Household gods

The ancient Romans had the lares and penates, gods of the household, who had different functions but were often worshipped at the same household shrine. The lares were spirits of the dead ancestors associated with each particular family, sometimes referred to as the lares familiaris. It was their job to protect the household and to ensure that the family line did not die out. The penates originated as gods of the pantry, but later came to be thought as the safeguard of the prosperity and good fortune of the family. 

And we still have these today, in slightly different forms; the picture of the Virgin or Jesus on the wall, or the ranks of family photos on the mantelpiece or the top of the piano.

Here are my lares and penates. Going on the assumption that one can never have too many gods to protect one, I have several from different traditions, some picked up on my travels, others that have just come to live at my place because they liked the look of it.

Several versions of the Virgin Mary sit on my bookcase in the bedroom. The bedroom seems to be a traditional place for Mary as the protector and succour during our most intimate and challenging moments. In Italy, beds are  often produced that have a little image of Mary in the headboard, to watch over those being born or giving birth or trying to get pregnant and those who are sick or dying. The two images in dark clothing come from Orsanmichele in Florence (left) and San Marco in Venice. The darkly clothed Mary is common in Byzantine and Greek icons, befitting her status as a Queen wearing imperial purple.

Ganesh, the Indian god of doorways, is here too. He appears on the Ganeshpol over my main door; it is widely believed that he takes away any hatred or ill-will brought into the house by guests or strangers, ensuring a peaceful meeting. I also have a little statuette, bought outside the Red Fort in Delhi. This is Ganesh in his martial form, with four arms, two holding axes, in his fight against ignorance and enmity. He is the god of parties and good times, with a love of sweeties, which is why he is so fat. He's also the god of writers; when Shiva was dictating one of the holy books to Valmiki, a sage, Valmiki's pen broke. Ganesha saved the day by breaking off one of his own tusks and continued the writing. (This is the reason why sometimes you will see Ganesha with only one tusk.)

People often refer to this man as Buddha, but I think that is wrong. He is known as Budai in Japan, which is where I think the confusion comes from. Budai's name means "cloth sack" and he often appears with one.

Wikipedia says this:

Budai is almost always shown carrying a sack, which never empties, and is filled with many precious things, including rice plants (which show wealth), sweets for children, food, and the sadness of the world. His duty is protector of the weak, the poor and children.

In Chinese Buddhist temples, Budai's statue is put in the front part of the entrance hall. He is shown as a stout, smiling or laughing man in robes with a largely shown stomach, which shows happiness, good luck, and plenty.

Some statues show small children at his feet. Another item that is usually seen in Budai statues, is a begging bowl; to show that he is a Buddhist. All of these images show Budai as a wandering monk who goes around and takes the sadness from people. Because he represents richness and happiness, statues are often found in homes and businesses in China and Japan.

This is Julian the gay gnome. He was given to me by a local shopkeeper in thanks after I rescued a picture she had left outside her shop when she closed for the day. She told me that gnomes are particularly lucky when given as gifts. Julian always sits in my sunroom, he doesn't do cold and wet. "Hello, boys!" The origins of gnomes are ineresting. One tale has them invented as a garden ornament by a German in the 19th century, but I prefer the story that gnomes are descended from an ancient Phrygian fertility god. There is definitely something erotic about the red hat.

And there's Iwi the kiwi, with his large blue egg. Given to me by a friend for my 50th birthday, Iwi was put on the coffee table in the conservatory and has stayed there ever since.

There they are, an oddly assorted crew but hopefully effective.