Guiding Light: Prana Pratishta

There are two types of temples. One is where the moola-virat is ‘swayambhu’, self-formed and self-revealed. The second type of temple is where the vigraha is carved manually and ‘prana pratishta’ is performed. Prana is the life force or energy, and pratishta is instilling. In other words, prana pratishta of the vigraha in the human construct is the process of consecrating the idols and instilling them with energy force.

There are many places in our country that were and still are inaccessible, but there are swayambhus existing there. It is the ‘sthala prashasti’, meaning ‘importance of place’. Here the idol gets formed and discovered subsequently. Covering temples and other structures may come later, but the murti, or the idol, remains the same. To cater to the sevas like ‘utsavas’, smaller idols of alloys are made, and these are called ‘utsava+murtis’. 

In the second category of human-made idols, one has to perform the prana pratishta. The sthapatis (sculptors) pick up the best possible stone for the idol. The use of the rock is generally granite in the southern temples and of marble in the north Indian temples. One point is local availability. One may have other stones, but these may not withstand the regular abhisheka and puja process that happens every day and more so on special days. Stones like sandstone get eroded due to the puja materials and processes.

There are three types of temple architectures we witness: Nagara, Dravida, and Vesara. There is the practice of ‘agama shastra’ that defines dos and don’ts in the temple precincts. Typically, there is a water body nearby to the temple so that continual water availability is there. There is a garbhagriha, inner sanctum. There is also a stage-like performing place for the artists. There is a kitchen to prepare the naivedya or bhog (offering) to the divine. After the offering, this gets served as ‘prasada’.

Based on the moola virat of the temple, the beej mantra of the deity is recited crores of times with associated tarpana, etc., followed by yagya or havan. The power generated from this process is ‘offered to’ the idol so that the vibrations of energy and prana shakti happen positively. This gets reinforced subsequently through the regular puja and archana process. Periodically, kumbha+abhishekam is performed for rejuvenation.

About the author

Dr. S. Ainavolu is a Mumbai-based teacher of Management and Tradition. Intent is NextGen’s learning and cultural education. 

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