Prana pratishtha explained

Prana pratishtha is the rite or ceremony by which a murti (devotional image of a deity) is consecrated in a Hindu temple. The Sanskrit terms prana means "life" and pratishtha means "to be established." Following detailed steps outlined in the Vedic scriptures, verses (mantras) are recited to invite the deity to reside in the idol.^[1] Practised in the temples of Hinduism and Jainism, the ritual is considered to infuse life into the Hindu temple, and bring to it the numinous presence of divinity and spirituality.^{[1] [2]}

Etymology

The word prāna pratishthā is a compound Sanskrit term combining prāna and pratishthā. Prana, which comes from the root "pra", meaning "to breathe". This term refers to life or vital energy, the essence for living beings.^[3]

Pratishtha, derived from the root verb "stha", which means "to be established", and the prefix "prati", which means "toward". Pratishtha signifies the act of consecrating, installation, or establishing in a permanent position. This term typically used in the context of installing a deity in the temples.^[4]

When the two terms are combined, it refers to the ritual of establishing life force into the idol becoming the sacred embodiment of such deity.^[5]

In Hinduism

Philosophical significance

The origins of prāna pratishthā are rooted in ancient Vedic traditions, where rituals were performed to invoke the divine into objects.^{[6] [7]} The understanding is that God can be both intrinsic and transcendent and accessible through physical symbols (murtis).^[8] Through pran pratishtha, devotees can interact with the divine in a personal manner.^[9] These practices were meticulously documented in the scriptures such as the Agamas and Tantras with guidelines on how to perform such rituals.^[10]

This ritual is most common with temple installations, however, household deities are also consecrated for worship.^[11]

Key elements

The prana pratishtha ceremony involves several steps from purification rites to the invocation of the deity through the steps outlines in the scriptures.^[12]

1. Purification (Shuddhi) - the idol is cleansed and purified to remove impurities.^[13]
2. Invocation (Avahana) - the deity is invoked into the idol through specific mantras and rituals prescribed in the scriptures.^[14]
3. Infusion of life (Prana pratishtha) - this is the core of the ritual where pran is put into the idol through various mantras.
4. Offerings (Upachara) - they deity is offered items such as flowers, fruits, and incense, symbolizing sustenance for the divine in the idol.^[15]

In Jainism

Concept

In Jainism, performing prana pratishtha in Jain temples is symbolic of the ideal qualities of the Tirthankaras rather than a divine presence.^[16] Prana refers to the vital energy in all living beings emphasizing the principle of non-violence (ahimsa) towards all life forms.^[17] Thus, the focus of prana pratishtha is invoking a spiritual presence to inspire devotees.

Philosophical significance

The philosophical foundation of prana pratishtha in Jainism is rooted in anekantavada. Depending on theh observer's spiritual views, the physical idol can represent multiple meanings.

The focus of the ritual is solely on mental and physical purity derived from the non-violence principle.

Ritual process

The ritual begins where the idol is bathed, purified, and adorned with sacred items. Following this, verses are recited and other ritual invocations occur.^[18] The ritual of consecrating an image to bring "life to temple" is attested in medieval Jain documents.

References

1. Heather Elgood (2000), Hinduism and the Religious Arts, Bloomsbury Academic,, pages 14–15, 32–36
2. V Bharne and K Krusche (2012), Rediscovering the Hindu Temple, Cambridge Scholars Publishing,, page 53
3. Book: Monier-Williams, Monier . Sanskrit-English dictionary: etymologically and philologically arranged with special reference to cognate Indo-European languages . Leumann . Ernst . Capeller . Carl . 1994 . Munshiram Manoharlal . 978-81-215-0200-9 . New ed., greatly enl. and improved . New Delhi . 654.
4. Book: Apte, Vaman Shivaram . The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary: containing appendices on Sanskrit prosody and important literary and geographical names of ancient India . 1989 . Motilal Banarsidass . 978-81-208-0567-5 . 4., rev. & enlarged ed., repr . Delhi . 1079.
5. Book: Gonda, Jan . The ritual functions and significance of grasses in the religion of the Veda . 1985 . North-Holland Publ. Co . 978-0-444-85634-0 . Verhandelingen / Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, Afd. Letterkunde . Amsterdam . 45.
6. Burrow . T. . Vedic Ritual: the nonsolemn rites . Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies . en . 45 . 1 . 187–188 . 10.1017/S0041977X0005477X . 1474-0699.
7. Book: Gonda, J. . Vedic ritual: the non-solemn rites . 1980 . E.J. Brill . 978-90-04-06210-8 . Handbuch der Orientalistik. Zweite Abteilung, Indien ; Religionen . Leiden.
8. Book: Flood, Gavin . An introduction to Hinduism . 2011 . Cambridge Univ. Press . 978-0-521-43878-0 . 15. print . Cambridge.
9. Book: Shulman, Daṿid . Tamil temple myths: sacrifice and divine marriage in the South Indian Śaiva tradition . 2014 . Princeton University Press . 978-0-691-61607-0 . [Repr. d. Ausg.] Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1980 . Princeton legacy library . Princeton, N.J.
10. Book: Davis, Richard H. . Ritual in an oscillating universe: worshiping Śiva in medieval India . 1992 . Princeton Univ. Press . 978-0-691-07386-6 . Princeton, NJ.
11. Book: Cort, John E. . Jains in the world: religious values and ideology in India . 2001 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-513234-2 . New York.
12. Book: Goudriaan, Teun . Hindu Tantric and Śākta literature . Gupta . Sanjukta . 2024 . Manohar . 978-93-88540-38-4 . Reprint 2021 . A history of Indian literature / Series editor Jan Gonda Vol. 2, Epics and Sanskrit religious literature . New Delhi.
13. Book: Bühnemann, Gudrun . Pūjā: a study in Smārta ritual . 1988 . Inst. f. Indologie d. Univ. Wien, Sammlung De Nobili . 978-3-900271-18-3 . Publications of the De Nobili Research Library . Vienna.
14. Book: Padoux, André . Vāc: the concept of the word in selected Hindu Tantras . 1990 . State University of New York Press . 978-0-7914-0257-3 . The SUNY series in the Shaiva traditions of Kashmir . Albany.
15. Book: Michaels, Axel . Hinduism: past and present . Harshav . Barbara . Michaels . Axel . Michaels . Axel . 2004 . Princeton University Press . 978-0-691-08953-9 . Princeton, N.J. Oxford.
16. Book: Shah, Umakant Premanand . Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana =: Jaina iconography . 1987 . Abhinav Publications . 978-81-7017-218-5 . New Delhi.
17. Book: Dundas, Paul . The Jains . 2002 . Routledge . 978-0-415-26605-5 . 2nd . Library of religious beliefs and practices . London ; New York.
18. Lisa Owen (2012), Carving Devotion in the Jain Caves at Ellora, BRILL,, pages 44, 146–147, 184–186