

    We really enjoyed your blog and built our own Pooja Mandir for our home. It was great fun doing this project.

    Thanks
    Viswa

    Reply

  10. Good information to build our own Pooja mandir….Can you please modify wood knobs to wood finial that’s how I was able to search the product.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the correction deepthi. Will update the post. Please do send the picture of your pooja mandir to me. Would love to post it on my blog.

      Reply

  12. Deepu,

    I have some doubts, could you please clarify me:
    1. where did you find the Ornamental Mouldings & the other ornamental mouldings too.
    2. Where did you find the Wood shapes Dowels .(tried both in Lowe’s & also in Hobby Lobby).

    Reply

    1. Hi Priya,

      I got the all ornamental moldings from Lowe’s. You can check in Home depot too.
      And you will find Wood shapes Dowels at Joann’s.

      Reply

  14. Deepthi,

    Did you drill the holes on top & bottom plank by yourself or did do it in Lowe’s/Home Depot .

    Reply

    1. Hi Kanni,

      It’s very simple. You get small hooks-cum-nail from home depot/lowes/walmart. I have used that to fix photo frames.

      Thanks,
      Deepu.

      Reply

    1. Hi Deepu-

      First of all I would like to thank you for posting pooja mandir measurements and details(wood type, wood color etc.).
      your mandir is excellent. I am looking to build like yours but little big :).long time ago I build one but, its gone.
      one small doubt, after cutting the planks and legs from home depot did you sanded the wood planks,becoze my old one I didn’t sand its came very rough.
      can you pls give some suggestion on that.
      thanks,
      soumya.

      Reply

  17. Hi Deepu,

    Thanks for the instructions. I am struggling with gopuram part. How did you build the blocks? 4 wood frame in the bottom and polywoood sheet on top and nailed it togother?

    Please let me know when you get a chance.

    Reply

    1. Hi,

      Sorry for the delayed response. Yes, you need to take a square wood frame at the bottom with decorate railings glued and nailed along the four sides.

      Reply

  18. Hello Deepu,
    I wanted to know how did you fix the bells ?. Also, I am new to drilling, etc. Could you please let me know how to fix the photo frames on the back wall of the temple.
    Please also share more information on how to add drawers or small covered shelf below the mandir.

    Reply

    1. Hi Vibha,

      I fixed bells using small hooks. These can be found in home depot and can be screwed easily by turning around. Photos are also fixed using wall hanging hooks. You can find these also in home depot. I haven’t added drawers but can be easily attached by getting pre-made shelves and a roller from lowes/homedepot.

      Reply

  20. Hello Deepu,

    Thank you very much for posting the instructions of pooja mandir. I am having hard time finding few items in the list. I tried to search in Lowe’s and Home Depot but I cannot find the below items. Can you please let me know what should I search for the below items? Thank you very much.

    1. small wood beads
    2. wood shapes for the gopuram
    3. wood shapes for the railing

    Reply

  21. Hi deepu, loved your pooja mandir, I want to do one for my home. Could you please tell how to fix the pillars
    . I saw a metal plate is being used
    , how to fix that ?

    Reply

  22. Hi – Planning to make one like yours. This is truly inspirational.
    You actually light the firelamps inside the mandir right Or do you just use the elictric ones?

    Reply

      1. Thanks.. We are in the process of doing it. QQ – I was planning to do a similar write up in my blog – Yes definitely with all due credits given to you. Let me know if you have any issues.

        Reply

  23. Hi Deepu,

    I got inspired by your post and started making a new mandir (a little bigger size). I couldn’t get the bells from Michaels, they are saying it is a seasonal (xmas) product. Where else can I get them? I am almost on the verge of finishing the mandir, will send pics, as soon as I am done 🙂

    Thanks much,

    Rgds,
    Karthik.

    Reply

  25. Thank you for the detailed instructions. We followed your instructions and customized it according to our needs and complete a project that was in our minds for a long time.

    Reply

  26. my dad is making one similar one, and thanks for instructions. what did you glue to the edges of the planks? ca tell me exact name and where to buy?

    Reply

  27. Hi,

    The mandir is very nice. I am going through all the parts on lowes/home dept website. I seem to find everything except the knobs/beads.Could you help me find the knobs/beads which you used for gopuram steps? If possible please post a link? I searched in joanns , Micheals, Lowes and Home depot but could not find them.

    Reply

    1. I found them all in Lowes/Home depot. Please check the list it should have the exact names. Will post the link if you still can’t find it online.

      Reply

  28. Hi,
    The mandir is amazing . I am browsing through all the products but could not find one.Could you please let me know where did you buy the small knobs/beads/finials that you attached to gopuram steps? I tried all the shops jon ann, micheals, lowes homepedot and could not find a similar one also. Please let me know the product name or site if possible 🙂

    Reply

  29. Your mandate looks amazing!! 🙂

    “Now build the gopuram steps. We created them as different blocks and glued them one above the other.”

    Can you please let me know in detail about how you did this?

    Reply

    1. Thanks Divya! we made the blocks using wood planks as base and nailed thick moldings as sides.We made them cut at home depot.Hope this helps.

      Reply

  30. Hi Deepu,
    Your pooja Mandir looks awesome. Great job.I was looking for the mandir design.
    I like your mandir and going to do the similar one for our new home. I have a doubt about gopuram steps. Diu you got the wooden blocks as it is ? can you please explain in detail how you make them whenever you get a chance.

    Srinivas K garu can you please share design details of your puja mandir with storage drawers.
    here is my email id nyssan78@gmail.com.

    thank you so much.
    sanjana

    Reply

    1. Hi Sanjana,

      Thanks for your comments. we made the blocks using wood planks as base and nailed thick moldings as sides.We made them cut at home depot.

      Reply

  31. Hi,

    mandir is very beautiful. Great job.
    How did you cut the moldings for gopuram. I want to know how have you achieved the perfect corners with inclined cuts. It looks like they are 45 degree cuts.

    Thank you.

    Reply

  32. Hi,

    Thank you for your post. The mandir looks really awesome.Could you please provide the list of items included for the Drawer and also the steps.

    Also how much the material overall costs.

    Thanks,
    Sree

    Reply

  33. Hi,
    Thank you so much for the details of the work. I have taken this as inspiration and did mine too. My pooja mandir is for a small place that has exacty the same dimensions as your mandir so some of the detailed dimensions listed here were very helpful. Infact my friends liked it so much that i was asked for the instructions and i have shared your link with them. Thanks a ton!!

    Regards,
    Vijay

    Reply

  34. Hi Deepu,
    we are following your directions of DIY pooja mandir. I am unable to find the Wood Shapes Acorn Dowel Caps as they are in your picture.. can you pleas epost the link for those and also where were the wood beads 25 mm used?

    Thank you

    Reply

  36. Hi Deepu,
    Very inspiring design for pooja mandir. One quick question, have you polished the mandap after fixing or before?

    Reply

  38. Hi Deepu can you please let me know how much you spent for the whole mandir? Thanking you in advance love your mandir…..

    Reply

  39. Hi Deepu… Do you attach the pictures of Mandirs made by your readers anywhere in your blog. I’m sure we will get more ideas and customizations looking at them.

    Reply

  41. Hi deepu
    I have seen ur mandir its was awsome im planing to make one mandir but i got doubts can u tell them
    1. How do u srew the table leg with metal
    2. Where did u used the plywood for mandir this is the main doubt for me
    please send me ur maild id and please tell the doubts its very helpfull to me
    Thank u

    Reply

    1. I’m so sorry neelu for my late response. I was busy post my pregnancy with my naughty 2 boys.I’m not sure if my reply would help now, but please check.
      1.Metal plates are available and instructions too when you purchase at home depot/lowes.
      2.I bought it from Lowes/Home depot.

      Reply

  42. Hi Deepika,
    Just loved your mantapa! Kudos to you for doing such a fantastic job. My husband wants to gets started too. I will be bugging you with lots of questions for sure once we get started. Just one quick question for now, what is the dimensions of your final product?

    Btw my short name is Deepu too:-)

    Thanks!
    Deepa

    Reply

  43. Hi,

    I would like to thanks you for this post on Puja Mandapan .It helped us a lot in getting this done and we just finished our Puja mandapam.

    Thanks

    Reply

  44. Hi, your creation is really awesome, I would like to do one in bigger size like 3′ x 2′. I have a question how you made railings? you made it or got it ready made? Can you please share mandir made by Sriniwas as I am planning to make same size mandir. Thanks a lot and keep posting creative work.

    Reply

  45. Hi Deepu..Thanks for the post. Could you please let me know where did you get knobs/finial, wood beads and bells?

    Reply

  46. Hello Deepu,

    I am so excited when i see this post. I was looking for Pooja Mandir and wanted to build by myself. I didn’t know where to start and unable to find any lead till i found your blog. It is so helpful, thank you so much for putting this together…:-)

    I am going to get started this weekend, please expect some questions they can be so dumb…:-)

    Reply

  47. How much was the total cost yu spent on it .. can yu please tell me wer did yu get those Nobs on top one ???

    Reply

  53. I am planning on doing this.. why is back support plywood is 22*23 ( 1 inch taller than table leg and 1 inch sorter than length)?

    Reply

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