The Vishu Mirror – A Folding Shrine in Burma Teak
The year’s first sight, framed in Burma teak
Handcrafted in century-old Burma teak, the Vishu Mirror opens like a small shrine: framed deities on folding panels, a bevelled mirror at the centre, and your own reflection held between them on the first morning of the year.
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A Ritual of Beginning, Made to Be Kept
In Kerala, Vishu begins not simply with a new day but with the first sight of the year. At dawn, one opens one’s eyes to the Vishukkani, an arrangement of abundance, light and the divine, traditionally centred on a mirror. What is first beheld, tradition holds, becomes an invocation for the year ahead.
The Vishu Mirror reimagines that ritual as a contemporary heirloom. Opened ceremonially, it places the divine on either side and one’s own reflection at the centre, so that the sacred is beheld before the self is recognised within the same frame. It becomes a quiet meditation on gratitude, self-awareness, abundance and new beginnings.
Over time, it has become one of Udhbava’s signature creations, finding homes across India and with the Indian diaspora around the world, where it carries a small, enduring piece of home, heritage and ritual. The first sight. The divine. The self. A new beginning.
The mirror is designed for the rhythm of a household’s devotional life, not a single morning. On the eve of Vishu, the Vishukkani can be arranged around it. Through the rest of the year, it is opened for prayer or a quiet moment of contemplation, then closed again. For families who live far from Kerala, it is a way to keep the first sight of the year as it has always been kept, wherever home now is.
Product Details
Design Details
Opened for Ritual, Closed for Keeping
The design is built around two states. Open, the folding panels stand on either side of a bevelled central mirror, each bearing a framed image of a deity, and the arrangement reads as an intimate shrine. Closed, the panels protect what lies within and the piece becomes sacred art in its own right, keeping a sense of revelation for the next time it is opened.
This movement lets the mirror take part in Vishu and in other moments of prayer and contemplation. Each composition, whether Shiva Parivar, Vishwaroopam, Lakshmi Narayana or another, sets up a different dialogue between the deities and the person who stands before them.
Raw Material & Craftsmanship
Century-Old Teak, Canvas and Glass
Every Vishu Mirror is handcrafted in century-old Burma teak, chosen for the warmth and grain of old timber and its capacity to endure across generations. On each panel, canvas-held images of the deities are set behind glass within teak borders, and the panels frame a bevelled mirror at the centre. The age of the wood and the intimacy of handwork are what allow the piece to carry the memory of a ritual that has travelled through centuries.
Story Behind the Creation
Reflect prosperity and abundance into your home
Introducing our handcrafted Vishu Mirror from Udhbava by Gayathri. Designed with two beautiful side panels depicting Shiva Shakthi and Lakshmi Narayana, this sacred piece is crafted to reflect the auspicious Vishu Kani bringing blessings, growth, and joy into your life for the year ahead.
Bring home tradition and divine aesthetics. DM us to order yours today!
Create with Udhbava
Bring Heritage into Your Everyday
Many Udhbava pieces can be made again with your home, your collection and your story in mind. Where the craft and the material allow, details such as size, wood tone, finish, motif or configuration can be adapted to suit your space.
You can also bring us something you already cherish, such as an heirloom, a family textile or a piece of old furniture, and we will explore what it might become.
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FAQ’s
Questions, Answered
A few things worth knowing before you choose, commission or gift a piece from Udhbava.
Is every Udhbava piece handmade?
Yes. Every creation is handcrafted with care and attention to detail. Many pieces are made in limited quantities, and some involve artisan-led production, from hand-carving and hand-painting to embroidery and silk inlay.
Why might my piece look slightly different from the photographs?
Because each piece is made by hand, often from old wood, vintage textiles or natural materials, slight variations in colour, texture, finish or appearance are natural. Grain, patina and the marks of the hand are part of the character of an artisan-made object. They are not defects.
What materials do you work with?
The studio works mainly with heritage and natural materials. These include century-old and reclaimed Burma teak, rosewood, tea tree wood and padauk, marble, granite, brass and glass, and vintage Kanchipuram and Banaras silks. For Sutra, the fabrics are linen, hemp linen and handwoven cotton. Each product page lists the materials used for that piece.
Is the piece I see available to order?
As our products are handcrafted and produced in limited quantities, availability may change without prior notice. Some pieces, particularly in Udhbava Reclaimed and the carved tables, are one of a kind. Use Enquire Now on any product page to check current availability.
Can I commission a piece similar to one I see here?
Yes. Select Commission a Similar Piece on the product page and share what you have in mind. Where a piece is one of a kind, such as a reclaimed table or a carved tea tree table, we can discuss creating something in the same spirit. The exact result will depend on the materials available.
Can you work with an heirloom, fabric or piece of furniture I already own?
Often, yes. Bespoke work at Udhbava begins with a simple invitation: bring us what you cherish. An old piece of furniture or a family sari, for instance, can be repurposed into a silk-inlaid tray. Tell us about what you have, and we will discuss what it might become.
Do you take gifting and corporate orders?
Yes. Pieces from Udhbava Gifting, such as our teak and silk coasters, have been made in curated sets for events and selected as corporate gifts for Diwali. Get in touch with the quantity and occasion, and we will discuss what is possible.
How do I place an order?
Our website is a place to explore the work; orders are not placed or paid for online. Select Enquire Now on the piece you love, and we will get in touch to confirm availability, price, shipping charges and payment details. Your order is processed once payment is confirmed.
How long will my order take?
Orders are processed after payment is confirmed. Because many pieces are handmade or made to order, processing times depend on availability, customisation and production schedules. Where applicable, we will share an estimated dispatch timeline during the order process.
Can I return or exchange a piece?
Due to the handcrafted and limited-edition nature of our products, we do not accept returns or exchanges for change of mind, personal preference, or natural variations from the handmade process. If your piece arrives damaged or is not what you ordered, please notify us within 48 hours of delivery. See our Returns & Refunds Policy for details.
Are commissioned or customised pieces returnable?
Customised, personalised, commissioned and made-to-order pieces are non-refundable and non-returnable unless they arrive damaged or incorrect.
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