What do we do with a broken idol or torn deity photo?

stop daily worship of it, say a short prayer of farewell, and immerse or bury it respectfully; then install a new one.

Temple traditions say a khaṇḍita (broken or chipped) mūrti should not continue to be worshipped as the main image. This is not a bad omen and nothing to fear; an image is a vessel for devotion, and when the vessel is damaged we simply replace it with care.

Fold your hands, thank the deity, and ask that the presence you invoked return to your heart. Then immerse a clay or metal idol in clean water, or place it under a peepal or banyan tree, or bury it in clean soil. Many temples also accept old idols and photos for proper disposal. A torn photo or cracked frame can simply be re-framed if the picture itself is fine.

Install the new image on an auspicious day with a simple pūjā. Stone śālagrāmas and bāṇa-liṅgas are an exception in many traditions: they are worshipped even if slightly chipped.

Source: Āgama / temple tradition · Not an omen — simply replace with care

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