Prana pratishtha is a Hindu ceremony that includes consecrating life power (prana) into an idol, which is often performed during the installation of a deity at a temple. This practice is thought to activate the holy essence within the idol, making it a suitable place for the god to live and be worshipped by followers.
During prana pratishtha, priests repeat numerous mantras and execute particular rituals to summon the god and send spiritual vitality to the statue. The consecrated idol is thus regarded sacred, and worshipers worship it as a tangible image of the divine.
This ritual is crucial in Hindu worship rituals because it is said to build a link between the devotee and the god, allowing for communication and spiritual progress.
