Laddu Gopal Size Chart: Size Numbers, Inches and How to Measure
How Laddu Gopal sizes work: size numbers vary by maker, so measure in inches. How to measure for the idol, poshak, singhasan and jhula.
Laddu Gopal size numbers are not standardised. A size 4 from one maker can differ from a size 4 from another, so inches decide the fit, not the number. Measure your idol once, write the two figures down, and buy every poshak, singhasan and jhula against them.
Our own catalogue lists Laddu Gopal idols by height in inches only. We do not print size numbers, for exactly this reason.
Why size numbers confuse: no single standard
The numbers 0 to 6 and beyond began as foundry pattern numbers. Each casting centre and workshop has its own patterns. Some makers count height with the base, some without. Two idols sold as the same number can be half an inch apart, which is enough for a dress not to close.
How to measure: height base to crown, and base width
- Height. Stand the idol on a flat table. Hold a ruler upright beside it and read from the table to the top of the head. Measure without the mukut.
- Base width. Measure the base at its widest, side to side, then front to back. This decides the singhasan and the jhula seat.
- Girth, for poshak. Wrap a thread once around the body at the widest point, usually the knee and hand, then lay the thread on the ruler.
When a dress seller asks for the size number, give the inches as well.
Indicative chart, sizes 0 to 6, clearly marked approximate
This is the convention many sellers in the trade use. It is not taken from our catalogue and it will not match every maker.
| Size number | Approximate idol height |
|---|---|
| 0 | About 2 to 2.5 inch |
| 1 | About 2.5 to 3 inch |
| 2 | About 3 to 3.5 inch |
| 3 | About 3.5 to 4 inch |
| 4 | About 4 to 4.5 inch |
| 5 | About 4.5 to 5 inch |
| 6 | About 5 to 6 inch |
Choosing a size for daily seva
Daily seva means a bath, a change of dress, bhog and putting him to rest, every day. A small idol of about 2 to 4 inch is the easiest to start with. It fits in the palm and bathes in a small bowl.
Above 6 inch, weight becomes the question, and large brass idols weigh several kilograms. If an elderly family member or a child does the seva, pick a weight they can lift with wet hands. Bathe the idol over a wide bowl or a towel, not over a hard sink, so a slip does not dent it.
Our Laddu Gopal range has 26 idols from 1.5 to 13 inch, starting at ₹335. Each listing shows height and weight.
Poshak, mukut and bansuri by size
- Poshak. Within one maker, the dress number usually matches the idol number. Across makers, go by inches and girth. If you are between two sizes, the larger dress with a drawstring is the safer buy.
- Mukut and pagdi. These follow head size, which tracks the idol number loosely. Measure across the head.
- Bansuri, mala, kangan. Sold by the same numbers.
Small ornaments are a choking risk. Keep spare mala, kangan and flute in a closed box if there are toddlers at home.
Singhasan and jhula by size
A singhasan fits when its seat is slightly wider and deeper than the idol’s base, and the arch clears the top of the mukut.
| Idol height | Seat width to look for (guide) | Singhasan overall height (guide) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 3 inch | 2.5 to 3.5 inch | 5 to 6.5 inch |
| 3 to 4.5 inch | 3.5 to 4.5 inch | 6.5 to 9 inch |
| 4.5 to 6 inch | 4.5 to 6 inch | 9 to 13 inch |
| Above 6 inch | Base width plus 1 inch | 13 inch and above |
These are working figures, not catalogue specifications. Measure the seat on the listing against your idol’s base. Our brass singhasans run from 5 to 20.6 inch overall, with 28 designs from ₹400. For taller idols see large singhasans.
For a jhula, the stated height is the frame, not the seat. Our 32 jhula sets run from 6.5 to 36 inch and start at ₹825. Twenty-four are aluminium and eight are brass. Check the seat width against the idol’s base, and make sure the idol sits low and centred so the swing does not tip forward.
For the plates and bowls used in daily bhog, see pooja thali sets. For how tall an idol your mandir can take, see idol size for a home temple.
