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Chander, V. (2013). A room with a view: Accommodating Hindu religious practice on a college campus. Journal of College and Character, 14(2), 105-116.
Chicago |

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1515/jcc-2013-0015?needAccess=true

This article was written to discuss how a prayer space would be valuable where there is not a lot of space available - such as on a college campus. In it, the author Vineet Chander describes the dichotomy besides planning to have a prayer room and those impacts vs. having a dedicated appointed member become a resource to give out religious ceremonies, acting as a chaplain of sorts. The entire article is speculatory based on this author's experiences in coordination and trying to implement a prayer room. The overall conclusion was that a prayer room would be extremely effective at providing value to hindu students on campus, seeing how people practice the religion in so many ways, but understands that making an inclusive hindu prayer room could be difficult as well.

"Finally, I must acknowledge that there is a danger in over-emphasizing the role of the chaplain at the
expense of the symbolic and literal value of space and time. Designated space, such as a Hindu prayer room,
has immense value beyond the direct use of the room for ritual worship" (113).

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What kinds of objects do people use for worship? Are there commonalities? How do these different objects help project and expand one's beliefs?

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What is the diff b/w a mandir and a hindu temple?

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What is the diff b/w a mandir and a hindu temple?

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To understand religious objects, you must understand where these objects go and where they are placed

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How does one choose the Deity they focus?

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How does one choose the Deity they focus?

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There are many objects and rituals used to practice and worship Hinduism, so what are their commonalities and what are their differences, especially those that affect decision making when creating a personal prayer room, that go towards reinforcing one's relationship with God?

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Mazumdar, S., & Mazumdar, S. (1994). Of gods and homes: Sacred space in the hindu house. Environments, 22(2), 41-49. Retrieved from http://www.library.manhattan.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/207674493?accountid=12258

In this paper, the question of creating a sacred Hindu space in the home is addressed. In this question, there are many factors to be considered - How do you conduct rituals? How do you separate sacred places vs. sacred occasions? How do you build a space that better fulfills religious desires of the homeowner? Even how to enforce a pure environments vs. the profane.
The different authors would do independent research on agreed subjects, then would come together to contrast the different ideals. One may research on the objects used within a prayer space, another may research on how these spaces can be "polluted."
Since there is no official thesis sentence, the conclusions are just that of almost a sociological research, finding that while there is the pooja room which is the most spiritual place, there are more spaces that have varying levels of spirituality and meaning.

"The Pooja area is the most sacred spatial zone within the Hindu house, required to be maintained in its ritually pure state at all times. Locational norms dictate its seclusion and separation in order to protect its sanctity from defilement through contact with "profane" spaces, people, activities, and behaviour."

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Mazumdar, S., & Mazumdar, S. (2009). Religion, immigration, and home making in diaspora: Hindu space in Southern California. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29(2), 256-266.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494408000558

This paper is a series of interview collections and findings on immigrants creating holy spaces in their new homes outside of India. The article specifically discusses how they received their data, whether be ethnographic research or interviews, then shows proofs and links to everything. This article came across two basic conclusions with further discussion - 1) Hindus view their homes as sacred places, consecrating the entire building and even more so with specific rooms, and 2) The religious arts and artifacts they use have a profound impact on the connection they have with these spaces.

"We have statues and some pictures of Krishna, Sai Baba, Lakshmi, Shiva, Radha, Ganesh, Santoshi Ma and Saraswati. Our family God is Shiva. Holy books are placed on the lower shelf. Other items include incense, silver containers, jewelry for the Gods, and a brass bell (HIH\Interv\9307\Payal\1)."

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Hackett, C., & McClendon, D. (2020, May 31). World's largest religion by population is still Christianity. Retrieved November 29, 2020, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/05/christians-remain-worlds-largest-religious-group-but-they-are-declining-in-europe/
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/05/christians-remain-worlds-largest-religious-group-but-they-are-declining-in-europe/

In this, there is a good infographic that says that Hinduism is the 3rd largest religion in the world.

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http://www.myhinduethics.com/ethics/what-is-puja/

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Rites & Rituals - Naivedya & Prasad [Offering Food To The Gods] | Culture Express

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Puja Offering [This is a picture of what a Puja offering looks like.]. (2014, June 11). Retrieved from http://www.myhinduethics.com/ethics/what-is-puja/

This is an image of a Puja offering, used to help satisfy the Gods. Giving Puja is one of the main rituals that occur in a Hindu prayer room. In order to even begin this ritual, there are other rituals that must take place first, including removing previous impurities of the prayer room or adding new purities (such as flowers) to the altar. As well, the individuals must be cleaned and the entry frame of the room is usually blessed.