Toran is a form of religious worship that involves the invocation of a god or goddess through a series of gestures and movements. The movements were performed by holding a rope with both hands and swinging it around the neck or body. But today, they are widely used to decorate the main door of homes.
Torans have been used for centuries to invoke the presence of gods and goddesses in temples, homes, and other places. They are also believed to protect people from evil spirits and other hostile forces. There are numerous types of torans, each having special significance for various deities or heroes.
History of torans
In the history of human civilisation, many types of doors have been used to protect their homes. The most commonly used ones are the wooden door and the metal one.
Torans are made up of two parts: one part is called “Pradakshina”, and another part is called “Nirvana”. The former is used as an entrance, while the latter is used as an exit. This type of door has been in use since ancient times, and it is one of the oldest kinds of doors found in India. Today, there are many different types available in markets worldwide, but they all follow similar principles, like being lightweight yet strong enough to withstand high winds.
Torans are a type of decorative motif in Indian architecture, and they are usually made of wood or stone. Torans are often used as door lintels, architrave mouldings, and other decorative elements. They can be used to decorate the main doors in your home.
Shapes of torans and materials used
Torans come in various shapes and sizes depending on their purpose: some are simple triangles, while others have intricate designs that require considerable skill to create. Torans are crafted from a variety of materials, including wood and stone, which gives them their distinctive look and feel.
Toran for main door is made out of softwoods like teak or rosewood, while others are made out of hardwoods like oak or beechwood. Toran designs come in all kinds of shapes, including circles, squares, rectangles or semicircles, among others. Their size varies depending on their intended use, where smaller ones would be used as doorways while larger ones would be used as architrave mouldings.
Popular toran for main door designs
Ganesh motifs in torans
Source: Pinterest
You will surely elevate the look of your interiors with this toran made with pearls and gold motifs. It can be used for housewarming ceremonies, spiritual decors, weddings, receptions, inaugurations, cultural events, hotel decorations, and more.
Metallic figurines torans
Source: Pinterest
An ethnic embellishment on this toran will bring good spirits to your home and make it feel festive and joyful. The toran would add a touch of festive decor to your home’s entrances and pooja rooms.
Mirror Work torans
Source: Pinterest
This toran is embellished with tassels, mirrors, and pom-poms and exudes joy and festive spirit. Marigolds, roses, and other colourful flowers will look gorgeous with ethnic embellishments.
Fresh flowers torans
Source: Pinterest
Your doorway will look festive and joyful with this colourful toran adorned with flowers like marigolds. A golden bell at the end of the hanging arch represents auspicious decor. The toran can be decorated with a single line of yellow and orange flowers.
Importance of toran for main door
Torans are small pieces of cloth placed on the door of a house or building to help determine the best place for the main entrance. They are used in Hinduism and Buddhism, among other religions. In Hinduism, torans are placed on doors to determine the auspicious time to open them. They may also be placed over windows so that they can be seen and used as a means of protection.
The purpose of placing toran onto a door is to determine what type of energy will flow through it when people enter through it. There are three schools of belief on this matter:
- Those who believe that all energies flow equally through all doors in equal measure.
- Those who believe that some doors will always have stronger energies than others, like those in the home.
- Those who believe that certain energies should be placed near certain bodies like water.
Benefits of toran for main door
- Tying the leaves together wards off evil spirits and can bring the wishes of house owners to fruition. In this case, Ashoka leaves, or mango leaves, are used. To reduce Vastu dosh, torans are believed to be the most effective method.
- There is a belief that the mango tree and its leaves are home to gods such as Lakshmi, Gandharva, Govardhan and the God of Fertility. It is thought that the importance of tying a garland of mango leaves can be traced to the love of mangoes of Lord Ganesha and Lord Murugan.
- According to legend, God Murugan required people to tie green mango leaves because they symbolise a fruitful harvest and overall well-being. It has been believed that mango leaves have been lucky since ancient times.
- To make the garland, fresh green mango leaves were used since they are capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. The surrounding environment becomes cleaner and fresher as a result.
- Symbolising positive vibes, torans enhance the attraction of the main entrance, which is considered a house of upcoming opportunities. As a result, it gives the home’s inhabitants healing energy through the use of bright colours.
FAQs
What is the purpose of putting a toran on the door?
Torans are decorative pieces used to decorate homes’ main entrances, and their origins can be traced to the Puranas (Hindu mythological works). Decorative elements in homes are meant to attract and please Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
What thread is used to make torans?
In order to make toran attractive, stuffed dolls are decorated with woollen threads.
